Miriam wanted a better life for her daughter, Kaia. But was it possible? Like many people in her village, Miriam was battling poverty and losing. She worked tirelessly, but hunger was a frequent visitor to their small, crumbling house.
Kaia, who was a diligent fourth-grade student, dreamed of a better life. But books, school supplies and three meals a day were luxuries she knew her mother couldn’t afford. It was here, in their struggle, that God saw Miriam, and whether she believed He was real or not, He had a plan for her.
Hope From Above
When GFA World’s Child Sponsorship Program opened in Miriam’s village, the staff enrolled Kaia, and hope finally arrived. The child sponsorship program is designed to help families—such as Miriam and Kaia’s—and communities in need. Program staff reflect Christ’s love while providing vocational training classes, literacy classes and income-generating gifts such as cows, goats, chickens or pigs. These opportunities for learning and earning are designed to strengthen the community and family and help them fight poverty.
When these gifts are given at Christmas time, the program staff also have the opportunity to share the true meaning of Christmas—celebrating how Christ gave Himself up as a gift for all people (see Philippians 2:6-11). Thus, these gifts often become a catalyst for recipients to find freedom in Christ, as well as freedom from poverty. Miriam was about to have one such opportunity.
A Program Providing … Goats?
One day, the child sponsorship staff gave goats to 20 needy families. Miriam’s family received two of these goats. Through this, God provided Miriam and her family a lifeline. Goats are perfect gifts for people in less economically developed areas. They are easy to raise, produce marketable products and are inexpensive to care for. The goats Miriam received wouldn’t need much space, and she wouldn’t have to buy food for them because they would be fine grazing on shrubs, weeds and other plants.
Miriam recognized the opportunities these goats could unlock and began diligently caring for them. She fed them, gave them clean water and made sure they were healthy. Kaia, seeing her mother’s dedication, also began helping with the goats after school by collecting grass for them to eat and watching over them as they grazed.
After two and a half months, the family’s work was rewarded: a healthy baby goat was born, and along with it, great joy for the family. With three goats, the family could breed even more goats and expand their small herd in the future. The extra income that came from the goats helped Miriam provide three meals a day for her family and gave Kaia the opportunity to continue her education without worry.
“We had almost lost hope,” Miriam said, “but these goats have given us a future. My daughter will not suffer like I did.”
Miriam, as a mother, always worked hard, and now, finally, there was fruit from her labor.
Before she received the goats, Miriam watched her children go hungry and struggle in school. Her children were on the same path as her: dropping out of school to find any job she could in an environment that took advantage of and abused her because of her lack of education.
But now, with the income from these goats, Miriam was winning the battle against poverty. Kaia would be able to continue her education, and maybe even become a teacher like she hoped. Yet she would still be able to enjoy childhood without the stress of finances weighing on her mind. God had seen Miriam in her trouble and gave her hope through the gift of these goats.
Gift of Animals, Gift of Hope
Miriam’s family was not the only family transformed. Across the community, other families who received goats were also experiencing newfound stability. What started as a simple gift had become a powerful tool for breaking the chains of poverty.
Whether it’s pigs, chickens, goats, cows or water buffaloes, through your generous support GFA national workers are able to give the gift of animals and help alleviate the suffering of people like Miriam and her family.
More importantly, these animals offer hope to families in need, along with the message of Christ’s great love for them.
Christ Himself was surrounded at His birth with animals like these. He was not arrayed in majesty but was born in a stable meant for animals and placed in a manger. When a gift like one of these animals is given, the precious people receiving it have an opportunity to trust in the One who humbly gave Himself for them.
“This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” —1 John 4:10