With ninety-seven percent of the population living on less than $2 a day, Tanzania ranks as one of the poorest countries in the world. In addition to poverty, low education and inadequate health precautions also cause several problems. Numerous people continue to die from malaria, AIDS and other diseases. However, God still remains present in Tanzania. In this Muslim-dominated country, God has created a “delicate peace” between Muslims and Christians, allowing them to work together toward survival.

VisionTrust has used this peace in its partnership with Morogoro Baptist Primary School. The school teaches nearly 300 needy children from preschool to 7th grade. Several Muslim families send their children to the school despite its Christian basis. Once there, the children receive physical care and spiritual growth.

A story of Glory

This is Glory Godflei. I have known her since she was barely three years old and started attending the preschool we were partnering with in Morogoro, TZ. One of my closest friends sponsors this little girl, so I’ve made a point to visit and take pictures of Glory whenever I’m in Tanzania. Over the years, I have not only watched her grow up, but I’ve had the chance to learn more about her family. She had loving Christian parents who tried their best to take care of their family.

This past summer, Glory’s mother became pregnant, but something was wrong with the way the baby was turned. There is only one OBGYN in the city who serves hundreds of thousands of people, so getting adequate prenatal care is literally impossible. Glory’s mother went to someone who she trusted, I suppose at one of the local medical clinics.

She was told that her only option was to abort the baby.

In their culture, the medical practices are at best fifty years behind the first world. They believed they were doing what was necessary to save the life of Glory’s mother, so they agreed to abort the baby. Very sadly, the mother was also killed in the process.

Now, precious Glory will grow up without her loving mother because of this reckless practice. Fortunately, Glory’s father is walking with the Lord and will raise Glory with the love of God, but he can never replace or make up for the love of her precious mother. Glory will grow up, Lord willing, in our partner school where we will share the love of Christ with her and give her the best education, nutrition, and discipleship possible.

But, we too, can never adequately make up for her loss, only God can.

Glory represents so many children who have lost one or both parents due to senseless and reckless practices. Please pray for their family and that horrific practices like this would end.