Every October for the past five years I’ve stared at my computer too long while writing a 31 Day series. I pick a topic and then challenge myself to write about it every day for a month. This year my topic is Home. Uncomplified. It’s a goofy made up word that combines uncomplicated and simplified. Why? Because I’ve realized I made home making more complicated than it needs to be.
Creating a home doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s simple.
We all need a safe place. A place to heal. A place to make mistakes. A place to grow. A place to learn. A place to connect. A place to go out from. A place of grace. Pretty things are the cherry on top. But everyone deserves a home. It should be simple.
Last year I peed in a hole in the ground in the ladies room at the Nairobi airport while waiting for a connecting fight. It’s probably the closest I’ll ever come to spending time in Kenya. But that doesn’t mean I can’t help build a room there.
Let’s build a room that will help change lives in Kenya. And we don’t even have to lift a hammer or get that pesky passport photo to make it happen.
We can build a room right now without leaving our computers. A room designed for educating teen girls rescued from the streets of Nairobi and one of the largest slums in the world. These teen girls are young mothers whose pregnancies were a result of rape or prostitution. It’s not uncommon for a hopeless mother living in the slums to ask her young teenage daughter to enter prostitution to help support the family. Can you imagine the desperation required to resort to this? Oftentimes, these girls end up pregnant and feel their only choice is a dangerous, illegal back-alley abortion.
Let’s not ignore this.
This is happening.
If you’ve been here at (in)courage you know about the little glimmer of hope for some of these girls.
It’s called Mercy House. Founded by (in)courage writer Kristen Welch, this maternity house was created specifically for young teenage girls and their babies. It is funded almost entirely by women here in the states.
Moms helping other moms creating a Mercy House.
Currently 12 teen moms and 12 precious babies call Mercy House home. Thanks to women here in the States they had prenatal care, counseling, nutritional meals, clothing, transportation to appointments and biblical teaching.
The girls are invited to live at Mercy House for 2-4 years. When the girls leave Mercy House the vision is they will have a much-needed education and skills that will help change the course of their family’s future.
This education and skills thing? It’s one of the most important pieces. These skills offer a way out, another way to create income and mothers who can teach what they know to their children so that the cycle doesn’t continue. Prenatal care, counseling, safe beds are all needed and wonderful, but without education and a plan their future is bleak.
Mercy House? It’s one home where 12 teenage girls and their 12 babies and a few house staff live. You can imagine the need for space–every last inch is already being used. The girls are already building their individual accounts through jewelry making. They learn life skills like cooking and sewing. The importance of a room specifically for eduction, reading, writing, business skills is vital.
We, the (in)courage community, want to partner with these 12 girls. We want to provide the most basic of needs. Food, shelter and a plan for the future. This classroom we are building–it represents future hope.
Today we are launching phase two of (in)Mercy part of a five phase plan to change lives. Our goal is to raise $8500 to provide a covered outdoor area and classroom for learning at Mercy House.
Building it is so simple. It’s totally uncomplified.
Click here to give and watch what happens with these girls in Nairobi.
Click to Tweet >> The Easiest Way to Build A Room Ever! Uncomplified.
Leave a Comment
NJ @ A Cookie Before Dinner says
Oh boy! Reading this gave me chills! This is big, exciting, stuff happening here. I am so happy to be a part of this!
Wendy J @ rockinwhatyagot.com says
Yay Nester! This is great. Partnering with you to get the word out! 🙂
Claire @ A Little Claireification says
Wow – powerful, amazing stuff going on over there. I tweeted this out and going to click on the Give & Watch link now.
Thanks for sharing this!
Leslie says
I tweeted, this gave me chills too. I’m heading over to the Give & Watch link now too.
Miriam says
such a beautiful thing in the works here!!! Thanks for sharing!
Beth R. says
Ladies!! I never even got to donate. You funded the School room before I could add my share.. so proud to be associated with such warriors of the faith. <3