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About this Fundraiser

OUR PURPOSE

The Mercy House exists to empower and advocate for pregnant teens, single mothers and women in poverty all over the world through awareness, employment and support in the name of Jesus.


The Issue:

  • 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)

The Vision of Rehema House (supported by Mercy House):

  • Provide a safe place-a guarded home with six maternity beds
  • Partner with local churches
  • Prenatal Care-vitamins, checkups
  • Proper Nutrition-protein and regular meals
  • Counseling-post abortion/prostitution
  • Ministry-prayer, Biblical teaching
  • Skills-jewelry, soap, sewing (future products will be sold here)
  • A nurturing environment in-which to give birth
  • A safe place to stay and learn and heal until they graduate from the program
  • An account to start small business or go to school (from products they make and sell)

The Plan:

    Our residents are invited to stay in the program for a minimum of two to four years, but our desire is to support each mom and baby throughout their lives. Each girl earns money through our Sustainable Skills Program and it will be dispersed over a long-term period to continue their education and even start a business as a part of our Graduate Program. Since our residents are at-risk- abused and even orphaned, we will assist them for as long as needed. We want to be their forever family and will tailor our help to each girl's situation. Our goal is quality, not quantity and total discipleship.

It is the desire of The Mercy House team to fulfill Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O man, what is good: And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and love mercy, to walk humbly with your God."

**Rehema is the Swahili word for mercy

Programs

The daily lives of those living in the maternity home will be multi-faceted and offer an enriching family atmosphere. 

Rehema Programs:

Prenatal/Postnatal Care-Each new resident will receive medical insurance through the maternity home, beginning with a thorough physical exam at a safe hospital. If insurance is not possible (no identification or under the age of 18), a normal delivery cost between $500-900 and all medical expenses will be covered by Mercy House. If they have health issues (such as HIV), they will receive needed medications and support. Weekly check-ups will be performed by the staff nurse at the maternity home. Girls will receive proper nutrition, prenatal vitamins. The home will be equipped with emergency birthing supplies, but the plan is for deliveries (natural and c-sections) to take place at a very nice private hospital located close to the home, covered under insurance. The girls will receive excellent care and follow doctor's guidelines during their 6 week postnatal experience. Breastfeeding will be highly encouraged, although formula will be available to moms with HIV.

Nutrition-This is a crucial area in the programming. Because of extreme poverty, food often has low-nutritional value.  Protein is rare and many times it is hard to find. There will be education on proper nutrition while pregnant, while nursing and even what to feed babies and children. False information will be dispelled. Each resident will have healthy balanced daily portions that include: fresh vegetables, protein, eggs and milk.

Counseling-Since rape is such a huge contributing factor to unplanned/unwanted pregnancies, there will be extensive counseling in this area by the staff Social Worker and also the private hospital has a Crisis Rape Program. Counseling for emotional issues, family problems and personal crisis will also be available. There will be books and resources to aid in the healing process.

Our staff has received very specific training dealing with counseling children in trauma it is called Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(TF-CBT), a model with ten stages.

TF-CBT is an effective, flexible, culturally sensitive/adaptable to other cultures and adaptable for use by non-professionals it was discovered by Becca C Johnson a psychologist from America. It is a counseling that encourages progress, educates about trauma, teaches self-help skills, addresses thoughts and feelings that affects our behaviors, focuses on one’s trauma, encourages sharing one’s story, involves caregivers in the healing process and evaluates unhealthy perspectives.


Backstory

The Welch Family
We are just a simple family who is answering God's call. Terrell and Kristen have been married for 17 years and are raising three children. Kristen writes the parenting blog, We are THAT family and author of two books, Rhinestone Jesus and  Don't Make Me Come Up There March 2011.

In March of 2010, she traveled to Kenya, Africa, with Compassion International, the world's largest child sponsorship program, to blog their relief efforts in the slums of Nairobi. She was especially burdened visiting the Mathare Valley, one of Africa's largest slums. Just days after returning home, Kristen read a heartbreaking article by CNN about the large number of backstreet abortions by girls forced into prostitution to feed their families.

Maureen Owino
While in Kenya, Kristen met Maureen, one of Compassion's leadership students, a former sponsored child. Maureen is single, 25 years old and will graduate from the University of Nairobi in December 2010. She speaks 5 languages and traveled to the Unites States in the summer of 2010 on behalf of Compassion International to speak to thousands of students at Student Life Camps. Her moving life story led to the sponsorship of more than a thousand impoverished children.

She has since become a very dear friend of the Welch family. Just weeks after returning from Africa, Kristen emailed Maureen and asked if she knew of any ministries reaching out or offering an alternative to the young girls having backstreet abortions. She didn't know of any.

Maureen partnered with Terrell and Kristen to pray specifically about these precious girls. Four months later, God spoke to Maureen's heart and birthed a vision to help these girls. When Maureen emailed Kristen with this news, both knew that God was beginning a good work. The Welch family lives in America and plan to mobilize people to give with the help of supportive friends, family and blog readers.  Maureen is in Kenya with the language, education, leadership skills and the heart to be the hands of feet of Jesus.

In the summer of 2010, The Mercy Maternity House was formed to support the work Maureen will be doing. Maureen is the full-time as the Executive Director of Rehema House (word for mercy in Swahili) in Kenya. While she works in Africa, The Welch family raises money and awareness while supporting Maureen and her staff.

Maureen completed training in Ethiopia in early 2011 and moved into the maternity home in April 2011. She hired staff in May of 2011 and welcomed our first girls that month.

As of Marcy 2014, we have 15 girls, 15 babies and a handful of staff members. We give glory to God for all that He has done and we covet your prayers.

Tell us why you like this fundraiser

  • 25 Lives Impacted
  • 0 Days To Go

Field Partner

Mercy House Global 3K
Magnolia, TX, US
Mercy House Global empowers vulnerable families with hope and opportunities.
This Fundraiser has ended and is no longer accepting funding.

Fundraiser Organizer

Mercy House Global
Magnolia, TX, US

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Kenya

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Ended - December 31, 2020
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Mercy House General Fund

by Mercy House Global 25 Lives Impacted Kenya

OUR PURPOSEThe Mercy House exists to empower and advocate for pregnant teens, single mothers and women in poverty all over the world through awaren...

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