A new school year is underway at The Raining Season Preparatory School, Junior Secondary School, and Rising Academy! Classes began on September 7, 2026, and we are excited to see our students return ready to learn, grow, and build friendships. This year marks the second year of our Junior Secondary School (JSS), an exciting milestone as we continue to expand educational opportunities for our children and the surrounding community. TRS completed minor updates throughout the bu

Can you guess what year this photo was taken? If you guessed 2016, you’re right! This big generator may not look like much, but it has played an important role in supporting the everyday work and mission of The Raining Season. In Sierra Leone, infrastructure and other issues do not guarantee consistent access to electricity. A generator means The Raining Season can keep things running when the power goes out, and that means much more than simply keeping the lights on. Reliabl

Blessing the staff at The Raining Season is one small way we can say, “Thank you.” Our staff gives so much of themselves to the children every day. They show up with patience, compassion, and love, often making sacrifices behind the scenes that others may never see. Over the years, we have been able to bless our staff in different ways, from rice donations for their families and monetary bonuses to encouraging notes and other small gifts. These gestures may seem simple, but

The National School for the Deaf is located in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and provides a place for deaf or hard of hearing students to learn, grow, and develop the skills they need to navigate the world around them. For The Raining Season, this school holds a special place in our hearts because one of the children at The Covering, Moses, has attended the school since 2017. During his time there, he has learned communication skills through sign language, lip reading, and written

In late August, The Covering welcomed two new children into The Raining Season family. Meet siblings Fatima, age 5, and Yusif, age 8. As they begin this new chapter, we are asking our TRS family to surround them with love and support through sponsorship and prayer. Coming to a new home is a big change for any child. There are new faces, new routines, and so much to learn. For Fatima and Yusif, The Covering is now a place where they can begin to find stability, grow in trust,

As summer comes to a close, The Raining Season Preparatory and Junior Secondary School is once again preparing to fill with the sounds of students and teachers. Although school was out for much of the summer, learning never stopped at TRS. Through a summer school program for students and professional development for teachers, the TRS team has been preparing for another year of growth and learning. For the third consecutive year, The Raining Season Preparatory School offered a

Somewhere to eat, somewhere to sleep, somewhere to learn, somewhere to play. The Raining Season, our children, and staff have been able to call The Covering home for fourteen years because each August, the Lord has provided the funds needed to cover our rent. This year was no different. For the past several years, the Walk a Mile in My Shoes Campaign has helped cover the cost of our rent. Before that, building campaigns like the Matthew 25 and Na We Os Building Campaigns succ

School may be on summer holiday, but the busyness never stops at The Raining Season. This summer holiday, sixteen children from The Raining Season have had the opportunity to spend time with their families. Depending on when they left, the children will spend up to four weeks with their loved ones before returning to TRS at the end of this month. While these visits may be temporary, they are an important part of something much bigger. For children living at The Raining Season

A team trip to The Raining Season is about so much more than what can fit into a suitcase. It is about showing up. It is about sitting beside a child, sharing a meal, playing a game, listening to a story, praying together, and reminding the children and staff at The Raining Season just how loved they are. In June, six team members traveled to Sierra Leone from Tennessee, Arkansas, and Nebraska. Led by Lisa Rippy, the team stayed at The Swiss Hotel, just blocks from The Coveri

For many children with special needs in Sierra Leone, there is no hope. However, The Raining Season is a refuge. It is a place that welcomes ALL children with open arms. At The Raining Season, The Hope Room is an apartment solely dedicated to caring for and nurturing children with special needs. The Hope Room provides a safe place for children to be loved, well cared for, included, and given opportunities to reach their potential. That is why The Hope Apartment is such an imp

When a team travels to The Covering, they leave a lasting impact that extends far beyond the days they spend in Sierra Leone. Thanks to the generosity of our June team and the additional funds they raised specifically to meet needs at The Raining Season, several meaningful projects were completed that will benefit our children, staff, and school for years to come. One of the largest projects was the construction of a new storage shed in the yard near the kitchen. The shed fea

Did you know that Sierra Leone is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in West Africa? One of the country’s most popular destinations is River No. 2 Beach, located along the Freetown Peninsula. With its soft sand, palm trees, and beautiful waters, it is easy to see why both locals and visitors love spending the day there. River No. 2 Beach is especially unique because it is where a river flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The warm and gentle waters make it a great place f

When The Raining Season’s June team traveled to Sierra Leone, each school-age child at The Covering received the special gift of a devotional book and a personalized letter written just for them. The project was organized by June team leader Lisa Rippy, who wanted every child to know they are seen, loved, and prayed for by people they have never even met. As Lisa began packing for her trip, she came across two devotional books she had previously purchased for girls at The Cov

Birthdays at The Raining Season have become something our children look forward to. This week, we are looking back at our very first birthday celebration. Today, birthday parties are simply part of life at The Raining Season. On the final Saturday of each month, the children gather to celebrate everyone who had a birthday that month. There is cake, singing, laughter, and plenty of smiles as the children and staff celebrate together. It’s a day our children eagerly anticipate

Since opening its doors to the community in the fall of 2022, The Raining Season Preparatory School has continued to grow into a thriving school community. Today, the school serves more than 130 children from both The Raining Season and the surrounding community, providing a quality education. This past fall, the school expanded to include junior secondary students. Under the leadership of Pastor Sam Laggah, students continue to learn, grow, and prepare for bright futures. On

We have shared this message before, but every year it feels worth revisiting because the reminder is important. Freedom is something we should never take for granted. This time of year leaves us reflecting on the meaning of freedom. Independence Day holds deep significance in both Sierra Leone and the United States. While Sierra Leone celebrates Independence Day each year on April 27th, many of our faithful supporters in the U.S. will gather on July 4th to celebrate their ow

Our children at The Raining Season love to create. Whether they are drawing pictures, writing messages, or using their imagination in new ways, art is a special way for them to express themselves. Recently, when they had the opportunity to paint their own canvases, they were excited to bring their ideas to life. While our June team was in Sierra Leone, they brought supplies for a special art project that gave our children the chance to explore their creativity in a new way. E

Prayer has always been an important part of The Raining Season’s story. Time and time again, we have seen God provide, protect, and make a way where there seemed to be no way. This week, we invite you to join us in prayer. Whether you pray once or every day, please know that your prayers matter to our children, staff, and community. Pray for Students Taking National Exams This month, six of our students will sit for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), an exam

Some traditions become especially meaningful over time. At The Raining Season, one of those traditions is Salma's annual birthday visit to The Covering. At the end of May, Salma returned to celebrate her birthday with our children and staff for the ninth year. What began years ago through a simple connection has grown into a tradition of generosity, kindness, and community. Salma first learned about The Raining Season while working as an accountant at the Swiss Hotel, where m

Sponsorship continues to serve as the heartbeat of The Raining Season. We are continually grateful for the many people who choose to support the children in our care. One of those sponsorship stories comes from Seward, Nebraska, where the Concordia University Nebraska football team has been sponsoring Sullay since early 2025. The sponsorship is coordinated by Head Football Coach Patrick Daberkow, who first learned about The Raining Season through one of his assistant coaches.