Mamma Josephine sadly passes away...

Almost a year ago today while I was visiting orphanages in the Congo I was fortunate enough to meet an incredibly brave, strong woman called Mamma Josephine who, despite having almost no money, had taken 50 orphans into her home to look after them and feed them and send them to school.

Such was her devotion to the needs of orphans that recently, upon hearing that 2 babies (4 month old twins) had been found in a field next to the body of their mother who had been killed by rebels, Mamma Josephine took these babies into her home and promised to care for them along with all her other orphans until they were old enough to take care of themselves.

Sadly, Mamma Jospehine passed away suddenly last week and now these 50 children, including the 2 babies, are orphans once more and have no one to take care of them. We are raising money to buy food for them while they try to find someone else to take care of them or find new homes for the babies and the youngest children. We will also help to cover costs of medicine for those that are sick.

Here is a photo of Mamma Josephine with some of her children last year. The men in the photos are with local NGOs who help us to support not just this orphanage but many others across the Congo.

Here is a photo of myself, Mamma Noella, Roda and Mamma Josephine at a clinic for disabled clinic in Butembo last year. Mamma Josephine was a quiet lady who rarely smiled but I remember her face when we delivered food, school supplies and mattresses to her and her children and she lit up like the sun!

Goodbye Mamma Josephine. You will be missed. May you rest in peace safe in the knowledge that we are watching over your children.

xxx