Every Monday, we welcome “the boys” into our home.

They are called talibés, young children sent to live with a religious teacher to learn the Quran and train to become Islamic leaders. These boys live in extremely poor conditions and beg for their food.

Once a week, we host the local talibés in our home for a nutritious meal. Afterward they scoop the leftovers into their tin begging cans so they’ll have something to eat later. We also welcome them every day to fill up their plastic jugs with clean water.

Most talibé boys don’t have enough water and soap to bathe regularly, so many have ringworm and other fungi growing on their heads.

So recently we started washing their heads twice a week with anti-dandruff shampoo to alleviate the problems with ringworm. The children also receive their own bars of soap every other week so that they can bathe and wash their clothes too.

Sharing the Gospel with our group of boys is tricky. If an adult heard about it and got upset, it’s likely that the children wouldn’t be allowed to come to our home anymore for food, water, and care.

But we do find opportunities at different times to share about Jesus.

“Why are you so kind and generous?” one boy asked us.

“Why do you think we are?” I responded. A couple of the boys said that it’s because we have a lot of money.

I told them that I know others who have lots of money—but who may not live lives of kindness and generosity. Then I shared about how Jesus Christ wants us to love others and how much grace I’ve found as I live with Him.

Every day, these talibés are in our home, collecting water to quench their thirst in a parched land.

Please pray these young boys who are being trained as future Islamic leaders will receive Jesus Christ, the Living Water.

• Pray that precious children will grow to see Christ in the love and care of Frontiers workers, and pray they give their lives to Him.
• Ask God to raise up new teams of laborers who will go to the countries of West Africa to minister to Muslim talibé boys.
• Cry out to God to save children growing up in poverty, and pray they will have a chance to hear and receive the Living Water.

**This account comes from a long-term worker. Names have been changed for security.**

Main photo by SIM USA

Original article: https://frontiersusa.org/blog/talibes-west-africa