Local group seeks to aid Ivory Coast

If it were up to Kellie Ross, there would be no poverty in the world.

But there is, and she’s determined to do what she can about it.

Ross, the executive director of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Divine Mercy, a non-profit, lay group affiliated with with Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville and House of Mercy in Manassas, is expanding its mission to Cote d’Ivoire, or Ivory Coast, Africa.

“I really feel called by God to do it. God is asking us not just to pray for our neighbor, but actively get involved in their suffering,” Ross said.

To get involved, Ross dreams of building an orphanage in a town called Korhorgo that is so poor that children sleep half-clothed on the floor and sometimes resort to eating leaves.

Ross’ initial involvement in Cote d’Ivoire came when House of Mercy donated excess clothing to the children of Korhogo.

The archbishop of Cote d’Ivoire was moved by the donation and invited Ross to visit.

While she was in the country that underwent civil war in 2002 and 2003 and remains “extremely” poor as a result of the war, she spoke to a conference of cardinals as well as groups of thousands of people about the need for peace and reconciliation between the two ruling factions in Ivory Coast, she said.

She also got to know some people individually and experienced a hospitality that belied the poverty of the place, she said.

She said people always gave her the best of their limited food and treated her with utmost respect.

“Where there is great poverty, there is a great richness in the people,” she said. “They have a hospitality that I’ve never seen here in America.”

Ross said she’s going to have to campaign hard to get funding for the work she wants to do in Korhogo, but she thinks things will work out.

“We have done fairly well locally. I write letters and tell stories about the people we serve and I send them out to our donors,” she said.

To get the clinic, school, church and orphanage going she’s going to have to redouble her efforts.

“We are going to have to ramp this up to another level,” she said.

“I can’t just stand by and allow them to suffer when I know that America is the home of generosity,” she said of the children of Korhogo.

“If they knew about it, these children would not be forgotten,” Ross said of the American people.