For some background, ourselves, Carl and Ilne Paalman, worked with Mercy Ships, a Christian organization. We were part of the ministry on the Anastsis and the Africa Mercy, which are surgical hospital ships, providing amongst other things, free surgery in West Africa. The ship is docked in a country for between 6 and 10 months, thus we had some time to get involved in ministry in the community as well.

A friend of ours had been visiting the same orphanage since the first time Mercy Ships came to Liberia in 2004. In 2007 we joined him in visiting the orphanage regularly on Saturdays and came to know more about the whole set-up.

After a 14 year civil war there are a lot of orphans in Liberia. Mama Vera and her sister Louise started God’s Children Orphanage in 2003 for orphans and children whose parents can’t take care of them. She felt the calling on her heart from God to do so, and started the orphanage in absolute faith. In 2007 there are 41 children living in a rented house under supervision of Mama Amelia.

In a conversation with Mama Vera we asked her what her vision was for the orphanage. She answered that they had two plots of land and they would like to build a compound with different houses where the children, in ‘families’ of 3-6 children, can be housed by “parents”. Part of this will be a school, a church and a place to do farming and other jobs so they can be self-sufficient.

Since the outreach of Mercy Ships in Benin 2005, I (Carl Paalman) felt God really placing orphans on my heart. I know what it means to live without a parent. (I only had my father for my first year). One night I was talking with a friend. We both had a heart for orphans and I told her what my vision was for the “perfect” orphanage. It was exactly the same vision Mama Vera had.

During our outreach in Liberia we felt a burden to do something for this orphanage. The monthly rent of the house they were living in, was 150 dollars. The house is good but too small and there is no space around the house for the children to play. It is muddy, partly a toilet, a cooking space, a place for ducks and chickens and because of bad drainage, a breeding place for mosquitoes.

One night I started to make a drawing of an orphanage and do some calculations to form an idea of prices and space. I took out my note book, which has a bible verse on every page. The page where I would write said:
"Jesus said: “In my fathers house are many rooms if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). I really believed that God was telling me to stay there and to build a new orphanage for the children.

Mama Vera has two plots of land. They are more outside Monrovia (the capital of Liberia), in a suburb called Dixville. Dixville is near the city but very quite. There are more orphanages in the area. The place is ideal for the children. There are some schools around, lots of space and a safe environment.

Our plan for this orphanage was to build:
· A building consisting of little houses, for the children.
· Also a few extra buildings: a chapel, a common kitchen.                                                                                                                                · Set up programs such as agriculture, sewing classes, training in carpentry, masonry, car techniques and more, to make it self-sufficient.

The idea was too provide our time and effort, living at the site, and guiding the building of the orphanage.

The building of the orphanage was finished in February 2010. Currently there are three houses with 8-10 children each and a house parent in each: Auntie Amerlia, Ma Louise and Brother Arthur. We are in regular contact with them since we are still financially supporting the orphanage. You are still welcome to contact us if you are interested in supporting this ministry.

To see the orphanage looks now, there are photo's available in the 'Photo album'.