“All in God’s time” is the phrase that I held onto after driving away from the tiny village of Kasentity.

I sat in our vehicle and looked out the window and prayed for two hours on the way home from this rural village. I’m not sure others would consider yelling at God and questioning His will as “prayer” but this time of prayer was definitely a pivotal point in my faith. 

A young girl from the village of Kasentity had been identified by a government official working for the Ministry of Social Welfare, as a child in dire need of care due to her desperate home situation. This little one named Kadey, looked much younger than her stated age. In meeting her, it was impossible not to notice how frail and sickly she looked, her belly very distended and her hair discolored from malnutrition.

 We began speaking to Kadey’s father who explained to us that he was a farmer, with a wife and two children, a son and a daughter. We walked into what I assumed was his house, made out of mud bricks. He said his wife and three children all sleep in the same bed, with all of them living in this one tiny room of the house. I immediately was confused when he said three children. He explained that one of his sons had passed away. As we began questioning him more, his facts didn’t seem to add up. One of our staff members from Salone Rising whispered in my ear, “He’s tipsy”. Kadey’s father was having a hard time keeping his story straight and even struggled forming sentences. That’s when we found out that his job as a farmer is actually tapping palm wine.

As we walked out of the house a woman was shoved toward me with the biggest grin on her face. The surrounding villagers began laughing at her. I thought she was just shy and her friends were forcing her to talk to this strange white girl. She began laughing and I couldn’t make out the words she was trying to say. Kadey’s father introduced this woman to us as his wife. I was told that she is deaf and “dumb”. I soon realized that dumb means mute and some other cognitive impairment. I shook her hand and hugged Kadey goodbye as I walked back to the vehicle holding my tears in. Kadey’s situation was much worse than I had been previously told. The government official conveyed that Kadey’s parents are unable to raise her and expressed concerns for her safety and survival if she remains with her alcoholic father and a mother incapable of caring for her.

That was the end of our home visits. Now it was time to wait another two weeks for final decisions to be made. For two weeks I was so unsettled, thinking constantly about Kadey’s future and praying that God would overcome many hurdles for Kadey if she was meant to join our program. I was forced to surrender Kadey to God and have faith that in His timing I would hopefully get to see her again. 

The last week of November, Dorcas, Hawa, our new house mothers, some of the Salone Rising staff, and I set out to two remote villages to bring our new daughter’s home. It is truly a joy and privilege to be the first to introduce to you the 4 newest daughters of the MamaLand Children’s Village:

Sarah, Tenneh, Kumba and Kadey!!!

I will never forget our first meal we shared as a family. Sarah and Tenneh were amazed that even though the sun had gone down there was still light because of the electricity in MamaLand! They whispered to each other about how much food there was and I sat there watching them with the most joy I had felt my entire trip. These 4 girls now join the other 7 girls of MamaLand who are safe, well-fed, educated, thriving, growing in their faith most of all, dearly loved. While each one of these girls has come from different backgrounds and their stories have begun from places of tragedy and loss, it is incredibly inspiring to think of what tremendous potential lies ahead for these precious young lives.

As C.S. Lewis once said,

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Hearing these girls talk about light being in the house and food on the table, made me realize how lucky I am to get the opportunity to experience Jesus’s blessings first hand. As I switched on my bedroom light that evening I looked up and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. It’s amazing how easy we all can take God’s gifts for granted.

Last week I returned to the US. Leaving Kadey, Tenneh, Kumba, and Sarah was one of my hardest goodbyes. I know they are left in the best hands with Grandma Dorcas and a team of house moms and I have no doubt that they are going to be different girls next time I see them.  It’s amazing what lots of love, food and the opportunity to write a new chapter of hope and possibilities can do for these precious daughters!