Hearing, obeying and sharing leads to community transformation

With a passion for children with special educational needs, Shelter began training to become a special education teacher in Zimbabwe. When she heard about the disability awareness course offered by OM in Africa, she eagerly signed up to learn more. Her heart was stirred and her eyes opened to the fact that many children with disabilities in Bemberi, the rural community where she taught in the village school, had never had the opportunity to hear about the love of Jesus.

Following the disability training, Shelter’s vision was for the school in Bemberi to become inclusive for people with all types of disabilities, but with no funding or resources for adaptations or training, it seemed impossible. Through coaching, Shelter was encouraged to use what she did have — her knowledge and understanding of disability and the Bible truths that told of God’s heart of compassion — and pray that the Lord would use those things to bring about change.

Sharing God’s Word faithfully

Shelter boldly began sharing what she was learning about disabilities with the teachers at her school during staff meetings. She led Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) on key Bible passages revealing God’s heart of compassion and love for people with disabilities, starting with John 9:1-5, which talks about the man who was blind from birth. In that passage, Jesus declares that the man was not born blind because of any sin he or his parents committed, but in order that the glory of God could be revealed in his life. 

Shelter spoke with passion at school assemblies on topics related to disabilities and encouraged the children as she spoke about love, acceptance, being caring and the fact that everyone is different but all special. She began doing DBS with children during school breaks on key Bible passages that the OM training had focused on. 

From a place of shame to a place of value

During a DBS focusing on Luke 14:12-14, one of the children approached Shelter and explained that she had a young sister who was hidden away in the house, who is deaf and cannot speak or walk. Shelter tried visiting the young child at home, but the family refused to let her in. She persisted and continued to stop by the family’s home. Eventually, Shelter was invited in, and over time, the family began to trust her and open up to her. She met Kundai, who had been born with a disability, and began sharing God’s Word with the family and praying together. Shelter has begun to see a change of heart within the family as they now see Kundai not as a curse but as a blessing from the Lord. Kundai is allowed to go outside to play with friends and the family shared that they would love her to go to school.

A community transformed

When Shelter completed the disability training, she shared that the school in Bemberi had a number of students with learning disabilities, but no children currently attending with physical disabilities because of the lack of infrastructure to enable access for children with mobility impairments. As Shelter raised awareness about disabilities with the staff at the school, they were moved to share the need for suitable toilets with the community leaders. The community was so inspired that they rallied support and worked together to build accessible toilets at the school for children with mobility impairments. They also now have clean drinking water and sanitation at the school, all achieved through community disability awareness, which brought about a change in perception among those living in Bemberi.

All praise and glory be to the Lord for His faithfulness and thank Him for Shelter, who heard, obeyed and shared the Word of God in her community.