Survivor with new ball
The capital campaign contains designations for global outreach. One of the projects that the funds would support is the continued construction of the Rafiki Village in Monrovia, Liberia for orphans. Ed Bland, a missionary to the Rafiki Village, shared the story below in his February newsletter. It is easy to start to think of some of these projects and fund designations as bullet points in a list, but as the story below demonstrates, this is about supporting real people with real stories. Our contributions and prayers will bring us alongside people like Ed Bland as they participate in and witness the powerful work of God.
"Survivor." No, not a television show. A child. The people caring for this little boy gave him that name when he survived infancy. No one thought he would.
It was in the last years of the long Liberian civil war. Some people fleeing to Monrovia found him in the "bush," tied to his dead mother's back and brought him along. Everyone said he wouldn't survive. He did. Barely.
Several people kept him for a while and, finally, one woman agreed to care for him. She didn't think the baby would make it, but with some emergency feeding at a Red Cross center, "Survivor" continued to live. In fact, he has made it to his fourth "birthday." (No one knows his actual birth date.)
When the Red Cross and the Ministry of Health asked us to consider him for placement with Rafiki, we went to his home to meet him and talk with the family who had cared for him. The house was very humble. Many people resided there. These people had done what they could, but they wanted him to have an opportunity for a better life and for education.
We knew "Survivor" might be close to five years old, so we were surprised at how tiny he is. (He is wearing size 2 clothing.) He sat quietly, his large brown eyes taking in everything. The family assured us that although he wasn't saying anything while we were there, that he would be full of questions after we left. Initial interviews and medical testing were done and, soon, Home Office approval came to accept him.
Last Saturday, we went to bring "Survivor" to his new home at Rafiki Village Liberia. The old grandpa of the family told us that Survivor had been waiting every day for us to come. He said, "Every time Survivor saw a car drive near their home, he would say, 'Those are my people!'" (Yes, we are now definitely "his people"!)
As we were leaving, I asked the grandpa if Survivor had any little favorite toy that we should take. "No, " the grandpa said, "he doesn't have any toys, but I'm sure if someone gave him a toy, he would play with it!"
So Survivor came home to Rafiki Mother Charlesetta's house (Ephesus cottage). New clothes, new toys, medicine for the usual problems (malaria, worms, ringworm, etc.), lots of good food, and lots of love.
God is good. And He is able.
Thank you for standing with us.
"Survivor." No, not a television show. A child. The people caring for this little boy gave him that name when he survived infancy. No one thought he would.
It was in the last years of the long Liberian civil war. Some people fleeing to Monrovia found him in the "bush," tied to his dead mother's back and brought him along. Everyone said he wouldn't survive. He did. Barely.
Several people kept him for a while and, finally, one woman agreed to care for him. She didn't think the baby would make it, but with some emergency feeding at a Red Cross center, "Survivor" continued to live. In fact, he has made it to his fourth "birthday." (No one knows his actual birth date.)
When the Red Cross and the Ministry of Health asked us to consider him for placement with Rafiki, we went to his home to meet him and talk with the family who had cared for him. The house was very humble. Many people resided there. These people had done what they could, but they wanted him to have an opportunity for a better life and for education.
We knew "Survivor" might be close to five years old, so we were surprised at how tiny he is. (He is wearing size 2 clothing.) He sat quietly, his large brown eyes taking in everything. The family assured us that although he wasn't saying anything while we were there, that he would be full of questions after we left. Initial interviews and medical testing were done and, soon, Home Office approval came to accept him.
Last Saturday, we went to bring "Survivor" to his new home at Rafiki Village Liberia. The old grandpa of the family told us that Survivor had been waiting every day for us to come. He said, "Every time Survivor saw a car drive near their home, he would say, 'Those are my people!'" (Yes, we are now definitely "his people"!)
As we were leaving, I asked the grandpa if Survivor had any little favorite toy that we should take. "No, " the grandpa said, "he doesn't have any toys, but I'm sure if someone gave him a toy, he would play with it!"
So Survivor came home to Rafiki Mother Charlesetta's house (Ephesus cottage). New clothes, new toys, medicine for the usual problems (malaria, worms, ringworm, etc.), lots of good food, and lots of love.
God is good. And He is able.
Thank you for standing with us.
Survivor age 4+ with Anna 18 months
Survivor at his old home (Yes, that is a chicken at the lower right!)A few days later came this update about Survivor from Ed Bland.
Just thought you might enjoy a little more on “Survivor’s” new life at Rafiki. Last Saturday the President of Liberia and her entourage traveled down the road in front of the Rafiki Village to a town nearby. The Rafiki Mothers and the children were in the dining hall, having a snack, and heard the sirens. The mothers took the children outside to wave at the motorcade. Upon seeing the children, the President ordered her driver to stop, got out of her vehicle, and entered the Village to greet the children. So, at the end of his first week in his new home, little “Survivor” (we are calling him Benjamin here and he is pleased with his new name) met the President!
“Who is like the Lord our God? ... He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes…” Psalm 113:4-8
