LORNA MITCHELL stood and smiled warmly inside a small children’s home in Central Africa. The children enamored her with their warm, coffee-brown faces and cheerful spirits as radiant as the summer sun. Yet, behind those twinkling eyes were the striking realities of their lives, a world so different from hers. As she stood among the children, Mitchell realized that destiny had brought her to a country where triumph, justice, and prosperity could prevail through calamity. Though it was a country where she never imagined she would be, she knew it was exactly where she was meant to be.
Mitchell lived what seemed like the ideal life in a small, laid-back town in New Hampshire. Her days were wrapped in the cozy arms of a tightly bonded community where she attended a private Christian school. She and her family lived a simple life and enjoyed simple pleasures. It was a “happy bubble,” as she described it.
But the world outside that bubble was waiting, and Mitchell’s life would soon take her further away from those familiar borders. Life has a way of expanding our horizons, and for Mitchell, this expansion came through an unexpected voyage into Africa and back to Tennessee.
Mitchell’s life changed after she ventured out of her comfortable New Hampshire surroundings for college. A montage of diverse faces and voices surrounded her, striking her with the richness and complexity of perspectives that lay beyond her own. It was like stepping into a new world. It stirred something deep within her, urging her to explore and do something impactful.
That impactful moment came with an internship opportunity that brought her to the plains of South Africa. For three transformative months, Mitchell immersed herself in a land that felt foreign and exhilarating. She fell in love with Africa and its citizens, realizing how much she had taken for granted in her own life. The nation’s children enamored Mitchell, and she committed herself to caring for them full time in the children’s home.
“There’s such an innocence with the kids that I think, for me, just felt so safe — where you can just talk to them and play with them. Just viewing life through their eyes is so precious,” Mitchell said.
Living in South Africa opened Mitchell’s eyes to the struggles young children faced in orphanages. It was a call to action she couldn’t ignore.
As a house mother, a typical day began with early morning routines, including washing clothes and preparing breakfast for the children. The rest of her day consisted of teaching English, managing inventories, and coordinating vaccinations.
“People will make comments like, ‘These kids are so lucky to have you,’ which I understand they mean well, but in reality, these kids aren’t lucky at all to have me. To have me means they’ve had an incredible loss,” she explained.
Soon, life would take another unexpected turn for Mitchell, leading her to return to the U.S. Upon her return, she found comfort in her community in Tullahoma.
This recovery and adjustment period saw her take on different jobs, like cleaning and working in a coffee shop, volunteering, and finding her place at Yellow Tulip Design. The support she received from friends, family, and her church community helped her find her way back to herself.
It’s often said that “Good things take time,” and as far as Mitchell is concerned, this quote rings true. Through time and healing, she discovered a new opportunity in the Congo, where she continued nurturing children. Once again, the Tullahoma community fully embraced her dreams. They sent her back with special tokens to reassure her and the children that the community was behind them every step of the way.
“Lexie, the owner of Yellow Tulip, did a whole coat drive and got the community together and gathered a bunch of coats for me to take on a trip to Congo for all the children there,” Mitchell said.
The organization she now works with, Global Orphan Foundation, houses more than 100 children in Bolingo Village, employs 40 local people, and runs a medical center and working farm. The organization’s goal moving forward is to build additional cottages to accommodate more children in need.
Her work in the Congo causes her to feel heartache and hope. The realities of war and displacement confront her own reality daily, but she finds light in the small victories. Each day, she and the rest of the staff try to provide a nurturing environment for children who have known too much affliction.
One event at a special camp holds a memory Mitchell will never forget. A chili-eating contest became a heartbreaking lesson when a hungry young boy ate more than he could handle. His response, “I was hungry,” reinforced Mitchell’s understanding of the privilege she had always known and the need for all of us to be more compassionate and generous people.
For those considering international humanitarian work, Mitchell advises beginning by serving in your own community. Her experiences have taught her that genuine service comes from humility and empathy.
“This is something I had to learn, but before you spread your wings and go abroad, I think it’s important that you first love your neighbor and spread kindness to those in your community. Sometimes, when you go overseas, it can be very glorified. There are so many ways you can get involved, even just in your hometown,” Mitchell said.
The glistening eyes and radiant smiles of the children Mitchell connected with remind us of the inherent dignity and worth of every child. Join us as we continue looking toward a better future for Africa’s youth. With persistence, compassion, and collective effort, Africa will indeed rise, and a generation of children who have been given the chance to thrive will lead it. Lastly, may we all learn from their gratitude, zeal for life, and compassion for others. GN
