I just landed back in Atlanta last night, and my heart is still in Bo City. The dust of the children’s home compound is still on my shoes, and the voices of our children are still in my ears. I want to share what God has been doing while I was on the ground in Sierra Leone, because every visit reminds me that this home is alive and that the work is moving forward in real, visible ways.
Jonatan Joins Us on the Ground
Our architect Jonatan flew in to walk the building with us and to roll up his sleeves alongside our team. His eyes catch what ours have learned to live with. A pipe that should run cleaner. A joint that needs to be welded properly. A roof seam that still lets in the rain. Having him here meant we could move from patching problems to actually solving them.
Day after day he was out there with the boys and our local plumbers, teaching as much as fixing. You can see them gathered around the pipe welder, learning the trade in real time. That is the kind of help we cherish, because it stays with us long after the visit ends.
Plumbing, Roof, and Well
The big push on this trip was infrastructure. Three things our daily life depends on: clean water lines, a dry roof, and a working well.
The Plumbing. We re-ran sections of the supply lines, sealed wall penetrations that had been weeping, and re-set fittings around the building. The trench you see in the photos is part of the new run going out toward the back of the compound. It is hot, dirty work, and our young men were right there in it.
The Roof. If you have followed us through the rainy season updates, you know the roof has been our number one worry. I am happy to report that the leak is now roughly 80 percent resolved. We are not at 100 percent yet, but we have crossed the line from constant emergency to manageable maintenance. That difference is everything when you are the one tucking children into bed at night.
The Well. We also got the well back in proper working order. The team rebuilt the concrete surround, replaced the pump fittings, and cleaned the access. Reliable water at the source means less worry about every other system downstream.
Bunk Beds, Finally
Because the roof is now mostly watertight, we were finally able to bring in the new bunk beds the children have been waiting on. The boys assembled them themselves, with Jonatan guiding the way. They built the boys’ level first, then the girls’ level. Watching them tighten the bolts on their own beds was a moment I will not forget. They were not just receiving a gift; they were taking ownership of their home.
Here is a clip from inside the bedroom on the day we put them together:
Daily Rhythms Inside the Home
Life inside the children’s home has a rhythm now. The children get up, work out together, eat, study, and play. The solar power and Starlink internet we installed earlier this year have completely changed the texture of our days. Lessons stretch into the evening. The kids can look up a question, watch a teaching, or worship along with music we stream into the main room.
One of my favorite small moments from this trip was watching the older generation step into that joy with us. Grandma got up and danced with the kids. She moves better than anyone in the building.
Inside the Construction
A few short clips give you a feel for what the work actually looks like, the noise, the heat, and the focus on every joint and seam.
A Birthday Blessing
Before I left Bo, the family and the children gathered to celebrate my husband Elgin’s birthday. They sang over him, prayed Jeremiah 29 over his life, and asked God for divine favor on every step ahead. There is something about being prayed over by the very children you serve that reorders your heart. It reminds you that this work flows in both directions.
From the Compound
Here is the wider view from this trip. Plumbers on the wall, the trench going in, the well coming back to life, and the children moving freely through their home.
Locally Filmed Updates
And a few longer videos straight from the compound:
Building the Legacy Together
Every fix on this trip, every pipe sealed, every panel of roof patched, every bunk bed standing on its legs, was made possible by you. Your gifts, your prayers, and your love travel with us each time we land in Bo. Our children are sleeping drier, drinking cleaner water, and sitting on real beds tonight because of the family God has built around this home.
We still have ground to cover. The roof needs the last 20 percent. The grounds need fencing in places. The kitchen and bathrooms still want their final finishes. If God has placed this mission on your heart, please consider giving toward this next stretch of the work. We are doing this together.
With love and gratitude,
Maseray Young
