Returning to college was a big decision, one that was greatly affected by my trips around the world. I had been to Zimbabwe, Africa several times on short-term mission trips. We traveled to several orphanages, ministering to the children throughout Harare. My heart broke seeing their lack of care and love, but moving from one orphanage to the next throughout each day did not leave much time to connect and care for these children. Having been adopted myself, I had a huge heart to love these children as my adopted family had loved me. So, with this on my heart,
I decided on my next trip I would go to one orphanage and stay for the duration of the trip.
It was such a sweet time of playing, helping and loving on these children that were without family. One night while we were playing
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I quietly followed, trying to figure out what I had said to bring her young heart to tears. As I sat down beside her, she began to share her story. Hers was a heartbreaking story of abuse at the hands of her uncle and even the orphanage director. She was devastated as she shared that she would have to endure more abuse. I listened, I prayed for her, I shared scripture and God’s love, but I had no idea how to fix the situation. In that moment, a dream was birthed in my heart, which I believe was from the heart of God.
In my heart I could see so many girls that had no family or support system, no education and nowhere to go once they termed out of the orphanages. God nudged my heart to open a home for these girls to be able to come and receive an education, a place to live, a support system and most of all to learn God’s love for them. This dream was too big for me to complete on my own. God placed it on my heart to return to college to complete my degree in order to better help these girls. A bachelor’s degree in psychology and continuing on to get a master’s in social
work will help equip me to counsel them through some of the difficult situation that many of them have