Israeli was born with a cleft palate, but like any other child of peasant farmers in a small village in Tanzania, he didn’t get treatment. He just learned to live with it.

He was the sixth out of eight children, and his parents worked hard in the fields to feed all their children. The ten of them all squeeze together in a mud home roofed with thatches, the only source of light being the dim sunlight that makes its way through the small windows. The dirt-floored house is also home to the family’s goats and chickens.

As Israeli grew up, he began to have more problems. He had a hard time eating, as food would spill out of his upper lip. When the wind blew, it would blow dust into his mouth and make his eyes water. His parents were embarrassed, so they kept him at home most of the time.

Then Israeli started school. He had a hard time forming words. The other children would mock him and laugh at him.

At just 7 years old, Israeli felt disregarded by his village, having faced rejection and scorn all his short life.

But at this time, new hope came into Israeli’s life. A church in his village was registering children in their child development centre.

Right away the project director, Richard Mwinami, knew they must do something to help Israeli. After months of researching and preparing, they arranged for Israeli to have facial reconstruction surgery at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre.

Israeli’s father, Ingi, was filled with joy after the surgery.

“After the operation, the boy has no problems [eating]. When he eats, the food no longer comes out of the mouth, and the redness no longer appears in his eyes, nor do tears flow because of the wind,” he said.

And this boy, who is now 10, has been finally accepted by his peers.

According to his father, “The neighborhood thought a great miracle had happened before their eyes with Israeli’s mouth. No one in the community thought that such a problem could be medically treated. They exclaimed, ‘It is amazing! God is good, and there is nothing difficult for Him!’”

Many in the village didn’t believe there was any help for a boy like Israeli, but after seeing the results of the surgery, another couple in the village who had a son with a cleft palate took the courage to seek treatment for their son as well.

Through the development centre, Israel has not only received medical treatment, but has also met the God who loves him. His family is not Christian, but the children now go to church and were baptized. The parents have also started to attend church.

Now Israeli is thriving in school. This boy who once wasn’t able to speak in school has finished 12th out of 60 children. The project and surgery have given Israeli hope for a bright future.

“I want to be a doctor when I grow up,” said Israeli.

Because of generous donors like you, Israeli can live a life without the rejection of his village and surrounded by the love of his Father.

Story by:
Charles Ngowi, Tanzania Field Communication Specialist