Jesus’ kids!
August 2003 Volume 6, Number 8
“He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy.” Psalm 72:4
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Jesus’ kids! August 2003 Volume 6, Number 8 “He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy.” Psalm 72:4 |
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They cook their lunch at the center in town each Tuesday and Thursday morning and load it onto the bus in large pots. By 8:00 am the lambs are more than ready to climb aboard and get on their way. 
They reach the land (on the outskirts of Antananarivo) at about 9:30.
Morning time is work time. Under the direction of two caregivers
and our two Betikara volunteers, the children are planting and watering
flower beds, filling in the cracks of their newly sodded playing field,
watering trees, harvesting the field of casava, and doing a hundred and
one odd jobs to help their new home get finished.
It’s not all hard work and no play though. There is always time for
fun at Betikara. The children eat lunch at noon and then afternoons
are for play, lots and lots of play. Whiffle ball is the game of
the year and it’s a mighty interesting game considering that not only have
the players never played the game before, they have never even seen the
game played. But, that’s what makes it all the more fun. Come
and join us for some fun. We guarantee loads of fun and lots of love
here at Betikara.
Yosly needs our prayers.
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If you would like to help with a monetary donation, write your check out to BETIKARA and send it to: Indiana Church of Christ
“He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him
for what he has done.”
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Five years ago, when Yosly came to us from the far northern tip of the
island, we were told that his parents were dead. His grandfather
brought him to us all those years ago and Yosly has never discussed his
home life until just recently. Yosly’s grandfather has been saving
for five years to bring Yosly home to Diego for a visit. We thought
Yosly would be delighted. He’s one of those kids who never does get
to leave Betikara when others are visiting extended family. News
of his visit to his grandparents opened the flood gates for Yosly.
He opened up and began talking of a less than ideal homelife and a mother
who lives and who suffers from alcoholism. He didn’t want to make
the visit north and only agreed to go when he was assured by his grandfather
that he would be returning to Betikara. We noticed that Yosly was
unnerved and did all we could to encourage him before he left for his visit.
He traveled north by plane, knowing that he would get to see grandparents
but dreading a bit the idea of seeing his mother. Less than a week
after Yosly flew north, his grandfather telephoned the center from the
far tip of the island. Yosly’s mother died the day before we received
the call. He never did get to see her alive. She hadn’t made
it to the town of Diego to see her son before she passed away. We
are praying for Yosly. That’s about all we can do as we wait anxiously
to welcome him back into the loving arms of Betikara where we can comfort
him with the love of the Savior.
