Published on: 13 December 2023
Imagine you’re a child in a cold refugee camp. You’ve escaped a brutal war in your home country and you just wish life could go back to “normal.” But for now you must wait with your family — or without, if the war left you an orphan.
Or imagine you’re a child in a very poor family living in Bulgaria, Romania, or Ukraine. Winters are bitterly cold, but your family can’t afford new winter clothes for you. So, you make do with what you have, even though you’ve grown and now your pants are too short, and your jacket is too tight. You squeeze in, hoping to make it through the winter months.
Such a child might be wondering: Does anyone care?
Door of Hope International cares about these children. We definitely know how difficult it can be for children during the wintertime who are living in situations of war, persecution, or extreme poverty. Many of these children need not only warm clothes, but our love and attention as well.
I want to make this Christmas special for hurting children.
With your help, we can provide both warmth and comfort to children in need by making sure they have new winter clothing, a toy to unwrap on Christmas morning and a delicious meal to share with their families.
Let me share with you the encouraging story of one little boy from my country of Bulgaria whose life was forever changed at one of our outreaches last year.
MITKO
The son of a street sweeper in Bulgaria, Mitko knows what it means to be grateful for the little things in life.
Often dressed in dirty, raggedy clothes, Mitko never expects too much from his parents. Together, they live in one room of an abandoned building in the Roma ghetto.
There is no electricity or running water at home. Cooking hot food is difficult. Taking a bath or washing clothes remains a luxury.
Last Christmas was a very special day for Mitko. He had been prepared to not celebrate the holiday or receive any gifts like other kids. Christmas would be just a regular day as it always was before. But his young boy’s heart was hoping that he would at least have enough food to eat!
But God had a surprise waiting for Mitko.
At our annual Christmas program, Mitko received a gift bag. Outside the bag hung a card personally signed by someone he didn’t know. The card read,
“Jesus loves you. He has not forgotten you!”
Tears welled in Mitko’s eyes. How did the stranger know his hurts and pains, he thought. Then he peeked into the gift bag. The excitement on Mitko’s face was priceless! Later that evening as we finished distributing all the gifts to the children, he shared with us,
“I can’t believe Jesus loves me that much!”
That gift Mitko received came from you, our DOHI family. It was the only present he received for Christmas!
Looking back at my own childhood, I know the joy and overwhelming feeling of love Mitko felt. I remember growing up in communist Bulgaria and being hungry at Christmas after my father was arrested. I remember too my first gift from someone far away and the beautiful words written on a card that said, “Dear Paul, Jesus loves you.”
As we prepare to share the story of Jesus with gifts for children suffering the traumas of war, persecution, and extreme poverty, I pray, you too will share with me the immense joy of giving.
Please make your donation today and, together, we can keep one child warm and feeling loved this winter!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!
Paul H. Popov, President
