I woke up one morning and had a message from our partner in Burundi, Cedrick. He informed me that one of the orphans from Nezerwa Centre had not been feeling well with dizziness and vomiting, and that they had taken him to a local hospital. They did the right thing even though they knew there was no way they were going to be able to pay the bill. We told them to please, make sure he received all the tests and medicine he needed and we would trust God for the funding to send them.

That same week, a friend of mine in the States asked about the orphanage. I shared about 2 needs: 1. new 2-day-old baby that had been abandoned and given to the orphanage, and 2. about the sick boy, whose name is Eric. They thought Eric had a few different issues, but the tests were not conclusive. They treated him for a blood infection, and over the week, he began improving. That friend ended up sending money to World Renewal Burundi, which we immediately sent on to Cedrick. He was able to buy some formula for the newborn baby, cover Eric’s medical bills and also save some for further testing to make sure Eric received further care at a specialist.

It’s been amazing to partner with Boaz, our medical doctor friend, currently living in Kenya, and trying to raise support to get back to Burundi. You see, in Burundi, there are not many doctors, and the ones that are there typically have not had a lot of medical training. We have been able to send test results and information to Boaz to receive his medical opinion on how to care for the orphans, and once he is able to be on the ground in Burundi again he will be a huge asset for the orphanage when children are sick. Boaz suggested Eric see a hematologist after he a few days out of the hospital. When Cedrick took Eric to the hospital they discovered the hematologist no longer is in Burundi. They went to another hospital and the same thing happened, no more hematologist.

A doctor cannot make enough money to support their family in Burundi, quite different than in the U.S. We are grateful that Eric is doing so much better, and we are trusting God to provide a doctor should he need further medical care. Without my friend asking about the needs, without someone caring enough to do something, and without the financial support received, Eric would still be sick, or worse. This is the plight in Burundi so often. They don’t have the means to seek medical care so by the time they seek it, often it can be too late. They also don’t have adequate medical care so often times even when they seek medical care there is not the equipment or medicine to properly treat the patient.

We are praising God that Eric was able to obtain the right care his body needed to heal. We praise God that He cares so much about Eric’s life that He orchestrated every detail for Eric to be cared for well. Donations made to World Renewal Burundi are tax-deductible and are used to pay staff members like Cedrick, who are on the ground, taking care of the orphans. The money also goes to the orphanage for food, clothing, and, like this story, medical needs.

I was texting with the orphanage director, and she was saying, “Thank you!” She said, “Eric is better because of you.” Your giving impacts these orphans’ lives in ways you cannot imagine. You are literally helping save their lives and helping fund the salary for people like Cedrick to visit the orphanage for evangelism and discipleship, too. God’s heart is clearly for the orphan!