Field updates from Sierra Leone, India, and the communities we serve — in reverse chronological order, as they happened.
Sitis Christi donated for a wheelchair for 13-year-old Joseph, who could walk only short distances because of a growth condition. Joseph was surrounded by classmates and his parents who joined a celebration of presenting the wheelchair to Joseph.
During the 2024 trip, I met Mina, a thirteen-year-old girl who spent 12 hours a day digging through garbage to earn money to help feed her family. When asked about her dream for the future, she said she wanted to become a police officer. Watching her story again recently was a reminder of how much potential she has, and how much one intervention could matter.
I reached out to my contact in Pondicherry asking him to find Mina again and explore what support might be possible. He returned with sad news: when he went back to the waste picker colony, he learned that Mina's father had recently died, and that Mina and her mother had moved to an unknown location. If we are able to locate Mina, we will share an update.
I asked my contacts in Pondicherry to visit the waste picker colony and share updates on people I met in 2024. They returned with some positive news.
In 2024, I met Sonia, a single mother who had been sleeping on the streets. She told me that a motorbike would change her life more than anything, giving her a way to travel from the shelter to the beach to sell her goods. Eighteen months later, Sonia still has her bike and uses it regularly to commute from the shelter to spots where she sells toys to tourists.
Eighteen amputees have reached out requesting assistance with prosthetic legs. At this time, we have enough funds to provide prosthetics for four people. Choosing who will receive them first was difficult; we prioritized those who are primary providers for others and who would benefit most immediately. We'll continue working to raise support so we can help more people as soon as possible.
These amputees will soon be notified that they've been selected to receive prosthetic legs. Next, they'll be fitted for custom prosthetics and begin physical therapy. Please be patient for these individuals to go through the process.
Single mother and sole provider for her one-year-old son. She recently lost everything in a fire.
Widow and sole provider of three children.
A teacher. A prosthetic leg will help him walk to school and stand long hours while teaching.
A barber. His job requires standing for long periods. Working with a razor and a crutch at the same time is very difficult.
Thanks to the donations received in March during the Pizza Ranch gathering, ten amputees living in a Sierra Leone shelter will receive food support for the next three months.
A group of old friends from Le Sueur joined the first presentation at Pizza Ranch in Le Sueur, and it was genuinely good to see so many familiar faces again. Thank you to everyone who showed up, listened, and supported this work.
"Each update is a small hinge — a moment when something shifted for someone who had no other options."
Sitis Christi — Field UpdatesDavid is still in therapy. The four prosthetic recipients are being fitted. The work is still in motion — and every gift keeps it going.