Sometimes, we need a moment to break us out of our plans for the day. To align ourselves with God’s plans for the world. Our partner organisation in Pakistan shares how they were interrupted in the midst of delivering food parcels, and how this enabled them to serve another family in need…
Around the world, people are being pushed deeper into poverty by coronavirus. Times are hard: people are losing their jobs and their hope. Tearfund and our partners are doing all we can to reach people in need.
So far, our local partners in Pakistan have been able to support 2,000 families on the brink of hunger with food parcel deliveries. They are in the process of increasing this support to reach another 1,000 families.
But while one of our teams was out delivering these parcels, something happened that meant they had to stop what they were doing.
They met Ashiq*
‘Sir, I am not a beggar but a labourer and have not earned anything today. There is a shortage of food at my home and that's why I came out to do work.’
Ashiq is one of the many people in Pakistan who does not have a safety net to fall back on. To feed his family, he has to go out to work every day – even though it exposes him and his family to coronavirus.
‘Maybe it is not my right to ask for this donation of food, but my three kids and my wife are waiting at home for me so I can take something for them to eat, but I still haven't earned anything to buy food for them.
‘May I ask you if one of these food packs could be given to me?’
A decision
There weren't any extra food parcels that our team could give to Ashiq then, but they were determined to do what they could to help him.
They asked Ashiq for his mobile number so they could contact him later. While saving the number in his phone, our team member called to make sure it was correct.
The call was answered by Ashiq’s wife. As her voice came across the line, Ashiq called out: ‘Do not delete this number! Tomorrow we will receive food from this number.’ Our team describes this interaction as being so painful they could hardly hold back their tears.
The next day, our team was able to deliver a food parcel to the family. There was excitement and joy. Happiness could be seen written across Ashiq’s face.
Sometimes, God uses interruptions like this to break us out of our plans. To enable us to see what’s right in front of us so that we can continue to help people in need.
Please pray
Read this prayer from The World Council of Churches out loud three times.
‘O God, to those who have hunger, give bread, and to those who have bread, give the hunger for justice.’
Ask God to highlight to you the difference you can make in your day-to-day life to help people in need. Invite God to interrupt your day and lead you to embrace those moments when you’re able to partner with him.
*Name changed to protect identity
