Sexual and physical abuse occur daily in the bedrooms of many orphans at the hands of their directors, those entrusted as stand-in parents. It's something we would rather not hear about or even have to think about. Unfortunately, abuse is all too common in Africa, sometimes brutal but often in the passive form of neglect.
There are many amazing orphanage directors out there, but there are also many who should never be entrusted with children. Their sole purpose is to use the orphanage as a business, realizing profit by exploiting children of all ages. Kind-hearted and well-intentioned people visit for an afternoon and take pity on the children. Money is sent, but it will never reach the kids it was intended for. Selfish directors pocket the money or sell the food and medicine. I see this over and over again, and it breaks my heart.
Whether I'm here in Liberia looking out my window or at my desk in America, my thoughts are never far from the children living in horrific orphanages that desperately need someone to fight for them.
In October, the Government of Liberia wrote me a letter requesting that Orphan Relief and Rescue build and manage a transition center so that, together, we could begin to rescue children in the orphanages I'm talking about. Many of those orphanages have been on the government's closure list for years but, since there is nowhere to move the children once they are rescued, the government's options are limited.
It's both a great honor and burden that the government of Liberia has asked us to intervene and build a transition center. It is one of the greatest immediate needs that I know of in the entire country, and could save hundreds upon hundreds of children. I met personally with the social welfare office last Thursday, and they once again pleaded with me to open a center soon, even an interim one--anything to help get the rescue process going.
Why Orphan Relief and Rescue?
Government social workers told me that if ORR opens a transition center, they are confident that we will work alongside them to ensure the very best for the children. They told me that ORR staff have proven that we only want what is best for the children. They have seen our team take personal interest in many individual cases where kids needed someone to go the extra mile, so the government has full confidence that ORR is the right organization to take on this immense project.
I shared that we really want to help them but, as always, God will have to do some pretty big miracles for this to happen. The head social worker looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Then let's just believe God will do it, because we desperately need this!"
So now we pray and share the stories and do all that God is asking of us. The rest is up to those whom God will prompt to partner with us in this endeavor. Will you please pray with us on this HUGE need and request? May justice come soon for all of these precious children.
