I just wanted to see her smile...
Many of you know that we have been working in Camp Bidi Bidi, one of the world's largest refugee camps. In December, as we toured through the camp, Sharon Noel was brought to us as a very sad little girl. Sharon was born in South Sudan with no hands and no feet. She has lived her life being ridiculed, teased, and outcast. Locals believe that she is cursed.
In 2016, Rebels killed her father during the war in South Sudan, Sharon's mother had to flee with her five children. Shortly after arriving, Sharon's uncle came to pick up the children but rejected Sharon saying she was worthless. The uncle took the four healthy children and left Sharon behind. Her dejected mother, after losing her husband and four children, lost all hope and no longer wanted to care for Sharon as she had become a burden. This was when Pastor Bosco and our Promise Child ministry team went into action.
I was personally privileged to meet Sharon and her mother in December. We assured the family and Sharon of God's love and expressed to Sharon that she was perfectly formed and created in her mother's womb. We were able to give the family a Proclaimer (audio Bible) in their heart language and assured them that if they listen to God's Word, they would be built up and encouraged. We told Sharon that there is a special school with other little children just like her that we would like to send her to. While I was with Sharon, I had this longing in my heart to see her smile just once, but it never happened.
I received news this past week that Sharon has been accepted into the program, and then I received the most incredible pictures. Sharon at her new school... and a great big smile! She now has hope for the future; she will know that she is loved, valued, and can be used by God. I would be lying if I said I didn't shed any tears.
Sharon's mother expressed to us that she has a newfound love for her daughter and realizes that Sharon is a gift from God and part of his creation. It will take a little more than the regular single child sponsorship to support Sharon in her new school. We would love to invite you to help her monthly by clicking the link below.