John Jere shares God’s Word with Aggie Mbao.
Aggie Mbao
Aggie Mbao is a widow in Linda. She is in her 80s and lost all her children to HIV/AIDS. She lives with her three grand children. ITMI’s John Jere found Aggie under a tree. She looked weak and pale because she and her grand children who are double orphans (both of their parents died) did not have any meal for three days and nights. John discerned that the widow had many needs and the number one and greatest of them is salvation. John shared the word of God with Aggie. The widow acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of her life.John asked the widow about her general life. Aggie said,” I am suffering with my three grand children who have never been in school since they were born. We have not eaten any food for three days and nights. My grand children decided to look for some thing to eat or do some work for any body so that they can buy Pamela (a small packet of Corn meal for a night). As John talked to Aggie, she quaked because of hunger. John quickly bought scones and a drink for Aggie.
John: How old are your grand children?
Aggie : The boy is ten years old, then the girl is eight years old and the smallest is six years old.
John: Where are your children?
Aggie: They have gone to look for piece work or beg for food for a night.
John: You mean even the small boy aged six?
Aggie: Yes, he is equally hungry. Even if he stays here, what will he eat?
John: Sad, because he is too small. Where do your grand children sleep, seeing that there is only one room?
Aggie : I sleep with them right here on the floor.
John : Where are your beddings?
Aggie: Just these rugs you see.
John: Now that we are about to get into winter time-May, June & July, what are you going to use?
Aggie: We shall use the same rugs.
John: Do the neighbors come and help you, seeing that you are suffering?
Aggie: No one comes to help us. It is only God. The three grand children help me to draw water and bring food for me.
John: Sorry about that. God loves you and your grand children.
Aggie with two of her grandchildren
These two grand children have never been to school because their grand mother is very poor, too old to work for herself or for anyone and she can not afford to pay for their school fees.
John Jere and Lackson Mbozi
Lackson Mbozi
Lackson Mbozi is 20 years old. He is an orphan who was born with three fingers but can write and read. His parents died when he was small. He stopped school in grade five due to lack of school fees. God willing, we may take him back to school in May 2012. He was born with three fingers as you see the pictures. He stayed with his aunt in Monze township, South-ern province, Zambia but the stay was very bad in that he was ridiculed as a way of forcing him out of their home. He went to school up to grade 5 and then he stopped due to lack of school fees. He decided to come to Linda compound, Lusaka, where he has another aunt.
Lackson asked his aunt for some help, to go to school again but she did not respond positively to his request. He decided to work for someone else, cutting grass at his farm so that he would earn some money and get back to school. He said, “I really need to go back to school and I strongly believe that I will breakthrough all the barriers and be what God wants me to be and do in life.” John asked Lackson, how did he write, seeing that he has no fingers? Lackson told John that God has made a way for him to many things with the remaining fingers. He writes using the remaining fingers. “Can I write so that you see what the Lord has provided for me”? Lackson asked.
In response to stories like Aggie’s and Lackson’s, ITMI is partnering with John and Every Nation Church (the church John pastors) to build a small church structure and community school in Linda where all such fatherless will attend school for free, giving hope to the hopeless children. There are many fatherless children who have never been to school and there was no hope that they would be in school but the Lord is using John Jere to build the school for the poorest African children, to bring hope to the hopeless.
Check out this related post, The Unwelcome Inhabitant, to see the building progress at Linda Compound.
