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Practicing "Pure and Undefiled Religion" in Lebanon

An old proverb observes that "there is only one beautiful child in the whole world, and every parent has one." In spite of this truth, many Lebanese parents abandon their precious children to the streets of Beirut. Providentially, some of these children show up on the doorstep of Mona Costa's Safe Haven Home for Girls.

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of traveling with members of Stonebriar Community Church to visit Mona and the nine little girls who call Safe Haven home. Mona and her team show these children unconditional love and help them learn to trust people again.

Each evening before bedtime, the girls take turns praying . . . and the joy on each face is contagious! One morning, I watched as these angels hurried to the van to go to school. I could tell they did not take for granted the opportunity for education—a privilege they would not have had without the Costa family and Safe Haven.

Mona and her team are practicing what the book of James calls "pure and undefiled religion" (James 1:27). They are living out the love of Christ before the eyes of nine precious orphan girls, treating each one as the beautiful child she is. What a privilege to have witnessed the impact of such love.