Maria

This is Maria. She is in Grade 3, and is nine years old. Two weeks ago, the tiny shack she lives in burned down. Her parents were killed in the fire. What little possessions she owned are gone.

Two days ago we drove to her primary school to deliver food parcels for the identified orphans there. The headmaster asked us if we had an extra pair of shoes and clothes for her, as she literally has nothing left except an old school uniform that the school managed to find. Maria doesn't even own a pair of shoes. She is staying with an auntie, who may or not be a blood relative.

My two girls raided their closets to find some clothes for Maria, and what we didn't have, we went out and bought. But providing clothes - while meeting physical needs - won't heal the hurt inside of Maria. When we saw her two days ago her face wasn't smiling and bright like you see in this photo. Her eyes were flat - there was no life, no spark of joy left in them.

I believe absolutely that Jesus can heal any hurt, that there is hope in the darkest of circumstances, but sometimes Jesus also just sat down and cried with people, such as when His friend Lazarus died.

The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, "Jesus wept." But it so powerful! It doesn't say, "Jesus preached a sermon," or "Jesus debated world hunger, politics and suffering in the world." Just two words.... Jesus wept. And in those words lies the very heart of God.