How Two Sisters Found a Place to Belong

When sisters Maria, 6, and Jennifer, 4, arrived at our children’s home, they had no idea how drastically their lives were about to change. They had spent years sleeping on a dirt floor with their mom with little more than a thin blanket between them and the cold ground. There were many nights when they went to bed hungry, and on the hardest days, their mom told them to pretend that the dirt was food so that they could eat and quiet the pain in their stomachs. In addition to hunger and limited access to basic needs, they also endured seeing their mom deal with abuse and addiction issues. They frequently witnessed their mom being chased and hit by her boyfriends during fits of rage. Finally, neighbors reported their unsafe situation and they were removed by authorities and brought to The Blessing Children’s Home.  

They arrived in their pajamas; no suitcase, no favorite toy, no change of clothes, just hearts filled with brokenness and fear. For the first time, each girl had her own clean bed, fresh pajamas, warm blankets, and a room where she could feel safe. They enjoyed taking their first bath, and it took filling  & draining the tub several times before the water finally ran clean. The next morning, they were given new clothes, shoes, and a healthy breakfast. At first, Maria and Jennifer were quiet and unsure, almost as if they were waiting for someone to tell them that this new life wouldn't last. 

As the days went on they began to smile more, laugh freely, and discover what it meant to simply be children. They started going to school, and their teachers quickly noticed how eager they were to learn. One of the first things Maria wanted to learn was how to spell and write her own name. She learned quickly She discovered a love for learning and soon became one of the strongest students in her class. Likewise Jennifer began finding her voice and enjoys going to school and being with her friends.  

They started dreaming about their futures, not just trying to survive another day.  They began participating in activities, making friends, celebrating birthdays, and experiencing the simple joys of childhood that had once been just a dream. Most importantly, they discovered that there is a God who loves them and has a good plan for their lives. They now have people around them who tuck them into bed, help them with homework, celebrate their birthdays, and remind them every day that they matter.

The sisters who once fell asleep wondering where their next meal would come from, now fall asleep in their own beds, dreaming about what they might become. They are healing, growing and learning to trust.  Watching these changes unfold has been miraculous, we can't wait to see what their futures hold. 

Every child deserves a safe home where they are loved, cared for, and given the opportunity to thrive.

This is why we do what we do!

(This is a true story, the names have been changed to protect the children.)