Through the years, The Raining Season has been blessed by many special visitors to The Covering. We’ve welcomed dignitaries, including the ambassador to the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone, celebrities like Emmerson and Idris Elba, and other organizations like Shaping Young Minds Initiative, who just visited our center at Christmas. We are grateful for the many people who are eager to pour into our children and staff.
In early November, Ajay and Niyanta Shah with Hope4Smile visited The Covering. Hope4Smile is a charity organization based out of the UK. The organization started in 1996 and is run by volunteers. Their work has helped people in India, Kenya, Nepal, Syria, Uganda, and the UK. Hope4Smile has built schools, run medical camps, sponsored children, run feeding programs, and sent books, glasses, and clothes to many of these countries. They provide relief for the poor, disabled, sick, and elderly through the advancement of education, supporting victims of disaster, building and refurbishing schools, and supporting literacy through educational aids, including computers and tablets.
November was their first trip to Sierra Leone. They visited Sierra Leone to volunteer at the Better Lives Foundation Yonibana Sai Hospital. They sent two containers of materials, including medical equipment, clothing, books, and furnishings, to the hospital. They spent time sorting these materials and also providing feedback on the hospital. As a part of their trip, they also wanted to see other projects in action and develop working relationships with other charities. This meant visiting SOS Children’s Village, UNICEF, and eventually, The Raining Season.
They learned about The Raining Season while staying at The Swiss Hotel. Faith Corbin (Stine), who spent time at our center as a child, was visiting Sierra Leone with her husband to celebrate their recent wedding with her family and friends in Sierra Leone. While eating breakfast, Niyanta and Ajay asked if they could join their table. As they visited during breakfast, Faith asked if they had heard of The Raining Season. Then, Faith shared her testimony and all about TRS with Ajay and Niyanta and encouraged them to visit.
Ajay and Niyanta visited The Covering twice during their trip. Eager to meet the children and caregivers, they visited for the first time the same morning they learned about TRS from Faith. They enjoyed hearing the children share their dreams of becoming doctors, engineers, and lawyers. They also noticed that, like so many kids, they were big fans of Iron Man and Spider-Man. Several days later, they visited again, and this time, they received a full welcome ceremony with songs from the children. During this visit, they bought stationery, including pens and crayons, as well as sweets and biscuits for the children.
Since their visit, Hope4Smile has continued to share about The Raining Season and advocate for our children. We are grateful for their generous hearts and the time they spent at The Covering, loving and serving our children and staff. Thank you, Ajay and Niyanta, for visiting The Raining Season and for sharing our organization with others. Your organization has spent nearly three decades serving others on a global level, and we are grateful that Faith introduced you to The Raining Season and for your eagerness to visit.
Many blessings,
The Raining Season