A Global Advent: 25 Stories of God With Us Around the WorldExemplo

Do you have a favourite Christmas meal?

Though many people may have a different answer to this question this Christmas, with the ongoing global food crisis, the question on the hearts of many families will be: will we have a meal at all?

With not enough to eat, children living in poverty are being pushed to the brink of severe malnutrition.

In countries like the Dominican Republic, malnutrition was already a growing problem that families like Maridenia’s were fighting to overcome. But now, it’s further exacerbated for families like hers.

For Maridenia, pregnancy was difficult. Living with sickle cell disease heightened the symptoms of fatigue, body pain, and vomiting. She could barely eat the little food she could afford.

At just 37 weeks, Maridenia gave birth to baby Darlin, who was underweight and vulnerable.

Anxious and frustrated that she couldn’t afford enough food or a balanced nutrition for her baby, she watched helplessly as his condition continued to deteriorate.

Until God stepped in.

Photo Caption: Maridenia and her son, Darlin.

At just a few days old, Maridenia was visited by the local church, and Darlin was urgently registered. The centre quickly started providing the vitamins, medicine, and formula needed to save Darlin’s life.

“It was amazing to see my boy recovering. It was a miracle,” says Maridenia.

Darlin started to gain weight and grow after just a month of starting his treatment. When he was six months old, he became part of a three-month nutrition program, visiting the centre every morning to receive a good breakfast with all the nutrients he needed.

By the time he graduated from the Survival program to Compassion’s Child Sponsorship program, Darlin was completely healthy and energetic like boys his age.

Photo Caption: Today, Darlin is healthy, strong and thriving.

Meeting the urgent needs of children living in poverty and facing extreme hunger is one of the most powerful ways that local churches are showing the love of Christ to Darlin and thousands more children across the Dominican Republic.

How can you be Jesus’ hand of provision to someone who desperately needs it today, both locally and globally?