How our Christmas support brings relief to families facing hunger

A family’s struggle after mother leaves

Ibrahim, 31, a single father, lives with his four children in Bugojno, a community in the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The children’s mother walked out on the family in 2017, leaving them all devastated.

Ibrahim works hard to provide for his family and make sure his children, 11-year-old Nisveta, ten-year-old twins, Senad and Elvedin, and Adin, age nine, take an active role in the running of the household.

A sharp rise in inflation in Bosnia and Herzegovina has contributed to rising costs – and no matter how hard they try, families like Ibrahim’s often live with a sense of being precariously close to disaster, one missed wage away from hunger.

Moments of crisis

Nermin, who works for Mission Without Borders in Bugojno, said, “When I first spoke to Ibrahim, he told me that there were moments of crisis. He and his kids would eat monotonous food, the most basic and cheap food, just so that the children wouldn't go to bed hungry. At one point, it affected his daughter’s health; she was even in hospital.”

“The winter is always the hardest time for families in Bugojno,” he added. “Temperatures are below zero, there are fewer opportunities for work, and without work there is no income. So it can be impossible to make ends meet.

“There’s nothing harder than hearing that someone fell asleep hungry, especially when it’s your own children.”

Operation Christmas Love sees families like Ibrahim’s provided with boxes of food and treats in time for the festivities. And for those families who don’t celebrate Christmas, the boxes still come as a welcome relief at a tough time of year – and a way of demonstrating Jesus’ love to those in need.

A message of love, hope and peace

“Look, flour!” said Nisveta to her brothers as she unpacked it from the box. “We're baking bread today!”

Ibrahim said, “You can't imagine how much joy you brought into our lives.”

Ibrahim and his children are now enrolled on the Mission’s family sponsorship programme, and will receive regular material and emotional support.

Ibrahim, 31, a single father, lives with his four children, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Nermin said, “The family urgently need an improvement in their living conditions, but most of all, they need emotional and spiritual support because of all they’ve gone through. Each child has their own needs, their own personality, and the lack of a mother's love affects each one of them in different ways.”

Ibrahim said, “The very fact that I know that you are here and that you will come each month is a great relief to me and to my children.”

Donate to Operation Christmas Love today – and help a family like Ibrahim’s experience God’s love at Christmas.