Bianca’s story:

One of the highlights of my week is receiving photos and videos from Mwana’s Refuges in Congo. Each of our Refuges is operated by a team of caregivers, cooks, cleaners, guards and supervisors, or as we call our staff, our “mamas and papas.”

Papa Léo’s photos and videos are always the best. Each video shows the care and attention he gives to each child through conversations and the opportunity to fully express themselves. He listens. He affirms. He encourages. He coaches. And it is almost always punctuated with heartfelt laughter.

Some stories of how children come to the Refuge are “kinder” than others. Without revealing her personal story, Bianca’s was not a kind one. She came to the Mwana Refuge as a newborn, and has not simply grown, but truly thrived in the loving care of our mamas and papas. Papa Léo in particular has a way of bringing out Bianca’s sense of humor, her sharp wit, and her buoyant smile.

I know the alternative orphanages to Mwana. They are places where child trafficking is the norm and where survival is just a dim possibility. I see moments like this--a child swinging carefree and joy-filled--and think, thank God for Mwana.