Christmas is a beautiful season because of the hope that Christ brings out in each of us, the kind of world we all dream about living in one day or leaving behind for our children, a world in which we help our brothers and sisters, from near and far, fear less and hope more, a world in which we gift one another our time and love, unconditionally. This year, World Poverty Clock reported that Nigeria has surpassed India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty with over 87 million Nigerians living on less than $1.90 a day. A struggling economy and Christmas approaching means that the children we serve, their parents, and local communities struggle to join in the celebration. However, many of you stepped up to ensure that Christmas is a reality for many in Nigeria and that they too, can get a fine glimpse of what Jesus offers: faith, hope, and love.
Your acts of love through the gift of your time, talents, and treasures brought about stories that inspire hope. Through our community outreach program, 700 children got to sit on Santa’s lap to receive Christmas gifts (Click HERE to see pictures). At the A2S Christmas party, they played games, sang songs, and shared their talents. For many of these children, there are no Christmas trees or gifts at the foot of the tree on Christmas morning. Also, 700 families from the community we serve, including families of the children from our After-School Academy who will be on break for two weeks, received food for the holidays (Click HERE to see pictures). Another testimony is that of Omokhuo, who is an industrious lady with special needs who strives to make ends meet for her family. Omokhuo could not make it to the distribution, and our staff noticed. After distribution, our staff took a trip to her house and presented her with food for the holidays. Omokhuo was so excited and spent time thanking God, praying for our team, and for all who made Christmas possible for her. Acts of love like this allowed Omokhuo to seize back her time, and for many this was true. To not just look around for solutions but to pause from their daily struggles, look up and celebrate the gift of God’s provision. His provision through his children like you. Just like Omokhuo, every one of the 700 families impacted this season has a story. A story of hope. A story of faith. A story of love. They get a glimpse of light in a dark world- the light called Jesus.
I am so thankful that we continue to find ways to inspire faith through action that increases the capacity of the communities where we serve while working alongside them to provide education and opportunity. At A2S, we pride our work on partnering with the community where we serve to walk alongside them in this journey. To provide consistency in our approach and to equip them with the tools necessary to bring about the change they desire for their country. In a world where there is so much division, it is good to see everyone come together to share smiles, inspire hope, and empower dreams. For every one of you, we are deeply grateful.
As you celebrate this Christmas season with family and loved ones, please remember that your A2S family in the U.S. and in Nigeria, led by the children, join you to celebrate the hope that Christ provides through his birth, death, and resurrection.
With Joy,
