Don’t let her diminutive frame fool you. When she walks into a room, her presence demands full attention. Not attention in the ways that the powerful typically are noticed with arrogance, control or noise. Her power and influence come from her humility, keen wisdom born from years of life experiences and the discerning pause she takes to pray before she utters a word. Her voice is often quiet but when Dorcas Kamanda does open her mouth, everyone, from prominent political leaders to young orphan girls, lean in to hear what this remarkable woman, mother, grandmother and pastor has to say. 

We have gotten quite a few new subscribers to our blog over the past few months, making us realize that some of you may not be familiar with our beloved “Grandma,” as the MamaLand girls affectionately call her. (If you haven’t read about her incredible life story, please click here. She is nothing short of ahhh-mazing!! 

From the very beginning, Dorcas has played a significant, foundational role in the development of the MamaLand Children’s Village. To say that these 20 girls adore their Grandma would be an understatement. Not only does she provide a great deal of hands on care, affection, connection to their culture and mentoring to the girls, she has been instrumental in training a team of Sierra Leonean women to also provide the highest level of nurturing to these girls who have endured so much in their young lives.

Recently someone spent a week in Sierra Leone, talking for hours with Dorcas, fascinated by her stories and seeing firsthand her life’s work there. Dorcas had shared how there was a significant relational rift between two neighboring Chiefs who were not speaking to each other over a land dispute. 

Both of them grew up around Dorcas, had seen decades of her life well lived and highly valued her character and wisdom. These political leaders came to Dorcas for advice and she diplomatically facilitated a meeting between them to negotiate a compromise, ultimately leading to a peaceful resolution. 

The person who had spent that week with Dorcas shared with admiration and awe that they honestly felt like they had just spent time with the “Mother Teresa of Africa.” 

On a personal note in our family, after witnessing her speaking humbly but fearlessly with those in political power years ago, Devin, out of great admiration, nicknamed her the Queen of Kabala. ☺ Our daughter, Jamie, thinks of Dorcas as just like a mother to her and insists that she would not be the young woman she is today without the unconditional love, encouragement and Godly influence that Dorcas has poured into her life. Dorcas magnetically draws everyone she meets to the Savior that she loves.

And so friends, this brings us to an urgent request for prayer! Our larger-than-life role model, our precious Grandma, the “Queen of Kabala,” our dear friend Dorcas Kamanda was recently diagnosed with stage 4 uterine cancer, which has spread to other parts of her body as well. She has a phenomenally inspiring perspective on her diagnosis. She confidently shared with us,

Will you please join us, along with the hundreds of people praying for Dorcas around the world? She is an irreplaceable person to her family, to our family, to the daughters of MamaLand and to so, so many others all around the globe.

Thank you for praying for this precious gem!!