Before she ever stepped into one of the Chongwe Family Homes, Mama Susan had already been loving and serving orphaned children in a powerful way. For years, she was one of the faithful cooks at Camp Hope, Every Orphan’s Hope’s five-day outreach program for orphaned children in the community. During this special week, children are invited to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and discover their place as adopted sons and daughters of God.
Mama Susan made sure every child had a warm meal each day, but she also offered something more. Through her gentle presence and servant heart, she helped lay the foundation of love and care that so many of these children had never known. She remembers those days fondly, and some of the children she once cooked for now live in the Young Adults Home.
“I always felt connected,” she says. “Like I was already part of the family.”
Mama Susan has been a widow for 25 years. After the death of her husband in a road accident in 2000, Susan returned to her parents’ farm in Chongwe. Within two weeks, she also lost her father. Through it all, Susan carried the weight of raising five children, caring for her aging mother, and managing the farm.
To make ends meet, she sold produce from the farm at the Chongwe Town market and cooked at a local church for big events. It was through this life of steady, behind-the-scenes faithfulness that God prepared her for something more.
When a church announcement invited widows to apply to become a Mama at Every Orphan’s Hope, Susan felt a familiar tug on her heart. She applied three times before receiving the call that would launch her into the next chapter. Today, she is one of our newest Mamas, and she says it feels like a place she was always meant to be.
“This is the kind of work God prepared me for,” she says with quiet confidence. “When I came here, I felt at peace. It feels like home.”
What has surprised her most since serving in this new role is how Every Orphan’s Hope centers everything on Christ. She had expected to care for children, but she didn’t expect the environment to be so full of the Word of God. From Bible studies to prayer times to moments of worship in the home, she has found encouragement, courage, and a platform to share her faith.
“I’ve even been able to preach and teach,” she shares. “This place has given me the courage to speak the truth of God’s Word.”
Of course, the work is not without its challenges. Like any mother, she wants to raise children who are respectful, kind, and united in love. It takes time and intentional care to shape their character and guide them through everyday life. But Mama Susan is committed.
Her prayer is simple but sincere: that God would give her strength, continue to grow her heart, and direct her path to be the kind of mother these children need.
Four of her biological children continue to live on the family farm, while her firstborn remains in Lusaka. Their support and love give her peace as she pours herself into this new calling.
Because of your generosity, women like Mama Susan are stepping into the roles they were created for. Your support gives them a place to serve and gives children a home where the love of Jesus is lived out each day.