Matia Ssemanda stood in the open, his weathered hands rhythmically tossing maize flour in a winnowing basket, trying to separate the weevils from the precious little food he had. The sun blazed high in the sky, casting long shadows of the struggling father and his two children, who sat patiently on the ground, their eyes following every movement, waiting for something to eat.
The village of Nkondo was quiet at this time of day, except for the soft rustling of the maize flour and the occasional buzz of insects. Matia’s thoughts were heavy. Since his wife had passed away, he had been left alone to raise his two children—a boy of six and a girl of four. Single fatherhood had not been kind to him, and every day seemed to bring a new struggle.
He tried his best, but it was hard. Cooking, cleaning, fetching water, and providing for his children felt like a mountain too steep to climb. Today, his biggest worry was whether they would have enough to eat. The maize flour was riddled with weevils, and as much as he sifted it, there never seemed to be enough usable. Yet, his children waited, hungry and hopeful.
Matia sighed deeply, his heart heavy with the weight of responsibility and fear of being unable to provide. He loved his children more than anything, but sometimes, it felt like the world was too cruel, too unfair. Why had God taken his wife, leaving him to navigate this harsh life alone?
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, a gentle voice interrupted. “Hi, how are you managing?” I had been reaching out to families in Nkondo, providing food, prayer, and hope.
Matia paused his work and greeted me. He had never seen someone of my kind around before, but his pride and the busyness of daily survival kept him from engaging much. He was too tired today to keep up the façade of having everything under control.
“It’s hard,” he admitted. “Feeding these children, doing everything alone… it’s more than I can handle.” “Being a father is a great responsibility. But you don’t have to carry it all alone, I said”. Matia raised an eyebrow, curious but skeptical.
“Jesus can help you. He promises to take care of us, to provide for us, and to carry our burdens. You don’t have to go through this life alone, Mati. Jesus loves you, and your children want to be your strength. He died so that you could live, not just in heaven one day, but here on earth with hope, peace, and help in your time of need.”
Matia listened, something stirring in his heart. He had heard about Jesus before, but the idea that Jesus could care about someone like him—a struggling single father in a small village—felt foreign. Yet, as he looked at his children, who still waited patiently for food, a quiet voice in his heart urged him to listen.
“What do I need to do?” Matia asked, his voice low but full of a longing for change. I explained the gospel, how Jesus had died for his sins and risen again, offering new life to all who believed in Him. Matia was told that all he needed to do was to ask Jesus into his heart, trust Him, and let Him take control.
Right there, in the open field under the blazing sun, with maize flour still in his hands, Matia stood up, humbled himself, and prayed. He asked Jesus to come into his life, help him, guide him, and provide for his children. It was a simple prayer, but it came from a heart ready to surrender.
When Matia opened his eyes, a peace he had never known washed over him. It didn’t erase all his problems instantly, but he felt a new strength and hope that he had a Helper who would never leave him. “Jesus will take care of you, Matia. You’re not alone anymore.” I added.
Matia and his children received food from JFM, but even more than that, Matia had found the Bread of Life—Jesus, who would sustain him far beyond his immediate needs. From that moment on, though life continued to have its challenges, Matia faced them with a newfound hope. He knew that the same God who provided for the sparrows and clothed the lilies of the field would take care of him and his two precious children.
Matia’s heart was no longer heavy. He had found a source of strength, and he knew that Jesus, who had saved him, would walk with him every step of the way.
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