Sophia’s Story: “My childhood was taken from me, but my purpose was not.”
*Please note, names and details have been changed to protect the dignity and identity of the children we serve.
Sophia was just 12 years old when everything changed.
The day started like so many others in her small Guatemalan village. Sophia’s mother left early for the market. She stayed behind to play in the dirt with the marbles she received for her birthday.
But then—a voice called her name, one she had already learned to fear.
She pretended not to hear it, hoping maybe this time he would go away.
He didn’t.
What followed was abuse no person should ever have to endure. And yet, Sophia did.
Later that day, Sophia packed her marbles and dolls away, knowing her childhood was over.
She shares, “My mom says she needed to stay with him in order to pay the bills. She said he was our only hope.”
So they stayed. And for months, the abuse continued.
“I felt numb inside, like a shell. And no one seemed to notice.”
But God noticed. He saw a little girl too scared to speak, too hurt to hope. He saw every tear she cried in silence, every night she wished things could be different. And He responded.
A social worker brought Sophia to our teammates at Village of Hope in Guatemala. She was told three things she needed and deserved to hear:
You are safe. You are seen. And you are not alone.
At Lifesong, we believe God calls us to care for children who cannot care for themselves.
But truly caring for a child means seeing her whole story—including the hard parts.
The children we serve face many different kinds of hardship. Some have experienced abuse or neglect, and others have endured the pain of family separation, poverty, or ongoing instability. And while no two stories are the same, each child has walked through challenges that no child should have to face—and these experiences carry the potential for deep and lasting trauma.
Traumatic events change how children see the world, themselves, and others. It affects how they learn, how they build relationships, how they regulate emotions, and even how their bodies develop and heal.
It can also shape how they see God—how they understand His love, His trustworthiness, and even His presence in their lives.
This is why trauma-informed care is not optional. It’s essential.
To care for a child well, we must understand how trauma impacts the brain and body—and we must respond with compassion, consistency, and intentional support. We believe that with the right care and connection, healing is possible.
So at our Lifesong sites around the world, we’re committed to building environments where our teammates provide trauma-informed care and where every child feels safe, seen, and supported.
Because every child deserves to belong, to be nurtured, and to thrive.
Sophia gave birth to a baby girl,
a tiny, beautiful baby born on a rainy September morning.
“I remember looking into her eyes and promising her we would be okay.”
And slowly, through trauma-informed therapy, education, and discipleship, that promise began to come true. Sophia completed chef school, got a job at a local restaurant, and today is raising her daughter as a strong, faithful single mom.
Sophia faithfully attends her church. She is growing in her relationship with Jesus. She shares—
“Hope is knowing that no matter what happens to you in life, His redemption and grace is enough.”
Sophia’s story is not just one of survival—it’s a story of redemption and purpose.
At Lifesong, we believe every child’s story matters, and that healing is possible when we meet trauma with truth and tenderness. Because when a child is truly seen, known, and loved, everything changes. Sophia says—
“My childhood was taken from me, but my purpose was not. God is a God of miracles, and I am one.”
By God’s grace, Sophia’s story isn’t finished. It’s just getting started.
Will you help orphaned and vulnerable children 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.