Refugee mother and son find Hope!
PRECIOUS FREEMAN and her 10 yr. old son Maxwell, waited patiently, as we met with countless people from the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana. Everyone had their desperate story. Finally Precious ventured to ask, “when will it be my turn to receive prayer”? I answered, “When everyone else is gone, come to my room”
Precious in her room across from the camp. Maxwell & Precious one year later back in Liberia
I will never forget that night, when Precious came to our little hotel room, across from the camp. It was the night she met Jesus, when “Everything changed!” Precious, like many others, fled from Liberia, during the tragedies of the civil wars. She vowed, ” I will NEVER go back to that God forsaken land, Liberia, where the rebels killed my mother and my father!” Precious left our room that night, with a new found hope. Her face was literally glowing! I too could feel the peace, and the presence of God everywhere in the room! I knew from that moment on, Precious and her son, would always be part of our ever-growing Liberian Family! The next morning, she met me still smiling! She could hardly wait to share her heart. “Usually I go to sleep, and sleep small. Then I wake up and I worry, HOW WILL WE MAKE IT? Last night I slept ALL NIGHT LONG!! and the PEACE, IT IS STILL WITH ME!” Maxwell was not in school. Every day he would go about looking for food. His mother had a low paying job at the Hotel we stayed at, across from the refugee camp. We bought her a bag of rice, put Maxwell to school and bought him a new uniform, black shoes and a book bag. Today he is one of the top students in his class!
Maxwell having chicken dinner with Mama Karen Sitting on their bed in Liberia
It was so much fun inviting Maxwell to dinner. “Tell Maxwell he doesn’t have to go looking for food tomorrow, I am inviting him to have dinner with me!” I ordered him the biggest plate of chicken and rice, possible. I whispered, “You don’t have to finish it, we will package what you can’t eat, and you and mama will eat that later tonight” I always remember the words of Mother Teresa, “IF YOU CAN’T FEED A HUNDRED PEOPLE, THEN FEED JUST ONE”
Today with a MICRO LOAN, Precious Freeman has been able to run a successful food stand outside her home. She has managed to enroll herself in a vocational school where she is taking a 2 yr. course in Business Management and Accounting. With her profits, Precious is starting to build herself and Maxwell a house!
Brick by brick, with her little profits, Precious will buy another few bags of cement, so the brick layers can continue to build. However long it takes, I know she will finish. “Precious, I am so proud of you!!” “Whatever your hand finds to do, I know you will prosper, because God is with you!”
Allyson
February 18, 2012 @ 8:44 am
This just makes my day….okay, year! Our stores, Redeemed The Consignment Place in Winnipeg have sponsored this lovely lady and her family for several years. I know what it is like to be a single mother and I have said exactly the same words…HOW WILL I MAKE IT. I had 11 foster children over the years and then a small business and those words echoed here in Canada, but GOD ALWAYS MADE A WAY. I am so grateful to Karen who has been faithful and committed all these years to Liberia. We have sown into very fertile ground. I encourage everyone to help out this amazing ministry. I receive calls, letters and encouragement all the time from Karen and from Africa. This has been the best experience in giving and showing the love of God in a small way and if you want to be blessed in a big way, just support Provision of Hope!
Bob & Vera
February 21, 2012 @ 8:56 am
Karen, the work you’ve done & continue to do is an inspiration to all of us! The Lord has truly blessed you to do his work & I pray that one day I will have the opportunity to work with you as you bless these wonderful people.
Our prayers go with you everyday & continue to be with your whole family back home.
Our prayer is also that our beautiful little girl is safe, happy & well and that one day we will be together. Stay blessed, my friend!
KBarkman
February 21, 2012 @ 11:05 am
Allyson you have a beautiful giving spirit with a heart full of compassion for the broken + the poor. You have faithfully given for years, and have helped so many people find HOPE and a FUTURE! “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, thirsty and you gave me a drink, naked and you clothed me…” And for all the kind deeds you have done, there awaits for you a heavenly reward!! Daily you are lending to the Lord! Daily you are kind to the poor! “He who is kind to the poor, lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done” Prov. 19:17
KBarkman
February 21, 2012 @ 11:11 am
I absolutely love serving the poor! It’s my passion and my joy! How can we not give, of the bountiful blessings, we have all received? It’s a whole bunch of kind people like you who have come alongside this work and have made the remarkable difference in hundreds and hundreds of lives! Yes, our little Lemu is doing very well! She is one of the top students in her Gr. 5 class and says she wants to be a doctor. Thank you for your kind words!
Susie COlho
March 24, 2012 @ 2:57 pm
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