I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.—Psalm 13:6
Patricia remembers when community members would see people from her family coming and say: “Look at that thing.” Because of their poverty, they weren’t even considered human beings.
They seemed destined to continue along the path of generational poverty, but in 2011, their fortunes took a dramatic turn for the better.
World Vision had first come to their community of Moyo in southern Zambia in 2010. During that first year, World Vision worked with community members to identify families who faced the greatest need. Then, through World Vision’s Gift Catalog, they provided many families — including Patricia and her husband, Danford — with the gift of goats.
Danford says, “When I received the goats, I told myself, ‘Here comes the freedom. This is the end of the suffering that my family has been going through.’”
Patricia breaks it down to the basics. “Goats actually change everything,” she says. “Goats give health to a family. Goats give education to a family. Goats bring food to a family.”
Their granddaughter, 9-year-old Rosemary, doesn’t know the hunger and hardship her family used to face. She knows only the prosperity. She knows about plenty. She knows about learning. She knows about sharing. She knows she’s free to follow her dream of becoming a chef.
“Our children and grandchildren are now able to dream more and more because there is a lot of hope in what World Vision has done for us,” says Danford. “My faith has grown so much that I am always made to continue to pray and worship God because he has done it for us through World Vision.”
Join us in praying Psalm 13:6 over Rosemary, her family, and the work World Vision is doing to release families from generational poverty.
“I will sing …”
Tanta malundu a Leza.
Nyika ibone.
Tanta malundu acingano,
Nyika ibone.
Rosemary and Patricia sing this African hymn together, which translates to: “Climb the stairs so the world can know that you are a child of God. Climb the stairs carrying your cross to show the world that you are a child of God.” Rosemary’s family history of need and their present filled with plenty and generosity stand as a witness. And it all started with the gift of five goats.
Father God, we are Your children. Let us stand together as a witness and sing out to the world of your goodness. Let us show Your great love and mercy to those less fortunate.
“… the Lord’s praise …”
Like Rosemary, 4-year-old Chansa thankfully hasn’t learned the hard lessons of poverty. He doesn’t have to wonder whether a meal is coming each day. He won’t feel hunger gnawing at him as he struggles to learn. Instead, he will be free to grow to his full potential.
But Chansa’s grandmother, Esnart, remembers a time when they only had hunger and heartache. She knows the ramifications of desperate poverty. She understands the physical and psychological effects it imprints on people. And she is incredibly thankful for the Lord’s blessing on her family — four chickens and a rooster from World Vision. “My heart was ignited with so much joy,” says Esnart. Within a year, Esnart’s animals numbered 200 roosters, 124 chickens, and eight baby chicks
Almighty Lord, we sing Your praise. We give thanks for Your blessings in our lives and in the lives of people around the world like Rosemary, Chansa, and Esnart. Not to us, but to Your name be the glory.
“… for he has been good to me.”
The chickens helped Esnart’s faith grow in addition to sponsorship for her children and grandchildren. “It has made me realize that God came, like sending his own angel to come before me,” says Esnart. “Those years I spent struggling and praying, he heard me and answered.” Although Esnart’s family was once shunned in their Tonga society because they were poor, now many people in need come to them for help.
So she now shows Chansa the importance of helping others to share Christ’s love in their community of Sinazongwe, Zambia. Her faith enables her to forgive. “I need to show them an example of how they need to live,” Esnart says. “God is using me, not just for my well-being, but also for the well-being of others.”
Merciful Provider, we thank You for all you have done for Esnart and Chansa’s family. You have been good to us. We thank You for Your faithfulness. Use us for Your glory.
Contributor: Laura Reinhardt, World Vision staff
