We have a cry that is about a single mother named Veronica and her three children. Her situation is extremely difficult and she is struggling daily to get by.
She has visited us regularly for three weeks, but since we have been away, she has gone in vain. A few days ago she came back and now we were at home and had the opportunity to listen to her.
After six years of marriage, the husband left her. When this happened, she was two months pregnant with the third child. They had lived a normal family life in a good house, until the day when the man got a bank loan. Immediately after that he disappeared without a word, and when he did not pay back the loan the bailiff came and took the house and all the furniture and even the children’s clothes. She then moved over in a mud hut and began to go out as a washerwoman to get money for food and rent.
She earned very little and the day for the baby to arrive approached. She gave birth at home in the cottage and it happened suddenly. Since she was alone, she cut the umbilical cord with a knife and tied it with a thread. It turned out that there were twins, but unfortunately the second child died during birth.
She continued telling her story to us while crying and begged for our help to get the two older children in school.
The youngest is now nine months and the other two 3½ and 6½ years. If someone would be able to help her get the two children to school, it would be a huge blessing to this desperate mom.
Thank you for the support – it makes a difference!
The father disappeared and they have had no contact with him for several years. Ruth is a bright girl in school. Her school decided to sponsor her schooling because they are really poor. For various reasons the school recently shut down and Ruth had to find another school.
The mother cannot afford to send Ruth to another school. Ruth’s grandfather is a Maasai and he wants to have her back in Maasai land. He does not want a girl to get eductaed, but instead follow the Maasai traditions for girls: to be married. Maasais think that only boys should get educated.
Ruth’s mother told me that Ruth’s grandfather had received an offer from an elderly, wealthy Maasai who wanted to pay a very large dowry in the form of many cows in order to marry Ruth. Ruth had been desperate because she wanted to stay in school, get her education and choose her husband when the time was ripe. For this reason the mother and Ruth came to our office asking for help.
We trusted God and sent Ruth to a good, Christian school where she is thriving.
We received a sponsor who will support her until Form 4 is completed. But Ruth wishes to continue for another two years and graduate from High School. If any of you would like to support Ruth for a few more years please write us or send a gift to our missions account. Please earmark it “Ruth”.
