I remember Anne as a sad, shy girl, when she came to the Seed of Hope orphanage in Kitale, Kenya.

That was in 2002 and she was 7 years old. She had just seen her mother die from AIDS and her father had run away years before. She was devastated and could not understand why she was left in an orphanage without parents.

Most of the children find their smile or are able to laugh after receiving the love and care of the house parents from Seed of Hope. Anne remained depressed and unhappy most of the time.

But she had one passion: singing. She loved to lead the children in worship songs in the home and the church. Soon other children wanted to do the same. She was even discouraged by some of them who told her that her voice was like “Mickey Mouse.”

She withdrew and only sang when we encouraged her. But she never gave up, and believed in her talent even when others laughed at her.
Then a big moment came. Some of the children from the orphanage were chosen to sing in a choir that would be on a CD. She gave her best and sang to the Lord with her clear high voice.

Along with 10 other teenage orphans she was chosen not only to do a CD but to go to Germany to present the wonderful Kenyan Gospel songs which they used to sing in church.

Through singing songs like “Thank you Daddy” and “I have a father who never ever fails me” she finally became reconciled with her past.

Now she is free in her singing, and in her laughing, and free to praise our God!

Carsten Werner is the founder of Seed of Hope in Kenya, now a Buckner program that serves as a residential children’s home and school. He serves on the Seed of Hope board and lives with his family in Germany.

Prayer Requests:

-God, thank you for blessing all of us with special talents and abilities that we can use unto your glory.
-God, thank you for being a father to the fatherless.

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