A Life Well Lived: Sonja & Lance McWilliams

February 7, 2025

Honoring Sonja McWilliams: A Legacy of Love at Lance’s Deaf Orphans (LDO)

Sonja McWilliams, a beautiful soul and co-founder of Lance’s Deaf Orphans (LDO) in Kissi, Kenya, is the highlight of this month’s blog. Together with her husband Lance McWilliams, Sonja built a safe haven where around 30 Deaf children reside full-time, receiving education, community support, and love—essentials too often denied to them in many developing countries.

The Story Behind Lance’s Deaf Orphans (LDO)

If you’ve ever wondered where the name Lance’s Deaf Orphans came from, here’s the story. Lance, who is Deaf, visited Kenya in 2008 on a mission trip (not affiliated with Deaf Child Hope). What he witnessed changed his life: Deaf children in Kenya and other emerging nations are frequently cast out—living without language, without education, and without community. This harsh reality inspired Lance to act. With Sonja by his side, they purchased land and built LDO from the ground up, creating a school and orphanage where Deaf children could find hope, learning, and belonging.

Sonja’s Courage, Compassion, and Impact

Fast forward to today—Sonja and Lance need their community now more than ever. Sonja was placed on hospice care earlier this week and is experiencing significant pain. Lance remains faithfully by her side during this challenging time. Your prayers for Sonja, Lance, and their family are deeply appreciated.

A Lasting Legacy of Hope for Deaf Children

Sonja’s life has touched countless hearts. Through LDO, she has empowered Deaf children who were once marginalized to gain education, language skills, and community connections. Her legacy is a reminder of the transformative power of compassion, faith, and action in addressing issues like poverty, homelessness, and lack of access to education for vulnerable children worldwide.

Sonja, thank you for your courage to do what few have done. Thank you for loving fiercely and leaving this world better than you found it.

Please join us in honoring Sonja by continuing to support the Deaf children in Kenya at Lance’s Deaf Orphans—because every child deserves language, learning, and love.