Maria and Nina
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. – Matthew 25:35Two girls came to our orphanage at Providence last week! Nina and Maria have had a difficult upbringing. Their parents are alcoholics and don’t really care about their kids. Maria is the oldest at 14 years old and Nina is 12 years old. Their conditions back home were so poor. The girls were doing all the work around the house often bringing wood in from the forest for the winter… They said they didn’t even have a gate around their house. (Every home in Moldova has a gate around it for protection.) They didn’t have a shower or toilet in their home; the girls used to wash themselves with cold water from the well. They never had enough food either.
When they first arrived at Providence House, we took them to take showers and throw away their old clothes. (That’s the first thing we do when kids come to Providence House.) They were very afraid of our indoor shower and warm water… We clothed them and gave them everything they needed. They were so happy when they first walked into their room and saw their clean beds. They never had their own beds back home. That first meal, they ate more than the adults because they were so hungry. We took them to see a doctor to make sure they are healthy, and unfortunately, Maria was diagnosed with stomach problems because she was not fed properly. We put Maria in fifth grade and her sister Nina in fourth grade. They have a lot to study if they are going to catch up in school, but they are so happy to live at Providence House!
All this would not be possible if people like you—from all around the world—did not care.
The Bible says in Matthew 25:35, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” The same compassion that was given Jesus is expected from us daily. God calls us to extend pity, compassion, and kindness to those in need. Thank you for doing just that.
