Last month in Zambia, my team and I worked with SOS, a government-run orphan village on the outskirts of Livingstone. They house about 250 kids that are both single and double orphans. Much like the previous organization I came to Zambia with, Every Orphan’s Hope, they have homes of 9-10 children with a Mama presiding over it. One of the beautiful things about this set up is that these Mamas choose in to this. We sometimes focus more on the children in these homes and fail to realize that these Mamas have given up everything just to help the children that have been placed into their care. They have the most beautiful stories amongst them too. Stories of remarkable strength, courage and faith. They have faced the toughest of challenges and risen above them. They have sacrificed so much so that they can be here helping and raising these children into godly men and women. They are an instrumental part of these kids’ lives, helping heal them emotionally as well as physically. These ladies are an inspiring group of God-fearing women and a portrait picture of a Proverbs 31 woman. They are beautiful in all that they do. Their strength is graciously given from the Lord, and their lives are continually blessed because of their sacrifice. So are those lives of those whom they serve and interact with. These Mamas serve wholeheartedly and without complaint. I have seen the daily struggles that they go through and never once have I heard them say anything negative about the life that the chose into. Instead they get up and lead devotions, and they praise God and encourage each other to keep running the race. Through their tender sacrifice, I have been encouraged and shown wisdom. Never will I forget their examples, and I hope one day that I can raise my children as they are raising the children under their wing. Their love for these children has gone deeper than anything I have ever seen. These children have become their own. Mamas, thank you for blessing me through who you are.
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