A Humble Request
It’s not uncommon to receive visitors to our Palava Hut during our morning devotion. Many of the people come with various requests for assistance. One of the most common concerns all people have is their children. Liberia is no different, the concerns for the children are many. The fact is that children in Liberia suffer in so many ways. We pray with those who come and try to discern the best way to help.
Jacob came requesting help for a very common problem in Liberia, hernia. Initially shy, he shared his physical pain first, then he opened up more and shared the emotional pain resulting from his condition. Jacob’s hernia is a longterm problem. It is also a longterm source of shame. His classmates ridicule and exclude him. He often wears his backpack on the front in order to hide the hernia’s protrusion.
A Heartbreaking Testimony
He told us “I can be hiding behind the latrine until assembly be over… then I go inside.” Our hearts broke. Hiding behind a latrine is more preferable for Jacob than bearing the teasing of his fellow students. This is not surprising. Shaming and ostracizing are prevalent. This treatment results in two of the greatest fears anyone could experience here. Shame and exclusion are also two of the most common weapons of manipulation in Liberia. The pain of the hernia is great, but the pain of his shame and loneliness is almost unbearable.
One Down… One to Go… A Suffering Child Has Hope!
Thankfully, he is now on the schedule to receive an operation for the hernia. This is possible because of gifts like yours. Every dollar that you contribute to our project fund goes to help people like Jacob.
Yet Jacob is still in need. His knit cap hides a large growth. Sometimes his growth ruptures, causing further pain and shame. And it always grows back. We have reached out to some of the few local surgeons. So far, none have expressed the confidence in being able to remove his growth.
Please consider how you can help Jacob remove his growth. We need expert advice. Once we receive guidance, Jacob will also need financial assistance for likely surgery.
Help Jacob to be able to go hat free, and to feel free to join his schoolmates in classroom activities . Thank you, for your generosity.
Click on “Give”: https://shepherds.international/kittredge/
Send us a note: liberiacoramdeo@gmail.com