FACE TO FACE WITH GLORY
A small child of five years old arrived with mismatched shoes on her feet. She had with her a humble bedsheet and a plastic cup. Timidly, the girl named Glory began boarding school with very little of her own. She was welcomed by a local ministry dedicated to supporting children with Albinism. Glory’s genetic condition isn’t a disease, but it is a disability that leaves her particularly vulnerable, especially where she lives in Tanzania.
Most children in the world can run outside to play in the sunshine without fear. For Glory, the sun is especially damaging to her sensitive skin. Since she was born with a lack of pigment, she cannot expose her skin to sunlight, so she wears a hat to protect her face. She isn’t just at a higher risk for skin cancer; her safety is a concern. A child with Albinism is at risk of harm, discrimination, and abuse from their community. Men, women, and children born with Albinism are treated as less than human and are often chased from school, maimed, beaten, or killed.
When Glory arrived in the loving care of Peacemakers for Albinism and Community, she was angry, malnourished, and mentally unwell. One of 7 children, Glory and her family struggled to survive. Her mother would scavenge through the dump near their house, trying to find food and other essentials to sustain her family. Glory experienced chaos and poverty during her early childhood. Her story began to pivot when she experienced God’s deep love for her through the kindness and care of the staff at Peacemakers and Lahash.
Reverend Martha Mganga, the founder of the local ministry, was born with albinism and faced abuse growing up in Tanzania. After a life-changing encounter with God while attempting to take her own life, she found hope and began her ministry dedicated to caring for children with albinism. Despite ongoing threats to her safety, she advocates for her children and spreads the message of unconditional love, inspired by God’s audible words to her, “Don’t be afraid, I love you.”
Through partnership with Lahash, Peacemakers connects vulnerable children with global sponsors who pray, advocate for, and support the children in their dreams, education, healing, and discipleship.Through this Sponsorship program, Glory met a woman named Jessica. “I have a disability as well,” shared Jessica, “I have cerebral palsy. So there’s a common bond there also –– that we both are misunderstood by society.”
Glory and Jessica stay in touch through letters and photos. “There’s just a different perspective when you have somebody across the world that you’re praying for and that you love and you care about,” said Jessica.
Jessica has traveled multiple times to Tanzania to spend time with Glory. At a recent event, Glory saw Jessica arrive and ran to her for an embrace. When asked what she loves about her sponsor, Glory responded gently, “Everything.”
It is evident that Glory is a leader among her peers; she is quick to answer questions about the Bible and leads a group of children in song and dance. “You’ve grown so much in height, but also in courage and bravery, and the ability to assert yourself,” Jessica said to Glory, “and you are blossoming into a beautiful leader. I’m very proud of you.”
What has the program provided for Glory? “Love,” said Mariam Munga, one of the leaders. “She believes in herself now; she can stand anywhere and tell her story.” Love transformed Glory. 
She is no longer the insecure and unhappy child who arrived 8 years ago. “She has peace,” said Mariam. “She’s doing well in school, and she’s doing well with the support that she’s getting from Peacemakers and Lahash.” Glory has dreams and wants to serve as a chief justice someday.
“I’ve worked at Lahash for almost 18 years, and I’ve seen so many children be transformed from a very difficult background to a spot where they’re able to care for themselves and finish university, start working, or run a business,” Lahash East Africa Director, Edwin Angote shared.
The ripples of sponsoring one child impact the family and the community as that child grows into a leader. The transformation is already evident in Glory and her family.
Glory’s mother no longer needs to scavenge at the dump.The staff at Peacemakers helped her connect to a training program, and now she runs her own soap business. She has also come to faith in Christ, loves Jesus, and now attends church regularly. “Lahash has changed my life,” Glory shared, standing up before her peers and the staff from Lahash. “We are living well now. I thank you, Lahash, for everything.”
To love a child is to come face to face with the glory of God. “To anyone who’s considering sponsorship, do it,” said Jessica. “My life has changed.”
Before leaving Tanzania, Jessica visited Glory at school and gave her a matching bracelet as a reminder of their bond across the miles. “My prayer is that, Glory, you would continue to walk in all the joy that God has given you and continue to walk in the leadership that God has given you, and that you would continue to be light to all around you”
Jessica and Glory hugged goodbye. Glory was wearing her bracelet as she parted ways with her sponsor. And she wore love, shining on her face, bright like the sun.
Sponsor a child at LAHASH.ORG/SPONSORSHIP