I want to ask you to join me in both prayer and financial support for a young man named Francis. His story is remarkable, a little discouraging but yet also filled with hope.
I will set the stage for ya. This is an excerpt from the email that I sent to my peers, as well as staff and faculty: Sudan has been torn with civil war between Christians and the Muslim factions, each vying for power. That warfare has caused much destruction, disease, famine and death. (Remember Darfur? Im talking about the same thing.) It has torn apart families and created many refuges. Children have been dragged off into military service. We in America watch helplessly as yet another African
country tears itself apart from the inside.
That is the background. It is dark and seemingly hopeless. But there are stories
that come out of that that give hope. My mom has been working with HIV +
women and widows to help train them to make a sustainable living. One of
the ladies she is working with is Mary. Mary is a refugee from Sudan and her
son, Francis, needs our help.
Quick Summary of Francis's life to date:
-His father was shot and killed many years ago in Sudan.
-His mother was forcibly married off to her deceased husband's brother. (Bride
inheritance)
-He and his brothers were conscripted to one the warring factions (as child
soldiers.)
-His mother's second husband died of a heart attack. Not wanting to face bride
inheritance again, she fled and spent a long time searching for her kids.
-She found her sons, and she and 8 kids walked to Kenya.
-They were shot and wounded, but survived.
-Now he is trying to get the education that has eluded him for the majority of
his life.
Its an incredible story. But there is one hang up. Francis doesn't have money for
school (a problem that some of us are familiar with, I know).
Please join me in providing for Francis's schooling. Our gracious Lord has given
us so much. As the Lord leads, please prayerfully consider giving to this worthy
cause. If you would like to help Francis out, email me here or email my parents in Kenya here. For those who are US based, it would be easiest if you dealt with me.
This is an opportunity to show the love of our Savior to our fellow brother in Christ. My mom told me that Francis is coming by the house in Kenya tomorrow to wash my parents car..... so that he can have transportation money to get to church. I am eager to help such a determined young man. I hope you are, too!
Feel free to email me with any questions.
In our Savior,
Martyn
