John calls out a white woman who dedicates time helping kids in Africa. He tells why she has special meaning in his heart.
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Lee is a 72-year-old woman originally from a small town in rural Alabama. She is “retired.” Well, if you can call it that. She still works, only now she doesn’t collect a salary. Lee has been helping kids her entire life. First, as a teacher for 20+ years, and then as a Regional Director for a cultural exchange program that brings teenagers together from different cultures all over the world. Now, she volunteers at a Catholic orphanage for abandoned children in Africa, in the remote northern region of Ghana.
Lee grew up during the time of segregation in the south as a child. Black people and white people lived in segregated communities. Then, she witnessed the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960’s firsthand as a college student at the University of Southern Mississippi. Needless to say, volunteering in Africa was not in anyone’s wildest dreams at that time.
Sister Stan’s Children
Lee developed a passion for Africa in the 1980’s when the 5th-grade class she was teaching made it their class project to help a farm in Cameroon grow more crops for the local people in the region. Africa always remained in her thoughts. Until many years later she heard a woman named Sister Stan speak about her mission at her church. She felt a strong calling and decided to retire from her position as Regional Director. Ever since she has been actively involved with Sister Stan’s Children both as a volunteer at the orphanage in Ghana and as a fundraiser when back at home in Colorado.
The mission of the organization is to save the abandoned children of the region. These children have been rejected by their families. Sister Stan takes them in off the street, gives them a place to live and a community, feeds them, and gives them an education. Mama Lee (as the children affectionately refer to her as) draws upon her 20 years as a teacher, to help teach the children when she is there. There is a famous large shade tree where she likes to hold class when it gets too hot inside the building.
Lee is helping make a difference in the children’s lives in Ghana. The children have new educational supplies, and even a few tablets and netbook computers. They have clothes to wear that have been donated. They were even able to get enough monetary donations to build a new facility to house the children in earlier this year. The previous facility was highly primitive. The photo below is of the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new home earlier this year.
She is fearless. How many 70-year-old women do you know that have the courage to travel alone to Africa? Many people think she is crazy for doing it. I think it is courageous!
She is a selfless person with a huge heart. Lee is focused on the lives of others and helping people in need. She has no need for the many material items that many people have that live in excess. She prefers to spend her money on life experiences and making an impact in the world.
She is a tireless worker. Lee is passionate and dedicated in her mission to help children. Her work ethic and determination are to be admired.
She loves children. Lee loves to be around children and enjoys having them in her life. I owe much of love of children to Lee.
Through Lee’s example, I have become a more loving and caring father. A man who is focused and determined to succeed in business so that I can provide for my family and give back to others less fortunate. I have learned that what truly matters in life are the experiences you create with those you love, not the size of your flat-screen TV or the brand on your jeans.
Lee is not only helping children in Africa. She helps them right here in Colorado. She is an active volunteer at my daughter’s school and is the best babysitter we could ever have asked for. She even cooks us a homemade meal EVERY Thursday night. I am proud to call Lee White my Mom. You see, I told you she was a “White woman!”