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Matthew The Cost of War In these last weeks of sharing stories of the lives of some of our children in Sudan, most have been ones with obvious hope and clear signs of redemptive healing for the child. I am thinking particularly of young Mary who almost died of meningitis, Teresa Nyibol who we rescued from being sold as a sex-slave, and Santino who lost his hand from a grenade but found joy by being received back into our school still able to write with his right hand. Lately, I have been struggling with, while I want you to see the hope and catch the vision for the long-term change that is coming about through carefully protecting and investing in the next generation of peace-making leaders of Sudan, I also want you to understand this is a long and arduous journey with many risks, twists, turns and losses along the way.
His name is Matthew. He is the oldest living son of Mary Achai, the woman whose testimony most of you learned last year. She was burned alive when she escaped from her Muslim master and lived through the fiery flames much like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – but lost three of her precious children in those flames. (Click here to read Mary's full story: Mary's Story: Walk In Her Shoes ) When Mary first learned of Make Way Partners and the New Life Ministry compound we have in Sudan – a days walk from the village where she was staying, it was Matthew who begged his mother to make the arduous journey in the sun to ask for help. Mary was afraid to walk that far because the heat and exposure to the sun puckered her open wounds and drew out great pain. Matthew, then 9 or 10 years old, assured his mother that he would walk with her, trying to shield her with a blanket from the sun. Mary leaned on Matthew much of the way. Mary is defiantly a blessing from the Lord! The healing that God brought about through Make Way Partners and several of our partners has warmed the hearts of many. Mary has responded with deep gratitude, and servant-hood. She now leads the micro-enterprise Mary's Crosses, which employs former sex-slaves and provides ample support for their children. The painful twist in this story is the sweet Matthew that I first met nearly three years ago seems to have gotten lost in a quagmire of rage and rebellion. We are well acquainted with the wounds of the children and orphans we serve. Many of them first come to us vowing to kill the fathers of the people who killed their fathers. We spend much time listening to their stories, fears, anger and hurts. We work hard not to ‘dress their wounds' too quickly but give them time, structure and much love to get to the deep pain that drives them. You have heard many stories with glimpses of healing. Matthew needs your prayers that he might find that peace as well. Matthew is now approximately 13 years old. His mother, Mary, reported to us that Matthew is openly hostile to her and is pulling her other two young sons (approximately six and nine) into trouble. Our teachers are having serious problems with him in school. Many of his classmates speak with him about how fortunate he is to have an education when thousands of orphans stand outside the gates of the school literally dying to take his place. Still, Matthew's heart turns harder. Recently, he stole all of his mother's hard earned pay from her for some transaction in the market. While I was on the ground during the meningitis outbreak, he stoned young Mary (who almost died from meningitis) her first day back to school. We were able to intervene and Mary was not seriously injured, however, the hate in Matthew's heart is evident. James, our indigenous director, pulled him out of school and has begun to mentor him. At moments, we see cracks in his armor but they seem to quickly self-weld shut and the tender boy who cared so deeply for his mother disappears for long periods of time again. We do not give up, but the battle is long and hard. The sooner we get a child and the earlier we can begin to love, protect and care for him or her, the much higher our success rate of raising up healthy, loving healers. Please pray for Matthew by name and donate now to stand with us in this battle: Donate Now! Or become a personal child sponsor today: click here. - Kimberly Smith, President |
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