A Heart For Orphans: Leah Morford

Tell us about you (name, occupation, location, etc.):

My name is Leah Morford, I am a 19 year old follower of Christ. I currently live in Albuquerque, New Mexico with my mom, dad, and little brother. I guess technically you could term me as a student, but my main priority is serving Christ through serving others.

Describe your mission:

My main mission is to make Christ known. I long to be His hands and feet to this world around me. I have a heart for rescuing and loving the orphan (or any vulnerable, helpless child). Though I long to pursue this in a long term way, I am currently seeking the Lord as to where He would have me go and how He would have me do this. Right now, I am working towards going to serve in an orphanage in Jinja, Uganda, called Amani Baby Cottage, in April of 2011. I am willing to go wherever He leads, and I joyfully walk through every door He opens on this journey. As far as I am concerned I will go until He tells me to stay!

What got you interested in this cause?

In 2009, I was seeking what God would have me do with my life. I desperately longed to give my life to be used for whatever He wanted. I was asking that He would give me His heart for a cause, and that He would enable me to go after it. As I was pouring over Scripture, I kept seeing God’s heart of love, and the way He cared for the needy. Not only did Christ do this in the New Testament, but God encouraged His people to do it in the Old Testament. Over and over, I kept seeing how God called His people to care for the needs of the helpless. It was His Word that began my interest in the cause of the orphan, and as I have walked in this direction He has only increased the interest, burden, and joy for this particular cause.

Is there a particular experience that has profoundly influenced you?

Earlier this year, I went as a missionary to Haiti for 3 months. While I was there, I served with an orphan home called, Danita’s Children. It was on this trip that my heart truly grew to love the orphan with God’s heart. It was an experience of ups and downs, difficulties and extreme joys. But through it all, God was ever with me, and He only used it to further prepare me for what He has for me.

What has been the most heartbreaking?

This life comes with the guarantee of heartbreak. It’s nearly unavoidable. There is heartbreak in stories of forsaken children, there is heartbreak in seeing the neglected children filling the streets, there is heartbreak in wanting to provide a perfect solution to solve every issue but not being able to, there is heartbreak in seeing a people void of Hope in Christ. But I think the greatest heartbreak is having to say goodbye to a child that you want to keep and love forever.

What has brought you the most joy?

Even though this life guarantees heartbreak, it also guarantees extreme joy that is unfathomable. What has brought me the most joy? Let me count the ways… There is joy in seeing hearts healed. There is joy in seeing a child’s life transformed because for the first time someone truly loved them. There is joy in seeing people who have lived all of their lives in darkness, become filled with the Light of Christ. There is joy in being yielded to Christ and watching Him accomplish His purposes through your life. There is joy in having Christ’s Love. Even with all the heartbreak, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything… because every bit of joy makes every bit of heartbreak worth it.

Has any organization and/or person helped you out emotionally, financially, or otherwise?

I would say that my mom has definitely helped me emotionally as I have followed Christ in this way. She constantly reminds me the importance of love, and what that looks like in every day life. She constantly reminds me that Christ will be with me in all that I do. And she always listens and she always encourages and prays with me. I am SO blessed to have her as my mom.

I would also say that my pastors have been huge encouragements along this journey. They always encourage me to follow wherever God leads me… no matter what the cost or sacrifice, and no matter how foolish it may look to the rest of the world. Their support has definitely aided in bringing me to the point of life I am at now!

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