As soon as actress and TV mom Patricia Heaton finished filming the final season of the comedy series "The Middle" on ABC, she and co-star Jen Ray boarded a plane to join World Vision's humanitarian efforts in Uganda.
On her Facebook page last Saturday, Heaton, a Christian conservative, posted a video which showed her reading the prayers that she collected from her fans for a 14-year-old refugee named Victor.
Victor left his home country of South Sudan in 2016 together with his three siblings. They lost touch with their parents amid a brutal war that first erupted in the country in 2013. World Vision took them in and provided for their safety, care and education through a foster family.
Before leaving for the African country, Heaton asked her followers on social media to send in their prayers for the refugees she would be visiting and helping in Sudan. According to reports, Heaton received over 700 prayers in just 24 hours.
"I pray for the healing of Victor and his family's hearts, as well as the hearts of the leaders of his country," said one of the prayers that Heaton read aloud with Victor. Another prayer stated, "God, please let Victor know that you are with him. You will never leave him."
Heaton also shared videos with Ray, who played her neighbor in the long-running family comedy series, as they prepared meals for the refugees and played with the kids.
In 2016, World Vision asked Heaton to become a celebrity ambassador and spokesperson. The actress has supported the organization for years and has actively devoted her time to its fundraising and disaster relief efforts. In 2015, the actress and her son traveled with World Vision to Zambia where they visited health centers and helped assemble bicycles for children.
World Vision, established over 60 years ago, channels most of its relief efforts on the refugee children's health, education and protection. A Christian organization, World Vision also aids in the strengthening of a family's social, economic and physical progress.
