Giving Hope to the Hopeless

Damaris said, “I wanted to be loved, so the first person that told me, ‘I love you,’ I ran to him. I was sixteen when I fell pregnant.”  

Years later, Damaris left an abusive husband, and did everything she could to care for her five children. 

Damaris explained, “I’ve done many different jobs, I herded cattle, crushed stones, and sold charcoal, but my children still spent many nights without food and were not going to school. I could not afford their school fees. It was hard to keep us together.  There were times I had to send them away to stay with anyone who could take one or two for a while.” 

When she went to check on her children, she found them loitering in the street looking for something to eat.

Damaris said, “I asked God, ‘Why would You give me children for them to suffer this much?’ I could not take it any longer. I sent one of my children to a shop to buy poison. My plan was to first give it to them, and then take it myself. What stopped me was my daughter, Jessica. She told me she could see I was not feeling well, but she thanked God and said she knew I would get better. I broke down in tears and I decided not to go through it. At that moment, God gave me a reason to keep fighting, because I saw my children had faith things would get better.”

Then a ministry supported by Orphan’s Promise, Living Faith International, heard about Damaris and her children. We invited them to come stay at “Living Faith,” and gave her a job as a caretaker in the home. Here, they are together, and have everything they need. 

“I am overjoyed seeing how my children have transformed,” said Damaris. “I am grateful that I get to work here and be with my children and spend time with them. We remember where God brought us from. When food is served here, we are very happy because we know what it’s like to lack food.”

We also paid all of her children’s school fees. 

Damaris’ young daughter, Ismyle, said, “I like my school uniform and love coming to school with my brothers and sister. We play together during break times. I love the merry-go-round, because we go around and around and it’s so much fun. I have learned to read and write, and I feel so smart. I can count up to fifty and write my name. I also like playing with the blocks.”

Damaris said, “Seeing them come home from school brings tears to my eyes. I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made to help us. Thank you. I pray God will bless you, so you can continue helping more children.”