Who Becomes Family When Family Is Gone? Famatta’s Story
At the height of the Ebola outbreak in 2014,
11-year-old Famatta watched as her father—a pastor—helped a sick church member into his car to take her to the hospital.
But sadly, the woman had already contracted the virus and died on the way.
Days later, Ebola took Famatta’s father.
Then—a couple months later, on Famatta’s 12th birthday—her mother died.
Then Famatta’s brother.
In what felt like an instant, life as Famatta knew it was done. She and her two remaining siblings joined the long list of children orphaned by the crisis—unsure of what the future would hold.
Famatta and her siblings were taken to the local Ebola Testing Center,
where they stayed for 16 days, per protocol.
After testing negative for the virus, they were cleared to return to their community. The only problem? The community didn’t welcome them back.
In Famatta’s words, “Nobody wanted to associate with us. Even those people we call family.”
During this time, a BBC news article reported—
“At least 3,700 children in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone who have lost one or both parents to Ebola this year face being shunned … A basic human reaction like comforting the sick has been turned into a potential death sentence.”
Famatta and her siblings needed open arms and familiar faces.
Instead, they were isolated.
Left to fend for themselves, Famatta stepped into the role of caregiver for her younger siblings. At just 12, she became the one they relied on for everything—food, safety, comfort. With no one to help and no hope in sight, they felt completely alone.
But even in their deepest loneliness, they were never truly alone. God was writing a story they couldn’t see yet—one that would bring hope where there was none.
“God sent somebody our way.”
Famatta and her siblings were invited to live at Lifesong.
In Famatta’s words, “God sent somebody our way. It was a huge change—being stigmatized by other people—and then Lifesong made us feel welcome.”
It was an incredibly difficult time for Famatta and her siblings. Every day felt impossible as they grieved the loss of their parents, their brother, and the life they once knew. They had lost so much.
But for the first time in a long time, they knew they weren’t alone.
Lifesong Liberia exists to reach orphaned and abandoned children.
Specifically, through Christ-centered care, education, and discipleship, we walk alongside them as they build a future filled with hope. Because no child should have to navigate loss and hardship alone—and every child deserves the love and security of family, even when life doesn’t go as planned.
At Lifesong Liberia, we seek to reach orphaned and abandoned children—not just by meeting their most basic needs, but also by providing them with the love of family. Through family-style homes, mentorship, and a deep sense of belonging, we seek to restore what has been lost.
And though we can never replace the families they’ve lost, we can surround them with love, stability, and the unwavering truth that they are not alone.
“My siblings and I will always be grateful to Lifesong, because they didn’t just give us a home—they gave us a family.”
At Lifesong, every child is known, valued, and given the opportunity to heal because every child deserves more than just survival; they deserve hope and a future.
Even after the Ebola crisis faded in 2016, the need remained.
Liberia is the fourth poorest country in the world, with 85% of its population surviving on less than $2 a day. Poverty isn’t just a statistic—it’s a daily reality for families struggling to find food, access medical care, and educate their children.
The needs of the country—and of ministry—are vast. Children still need safe homes and quality education. They need medical care and opportunities for meaningful work.
Ultimately, they need love, stability, and the hope of the Gospel.
The crisis may have ended, but the work is far from over.
But over time, something amazing happened.
Slowly, Famatta and her siblings began to heal. In Famatta’s words—
“I started to open up to people. I decided to trust God.”
Hope, though fragile, started to grow. And as they took one step at a time toward a new future, our teammates at Lifesong began praying for beauty to rise from the ashes.
Every day, with each step forward, God is still at work, restoring what was broken and bringing wholeness where there is pain. Because that’s Who He is.
Today,
Famatta is studying education at a university while working as the administrator for Lifesong Vocational Academy in Liberia.
She’s using her education and experience to invest in the next generation, helping others find the same love, stability, and opportunity that changed her life.
Famatta is no longer just a survivor—she’s a leader, a mentor, and a shining example of God’s faithfulness, proving that even in the darkest places, hope can rise.
Will you help orphaned and vulnerable children like Famatta experience the hope of the Gospel?
When you give to Lifesong, you show orphaned and vulnerable children they are seen, known, and loved through Gospel-centered holistic care. Thanks to TMG Foundation, 100% of your gift goes directly to helping orphaned and vulnerable children.