Have you ever sat on the beach and drawn in the sand? Just one finger, up and down, around and round? It’s kind of therapeutic to move the grains of sand how you want them.
I picture God doing the same with our lives—using His finger to draw our purpose and plan in the sand. Not to be immediately washed away by the surf, no. I see him playfully, skillfully, happily and full of wonder drawing plans, connecting dots and crossing paths to see His dreams for us accomplished.
It was like that when I saw Kristen Welch go to Kenya with Compassion and in turn open Mercy House, a home for young pregnant Kenyan women. I was a complete outsider, just following her online and yet, I could see God’s finger drawing this beautiful path for her, her family, and the girls and babies she would one day meet.
These young mamas arrive at Mercy House uneducated, feeling unloved and unable to provide for themselves or their unborn babies. Mercy House brings support in all the areas they need it most–physical care, emotional healing and education. It’s an incredible place for these women – but it’s also a crowded place!
The first Mercy House building is a six-bedroom home that currently houses 12 resident moms and their 12 babies, all under the age of 2 1/2. It also includes a small educational space, an office, skills development, vocational programs, storage, etc. It’s crowded and busy!
As we enter into this last phase of (in)Mercy, we’ll raise money to help fund a second home that will provide space to help more girls, and in the future will serve as a place for classrooms, all programs and offices.
Do you see God’s finger? His drawing us together? His connecting the lines–our hearts? Women, without even leaving their homes, giving these women without a home a new space to live and to thrive in.
Do you know that I was supposed to write about Phase 3 – and then Phase 4 – today? But before I could even publish this post, both of those phases (raising money for a generator and a computer lab) were already funded?! In the last month, since (in)Mercy began, you’ve given more than $21,000 worth of love and support to the girls at Mercy House.
You’ve been part of that beautiful finger-drawing of God’s.
When I go to the beach, I don’t just draw in the sand. I look at it. I hold a handful and notice the thousands, millions of grains in my hand. So many tiny grains I could never count and I remember as King David said,
“How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand”
Psalm 139:17-18
God is thinking of me. He’s thinking of you. He’s planning and loving and drawing and supporting the twelve young, new mamas at Mercy House. He’s got good thoughts, good plans and He can’t stop thinking about them. He can’t stop thinking about you!
Will you join Him? Will you join the God-sized dream of Phase 5 of (in)Mercy and show these girls just a few of the loving thoughts God has for them by helping us fund a second home for Mercy House in Kenya?
Bev Duncan @ Walking Well With God says
Amanda,
I just wanted to second your voice and perhaps encourage those who haven’t yet donated to such a worthy cause that not only are these women and precious babies blessed, but that they will be blessed by being part of something bigger and greater than themselves. The Lord calls us to “declare Him before the assembly” and that means in word and deed. May we each sacrifice even just a little so that others may truly have Life…
Blessings,
Bev
ohAmanda says
Absolutely, Bev! It’s amazing and mysterious that when we give to others it joins our hearts to them and to the Lord. Thank you for this beautiful encouragement!
a
Patty Muich says
I have read about this before and really think it is great. I just shared with my friends on facebook and twitter to see if we could get more people involved! Thank you for reminding me!
Love, Patty
ohAmanda says
Thank you for sharing w/your friends, Patty!
Beth Williams says
I see God’s hands in just about everything these days. I have slowed down and looked at life–the beautiful mountains, colorful leaves, etc. All of God’s handiwork.
Women are amazing creatures and you here at in(Courage) are doing a wonderful thing with Mercy House.
ohAmanda says
Yes, God is everywhere!
a