Tres M English Classes

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." -James 1:27

It never used to make a great deal of sense to me why the care for widows and orphans would be so important as to be described as pure and faultless religion, almost as if it is summing up the act of "religion". Spending time with over 70 young students while teaching English as a second language classes in Tres M, Nicaragua has given me a greater understanding of the innocence of youth. There is a great sense of dependence among them. Not to say that they're helpless, but they are certainly in great need of guidance.
Why do we see signs, newspaper articles, and all sorts of propaganda against abuse of women, animals, children, etc? It's because as humans, who are created in the very image of God, we sympathize with those who cannot defend themselves, just as God is a defender of the defenseless orphan and the widow.

"Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" -Matthew 19:14
The kingdom of heaven belongs to those like children because of their blind faith, their humble dependence on their Father. But what about the children without a father? Who are they to have faith in? Who is to show them love? "A father to the fatherless, a defender of the widows, is God in his holy dwelling." -Psalms 68:5 The reason looking after orphans is pure religion is because God is their Father, and someone needs to reunite them with their true "birth dad".

I view it as such a privilege to spend time with these kids at Tres M, some with fathers and some without. In my service it is my honor to help others to see there real Father, their Father in heaven. Right now we're barely through the numbers, the alphabet, colors, and the months of the year, but I eagerly anticipate developing relationships with many students who are in great need of being served and of better seeing what pure and faultless religion is; not in need of being "converted" but shown compassion, just as God has on all of his children.

Below are some pictures of the students and a link to donate for school supplies and aid to the children in Tres M. God bless!