Orphans First Prayer Requests Aug. 30th, 2002   

FRANCE - CHILD RIPPED AWAY FROM MOTHER

        For those who've followed the prayer requests for a while, you may
remember that our Theological Institute has been under much attack, and
modern day "persecution" (see website www.itnimes.org).  Yesderday, we saw
yet another terrible case of a 12-year-old girl being forcibly taken away
from her mother to whom she was clinging and crying, pleading not to be
forced to return to her father.  The father lives in another country.  The
duvirced mother is, of course, in our church.  The father has great
influence, and the child was ripped away from her mother against her will
on the accusation that the mother is in a "cult".  Thus, the repercussions
of the erroneous cult listing of 1996, and the inability of the French
government to change that list, has endless repercussions.  Need I say
more?

        Please pray for precious Kim, forced to live with a father she does
not wish to be with, and to grow up without God, and to be removed from a
loving mother because the mother has chosen to follow Christ.

        In another case of divorce,  two children stayed all summer with
their Aunt & Uncle (a pastor) in America.  Their hearts were ignited for
God.  They learned to love the Bible, church and praise.  They long for one
thing -- to now come weekly to our church here in France as they live only
20 minutes from here.  Their home and school surroundings are godless,
worldly, sensual.  The mother is a backslidden Christian.  Please pray that
God would intervene for these children.  I can't help thinking of this
verse:  "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to
sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck,
and he were drowned in the depth of the sea"  (Mat. 18:6).

BURKINO FASO, AFRICA - blind children, orphans, famine

        I want to update you on our latest work in Burkino Faso, Africa. 
While seeking a better house for the children, Pastor Bamouni has taken
some of them in with his own family.  During his visit here in France, he
has shared with me some of the children's stories.  One ten-year-old boy,
Bado Jonas, used to be cloaked with sadness because his mother abandoned
him, and his father was killed.  Killed for nothing more than theft
motivated by the need to feed his starving family!  Dire poverty led him to
steal, and for that he was shot, leaving behind hungry, defenseless
children.  But thanks to prayer and O.F. sponsors, Jonas now laughs and
plays with the other children, and eats to his fill.  
        It is presently the "Black Season" in Burkino Faso.  July, August
and September mark an annual period of famine during which time many
children eat only a few times a week.  Those in the villages are
particularly at risk, and may spend days without food.  Add to that the
terror of being blind, as is the case of many children in that part of the
world, and black becomes blacker.  One 14-year-old boy living with his
grandmother in a village four hours away from our team, panics every time
she leaves him to work or find food.  He screams,  "Are you going to leave
your blind boy?"  This boy is hungry and frightened.  For him, it has been
a black season for a long time
        I'm always amazed by how much my own 14-year-old can eat. The idea
of a teen boy being deprived of food is unbearable. I often weep for our
street boys in Mumbai, now left homeless, hungry and defenseless again for
reasons I do not know.  During the terrible Monsoon period, I imagine their
sweet faces soaked with rain---and tears.  And there in Africa, the same
image haunts us. A blind orphan boy frightened, hungry, lonely and afraid
of being abandoned.  But thanks to caring people like you, the story is not
over.  In October, this child will join the others in Burkino Faso where he
will go to a special blind school.  Then, he too will smile, play and eat
to his fill.  And even though he may not have eyes to see, the light will
shine strongly in his heart, and he will sense Father's loving embrace
through those who stand in His stead.  Such miracles take place thanks to
prayer.  Thank you.

PERSONAL

        My husband made it to his important meeting.  Rachèle is safe in
Baltimore.  Continue praying for Jennifer, that the details would come
together for her to come and be our son's homeschooler.  And continue
praying for us here, and especially the youth.  Thanks so much.

Janey

Janey L. DeMeo        
Founder/director of Orphans First.   Website:  http://www.OrphansFirst.org/
 
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