Look what a difference a few months makes!?!

We have recently returned from a visit to Sierra Leone and we have sooooo much to share with you! The quick update on MamaLand is that the girls are doing absolutely amazing! Above is a picture of all 20 of them after church, looking all dressed up and so pretty. For children who have suffered through so much tragedy, loss and grief in their young lives, it melts your heart to see how happy, playful, relational, eager to learn and sweet they all are. 

We were especially excited to meet the 3 newest girls that arrived a few months ago. Over the coming months, we are going to be sharing many more stories with you, like details of the First Annual MamaLand Olympic Games! But first we want to start with the stark contrast of life before and after MamaLand, for these 2 sisters, Fatamata, who goes by FA, and Isata, who goes by IS. Here are the sisters the day they arrived at MamaLand a few short months ago. FA is 6 years old and IS is 4.

We have since learned that their father had come from afar to the area to mine gold. He and their mother had Fatmata and Isata together. The mining company went out of business and their dad moved back to his region. Soon after, their mother died and the girls were taken to live with their aunt who was a very young single mother herself, with 2 small kids of her own. Their aunt even traveled far away to where their father was supposedly living to look for him, but he was nowhere to be found. As she was struggling to support her own children, she heard of MamaLand Children’s Village for orphaned and destitute children and brought the girls to MamaLand via motorbike. She literally pleaded with staff to take the girls at that moment. Unfortunately, we were not ready to take in more girls at that time. Six months later, more donors generously supported the organization and Dorcas was able to get approval from the government, visit the girls in their village and to verify that their mother had died and their father had abandoned them. We are just thrilled that these 2 precious ones have joined their 18 sisters for a whole new life!

Since neither of the girls spoke a word of English when they arrived, they have been working one-on-one with their house mother, to get them prepared for school. FA can identify and write all of her letters and numbers up to 100. Her favorite color is blue, her favorite foods are macaroni, couscous and rice. She surprised us when she told us that when she grows up she wants to be a soldier. ☺ She states that she feels very happy to be living at MamaLand. Her sister, IS, can write her name, the alphabet and numbers up to 50. 

After a few short months, we were surprised and delighted to see how quickly these girls have adjusted to their new life and family! Both girls actively participate in discussions, singing, school lessons, and Bible study – you would never guess that they are some of the newest and youngest ones of the bunch. Some of the older girls refer to them as their “little ones” and have been so nurturing and helpful in ensuring that IS and FA feel welcomed and part of the family.

With 18 other sisters, the girls especially enjoyed getting to play, read and interact with their new brothers, Ethan and Cam, who were also meeting them for the first time. Our sons could not help but fall in love with these girls and spent most of their time tutoring them, playing tons of games, dancing together and showing the girls how to be treated with respect and kindness by big brothers.

Sometimes from afar we can wonder if this small Children’s Village is making an impact. After all, there are millions of needy kids in the world. After spending 8 days with Fatmata and Isata, along with their 18 sisters, we are more convinced than ever that this is vital work, serving the most vulnerable, making a massive difference in their lives and ultimately investing in an entire community!

Thank you for your partnership and support!