Meet Mama Zippora and to her left, her daughter Caroline, to her right, her now deceased husband, Papa Isaac. They are from Kenya - and they founded the Huruma Children's Orphanage. It was founded after Mama Zippora had been hospitalized and the doctors told her she would never leave the hospital. She begged and pleaded with God to save her. She promised God she would do something good for Him. God saved her and so she founded the oprhanage shortly after her release.
I had the pleasure of listening to Mama Zippora and one of her 14 year old orphans, "Zippy" speak at church yesterday. Our church helps to fund the efforts of Huruma - and I am even more pleased to report that my sister Stephanie is going on a mission trip there next July.
Mama Zippora started this orphanage back in 1989 with just one child. She now houses over 160 children! Zippy, the 14 year old orphan she brought with her yesterday, spoke herself, in front of 1000's of people. She ended up in the orphanage at the age of 6 - her story goes something like this.....her Mother was out of town and her stepdad was left to care for her 4 year old brother and herself. She and her brother were over at a friend's house playing and came home too late, according to her stepdad, so he hung her in a tree - by hands and feet, for 2 days straight. Her 4 year old brother brought her water during this time, but he was unable to cook for her. When her Mother arrived home - she released her from the tree. However, in the meantime, some neighbors threatened to turn her stepdad into the police. The neighbors gave the Mother the option of either sending Zippy to the orphanage or having the stepdad turned into the police. Her Mother chose to not turn in the stepdad and send her daughter to the orphanage.
Zippy, as she spoke with such strength and faith in Jesus Christ today, was truly amazing. Amazing here would be an understatement. She has scars around her ankles and wrists to prove she was hanging for over 2 days straight. At some point, Zippy was adopted. However, she requested to her adopted family to be returned to Mama Zippora at the orphanage because her adoptive parents weren't "taking her to church and letting her grow with Jesus Christ. She wasn't happy and felt no security without Jesus Christ." Yes! This young child CHOSE to return to life in an orphanage, where she was sleeping in a small bed with 3 other children, eating off of the floors, and no toileting facilities other than a hole in the ground. She CHOSE this way of life so she could know Jesus Christ.
Every child in this orphanage is there b/c they were tortured in some way. And Pastor Linn said torture was a huge understatement. He couldn't emphasize enough how TORTURED these children had been.
2 weeks ago, Papa Isaac, passed away of a heart attack. No illness or any signs of a heart attack coming. He just dropped dead one day. A few women from our church were sent their way to help Mama Zippora - and in return, they brought her back to speak to the church. It was truly. a. life. changing. moment. Tears were piling up in my eyes - and all I kept thinking was "Wow. What can I do?"
While I cannot financially contribute a whole lot right now, I contributed everything I had yesterday to this cause and will pledge to continue to do so. It's about sacrificing. My kids don't need every toy under the sun - or name brand clothes and shoes. These things can be sacrificed to help such a cause.
Unfortunately it is rather difficult to adopt these little orphans from Kenya - the legal system there makes it extremely difficult to get one of these children. Although, I am still researching and researching....and will continue to pray and support this cause financially. Our church is raising $200,000 to build the children of Huruma dormitories so they no longer have to sleep 3 to a "stacked to the ceiling" bunkbed.
Please consider doing so yourself. If not to this specific cause, to some cause, especially during this holiday season. We have an angel tree at church - where I was able to choose a 4 year old boy - who must be rather large - he needs 5-6 year old clothing and wants a spiderman toy. Or there is Operation Christmas Child - which is an organization that ships shoeboxes of goodies to military children overseas. There are soooo many opportunities out there right now to get involved with. So get out there and make this sacrifice. We are so incredibly fortunate to live in America. Many of us have NO idea what goes on around this world. The service yesterday truly opened my eyes.
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