From Abandoned to Belonging

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In 2006, while working at the hospital with abandoned babies, one baby led us to the village of Cherechiu. When we saw the needs there, we knew we had to do something. Through the love and support of American sponsors, we began by providing food packages to 16 families, building relationships and getting to know the village one home at a time.

The following summer, we began helping in practical ways — repairing mud houses, building new block homes, and working alongside the villagers. Water was brought into the village, gravel was laid for roads, and eventually the mayor completed the work with asphalt. Step by step, the village began to change.

We began holding outdoor church services and Bible Clubs, meeting in the blazing summer sun and heat, through sudden rainstorms, and during the freezing winter months — sharing the Gospel while distributing food, Christmas gifts, and basic supplies to families in need.

Cherechiu is also where PIRANDA began, as villagers made necklaces and bracelets from paper, creating opportunities for families to earn income. But the greatest change did not come through projects or improvements — it came one life at a time, as people began surrendering their hearts to Christ.

Over the years, new believers began to grow, and a church family slowly formed. Today, there is a church in Cherechiu, alive and growing. We gather to worship, pray, and learn God’s Word together, and we continue to see lives changed through the Gospel.

What began with a few families has grown into a thriving church community, and these 19 families are just the beginning in a village of 2,416 people.