It’s no secret that 2020 has changed a lot of things in our world. The old ease of getting together with friends and loved ones is sorely missed. Stock in companies that produce hand sanitizer has soared. International travel—once a privilege of relative ease—is restricted beyond what we could have imagined at the close of 2019.

So it comes as no surprise that the most frequent question I’ve gotten of late is, “What’s happening since you can’t travel?”

I’m happy to reply that—due to The Boaz Project’s strategic partnerships with those caring for orphans around the world—I can answer that children are being loved, fed, prayed over, and tucked into bed each night.

More than 99% of the world’s orphans reside outside the U.S. We at The Boaz Project believe the best way to care for them is through Christians in their own communities. These believers already know the language and culture where these children are. They know how best to interact with their governments and neighbors. They know which local church body will welcome the children. And, like us, they are called by God to care for “the least of these.”

Over the years, this methodology has proven effective in helping children from traumatic backgrounds become healthy, thriving adults.

But never has this approach proven more helpful than now.

The reality of Covid-19 means our U.S.-based staff can’t physically visit the children right now. We can’t take teams to hold Vacation Bible School or buy Christmas gifts. We can’t pop in for evening devotions or play their favorite games with them.

Yet, the children’s lives have not been disrupted by this.

Don’t get me wrong; they miss the attention our teams give. But their needs are met just as they were before we’d heard of Covid-19…through loving hands and feet in their communities.

 

Believing in miracles,
April Jurgensen
Founder/Executive Director
The Boaz Project, Inc.

3 Comments

  1. Jill Dyer

    It’s gratifying to know that the mission of The Boaz Project was well established prior to 2020 and COVID-19. Supporting locally-run homes for orphans is such an effective model that care could continue even during a pandemic. What a blessing to be able to assist and encourage the caregivers during such a time.

    Reply
  2. Gloria Williams

    April, I have a vague recollection of a book you recommended earlier this year, I believe it was, that you recommended as a resource for Americans who adopted from other cultures. However, I have misplaced the note I made about it. Can you tell me the name of the book and the author, please?

    Reply
    • April Jurgensen

      Thanks for reaching out, Gloria! It must have been either “The Connected Child” by Karyn Purvis or “Childhood Disrupted” by Donna Jackson Nakazawa.

      Here’s the link to the blog article if reading about them will help you decide which one:

      https://www.boazproject.org/our-five-favorite-books/

      Reply

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