Annie Hammon was six years old when she, her sister Ruth, and her brother James moved to Liberia with their missionary parents. She fell in love with the country as they drove from Monrovia’s harbor to Ricks Institute where her parents served. She was home schooled during first and second grade, and then attended a Liberian school for her third year of elementary school. In the fourth grade, she enrolled in my alma mater, the American Cooperative School Monrovia (ACS), from which she graduated in 1974. James graduated the previous year in 1973 and Ruth graduated with the class of 1980.
Liberia will always have a special place in Annie’s heart. Most of the friends that she invited to her house were Liberians. A number of them are lifelong friends. One of her fellow graduates at ACS was a friend she made in her third grade class. She worshiped at Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia, where she sang in the choir. Her father is buried at the Baptist Seminary in Liberia.
As Annie’s last birthday approached, she got a message from Facebook asking if she would like to have a birthday fundraiser to support her favorite cause. She decided to try it and specified Dignity:Liberia as her designated non-profit. We are so grateful to her for doing so – her efforts raised over $900!
An autistic nephew donated on her behalf. Friends from her church contributed. One friend wasn’t familiar with obstetric fistula, but donated anyway. Annie has since explained fistula to her friend.
It is not surprising that her friend didn’t know about fistula, as it is not a common problem in the United States. To refresh your own understanding of obstetric fistula, you may want to read about it on our What is Fistula? page.
I asked Annie what was hardest for her was during Liberia’s two civil wars. She replied that the people who taught her how to love could do this to one another. She added that so many people were hurt in so many ways and that women who suffer from fistula are some of the “least of these.” (Matthew 25:40)
Annie can no longer go to Liberia to help directly, but the money raised from her birthday fundraiser will have a huge impact on the fight to eliminate fistula in Liberia.
Thank you Annie Hammon!
Liberia will always have a special place in Annie’s heart. Most of the friends that she invited to her house were Liberians. A number of them are lifelong friends. One of her fellow graduates at ACS was a friend she made in her third grade class. She worshiped at Providence Baptist Church in Monrovia, where she sang in the choir. Her father is buried at the Baptist Seminary in Liberia.
As Annie’s last birthday approached, she got a message from Facebook asking if she would like to have a birthday fundraiser to support her favorite cause. She decided to try it and specified Dignity:Liberia as her designated non-profit. We are so grateful to her for doing so – her efforts raised over $900!
An autistic nephew donated on her behalf. Friends from her church contributed. One friend wasn’t familiar with obstetric fistula, but donated anyway. Annie has since explained fistula to her friend.
It is not surprising that her friend didn’t know about fistula, as it is not a common problem in the United States. To refresh your own understanding of obstetric fistula, you may want to read about it on our What is Fistula? page.
I asked Annie what was hardest for her was during Liberia’s two civil wars. She replied that the people who taught her how to love could do this to one another. She added that so many people were hurt in so many ways and that women who suffer from fistula are some of the “least of these.” (Matthew 25:40)
Annie can no longer go to Liberia to help directly, but the money raised from her birthday fundraiser will have a huge impact on the fight to eliminate fistula in Liberia.
Thank you Annie Hammon!
RSS Feed