When we speak of issues with children in the USA we use the term “Children in Crisis!”. The term used regarding issues with children in Madagascar is “Children in Peril!” This description is deeper and more serious than “crisis”.
There are over one million children in peril in Madagascar and over the past several years FOMM has begun to reach out to include programs that serve “Children in Peril”. We recently were asked by the Dr. John Dyrnes School if FOMM would consider supporting a program for street children in the city of Bezaha. The program needs the following: a house to purchase, repair, personnel to care for the children, food, clothing and an education, The name of the program is “Bridge of Hope.” Through the generosity of a donor, the initial cost of $28,000.00 was given to begin this program. This summer they have been preparing the home, acquiring the staff, and admitting the street children into the home. What a blessing! What a life changing gift to these children! What a joy for FOMM to support! We pray that maybe you, or your congregation, will provide support for this program to fund beyond this first year’s support through the grant.
What difference does it make to help 20 children out of the million street children in Madagascar? A parable that Pastor Lee Laaveg shared during one of our trips to Madagascar explains the “Why.”
A boy was walking along the shores of the ocean and starfish were washing up on the shore.
A woman was watching him as he picked up one at a time and tossed it back into the ocean.
The woman watching asked: “Why are you doing this? What difference does it make when there are so many starfish washed up on the shore?”
The answer is amazing, the boy said: “It makes a difference to the ones I am throwing back into the sea!”
Yes, helping 20 street children experience a loving, safe, caring place to grow up will make a difference to these children.
May God bless this brand new ministry and may FOMM receive great support for the program to continue and even grow.
The interesting “back story” about this “Bridge of Hope” program is the history of the Dr. John Dyrnes School. It began in the early 1900’s. He and his staff saved babies from the wicked action of the witch doctors. These persons controlled the life of the village and when they declared it an evil day, all children born on that day were left to be killed in horrific ways. Dr. Dyrnes and his staff reached out to save these children from such a death. As a result of their work they had a growing number of children and eventually began a school to teach the children. Today the school still exists and is serving children from families in the community of Bezaha. With the beginning of the “Bridge of Hope” program, the school is now once again reaching out to save children in harms way to give them hope and a future!
It is a beautiful story! It is a wonderful way to provide a gift to a child!