The Graduate

Kunue Massally graduated from AMEU today!

Kunue is Ma Mary's oldest son. Mary's husband died in 1996, in the midst of a brutal civil war here in Liberia. Kunue was just eight years old, his brother, Samuel, four. Mary had to face the future and raise her two young sons alone. With her husband dead and life a daily fight for survival, Mary fought hard to give her boys the best opportunities available. 

Kunue has has made his Ma proud. First, he graduated from High School with the highest GPA the school had ever seen. He then went on to study Economics and Accounting at one of Liberia's only premier universities. Today he graduated with the second highest honors available for a university student. 

Congrats Kunue! You have made us all proud!

Ma Mary, Kunue and Samuel
Kunue honored his mother at the service saying he couldn't have done it without her. 

Mary is one proud mama. I don't think she stopped smiling (or dancing) the whole day.

Mary and her best friend Piko.
They have mourned together many times throughout their long friendship.
Today they celebrated.

Kunue and his cousins Bernice and Brenda, AKA 'the twins.'

Kunue, you're my brother because we share the same Ma!

Surgery for Christmas?

It is not often that the opportunity for a free surgery comes along. This week four children from Francis Gaskin Orphanage were given that opportunity. All four kids were able to get hernias repaired by the amazing Children’s Surgery International (CSI) medical team that is doing its yearly outreach in Liberia this week. This is the fourth year that we have been able to partner with CSI.  Thanks to the services that they provide, 13 children from orphanages that we serve have received much needed surgeries FOR FREE!

The CSI team has done much more than provide free surgeries (which would have been enough)! Each year they also visit various orphanages with us and have provided food, medicine, soccer balls, books, dolls, shoes, clothes and more. This week they overwhelmed us with a huge donation of clothes that will almost entirely cover our Christmas clothes distribution this holiday season. For all that CSI does and has given we offer a whole-hearted thank you.

*Speaking of Christmas—The Orphan Relief and Rescue Christmas bundle campaign has already begun. For a gift of only $25 you can make Christmas special for an orphan this year. For more information or to give a bundle (or two) check out our Christmas page today!*

I dare you...

...not to smile when you see this pic!

Makes me smile every time!

Sylvester's story

Abandoned by his mother, beaten by many in his community, left to fend for himself in the garbage piles-- this is Sylvester’s story. Sadly, it is a story we’ve heard many times before, but it never becomes less tragic.

Sylvester is maybe seven years old; no one knows for sure. He is very small and possibly autistic. The popular Liberian belief is that he is ‘not correct in his mind,’ and thus less than human, not worth caring for, feeding or loving. Thankfully, there are some who don’t share that opinion. When Salome, one of the orphanage directors we work with, found him and saw no one else would stand for him, she did. She scrounged the community looking for his family and instead only found a frightening story about abuse, neglect and abandonment.

“I couldn’t just leave him there,” she said, telling me his story. “I had to do something.”

Sylvester has been rescued. He is finding relief under Salome’s care. Thanks to the support we are able to give Salome’s orphanage, through donations from our child sponsors and other partners, Sylvester now has another chance at life.

Good news about Gifty!

Gifty was all laughter and smiles yesterday as I took her back for a check-up with the doctor, where she received a clear bill of health! She has gained 5 pounds and has no more symptoms. The doctor is very happy with her progress and while we will be keeping a close watch on her, for now she needs no more treatment. Now she can just focus on school and jumping rope. What a miracle!

Anita and Gifty

I just returned to Liberia a few weeks ago, anxious to see and hug all my kiddos. 

Over all,they are looking well-- healthy and happy.

There were two girls that I was especially concerned about and couldn’t wait to check in on them-- 

ANITA

Anita in August

Anita was dangerously thin and malnourished after accidentally ingesting water with lye residue in it, left over from making soap (which unfortunately is very common here in Liberia). She had lost 10 pounds, was lethargic and couldn’t eat or drink. She was wasting away. When I left Liberia in August I was very concerned for her, if she couldn’t eat, she wouldn’t survive. I took her to a local doctor, but there was nothing they could do. We just needed to pray and encourage her to eat and drink, even though it was extremely painful.

I am happy to report that when I saw Anita this week she is back to her healthy self. Dancing and playing with the other kids in her orphanage. She says she doesn’t have any more pain. Even better—she has her chubby cheeks and smile back!

Anita now.

GIFTY

Gifty

I first told you about Gifty about six months ago. She had just been diagnosed with pneumonia, malaria AND tuberculosis (TB). She was too thin, weak and sick to play with the other kids in her orphanage. She quickly recovered from the pneumonia and malaria, but bouncing back from TB is not as easy. 

The last six months have been an up and down battle for her. She will gain a few pounds and some strength just to lose them again. Managing her TB medications has been complicated and the medication is very harsh on her little body. Treating TB is long and difficult even under the best circumstances. Gifty has been a trooper, but her fight isn’t over. Please continue to pray for her body to heal, for her to get back her strength and more importantly, for her to put on some weight.

Progress report: Trokon

Trokon is a spectacular young man. Orphaned as a very little boy, he used to scrounge in the garbage piles to find food so he wouldn’t starve to death. He was rescued by a woman who found him in the dump and took him into her home as one of her own. Years later this woman, having taken in many more orphaned and abandoned children found herself mothering an orphanage home with more than 40 children. Trokon, a natural leader, took the younger children under his wing.

Helping others is not a passing phase for Trokon. He has always talked about wanting to go to college (which is a rare luxury in Liberia) so he can come back more prepared to help the people of his beloved country. It was his own motivation, compassion and hard work that made me and my co-workers want to give him a better chance at reaching those dreams.

After some homework of our own, we identified a school that seemed to be a good fit for Trokon and his dreams. The entrance requirements were a stretch and Trokon struggled a bit with the placement test, but even the principal of this new school identified the potential in Trokon and admitted him to the school with tears in her eyes.

Trokon started this new chapter of his life last August. A country boy in a new, strange boarding school far from the only home and family he has known with higher educational standards and different rules had us all worried about how he would adjust to his new surroundings.

Last week I was finally able to visit Trokon at school. Two months in to his first semester—it was report card time. Although Trokon definitely has room to improve, I am very proud of his achievements so far. He is in the 70^th percentage of the 9^th grade class (which means he is doing better than 70% of the other kids in his grade). He is excelling in most of his classes and getting raving reviews for his attitude and conduct from both the principal and his peers. He is healthy and has probably grown at least two inches in the two months since I’ve seen him. Best of all he has this new confidence, he just radiates joy.

Trokon will be getting some extra tutoring in the few classes he is struggling with. He is determined to do well and continue working hard towards his goal. He loves knowing that he has friends all over the world praying for him and cheering him on.

Trokon’s new school is quite expensive. Orphan Relief and Rescue would like to continue to support him there throughout his high school career. If you would like to donate towards Trokon’s schooling or help with other ORR programs please visit the website www.orphanreliefandrescue.org and donate today.