By Marco M, for Hope for MENA

'Freind' is spelled 'friend', and 'cheair' is spelled 'chair'. As I teach English to the teachers at the Center of Hope, a boynamed Mark walks up to one of the teachers, Jacob, and tugged on his shirt. They spoke in short, quick sentences in Arabic, and Mark pointed at his left leg.

On his leg is a loose bandage with dried blood that had seeped through the bandage. As they continued to speak, Mark pulled back the bandage, revealing a big cut on his leg. Even without understanding the words that were spoken, I knew that this boy needed immediate medical attention. 

Turning to one of our Hope for MENA volunteer, a nurse, I asked him to check on Mark's wound. It was by God's grace that he provided us with a nurse who came prepared with a medical bag.

With expertise, he gently removed the old and dirty bandage, cleaned up the wound, and wrapped it with clean bandage. More volunteers, seeing the crisis that happened, was moved to pray. They formed a circle around the wounded boy, and prayed for him.

Afterwards, the teacher sent the boy home, along with some food. Curious as to what happened to Mark, I asked the teacher at the Center to tell me about what happened. He told me that as the boy was leaving his house, some of the local kids threw glass at him, cutting his left leg.

Mark's experience is an every day struggle for the Sudanese children living in North Africa. There is hostility between the Sudanese children and the local children, and they will fight with each other. Often without provocation.

This is why the Center of Hope is very important in this community. For the children, the center is a place of refuge, and a place where the children can feel the love of Jesus.

When Mark was in trouble and needed help with his wounded leg, he went to the teachers at the Center of Hope because he knows that they love him and will take care of him. 

We want to equip the teachers to better serve the students by training them in first aid. God has blessed us with two nurses this month, and they are eager to pass on their knowledge and skills, out of love for the children. We will also provide the Center of Hope with basic medical equipment, so that when the need arise, the teachers will be prepared.

Thank you for your support and partnership. Please continue to keep the children in your prayers, so that God will continue to protect them every moment of every day.