Meet Francia. She's a teenager from a poor community in Madagascar. Francia has known poverty her entire life. Her mom is often the sole provider, while her dad constantly battles to find and keep a job. In spite of her family's poverty, Francia has attended a relatively expensive private school. Her parents have sacrificed to make this possible, believing her future and perhaps that of her family will be determined by her education.

Francia's heart and mind have been torn between two separate worlds: her home life and her school life. She can't help but compare herself to her rich classmates who don't seem to struggle with the things she does. Francia is worried about whether she will have lunch waiting for her at home, whether she will have to wear her mom's clothes to keep warm, and whether her dad will come home sober or not. The talk of her school friends, meanwhile, centers around what movie was playing on TV last night, what new magazines they are reading, and what is the newest fashion.

Pressured by her peers and in order to keep up with them in shoes, clothes and pocket money, Francia started demanding things from her parents that they could not afford. Tension resulted at home and Francia's behavior towards her parents became disrespectful.

In the middle of this tug of war, Francia met Jesus through the work of a King’s Kid’s International team which began visiting her class every week. Even though the team only spends one hour per week with the students, this time has become one of the most precious hours of the week for many students. King’s Kids, an international ministry of Youth With A Mission, has been working on the island of Madagascar since 2006. They run Bible clubs and religious education classes at private schools on the island, and Francia is one of the teenagers who has benefited from these classes since they began. Her life has changed as a result of the simple stories and Biblical principles that are the foundation of the King’s Kid’s work.

Francia has learned to love and accept herself as she is and she started praying regularly for her parents and for her classmates. Before the school year ended, she began to gather some of her classmates and other students to join her in prayer during break times. She is also joining one of the King’s Kids outreach teams, traveling to northern Madagascar this July to take the good news about Jesus to others.

Not only has this good news touched and changed Francia's heart, but it has also made an impact in her home. Her dad has learned to pray and now has a steady job that enables him to provide for his family. And although they still live with financial need, Francia's family is slowly beginning to experience provision as they ask God and seek to do His will.

King’s Kids Madagascar, with the help of volunteers from the community, is seeing the lives of young Malagasies changed. They are hoping to reach out to more local schools in the future, a growth that requires more trained staff and volunteers. With this in mind the team will be running the University of the Nations Principles in Child and Youth Ministry course in July 2009. Ministry opportunities are never in short supply and your prayers and support will go a long way in places like this. For more information about this course and other ministry or giving opportunities, contact Reni at kingskidsmg@gmail.com