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

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

Travel has always been an important part of The Raining Season. Feet on the ground, loving and serving alongside our amazing team in Sierra Leone, and seeing firsthand the work being done to carry out our mission is just part of what makes it special. In November 2025, longtime supporters of TRS, Darren and Chrissie Woodruff, returned to Sierra Leone with two of their children, Gigi (18) and Brody (16). Joining them were The Raining Season's Executive Director, Lori Pyle, an

Did you know that the chimpanzee is Sierra Leone’s national animal? Sierra Leone is home to about 5,500 chimpanzees, one of the highest...

Each year, we reflect and continue to see the many ways the Lord continues to bless The Raining Season as He works through our children,...

Imagine a child full of potential but lacking the basic necessities of life. This is the reality for many children in Sierra Leone. At...

The school year in Sierra Leone is well underway, and the children are back in their routine. This year, The Raining Season Primary...

For fifteen years, we have welcomed teams to our center to love and serve our children, staff, and the community. We have welcomed...

2024 marks fifteen years of The Raining Season. In 2009, we first opened the doors to The Covering, and The Raining Season was born. ...

Last year, we launched a new sponsorship feature where we share a TRS sponsor and how sponsorship has impacted them. We couldn’t do what...

Through the years, The Raining Season has had the honor of welcoming countless teams to Sierra Leone and The Covering. The trek from the...

In February, The Raining Season welcomed a new pastor, Pastor William TM Wleh, to its staff. We have hinted at his arrival, but we are...

In February, our first mission team of the year traveled to Sierra Leone. This team was a vision team led by co-founder Jason Rust. The...

The Raining Season Preparatory School organized its first-ever Thanksgiving Service on March 24th. Thanksgiving services are observed...

On March 6th, our kids who attend school outside of the center at Rising Academy participated in their annual Sports Day at school. ...

As The Raining Season prepares to eventually move to Kono, our February team had the opportunity to visit the future site and community...