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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s such an innocence with the kids that I think, for me, just felt so safe \u2014 where you can just talk to them and play with them. Just viewing life through their eyes is so precious,\u201d Mitchell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Living in South Africa opened Mitchell\u2019s eyes to the struggles young children faced in orphanages. It was a call to action she couldn\u2019t ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople will make comments like, \u2018These kids are so lucky to have you,\u2019 which I understand they mean well, but in reality, these kids aren\u2019t lucky at all to have me. To have me means they\u2019ve had an incredible loss,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s often said that \u201cGood things take time,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLexie, 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,\u201d Mitchell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s goal moving forward is to build additional cottages to accommodate more children in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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, \u201cI was hungry,\u201d reinforced Mitchell\u2019s understanding of the privilege she had always known and the need for all of us to be more compassionate and generous people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is something I had to learn, but before you spread your wings and go abroad, I think it\u2019s 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,\u201d Mitchell said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s 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<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" LORNA MITCHELL stood and smiled warmly inside a small children\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":23200,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cover"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/tullahoma\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/11\/1-3-1024x683.png\")
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