Part of the beauty of the incarnation is that God allows us to partake in the mission that Jesus began here on Earth. Christ grants us the privilege not only to witness miracles but also to participate in them. For Vanessa, a young woman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the generosity of others sparked a miraculous transformation that still bears fruit today.
Finding Family, Friendship, and Faith at Libota
After the death of her parents, Vanessa became a runaway child. Abandoned and alone, she roamed the dangerous streets of Kinshasa, the capital city of the DRC. Through the generosity of our MercyWorks donors, Vanessa was rescued and welcomed into a local orphanage, “Libota,” which means family.
When little Vanessa first arrived at the orphanage, it was apparent that she was utterly lost spiritually, emotionally, socially, and physically. At Libota, the seemingly impossible and long road to recovery started for the young girl. She was introduced to a life of prayer and community with the other orphans in the program. After enrolling in elementary school, she excelled through her education and eventually started at university.
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Sharing the Fruit of God’s Work with Others
Vanessa’s second chance at life through Libota gave her a strong foundation for a promising future. In 2024, she married a wonderful man in her parish and was blessed with a beautiful child later that year. Upon her college graduation, she became an architect and secured a well-paying job. With a portion of her salary, Vanessa began helping other children and supporting Libota’s various programs.
Vanessa seen here with Father Joan Martens, CICM, founder of Libota Orphanage.
Today, Vanessa is a role model in her community and an inspiration to orphans at Libota’s orphanage and beyond. Just like Jesus changed water into wine, God transformed Vanessa's life in all aspects through human generosity and the workers at Libota. God gave human hands the ability to become real-life miracle-doers—and His work is not yet done.
Say “Yes” to God’s Work Through You
Stories like Vanessa’s remind us of the transformative power of saying “yes” to Christ. In His kindness and mercy, Jesus invites ordinary people like us to join His extraordinary mission.
If you’d like to be part of the miracle the Lord continues to work through MercyWorks, I invite you to learn more about our missions or make a donation to help transform the lives of vulnerable children like Vanessa.
