Jeremia – A Story of Faith, Hope, and Love

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In the “love chapter” of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13 – Paul wrote, “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

While everyone was talking about love, Rev and I are clinging to all three . . . faith and hope and love. 

The phone rang Friday morning. Caller ID read, World Vision. A Child Sponsorship Representative on the other end of the line began:

My name is Debbie, and I’m calling about your sponsored child, Jeremia. I’m so sorry to have to tell you that he was playing with friends at the river when he was caught by the current and drowned before help could arrive.

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Today I’m asking you to join me in Faith, Hope, and Love action. Please don’t allow Jeremia to be just another little boy in a Kenyan village who didn’t get to grow up. His little life was so important . . . to the God who created him, to his family who loved and cared for him, to the World Vision staff who taught him and helped him, and to Rev and me who prayed for him, sent him little notes and gifts, and helped to provide for him. I’m praying his life will brome important to you too. 

Jeremia – Love

His mother said in a note:

He is very active in the family and this has made every family member love him so much.

Jeremia drew this at the top of the page:

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Jeremia – Faith

This was the Christmas Card Jeremia sent us this year:

Card

I picture him sitting in a little chair at a low table getting a little help from his siblings and encouragement from a World Vision staff member. But he was a five-year old little boy who probably would have preferred playing with his friends and chasing the wind.

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A little information about Kenya.

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World Vision is partnering with Kenyans to help enact sustainable solutions for the future of their children, families, and communities. World Vision’s child sponsorship program plays a vital role in this partnership with donors from the United States sponsoring more than 41,300 girls and boys. In addition to sponsorship, World Vision operates other programs that benefit communities in Kenya. Their efforts include:

  • Providing emergency supplies to 600,000 of the most vulnerable people affected by the African drought.
  • Fighting malaria by distributing bed nets.
  • Helping children go to school by removing them from child labor situations.
  • Providing life-skills training to those affected by HIV and AIDS.
  • Increasing access to improved water supply, sanitation facilities and training on hygiene practices to benefit children’s health.
  • Improving the growth and development of boys and girls and the care of pregnant women.

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day – a perfect day for us to give hope for the future to a child, and to their family and community. 

Jeremia – Hope

By God’s grace:

  • I have a confident hope that I will give Jeremia a hug when I greet him in heaven.
  • I hope that you will join me in prayer for Jeremia’s family and the ministry of World Vision.

Father, please hold Jeremia’s family close to You. Comfort their hurting hearts. Give them a vision of their son and brother running, playing, and sitting at the feet of Jesus. Please meet their needs . . . physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional. Father, give them hope, fill them with faith, and surround them with Your love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

  • I hope that you will look into Jeremia’s face and honor him by sponsoring a child through World Vision.

For only $35 a month you can change a child’s life . . . you can offer faith, hope, and love. You can choose a child who shares a birthday with your child or grandchild or one from a specific country. Pray and ask God to connect you with the child He wants for you.

Please visit my World Vision Page – you will learn why this ministry is so important to Rev and me and sponsor a child if you choose. If 10 children are sponsored Rev and I will add another child to our little group. It would be a blessing to add a photo to our bulletin board and name to our prayers.

If you’d like more details about my travels with the World Vision Bolivia Bloggers in 2011 click here.

One last thing . . . would you please share this with your friends and family to help me spread the word about Jeremia, a precious five little boy who touched our lives with faith, hope, and love.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

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6 Comments

  1. I’m so sorry for your loss…and am praying for you and for Jeremia’s family. Thank you for sharing this great information about how to sponsor a child!

    Blessings, Joan

    1. Thank you Joan! He was such a precious little boy. I can’t imagine how his family must be hurting.

      To say traveling with the World Vision Blogger Team to Bolivia truly was life changing. I’ve never seen that kind of poverty before . . . then to see communities where World Vision has worked with families to give them health care, education, and ways to provide for themselves. It’s inspiring. We are completely sold on Child Sponsorship.

  2. Oh Deb I am so sad for this sweet little boy parents and those who knew him. We served in Bolivia for seven years, about 150 miles outside of Santa Cruz, along the Pan American highway. There is a lot of poverty there. The Word talks about our eye affecting our heart and yours has truly been affected by your visit. I will pray for this family as they grieve their loss. Also for and the next child you take on to sponsor. Bless you for your willing heart.

    1. Thank you for your kind words Betty. You’re right, the eye does affect the heart. A good reason to be careful about what we see. But in the case of seeing the needs of others, my prayer is always that the Lord will open my eyes and my heart. Thank you for your prayers that are greatly appreciated.

  3. Melodie Bostic says:

    Thank you for sharing Jeremiah’s story and his pictures. I will continue to pray for his Kenyan family and well as for you and Blake.

    1. Thank you so much Melodie! You are a wonderful blessing to both of us. <3