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Protect a Child

Category: Uncountable Grace for Myanmar

Ride for Refuge #ride19

The morning of Saturday, October 5, was 5*C and rainy.  “What a nice day for a walk!”  While that might not have been your first thought, that is what Traci Johnston and over 500 others chose to do in the Ride for Refuge in Winnipeg.  By the time the bike ride/walk started, it was 15* but most were sporting rain gear or carried umbrellas.  Some were enthusiastic and even biked 50 km, although one such gentleman was chilled to the bone by the end since he was soaking wet.  However, spirits were not dampened as everyone was celebrating the funds raised for the charities they were passionate about.  There was an atmosphere of unity as 28 charities came together for a common goal of cheering each other on in the work they do for protecting others.  Participants were treated to a lunch afterwards and Winnipeg Police Cadets mingled as they had provided traffic detail for the event. 

Another team rode in Golden, BC, where it was chilly but Mom and daughters were enthusiastic to end trafficking and to provide rescue for those who had a dismal future working in the opium fields. It was so good to see them all power through the beautiful trails and come out victors, having accomplished their goal in riding and fundraising for a worthy cause.

Several teams rode in Cloverdale, BC, some walking 5km while others rode their bikes 10-110km! Rob, Judy and Amber Griffioen were all part of the celebration and were impressed with the organization, snacks and rest stops as well as the great lunch afterwards.

Thanks to all who supported Good News International! Without your support, it would have been just another walk or bike ride. Instead, 20 participants making up 6 teams in 3 locations, raised a total of $8,780! This provides complete yearly support for five children in Myanmar. We are encouraged and excited to watch this grow in the coming years. Thanks for being on our team!

A Father to the Fatherless

Separation anxiety is a real thing and every parent can relate stories of the time they left their toddler with a babysitter and the child cried and cried as the parents left. Every parent reassured the child that they would be back soon. But what if the parents didn’t return?

That’s what happened to Noah* and Nathan,* who are now ten and six years old respectively. Three years ago, their dad, who was a drug addict, disappeared and never returned. They don’t know if he is alive or dead. Shortly after this, their mother and their youngest sister went to China and they have not heard back from them or seen them since. Noah and Nathan were living with their grandmother, who is 70 years old. Since she didn’t have her own place to live, she remarried but now their new grandfather does not want the boys to stay with them because he cannot afford to feed them or send them to school.

The grandmother loves her grandchildren and searched for a Christian leader to take her grandchildren. During one of Steve’s* (GNI leader) evangelism trips, he went to investigate the story and, finding it was true, he offered to take the children to live with him. If he could not take them, the grandmother would have found someone else and Steve and April* felt God tell them to rescue these vulnerable boys. Please pray for these boys to know that they are loved by Steve and April and God, their true Father.

*Names changed to protect identity.

A Grandmother’s Dying Wish

About six years ago, my sisters and I flew from Manitoba to Utah to visit my grandma. This was an extra special visit because she was turning 90 years old! All her children, their spouses and 7 of the 9 grandchildren were able to be there. When the cake was brought out, she exclaimed, “I’ve waited a long time for this!” We all laughed. I guess she had.

A year later, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and I again went to spend time with her. I asked her what she was looking forward to when she got to heaven. She said, “I will be able to run without my knees hurting and I will be able to see well again.” We talked about her life, the things she was delighted about, the things she may have done differently and her wishes.

There is a sense of poignancy to a dying grandmother’s wish. Meet a sweet great-grandmother in Myanmar who’s dying wish is to see her grandson, Kent,* lovingly cared for his whole life.

Kent’s parents both died and there were no other close relatives so he went to live with his great-grandmother. Eventually, she could not work to care for her grandson and it was a struggle to get enough food for him. After all, she was 80 years old now and didn’t even have her own place to live. They moved in with other relatives but she needed to know that her grandson would be cared for before she died.

When Steve,* our local GNI leader, learned about this woman and her plight, he agreed to take Kent to live with him. With a smile and a grateful heart, she said she could now die in peace.

*Names changed to protect identity.

A Mother’s Love

Imagine growing up in a family with 8 brothers and sisters. Your dad is addicted to drugs, which makes him uncontrollable at times and unsafe to be around. There isn’t much money and definitely not enough to go to school, especially since school is so far away that you’d have to board with someone. No, definitely not enough money for that. The only option is for you to go work in the opium fields. Maybe that way there will be enough money to feed the family. And living in a rural village that believes in animism, maybe that’s the best way to sacrifice and appease the spirits. This is your lot in life, the same as the generations before you.

Praise God for your mom who wants a better life for you so when an evangelist, Steve,* comes to your village, she takes you to meet him and beg him to take you to be his own son. She knows that this way you will get to go all the way through school, learn about God and have a hope and a future. The evangelist accepts and brings you into his home. God has smiled on you.

This is Luke’s* story and Steve* and April,* the local GNI leaders and houseparents, are requesting our prayers for this 11 year old as he lives with them and studies in grade 4.

*Names changed to protect identity.