She is just a child, an orphan, a victim of abuse.

She was sent to the city from a rural village to work.

She didn't know she was pregnant. How can a child know the evil things done to her can produce life?

When her body couldn't hold her secret any longer, her employee noticed and wanted to get rid of her.

Mercy House was notified and we began the process of recruitment, less than two weeks ago. But she went into labor and her baby was born on Sunday, at 33 weeks. She and the baby were sent back to the employer's just 3 hours later with a diaper and a change of clothes for the baby. No medicine, no vaccinations, no instructions for this poor child and her premature baby.

Mercy House was notified of the birth three days later. Maureen wept at what she discovered: a deathly ill 3 pound baby girl who was being fed water by a frightened, exhausted child-mother who didn't know what else to do.

They were both filthy and when the employer gladly gave them up, Maureen took them home. Our housemother bathed them and helped the baby girl to nurse and then Maureen took them to the hospital.

The doctor confirmed how sick and close to death her baby was and hospitalized precious Hawi (which means favor in Swahili) with jaundice, dehydration, and a problem with her bowels, and our young mom is being treated with a pretty severe infection.

Most American preemies might not survive such a traumatic birth and first days of life. We believe God rescued these sweet children!

Would you pray for our newest Mercy House members: Edith and Hawi? They have been thru so much...

But God is never late.