I was not chosen because I was the strongest, the smartest, or the most deserving. I was chosen because God, in His mercy, wove grace into the shadows and gave purpose to my pain. My disability set me apart, but it did not define me. The kindness I received became my blueprint: live with purpose, walk with humility, and love without keeping score.
I'm Rosana Glaypohkpay Dennis Hungerpiller Schaack, and this is my story. I have carried many names, each marking a place along my journey—from the belly of a dragon, through the fires of war, to a life of advocacy and public service. Some names were given in love, others in survival.
Together they tell the story of a girl with a limp who was surrendered to another family and raised by an American missionary couple who saw more in her than she saw in herself.
About Chosen Warrior
Coming in Summer 2026, Chosen Warrior tells the extraordinary true story of Rosana Schaack, who rose from a childhood marked by superstition and rejection to become one of Liberia’s leading voices for women and girls.
Born in Liberia and crippled by illness as a toddler, whispers spread that her disability was the result of a curse. Yet a surprising twist at age six carried her far beyond the limits others placed on her. Raised between two worlds—an African household and an American missionary family—she learned early how to navigate faith, courage, and cultural divides.
When civil war erupted in Liberia, Rosana found herself working as a nurse under siege. She delivered babies amid gunfire and helped guide frightened civilians through checkpoints where accents and hairstyles could determine life or death. Through hunger, loss, and displacement, she pressed forward with determination and hope.
From the ashes of war, Rosana founded THINK, Inc.—Touching Humanity In Need of Kindness—an organization restoring dignity to girl soldiers, survivors of trafficking, and vulnerable youth. Years later, she was elected to the Liberian Legislature, where she continued advocating for women and girls and helping reshape communities.
Spanning continents and generations, Chosen Warrior is both a personal memoir and a window into Liberia’s modern history—a story of endurance, faith, and the courage to rise beyond what others once believed was impossible.
This is Rosana’s testimony: a journey of hardship and grace, resilience and calling. It is a reminder that our lives are never random and that in the hands of the One who writes our stories, even the hardest chapters can prepare us for something greater.
The story begins here.
Read Chapter One of Chosen Warrior—a short 5-minute introduction to the journey.
Praise For Chosen Warrior
Gene Brooks,
SIM Liberia
“I could not pull myself away from Rosana's story. Gripping. Riveting. Heartwarming. Chilling. Compelling. This book is destined to join a short shelf of classic Liberian memoirs.”
Kendell Kauffeldt,
Samaritan’s Purse International Relief
"Having known Rosana for two decades and worked alongside her for 14 years, I can say she is one of the most remarkable leaders I have ever met—a true warrior marked by fierce resilience, compassion, and integrity."
Artie Davis,
Cornerstone Church, Orangeburg, SC
“A gripping memoir that sweeps readers into a whirlwind of danger, faith, and survival while revealing the little-known history of Liberia through one woman’s remarkable life."
