By Shafique Khokhar
Jan 14 2021
Raja Walter, a charitable entrepreneur, created the initiative to help families who have lost their jobs, or have had their wages cut and who are unable to buy food, clothes, school equipment for their children. The “wall of Jesus” is fed by Christian and Muslim donors.
LAHORE – Bushra Bibi, 33, belongs to a poor Christian family. She and her husband work in a factory near Youhanabad. Their meagre wages do not allow them to feed and clothe their three children.
One Sunday before Christmas, Bushra Bibi asked God to help her find food and clothes for her little ones. But she thought that her prayers were unheard. Full of resentment, she had decided not to go to church anymore and not to pray anymore.
On December 23, her friend Noreen Bibi visited her and asked her why she had not come to Sunday catechism class. Bushra replied that she was too busy. Unaware of her friend’s problems, Noreen told her that a “Jesus wall” had been installed in her neighbourhood, where people could go and get good clothes and even things to eat. Everything was free.
In her heart, Bushra understood and thanked Jesus for listening to her prayers, asking forgiveness for her anger and her refusal to go to church.
Together with her children, Bushra went to visit the “wall of Jesus”. Opening a box, she found some new clothes, precisely sized for her children. She was so moved that she told everything to the person in charge of the “wall of Jesus”, Mr. Raja Walter.
Raja Walter is a 40-year-old Catholic who owns a canteen. During the Covid pandemic, in order to help people face the economic problems consequences that many suffer, he has opened the canteen to anyone who cannot pay for a meal.
The “wall of Jesus” is another idea to help those in need and to give witness to their faith, strengthening the faith of many other people. He tells AsiaNews: “It is not me, but God who puts these ideas in my head and heart and uses me and my family to do his work. Thanks to Him, this ‘wall’ never remains empty and is constantly filled. The donors are my friends, family, people of good will. I have only begun it, and others continue it as they come to hear about it”.
Raja Walter (photo 4) explains that the Covid-19 pandemic has hit people hard: many people have lost their jobs, their children are hungry and lack warm clothes for the winter. He plans to continue this enterprise “as long as Jesus wants it”. Meanwhile, at the “wall of Jesus” has expanded its offering: now there are also backpacks, notebooks, pens, paper and everything connected with school: things that people are unable to buy, given the lack of wages.
Months ago he started a canteen where Raja Walter fed 300 people every day. During Ramadan, for the whole month, he gave free food to many Muslims. He only asked to be remembered in their prayers. – AsiaNews
