A Reflection of Hope
Andrea stood in front of the mirror, hardly recognizing the little girl looking back at her.
Just months earlier, the reflection would have told a very different story.
When Andrea arrived at The Refuge children’s home at Mission Lazarus, she was six years old but carried burdens no child should. She came with her two-year-old brother, both of them weak from severe malnutrition and their bodies showing the effects of long neglect. Andrea had never set foot in a classroom and had never been given the simple, steady care every child needs to grow.
But that is where her story began to change.
The Refuge: The Beginning of Something New
At The Refuge, Andrea didn’t just receive shelter, she was embraced by a place designed to restore every part of her life.
She began with the basics many take for granted: learning how to brush her teeth, using the restroom, and caring for her body with dignity. Regular medical and dental care started healing what had been neglected for years. For the first time, her health was no longer an afterthought. It was a priority.
At The Refuge, education is not just about books, it’s about building a future. Andrea entered kindergarten stepping into a classroom that opened doors she had never imagined. When she received her new backpack, she held it like treasure. Putting on her uniform, she couldn’t stop smiling. But what she was really seeing wasn’t just her reflection. It was her worth.
Surrounded by caregivers who model love, structure, and faith, Andrea is growing up in an environment that feels like family. She is learning how to trust, how to belong, and how to understand God’s love through the people caring for her.
Andrea’s story is still being written. Today, she is no longer defined by neglect, but by possibility. She is learning, laughing, growing, and dreaming of a future that once felt out of reach.
This is the heart of Mission Lazarus, walking with children toward wholeness: physically, emotionally, spiritually, and practically. It’s healthcare that heals, education that equips, and a Christ-centered family environment that restores identity and hope.
Your support helps create a place where children are not only safe but known, nurtured, and given the opportunity to thrive.
Most Urgent Needs
Click on the images above to donate today