Just a brief post today – sometimes the “work of orphan care” can leave us not knowing what to say. I’m grateful today for the encouragement in Romans 8:26 – “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

I was writing another post – a story about an incredibly inspiring 16 year old named Senzi. I want you to hear her story, but I think we’ll wait until another day. There’s more to “unpack” if we want to feel the full impact of her life – and our role in it.

Today, I just want to ask you to pray for kids who lose grandparents. Pray for 17 year old Crown who, as I am writing this, is attending the funeral of his grandmother in Zimbabwe. She was his primary caregiver since the deaths of his parents. I had a scheduled call with Crown’s pastor today, but we cut it short so the pastor could go to be with the family at the funeral. His heart is heavy with the questions of what will happen to Crown now that his caregiver is gone.

Pray for Darlene (left) too. Her grandmother died a month ago after a long illness. We’ve been praying for this sweet girl for some time. Ryan Keith met Darlene at her school earlier this spring. Already the imminent death of her grandmother seemed to be looming over the family. Right now the long-term care plan for the 6 children she was raising is still being determined.

I hope to share more with you in the future about Darlene, Crown and Senzi. But today, would you take a moment to lift them up in prayer? If I’ve learned anything in this “work of orphan care” it’s that prayer is powerful and God is enough. So let’s trust Him and seek Him now.

Thank you.

Ellen Shaffer, Director of Project Management

Tags: death, grandparents, HIV/AIDS, prayer, zimbabwe
Filed under: General Blog