Isaac Gives Food, Toys AND Jesus to the Poor by Katelyn

James 2: 14-17

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,' but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?  So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

Isaac, my pseudo brother from Peru, has always had a missionary heart regardless of his circumstances.  From the depths of his being he understands what it means for us to live out our faith, just like we read in the book of James.  

As you may or may not know, Isaac is currently studying Counseling/Psychology at Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Kenya and lives with the Consolata Fathers at their seminary.  As he's walking to class each day, Isaac passes a cluster of houses where seven large families live.  This breaks his heart because he said that the space is hardly enough for 2 or 3 families.  

As he passes he always see the kids playing with trash and the women cooking very small portions for their whole families.  He always waves to them and makes jokes with the kids, but seeing them sad and hungry day after day was more than he could handle.

Isaac started thinking about how he could help.

Back in November Isaac told us about these families and asked if there was any way that he could put together a small mission project of his own. He wanted to give these families food and the kids toys for Christmas.  He said that he wanted these families to understand that being a Christian isn't just about going to church and saying that we love Jesus.  Being a Christian means living out our faith.  Being a Christian means sharing the resources we have to help those who are less fortunate.  Being a Christian means loving people in a real way and doing all we can to help them.  After talking over the details with my parents Isaac worked with the Consolata Fathers to come up with a plan.  With everyone's help, Isaac was able to buy a large bag of food staples for each of the families and toys for all of the kids.  Last week Isaac went with some of his college classmates to give out the food and presents. 

 

Isaac also found a children's picture book that tells the story of Christmas in Swahili, so he was able to read that to the kids as well.  

After Isaac and his friends had finished passing out all the food and presents he sent us the following message via email.  Hopefully, you'll be able to detect the authentic joy that radiates from his beautiful heart when he can help others in meaningful ways. 

Dear Carmody Family,

After waiting so long for this and now that the day has come I have no words to express how happy I feel and how helping those families made me feel.

This morning I went to carry out the mission for the poor families and children.  I bought the food, toys and the christmas story in Swahili and had help from some friends of mine; Janeth, Sofia, Florinda and Consuelo. They helped me in this beautiful missionary work, and the truth is I have no words to describe how happy and excited I feel, seeing the smile of each child was incredible. I thank God, you and all the people who gave me money to do this project since without you and without them I would not have been able to do it. It is so wonderful the way God works to bring happiness to his sons and daughters especially the ones who are really, really poor.

Merry Christmas from your friend and son, Isaac Dario :)

Isaac really inspires me because everything that he does to help others he does out of love.  He is no longer living by my family and participating in the activities that we do.  He is an adult - a college student - living on his own.  He has the freedom to use his resources however he wants.... and he chooses to go out of his way on a regular basis to help others however he can.  In November Isaac turned 19 and my parents sent him money to buy himself a birthday present.  Instead of getting something for himself he used the money to help the street kids who try to earn money selling peanuts.  Isaac is an amazing guy and I feel honored to know him.  I thank God for bringing him into our lives and for giving Isaac the opportunity to be a missionary in Kenya. 

In the book of James we read about what it means to be a Christian.  We learn about the importance of really living out our faith and not just saying that we love Jesus.  I hope that Isaac inspires you as much as he inspires me and you look for opportunities to share what you have with those in most need.

Thank you for reading about Isaac's mission in Kenya.  Please pray for him as he prepares to begin his second semester of college.

Love, Katelyn