Dear family, friends, and those we don’t even know,

We are Ben and Diana. Our family has recently become the legal guardians of a beautiful and brave young girl named Rachael Burley. We want to share her story with you, not just because it’s heartbreaking, but because it’s also a story of resilience, love, and community.

We met Rachael and her parents through our restaurant, Let's Meat, where they were cherished regulars. Over time, they became more than customers—they became our friends. We got to know them as a close-knit family, always kind, always gracious. Rachael’s mother, Angeline, was full of warmth and grace, and her passing in March 2021 after a battle with cancer hit the family hard.

After Angeline’s death, Dave became quiet. He had spent most of their family’s savings on Angeline’s healthcare, so, buried himself in his work, withdrawing himself from his community. The spark in his eyes dimmed. It was clear he was grieving deeply, but we didn’t realize the full weight he was carrying until 2023, when he was also diagnosed with cancer.

At just 14, Rachael stepped into a role no child should ever have to fill. With strength beyond her years, she began taking care of her home, her father, and herself. Due to financial reasons and also the need of her father, she transitioned from Dalat International School to an online homeschooling program. This allowed her to stay close to her father and support him while continuing her education—alone, but determined.

Late last year, 2024, we were shocked to learn he had been admitted into hospice care. Everything happened so fast, and not even Rachael had time to prepare for what came next.

We rushed to see him and asked about his plans for Rachael’s future. There were none.

His only wish was that Rachael could finish high school in Penang, where she’s grown up and built her life. He told us there were no suitable next of kin. There was a real sense of urgency to get the matter sorted quickly because we knew that Rachael falling under child protective’s jurisdiction and the orphanage was not going to be healthy for her. That’s when we offered to become Rachael’s legal guardians. We promised Dave we would care for her like our own, and that we would see her through to adulthood and until our own death.

We would be there for her education, her well being, and everything else she might need in this world.

Dave passed away just 3 days later.

Since then, our community has wrapped their arms around Rachael and our family. We are incredibly grateful for the love and support we’ve received, but the road ahead is long, and the cost of raising and supporting a teenage girl is significant.

Rachael is a remarkable young woman— She dreams of being an Oncologist, saving the lives of people like her parents. She is resilient, thoughtful, and passionate. She loves figure skating, theatre, and her dog Oreo, and we want to give her the opportunity to continue doing the things that bring her joy. Most of all, we want to give her stability, a sense of normalcy, and a future filled with hope.

We’re raising funds to help cover:

• Tuition and fees at Dalat International School

• Everyday living expenses, including housing, food, clothes, and transportation

• Extracurricular activities like figure skating and theatre, which are so important to her emotional well being

• Legal and estate-related costs involved with settling her parents’ affairs

Every donation, no matter how small, will help give Rachael a fighting chance at a life her parents would have wanted for her—a life of love, opportunity, and support.

Caring for orphans is a profound expression of God’s love and a call to serve Jesus with compassion and action. James 1:27 reminds us that pure and undefiled religion is to care for orphans and widows in their distress, reflecting Christ’s heart for the vulnerable. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be His hands and feet, showing kindness, providing for those in need, and creating a nurturing environment where orphans feel loved, valued, and supported. In serving them, we embody the grace and mercy of Christ, fulfilling His command to love one another as He has loved us.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for standing with Rachael.

With love and gratitude,

The Hos