Ma Mary's House

****Update-- We did it! Raised all the money needed to start Ma Mary's foundation. Thanks to all who gave and prayed.****

If you know me, if you have talked to me at any time over the last 7 years, then it is likely you have heard me rave about Ma Mary. (In fact, I recently wrote another blog about Mary, you can read that here.) Mary is my Liberian Ma-- but she is SO MUCH MORE-- she is a prayer warrior, Liberian chef extraordinaire, and a cultural advocate. She has been the glue that holds Orphan Relief and Rescue (ORR) together in all circumstances. Over the years ORR has hosted countless guests, Ma Mary is always behind the scenes. Yes, she cooks, but she also finds the best deals at the market, cleans, organizes, facilitates, accommodates and prays non-stop. If you have ever visited the ORR team house in Liberia, I guarantee that Mary has not only filled your belly, she has filled your heart as well as covered you in prayers. She has gracefully welcomed so many into our home, now is the time for us to help her to have a home of her own. 

Currently Mary lives in a house that is not hers. She saved for years and was able to buy some land. Land-business is tricky in Liberia. Even though she holds the deed, until something is built on the land she is at risk of loosing it. It will cost about $5000 to build the foundation of her house. This stage of building needs to be done all at once so the foundation is strong and even. After the foundation is set Mary can continue to build on it as she is able. It would take her a VERY LONG TIME to save the amount needed for the foundation. We can help her with this. She deserves it.


My plea is to everyone who has ever met Mary, everyone who has eaten her food, everyone who has been blessed by her prayers, (or by hearing her story here)-- Please help! If we all give a little I know we can do this. Follow this link to the donation page. (It is tax deductible!) Thanks!

Mary in the kitchen.

Stop the Traffic!

I just want to take a moment to address another great need in West Africa. It is not one that we are hearing much about these days. Getting buried under all the ebola news is an ongoing problem-- In Benin children are being sold into slavery... by their parents. Desperate mothers and fathers, at the end of their rope with no money or way to provide for their children, are doing the unthinkable. Convinced that they are doing the only thing they can to save their family, they are selling their children to into slavery for mere pennies.

Orphan Relief and Rescue has an anti-trafficking team that is out in these villages, educating and advocating for these vulnerable children. Officially they are not orphans, but they need to be rescued. Our team there has identified 160 children who are at risk for being trafficked right now. We have been able to raise enough money to save some, but 114 of these children are still at risk today. If we can not find the money to help them, next week they may be gone forever.

Only $360 can save a child from slavery for a year. This will keep them with their family, well fed and in school. For only about a dollar a day you can literally save a life.

Please consider helping.

The orphan crisis in West Africa is growing.

Below is Orphan Relief and Rescue's response to the growing orphan crisis in West Africa. Please join in praying with us for wisdom in how to combat this need and serve the vulnerable. Thank you.

Orphans of the Ebola crisis: Why our job in Liberia is growing

Yes, we are still in Liberia, even with the Ebola crisis. Children still need to be fed and taken care of, and we are not about to ever abandon them. We have over 120 children that we are feeding on a daily basis, and there are an additional 100 kids from our graduated orphanage homes that, though self-sufficient, are still part of our regular check-up schedule so we can ensure they also have what they need to be protected. Our mission continues to remain strong, even in the face of crisis.

Our Liberian staff are doing an amazing job making sure all the children on our programs continue to get the care they need to be healthy. We are so grateful for that. We call them daily, and not one of them is feeling alone through this. Our Liberian employees and children all know they are a part of the ORR family and because of them being taken care of, they are able to help their neighbors and those around them as well. We have been keeping everyone stocked with food, diapers, formula, bleach, sanitizing materials, medicine and many other necessary items to ensure everyone has what they need to be safe and protected.

There are many needy kids that have or will become orphaned due to Ebola, and because of this, we know the magnitude of our job in Liberia is only going to grow. We are now in conversation with key people to prepare for the big influx of children who are and will soon be coming into the system due to losing parents. Having a partnership already established with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with our Transitional Safe Home, we are the organization the government is already looking to for coming up with answers on how to help these children. This is no easy feat, as a place of quarantine has to be established before kids can safely be put into our Transitional Safe Home or another foster situation. We are putting plans together to safely and lovingly care for those who have just lost parents and who are coming into the social welfare system.

More than ever, we need you to stand with us in these efforts to fight for these precious kids lives through this unbelievable hardship of loss in Liberia and the other nations affected. Extra donations towards these efforts are appreciated. Please consider giving today.

Written by Rebecca Pratt

www.orphanreliefandrescue.org