| Dear Friend, “Can we take all the patients out before you set fire to our hospital?”
We don’t usually think negotiating with terrorists as nuns’ work, but that is what these courageous missionary Sisters in Niger did on behalf of God’s most vulnerable. These brave women religious confronted the evil of the terrorist group Boko Haram, the same organization that claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of hundreds of young school girls in 2014.
 Can you imagine standing up to one of the most ruthless terrorist groups in the world, without a weapon in your hand?
But when you face evil and you want to protect God’s most vulnerable, God will provide the courage.
“We do not intend to let ourselves be moved by violence or fear… God does not desert us. He is a balm for our hearts, and our faith grows stronger,” says one religious Sister, in hiding in Niger, but communicating with Aid to the Church in Need by email. For her safety, we cannot share her name, but here is what she and her fellow Sisters are enduring in service to God’s people –what their eyes and hearts are witnessing:
“It started in the town of Zinder first of all – with five deaths, four people inside a church and one in a cafe… The church, where the Missionaries of Africa live, was also set on fire, along with the neighboring residence of the Sisters of the Assumption, along with their cars and the school – everything was on fire. They have nothing left except their lives, and that alone is something to be grateful for.”
The enemy is merciless. Disciples of Boko Haram have said, “The Christians must die; that way we will be able to go to paradise.” But the response of our Sisters is a powerful one: “We are not going to let ourselves be moved by fear. Love is stronger than hatred.”
During the month of May, on behalf of vulnerable women and girls around the world, will you stand with our religious Sisters and show that love is indeed stronger than hate?
Your gift today will help these Sisters with basic living needs so that they can continue their good works despite the evil that confronts them. They ask for our support, but our prayers as well.“Pray for us, for our people, for the world. So that the Light of the Love of Christ may be able to shine forth!”
May God bless you for whatever you can give today. Please be assured of their prayers for you as well.
P.S. Our women religious are standing up to terrorists. Will you stand up to hatred with a gift of faith and love for our Sisters today? Thank you.
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