Edmond Missionaries Moving Back To Ebola-Stricken Sierra Leone

Two Edmond missionaries who had to leave Sierra Leone due to Ebola are moving back.

The Crawford family left West Africa at the height of the outbreak.

Now, Shanna and Jerome Crawford have a new mission as they head back with their six children.

“This time, there is more a sense of purpose for them, that 'you're not too young, that you can make a difference too, these are kids your age,'” said Shanna Crawford.

The family lived in Sierra Leone last year before the outbreak brought them back to Oklahoma.

12/3/2014 Related Story: Edmond Couple Voluntarily Quarantines For Ebola

A year has now passed since the World Health Organization declared an Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and two other West African countries.

Cases have dropped, but the number of Ebola orphans has increased.

The Crawfords said they feel they are needed back in West Africa more than ever.

“We want to be the first missionaries that go and tell these kids, 'you know, listen, your life has a purpose, your parents didn't die in vain, Jesus loves you, he wants to rescue you, take care of you,'” Shanna explained.

The Crawfords are co-founders and missionaries with Komeo International Ministries, a group that aids orphans at Wellington Orphanage in Sierra Leone.

Now, the Crawfords have partnered with the Sierra Leone government to open a second, separate orphanage strictly for kids whose parents died from Ebola.

“We went from zero to 72 kids in about a month and a half now,” said Jerome Crawford.

The capacity of the new Ebola Refuge Orphanage is 120 kids.

“The situation is desperate on the street and there are thousands of orphans that have been turned out on the streets,” Jerome told News 9. “Ebola has just devastated the place in every single way,” he added.

The Crawfords are collecting supplies for both orphanages.

They are also working on getting sponsors for the children in the Ebola Refuge Orphanage to help with food, clothing and medical care.

They move back to Sierra Leone on May 2.

Learn more about Komeo International Ministries.