David attends John Knox Christian School in Stoney Creek, Ontario. At one of the school’s chapels, a teacher told the students about the life of people in Uganda and her own visits to that country. David came home with a heavy heart.
“That night, David broke down and began talking about what he had learned that morning about the people of Uganda,” said David’s mother, Danielle. “He was sad that they didn’t have enough food. He also emphatically explained that he wanted to do something so that he could help them.”
David’s Aunt, Maria Oliveira, works for World Renew and had travelled to Uganda the previous summer. Danielle suggested that Maria come over to talk to David about his concerns and his desire to help. Maria showed David some of the pictures from her trip and also talked about the work that World Renew was doing to help people. She then told him about World Renew’s gift catalog and how people could raise money for simple things that could make a big difference in someone’s life.
When asked how he felt being able to help others, David said, “Happy, because when I give a gift to someone, it is like giving a gift to God.”
“We found a copy of the World Renew gift catalog at our church,” said Danielle. “David took it home and began reading it almost immediately. The following night when he got home from school, he pulled it out again and read through it. This happened each night for quite some time.” Recognizing that some of the items he most wanted to give were too expensive for him to purchase on his own, David talked to his parents about doing some extra chores around the house to earn more money. “Some jobs I did were raking leaves, emptying and filling the dishwasher, vacuuming, and snow shoveling,” said David.
Despite these increased earnings, David wanted to do even more to raise money. He thought about several ideas before he called his grandparents and asked them about the possibility of having a family offering at Christmas before opening presents. David said this took a lot of courage but he was very excited to be able to help people in need.
“After receiving the OK from Grandma and Grandpa, David sent an e-mail to his aunts and uncles explaining what would be happening at Christmas this year,” said Danielle. “In his letter, he explained that by doing this, you could provide a goat for someone to help provide them with milk and cheese, maize seed to help provide food, and water filters so that people could have clean water.”
His relatives were eager to support him in this cause. At their Christmas celebration, David collected people’s donations and helped to tabulate the total. Together, the family raised $505 – enough for 6 goats, 6 water filters, 6 bags of seed and $25 for World Renew to use where it was most needed.
When asked how he felt being able to help others, David said, “Happy, because when I give a gift to someone, it is like giving a gift to God.”
“God placed compassion in David’s heart and used him to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Danielle. “I’m so grateful for this and pray that David’s compassion will continue to grow and bring glory to our Savior and King.”
David and his family are just one example of thousands of people across the United States and Canada who supported World Renew through the Gift Catalog this Christmas season. Through your generosity, $1,050,000 was received for this year’s catalog which will be used to carry out much needed programs around the world. Thank you for making a difference and bringing hope to individuals, families and communities living in poverty.
For more information about the Gift Catalog program, please visit www.worldrenewgifts.net.
* Last name has been withheld to protect child privacy
