Kits for Kids

Kits for Kids (Children, not Goats)

As many of you know, YWAM Idaho conducted a change drive in order to buy hygiene kits for children in villages. We developed a hygiene teaching to accompany the kits and so far this new initiative has met with good success. We’ve discovered that we can assemble one kit for about $1.00. This kit includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb, shampoo, fingernail clippers, and soap. Some of these children have never used a toothbrush before and may of the families cannot afford to buy soap, but they all appreciate the gift and information we are trying to pass on.

One of the most important concepts we teach and also the best received is the proper disposal of excrement. We explain how dangerous germs can be spread by flies that land on exposed excrement and how if it lies close to places where people farm, play, and bathe, they are likely to ingest dangerous germs. Some of the villagers seem to have never learned that exposed excrement is one of the main sources of disease.

We are happy to show the love of Jesus with no strings attached. We’ve gone into many “closed” villages and have simply done the hygiene teaching without any further explanation. In other villages, the teaching has served as a powerful demonstration of the “two-handed gospel” – proclamation accompanied by acts of love. And, of course, the teaching has opened some closed doors.

For several years our hosts, M. and S., have been trying to share the gospel in a youth hostel that M’s cousin runs. They are devout Hindus and disciples of a dead guru named Sai Baba who has achieved the status of a god in many areas of India. M’s cousin has refused her every time and won’t even go out to dinner with M and S. This time M told her cousin about the hygiene teaching and the kits the children would receive. Her cousin was very open to this idea and invited the team to come. After the teaching we got the opportunity to share why we traveled from America to give the teaching which, in turn, gave us the opportunity to tell stories about Jesus.

Afterwards, M’s cousin was very thankful and was even open to discussing dates when M and S could have her and her husband over for dinner. Love truly does destroy barriers.

We’ve passed out about 500 bags so far and hope to pass out about 150 more in A. Thank you all back home who sewed bags, donated goods, and gave your money sacrificially. You have partnered with us in spreading the love of Jesus. We tell the villagers that people in the U.S. care about them so much that they gave their time and money to help us create the bags.