Cedric came to Happy Hill Farm with nothing but the clothes on his back and hope for a chance at a better life. The Farm campus was very different from the rampant poverty of Cameroon. He didn’t speak English. He was out of options. It seemed like everything was stacked against him. Then, he met a man who told him about Happy Hill Farm. It wasn’t going to be easy, but if he could just get his visa approved and get to the U.S., he might have a chance.
We talk a lot about how students at Happy Hill Farm have so much potential, yet most of them come from situations where there is little to no opportunity. For Cedric, that meant no access to the internet or computers . . . worn down schools that couldn’t even offer lunch options. You had to either bring your lunch or not eat. And on many days, that meant not eating. As a child in Cameroon, Cedric’s chances for a quality education and future opportunities were slim.
As of 2015, the most recent Human Development Index reports that out of 188 countries,
Cameroon ranks 153. Proper education is inaccessible in Cameroon. The adult literacy rate is only 70 percent. Malnutrition affects 31.7% of children under the age of five stunting growth and leading to illness and death for many.
The situation for Cedric was desperate. And yet, on his own as a 14 year-old, Cedric applied multiple times until he was finally approved for a visa to come to the U.S. Cedric says, ”God helped me get the visa. Most people don’t get one. I knew not knowing English well meant I would probably be rejected, but I kept trying.”
Cedric quickly began to blossom at Happy Hill Farm. He has become a kind, hard working young man. He excels in class. He is a leader among his peers. He enjoys chores and responsibilities that he never had at home. For the first time in his life, he is looking toward a bright future.
He has also learned about God. Before coming to Happy Hill Farm, Cedric had no understanding of who God was and had never prayed. Prayer is now a regular part of his life.
But Cedric’s story is not over. You see, Cedric has a sister, and he wanted the same opportunities for her that he has experienced. Her name is Laurene.
All of us at Happy Hill Farm have been praying for Laurene. Laurene faced just as many challenges as Cedric in getting her visa approved and affording the expensive plane ticket needed to fly from Cameroon.
My heart is warmed by the support our staff has shown to Cedric and Laurene. Without asking, they pooled their resources together to pay for Laurene’s plane ticket. They gave what they could, and God blessed their gifts by bringing Laurene to us. Praise God!
Laurene is fairly new, but has really come out of her shell. She is more talkative and smiles all the time. She really misses her mother, but having Cedric here helps. We are very thankful for both of them.
I share this story with you because I want you to know what your prayers and financial support are doing at the Farm. Every dollar given is working to change lives, to give kids the opportunity to make something of themselves, and to introduce the saving grace of Jesus to children who have never heard God’s name before.
Cedric and Laurene would be a statistic without your help. Because of you, their families, their children, their grandchildren, and their communities will be impacted by two children from Cameroon who fought for a better opportunity.
There are thousands of stories like Credric and Laurene – of kids who come through Happy Hill Farm. We only have so many days with them to prepare them to take on a world that stands against them and the Christian principles they are taught. But just like Cedric and Laurene, we will never stop fighting for the children God puts in our path . . . whether they are from north central Texas or around the world. With the proper training, love, and education, each life has the potential to change the world for good.
Thank you for your support.
We hope you are inspired as you see how God is using your generous gifts to shape the hearts and minds of young people. Please consider another gift today to help students like Cedric and Laurene thrive.