The van bumped along the rocky road as we arrived in Korah.
I braced myself for the sights, the sounds, the smells; the absolute
poverty. It had been nine months since I
had been here, but Korah isn’t a place you easily forget. The first moments were a blur of warm and
precious welcomes. So many hugs and kisses.
I stopped for a moment to redistribute the weight of my bags. And there
it was! In the middle of Korah, above a rusty torn metal fence – a rose bloomed
– a single, vivid red rose.
What a contrast it seemed, a beautiful delicate flower
blooming in the midst of such destitution and yet, that soon became the reoccurring
theme of my visit. Amidst all of the hardships I kept finding little bits of hope
and new beginnings.
Twenty-five of the most impoverished families are being
sponsored. They have rent, food and their children can go to school.
The Berta program is feeding children a nutritious breakfast five days a week. One precious boy that stole my heart was added to the program while I was there. How heartwarming it
was to watch him eat breakfast that next morning.
The elderly lepers are living in a light filled airy home and each of them has a bed. They are so delighted; over and over they expressed thanks for their home.
The Income Generation Project is providing men and women an
opportunity to learn viable skills.
As I left Korah this time it was with a sense of optimism and joy. Yes, it is still destitute and heartbreaking on so many levels. But seeds of hope have been planted. I felt so thankful for each of you that have partnered with Hope for Korah through donations and prayer. And I wanted to tell you that a rose is blooming in Korah.
Mary Jo served on our January 2013 Hope for Korah Team
NEXT TEAM RETURNING TO KORAH
APRIL 2013
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