Stories of Hope: Sarah

Less than nine months ago, Sarah, 19 years old, was in a desperate situation. She was working day and night in other people’s homes as house help: cleaning, cooking and tending their farms. Her father died when she was 14, and her mother was HIV positive and very sick. Sarah was left to provide for her younger siblings, Peter, 16, Emily, 8, and Brigit, just four years old. All her hard work was not enough to provide for her family. They were often hungry, and unable to pay the necessary fees for the children to attend school.

Through ZOE’s support, Sarah has come a long way in a very short time. In less than one year, Sarah and her family have cultivated their land so they can grow their own food. She spent time learning to be a tailor.  She was even trained by another ZOE orphan, further along in the program, who had a successful tailoring business. After completing her training, Sarah received a start-up kit from ZOE in November to start her own business.  Business has been good and her brother and sisters are now able to attend school, and are performing well. Though her mother has not responded well to the medicine Sarah has been able to provide, Sarah’s hopes and dreams for the future of her family remain strong.

Sarah’s faith continues to grow and shapes her daily life. Gifted with a beautiful voice, she loves to sing each Sunday when her family goes to church. She carries her Bible to work each day.  When I met her she shared her favorite passage with me, Isaiah 54:4-5, which Sarah uses as her guiding principle: “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.  For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of host is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.”

Working in a rented space as her business grows, Sarah is well on her way to achieving her dreams of owning a large dress-making store and beauty shop. As she earns more income, and makes use of the low-interest loans ZOE provides to expand her business, her future becomes brighter as more opportunities for her family are opened.

Your gifts help vulnerable children like Sarah overcome desperate situations. As her voice rings out in songs of praise to the Lord, Sarah embodies ZOE’s dream for these children to grow into the people God wants them to be.

— Mandie Sellars
Director of Communications, ZOE Ministry