Hope 4 Liberia is blessed to have staff in Liberia who are giving their best to serve our orphaned children. We praise God for the women who are selflessly providing love, care and affection to our kids. Today we are thrilled to introduce to you Ms. Faustina Zoegar. Faustina is the Auntie at the home; she does the kid’s laundry, cleaning and assists the Head Mother in other capacities.
Faustina was born and raised on a rubber plantation during Liberia’s fourteen year civil unrest. Her father served the plantation as Medical Doctor until his demise in 2005. Because her single parent mother could not adequately provide for all fourteen kids, Faustina was taken in to the home of her auntie, where she grew up and began schooling. This auntie decided to bring up Faustina under strict restrictions and harsh disciplines with the intention of protecting her from bad influences.
While in the 11th grade as a teenager, Faustina was maliciously set up by a close friend who’d pressured ber to accept to be a girlfriend to her brother. Because she could not be bought into consenting to this friend's request, Faustina was forced into a room with this guy and he assaulted her. She was later found to be pregnant as a result of this incident. This incident affected Faustina in many ways. She wasn't allowed to attend school during the day. Some family relatives even stopped supporting her.
Her desire to continue schooling led her to take night classes while being pregnant until she graduated from high school. After giving birth, she moved to Monrovia to live with relatives. Soon she was afflicted with a sickness for a year and a half. During this time she received little assistance from friends and family. “I felt like a cast out," she shared. “I used to visit my older brother’s home to find food to eat. But his wife shunned me for not making any effort to find a boyfriend who could help take on some of my responsibilities.”
Faustina decided to stop seeking help from her brother since his wife was pressuring her to do something out of her will. "I got on my knees every day and prayed to God to heal me. I promised to God that if He heals me, I will commit my life to His service. “
Faustina was introduced to a pastor who took her in and treated her as his child. He prayed with her every day and began to nurture her in her walk with God. When healing finally came, she began serving her church as usher, and then secretary and and prayer warrior. Her life has changed for good since then. "I used to have anger problem, but everything has changed now since I began to grow in my relationship with Jesus. “ She went on to attend vocational school where she received training in catering for events. Faustina is now the breadwinner for nine of her siblings.
God has used all of her struggles to give her a transformed heart. "I love to carry other people's burdens. When I see somebody going through problems, I remember my past experiences and go to help them in any way I can,” she said.
Faustina’s story is a model of the struggles commonly experienced by women and girls in Liberia. The orphanage is blessed to have Faustina as Auntie to our children. We believe that her testimony can serve as an inspiration to the girls at the home.
Comments