We met Faith our last week in Kenya. We came to the Karen property (orphanage) on a Saturday morning when the girls’ relatives were invited to visit. Faith had only been at the orphanage for 5 days at that point and had no visitors that morning. Consequently, Bethany and I sat down with Faith, and decided that we would act as her family members. Faith captured our hearts within moments. Though her story is heartbreaking, it wasn’t anything particular she shared with us that turned our hearts toward her, though she has a shining personality it was not her open heart that opened ours up to hers, for by the time we heard her story and got to know her personality I believe God had already planted within us a deep concern and love for Faith, God was indeed planning something. We feel certain that part of this plan is sharing her story with you.
Faith is a fourteen year old orphan. Her mother died while she was still an infant and her father passed away when she was four. Though young when her father died, she can still remember that she looked like him and that he excelled in math like herself. She has been living with her aunt and cousin since the death of her father. Almost immediately after sitting down to lunch that Saturday, Faith told me that her 20 year old cousin had been raping her, and her aunt had neglected and physically abused her. What do you say to a little girl that shares such tragic circumstances so matter of factly? I said I was sorry and took her hand. A little while later I asked Faith about her likes and dislikes, her dreams and fears. She loves playing netball (volleyball) and basketball, her favorite color is red, and she likes to dance to Michael Jackson’s older music, most of all though, Faith loves school. She told me if she could finish her education she would be happy.
She excels in her studies, but her aunt doesn’t want her to continue her schooling and so her aunt refused to pay for her school fees, claiming that her education was too much of a financial strain. Faith is at the top of her class excelling especially in Mathematics and English. One of Faith’s teachers had compassion for her and decided to pay for her education. With school fees no longer an excuse to not allow Faith to go to school, Faith’s aunt began to complain that she simply could not afford the money for the bus rides to and from school. Determined to stay in school, Faith decided to wake up at four in the morning each day so that she could walk to school with her best friend, who is also orphaned and alone. The girls’ teacher paid for both of their lunches, and sometimes that would be the only food either girl had that day. Faith’s aunt would often refuse to feed her and would occasionally beat her. The aunt did nothing about the sexual assaults of her son. When Faith told her of the abuse she refused to believe it, claiming her son would never do such a thing. Faith’s showed up at her teacher’s house after running away one night. The following day the teacher reported the abuse to the government and Faith was then temporarily placed in the First Love orphange, She is to remain there until her court date (which is yet to be announced,)
Faith has not known much love in her life, her reactions to giving her quality time along with some of our clothes made this obvious. Her face expression when given compliments made me doubt she has ever been told how beautiful or special she is. I don’t believe she has never had a shoulder to cry on a truth my jeans, which had been soaked with her tears when she cried in my lap for a solid hour, confirmed. And she has never had her own Bible, this I know, because when we gave her one she held onto it as if it were the most precious of jewels, because when she said “I’m going to go get my Bible,” she would look at us with anticipation waiting for us to confirm yet again that it was indeed hers, and because when all her “sisters” were watching a movie she would sneak out 30 minutes before it was over so that we could read scripture together. She loves the Lord, and in Him she is finding hope.
Bethany and I were anxious to know whether she would be able to stay at the First Love girls home permanently after the court case was closed. We asked Karen (the house mom) what the possibilities were and what role we could play in making sure she ended up in a safe and loving place. We were told that after her case goes to court, (assuming her cousin is justly convicted) the likelihood is that she will be relocated to a government-run home. This is not what we want to see happen, we desperately want her to remain at the Karen property where she has so easily come to find family in the other 22 girls in an environment that shows her the Love of Christ, and exposes her to the truths of His Word. Bethany and I would like to plead her case to anyone who has been touched by her story. The impediments to her staying in Karen are purely financial. Another set of bunk beds needs to be purchased to create the needed bed space, and she would also need to be sponsored to stay at the property (sponsorship covers food, school fees, clothes etc.) We would love to hear from anyone who is interested in financially supporting Faith in any way. Even if you do not personally have the resources to fully fund her, there are many ways that even a small donation would go a long way in providing for some of her basic needs, like clothing. Thank you again, please keep this precious girl in your prayers. She made me promise that I would tuck her into bed each night with a prayer when I wake up in the morning, Im sure she wouldn't mind a few goodnight prayers from all of you as well :)
Faith is a fourteen year old orphan. Her mother died while she was still an infant and her father passed away when she was four. Though young when her father died, she can still remember that she looked like him and that he excelled in math like herself. She has been living with her aunt and cousin since the death of her father. Almost immediately after sitting down to lunch that Saturday, Faith told me that her 20 year old cousin had been raping her, and her aunt had neglected and physically abused her. What do you say to a little girl that shares such tragic circumstances so matter of factly? I said I was sorry and took her hand. A little while later I asked Faith about her likes and dislikes, her dreams and fears. She loves playing netball (volleyball) and basketball, her favorite color is red, and she likes to dance to Michael Jackson’s older music, most of all though, Faith loves school. She told me if she could finish her education she would be happy.
She excels in her studies, but her aunt doesn’t want her to continue her schooling and so her aunt refused to pay for her school fees, claiming that her education was too much of a financial strain. Faith is at the top of her class excelling especially in Mathematics and English. One of Faith’s teachers had compassion for her and decided to pay for her education. With school fees no longer an excuse to not allow Faith to go to school, Faith’s aunt began to complain that she simply could not afford the money for the bus rides to and from school. Determined to stay in school, Faith decided to wake up at four in the morning each day so that she could walk to school with her best friend, who is also orphaned and alone. The girls’ teacher paid for both of their lunches, and sometimes that would be the only food either girl had that day. Faith’s aunt would often refuse to feed her and would occasionally beat her. The aunt did nothing about the sexual assaults of her son. When Faith told her of the abuse she refused to believe it, claiming her son would never do such a thing. Faith’s showed up at her teacher’s house after running away one night. The following day the teacher reported the abuse to the government and Faith was then temporarily placed in the First Love orphange, She is to remain there until her court date (which is yet to be announced,)
Faith has not known much love in her life, her reactions to giving her quality time along with some of our clothes made this obvious. Her face expression when given compliments made me doubt she has ever been told how beautiful or special she is. I don’t believe she has never had a shoulder to cry on a truth my jeans, which had been soaked with her tears when she cried in my lap for a solid hour, confirmed. And she has never had her own Bible, this I know, because when we gave her one she held onto it as if it were the most precious of jewels, because when she said “I’m going to go get my Bible,” she would look at us with anticipation waiting for us to confirm yet again that it was indeed hers, and because when all her “sisters” were watching a movie she would sneak out 30 minutes before it was over so that we could read scripture together. She loves the Lord, and in Him she is finding hope.
Bethany and I were anxious to know whether she would be able to stay at the First Love girls home permanently after the court case was closed. We asked Karen (the house mom) what the possibilities were and what role we could play in making sure she ended up in a safe and loving place. We were told that after her case goes to court, (assuming her cousin is justly convicted) the likelihood is that she will be relocated to a government-run home. This is not what we want to see happen, we desperately want her to remain at the Karen property where she has so easily come to find family in the other 22 girls in an environment that shows her the Love of Christ, and exposes her to the truths of His Word. Bethany and I would like to plead her case to anyone who has been touched by her story. The impediments to her staying in Karen are purely financial. Another set of bunk beds needs to be purchased to create the needed bed space, and she would also need to be sponsored to stay at the property (sponsorship covers food, school fees, clothes etc.) We would love to hear from anyone who is interested in financially supporting Faith in any way. Even if you do not personally have the resources to fully fund her, there are many ways that even a small donation would go a long way in providing for some of her basic needs, like clothing. Thank you again, please keep this precious girl in your prayers. She made me promise that I would tuck her into bed each night with a prayer when I wake up in the morning, Im sure she wouldn't mind a few goodnight prayers from all of you as well :)
Coming up...
The story and video of Faith's Baptism
Reverse culture shock: Life back in America
Slide show of first few weeks in Kenya
Alrighty, considered yourselves "contacted" and, if you'd be so kind, tell me where to signup and help via prayers and/or financial aid.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to financial aid, I was mainly wondering how you will transfer the funding to Karen for Faith's sake.
- Kevin.
Hey Kevin will get you hooked up with some info. What will happen with the money is that we would send it directly to First Love probably through a money transfer or an online payment system I believe they have set up. We've been communicating with them on this issue, so we would make sure any financial aid inteded for Fatih would indeed be used for Faith.
ReplyDelete-Charlotte