SAMUEL'S STORY

Emmanuel, ME (ACE), Samuel, Britt's Daughter Stephanie

Last Sunday 7.17.2011, I met two beautiful souls who came out to Washington all the way from Liberia named Emmanuel and Samuel. Emmanuel is a director (along with his parent's, the Jonah's) of an orphanage in Liberia, and his adopted brother, Samuel, (17 years old) is a civil war orphan who lives at the orphanage with about fifty other orphans.

The reason they are both out here in Washington, is because of Samuel, for he has an amazing and heartwarming story that lead him here which involves the mysterious workings of God.  

I will share with you his story:

"Samuel was born during a civil war in Liberia (1990). His biological mother fell in love with his father who was a soldier in the (then) government army. When rebels attacked their home, Samuel's mother fled for her own life (because of her connection with Samuel's father) and left baby Samuel alone in a room.  The mother ended up getting killed fleeing for her life by the rebels. Samuel's father was also killed at the battle front.

Samuel (2yrs old), was rescued by an old Vodo lady who lived next door.  Due to lack of food, Samuel became malnourished and in very poor health. One morning, Samuel was crying, due to severe hunger; the old lady angrily rushed towards Samuel, took his tiny hands and put them in a pot of boiling rice. Every time Samuel cried, she put his hands in the boiling pot. As a result, his hands became SEVERELY SCALDED, his fingers got curved in, and permanently deformed, crippling his hands.

This abuse to Samuel finally ended when Emmanuel’s (director of an orphanage) parents, who were walking through the area, discovered what this cruel old lady was doing to Samuel.  Emmanuel’s parents took Samuel from the old lady and adopted him into the orphanage where he has been ever since with about fifty other orphans (all with remarkable stories of their own).

Samuel is in a much better place, to live learn, grow and be loved…but his hands serve as a reminder of a painful past.  To this day, Samuel finds it difficult to perform simple tasks like washing clothes and writing well. "

HOW AM I CONNECTED TO THIS?

Well, my "second mom" Britt Strom, who works in a burn unit at a hospital out here (in WA) heard about little Samuel and his hands...she knew that there was a way to fix his hands!! She single handedly got down to business to get him out here to help turn his life around and give him a  better future...but she ran into a hurdle because NOBODY was willing to do surgery on an international patient!

ALAS! She finally found a place in Oregon, run by "Shriner's" and they said they would be willing to work on an international patient AND fix his hands...GOD is GOOD!....BUT they needed to get it approved by another "Shriner" ... She was stuck again, she didn't know of any single person who was a Shriner!

One random day at work, she was talking to a man, named Zach, at the hospital and told him about Samuel and how she was in this dilemma of finding a Shriner... the man said, "Brit, I'm a Shriner and I will help you any way I can!"

...again, GOD is GOOD!! And together, along with support from her church at Westhill with Pastor Dan and his Wife Joanne, they took ACTION!

On my wall I posted a picture of Samuel, he gets his surgery TODAY 7.21.11!!! PRAY FOR HIM!!

I had the pleasure of meeting Samuel and Emmanuel on Sunday and then had another day filled with love, laughter and good food before his surgery! Samuel is going into this surgery head-strong and ready for a brighter future! I've never instantly felt so much love for a human being that I just met, Emmanuel and Samuel are FAMILY to ME from here on out! Through them, God has shown me light and I am determined to keep the switch ON!!

I will continue to stay in touch with the Jonah's orphange and help support them ANY WAY that I possibly can. They, have very limited resources such as food, clothes, money for electricity and medical supplies. Please contact me if you have any inquiries on how to support their orphanage!!

Just wanted to share his story with you all b/c it touched my heart PERMANENTLY and hopefully yours too!

<3<3<3<3<3

GOD IS GOOD!!

My Brother JD & Samuel <3<3