Before our girls come to The Mercy House, they are young girls on the brink of motherhood in one of the most dangerous and desperate areas of the world. With little to no help or support available, they face a bleak and uncertain future. Our first priority is to give our girls safety, love, and hope for the future, but we never forget or negate their past.

Twice a year, we invite the girls' extended families to visit The Mercy House. Each girl is allowed to invite two family members, and, while many of them don't have fathers or mothers, there is almost always a sister or an aunt or a former teacher that comes to visit. We recently held our second Family Visitation Day, and each girl had a family member present.

Family Visitation Day is a very special time of celebration when the girls are able to show off their beautiful babies and tell about all they've learned at The Mercy House. We sing. We laugh. We share testimonies. The day is a beautiful example of God's love and hope for the families.

One of our goals for Family Visitation Day is to offer the extended family an opportunity to learn and grow alongside the girls. This time, we invited a specialist to teach about the effects of abuse. Our prayer is that The Mercy House will be a city on a hill...a light for these families to see how much God loves them.

Many of the family members arrive at the house with hungry stomachs. One of the ways we share God's love is to fill their stomachs and share a big, traditional Kenyan meal together. Maureen, the staff, and the girls worked hard to prepare the meal, complete with rice, Murenda (traditional vegetables), meat, and Ugali (Kenyan "bread" used instead of utensils).

A familiar scripture is displayed on the dining room wall. Can you see it?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you a hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11

The Mercy House exists to act justly. to love mercy. and to walk humbly with our God. We believe that Family Visitation Days are an important part of that mission. To feed the hungry, both physically and spiritually. To give them a living and breathing example of the good plans the LORD has for them and their family. To serve them as guests in our home. We are honored to host these days of hope.

Thank you for supporting The Mercy House. Without you, these wonderful, hope-filled days would not be possible.