I’ve never stepped foot in Africa. I’ve read books, seen pictures, heard stories of others’ adventures, but have always stayed here. Though for some reason, a God reason, a piece of my heart is with some girls and their babies in Nairobi, Kenya.
These girls have outgrown their home at Rehema House (Rehema is the Swahili word for Mercy). This place gives these girls, who have no other option but poverty, a place to birth their babies and live life. The program includes counseling, nutrition, education, job skills, spiritual guidance, and life skills. Prenatal care is given prior to birth and after care is given to these mothers and their little ones.
These are the statistics that are a reality for these girls:
- Annually, 21,000 women are hospitalized from having an illegal, unsafe abortion in Kenya. (Center for Reproductive Rights)
- Abortion is a volatile topic in Kenya.
- 13,000 Kenyan girls are kicked out of school for being pregnant. (Center for Reproductive Rights)
- 25% of pregnant women in Kenya are HIV positive (ObGyn in Kenya)
- Every 30 minutes, a woman is raped in Kenya. (Nairobi Women’s Hospital)
- Mothers often force their daughters into trading sex for food in the slums (CNN)
- More than 20,000 children are sex trafficked in Kenya (Human Trafficking)
- 1500 women die in childbirth every day across Africa (WHO)
Reading these statistics is harrowing, but we can make a difference. Through Pure Charity, DaySpring’s (in)Courage has partnered with the Mercy House to fund 5 different phases needed to further the ministry – a van, generator, classroom, computer lab, and house . All 5 phases have been completed and the funding has been raised to purchase and furnish the new home and provide security for the girls and staff. But there are still needs. There is still prenatal care for the girls who will walk through the doors of Mercy House. There is still food to be bought and classes to be given. Will you join me this Christmas season and support this ministry? We may not be able to travel to Kenya, but we can support those who do. We can through our gifts, love the least of these. We can, through our gifts, hold these girls faces in our hands, look in their eyes, and tell them they have value. Let’s love on them and their babies this Christmas season.
The Mercy House Shop is a place you can support the girls and their babies. This is an awesome way to get some Christmas shopping done, and make a difference in these girls lives. (All proceeds from product goes to Rehema House in Nairobi, Kenya. 25% goes to the girls for future use and 75% goes to current needs.)
Photographs courtesy of Mercy House Kenya. Photographer, Bess Brownlee
Act Justly. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly.