In July 2022, during our very first days exploring the streets of Mufulira, we met a quiet young girl who would change everything. We weren’t even open yet — WellSpring was still setting up the home — but as we drove the streets to get acquainted with the community, we came upon a roadside vegetable stand. There stood Idah.
That moment was unforgettable. For us, it was as though God was confirming, “You are in the right place. This is why I brought you here.” Meeting Idah became the first clear sign that WellSpring was walking in God’s calling to rescue and restore His children.
At the time, the woman with her introduced herself as Idah’s “aunt.” She told us Idah was an orphan, had never been to school, and that she was struggling to provide for her. And so, the very first story we told about Idah — the story many of you first heard — was based on what we ourselves had been told. It seemed believable. Everything about Idah’s fragile, quiet presence confirmed that she was a child in desperate need.
But as the months unfolded, we discovered the truth. Many of the details we were told were lies. Over the past year, the full reality of Idah’s background has come into view — and it is far more heartbreaking than we imagined.
The Hidden Truth
The woman who claimed to be her “aunt” was not truly related at all. Social Welfare has since confirmed that she was exploiting Idah for her own gain, hoping to profit by presenting her as an orphan to us. After our first encounter, she gave Idah back to her brother and sister-in-law, who soon carried her off to a remote area called Mwansa.
There, Idah was treated as a maid — abused, neglected, and forced to work without rest:
“My sister-in-law would yell at me, even if I was sick. She said if I wanted food, I had to work. She would take the money my brother left for food and buy alcohol and cigarettes. Sometimes we went hungry for many days.”
In Zambia, this reality is a form of human trafficking. In some ways, it is even worse — because it is not strangers but a child’s own family who willingly gives them away. A child becomes a burden to be passed off, with no thought for her safety or future. Idah’s family had no issue exploiting her, and even today they will not lift a hand to help her with something as simple as registering for her NRC (National Registration Card) — the equivalent of a Social Security number, essential for her future.
For us as a ministry, it was deeply painful. Idah was the first child God had placed in our path, and now she was gone. We searched and prayed, and by December 2022 we nearly gave up hope of ever finding her again.
But God was not finished. In what we can only describe as a miracle, Idah was returned to us. On January 24, 2023, she officially entered the doors of WellSpring — broken, afraid, but finally safe.
A New Chapter
From the very beginning, Idah felt the difference:
“I felt so happy and good that I was going to be able to go to school, that I was not going to be a maid anymore, that I could have a childhood. I was not afraid of anything.”
Today, she beams with pride:
“I look nice. I look beautiful. I have clothes and shoes. I eat enough food. My health is good. Now I go to school, I am learning so much, and I am always grateful to God that my life has changed.”
Idah had never been in school until she came to WellSpring at age 13. Now, at 15, she is in Grade 5 and thriving. She loves English, Art, and Bemba. She proudly says:
“I never used to know how to read or speak English. Now I can read and I can speak English. I am so proud of myself.”
She also loves cooking, playing with her sisters at the home, and reading.
Looking Ahead
When asked about her future, Idah dreams of becoming a nurse or a police officer:
“Because I want to serve people, help people, and save lives.”
She has not forgotten her biological mother in Lusaka and has expressed a desire to reconnect one day. Our staff will take careful steps to see what is possible, but for now, Idah is safe, loved, and finally free to dream.
And she has a message for those who have made this miracle possible:
“Thank you so very much for making our dreams alive and possible. Please never stop helping us so that we can also help others who are in need. God bless you. I love you so much. I pray for each of you every day.”
Why Idah’s Story Matters
Idah’s story has unfolded in layers — first the lies, then the half-truths, and finally the reality of her pain. What she endured was exploitation and trafficking, normalized in her culture but devastating to her childhood.
But through it all, one thing has never changed: God saw her, and He chose to rescue her.
For us, Idah will always be the first child God placed before WellSpring. Even when darkness tried to hide her away, He brought her back. Today, because of your partnership, she has a new life — one filled with hope, safety, and the chance to shine for generations to come.