Hope Beyond Hardship: Romana’s Family Begins Their Journey with FFHC
This image captures a powerful moment of prayer for Marietta, the young woman in Romana’s family who hasn’t been able to walk since a spinal procedure at the age of two. Pastors Mark and Kathy gently laid their hands on her and lifted her up in prayer, asking for strength, healing, and continued faith. Though she crawls to move around, Marietta’s radiant spirit fills their small home with light and courage. The photo embodies the heart of Food for His Children, a reminder that hope and community can thrive even in the most difficult circumstances.
In the quiet village of Endala, 68-year-old Romana and her husband Martin Akonaay, age 77, are beginning a new chapter filled with hope. After years of working the land with little to spare, they were recently approved as a new Food for His Children family, ready to start their journey toward stability and self reliance.
Romana and Martin have been married for 43 years, a rare and beautiful example of enduring love and commitment. Together, they care for their children: including Marietta, age 40, who lives with both physical and mental disabilities and requires full-time care. Despite the challenges, Martin has remained faithfully by her side even as his own health has declined with heart problems that make walking difficult.
The family owns two acres of land, though the soil is poor and only produces enough food for their own needs. During the harvest season, Romana and her son Joseph, 38, take on casual labor to supplement their income. Yet even with their hard work, basic needs remain out of reach, including something as simple as a proper bed or the chance to build a sturdy brick home.
When Romana learned about FFHC, she joined with one clear goal: to receive goats, not just as animals, but as a path to independence. She hopes to raise and sell goats so her family can finally build a durable brick house, a dream she’s held onto for many years. With a little support from FFHC, she plans to sell five goats at once to make that dream a reality.
Her property, just under one acre, already holds promise. A nearby water source makes it possible to grow vegetables, and Romana has started a small kitchen garden with chili peppers. With training from FFHC’s agriculture team, she’s eager to expand her garden and strengthen her family’s food supply. The social worker assigned to her family will also help connect them with essential resources, including a wheelchair for Marietta, which would greatly improve her mobility and quality of life.
Life in Endala can be unpredictable, with hyenas and wild dogs threatening livestock at night, but Romana and Martin face every day with quiet courage. Their story is a reminder that transformation begins with faith, community, and small steps forward.
“Our job is to walk alongside families until they no longer need us,” says an FFHC team member. “Romana’s family is ready to begin that journey and with support, they can achieve the security they’ve always hoped for.”
Be Part of the Change
When you give to Food for His Children, you help families like Romana’s take their first steps toward self-sufficiency, building homes, raising goats, and finding hope where it once felt impossible.
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