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Christine David
No one is without a "Taita" (grandmother) at the House of Hope when Christine David is here. And Christine David has been here for years and years. As she puts it herself, "It's a long story." When a close friend asked Christine to aid Aunty May in her new ministry in 1961, it seemed improbable because she needed to run a household of herself, a husband and seven children. Later the same day, Christine's husband, a solider in Naublus, died suddenly. God opened a door through her grief, and sent Christine and her seven children to Aunty May to begin a lifetime of service to God and the blind. Sending all but the youngest children (she had a one year old!) to local Christian schools, Christine, her sister Emily and her mother-in-law were able to help Aunty May in founding the House of Hope in 1963. As the first students began pouring in, Christine compiled materials (cotton, fabric) to sew mattresses together as children were sleeping on the floors! A cook, a loving encourager, a translator, a servant…Christine has served faithfully in the House of Hope since the beginning. She has seen children come to know Christ, blind people learn to read for the first time, her own children step forward to lead and care for others in faith and service, and many other amazing miracles of God. When Aunty May suffered her first stroke, Christine never left her side but served her day and night as her right hand. Until Aunty May's death in 1993, Christine cared compassionately for her friend. Today, Christine takes care of every single individual in our home, from volunteers to boarders. She runs the kitchen and makes sure we all get (more than) enough to eat. "Taita" never stops. We have been begging her to take a break, but she'll hear nothing of it. A gift from God, Christine always serves her King first, then His people in love, and herself last. She has raised her children to follow Christ as well—her sons, daughters and grandchildren still serve God and the home. Taita says she doesn’t like to be in her house--she likes to be here. It is her home. She explains that the House of Hope is "a part of her body." Please pray for Christine's health. She really doesn't stop. Pray that we can encourage her as she fills us physically and spiritually with food from God. From favorite recipes to warm hugs, we are thankful for the blessing "Taita" is to us in the House of Hope. |
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Send mail to
qlaith@hotmail.com (
Laith Qumsiyeh
) with any questions or comments about this web site.
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