Amanda’s story is one of our first success stories. After losing both of her parents, Amanda was sent to live with her aunt and uncle, who already had many children of their own. During our 2024 mission trip to Nigeria, the Hands 4Life team visited Amanda as part of our sponsorship program. What we saw shocked us: Amanda and her cousin, Rejoice, were severely malnourished compared to the other children in the household, especially Rejoice.
When we asked their uncle about it, he told us that Rejoice had hepatitis B. But we sensed something was wrong. Acting immediately, our team pooled resources on the spot to get Rejoice to the hospital. After running several tests, the truth came out- Rejoice did not have hepatitis B. She was simply not being fed, and her life was at serious risk. Sadly, Rejoice passed away the next day and went to be with Jesus.
This heartbreaking moment made it clear: we had to act fast to save Amanda. We collaborated with our Nigerian team and found a family within a local church willing to adopt her. Within three weeks, Amanda was rescued from that dangerous situation.
The following year, on another mission trip, we had the joy of visiting Amanda in her new home. She looked completely different, she was healthy happy and full of life. She laughed nonstop, chatted freely, and we could see the love surrounding her. Today, Amanda has a mom, dad, brother, and even a grandmother who adores her. She is thriving, safe, and so loved.
Amanda’s story reminds us that God’s love works through people, actions, and communities. Through the dedication of our team and the generosity of caring families, lives like Amanda’s can be rescued and transformed. God is good!
