Mercy Maternity House Inc

MERCY HOUSE EXISTS TO ENGAGE, EMPOWER AND DISCIPLE WOMEN AROUND THE GLOBE IN JESUS NAME: ENGAGE THOSE WITH RESOURCES TO ASSIST; EMPOWER WOMEN TO BE SELF-SUPPORTING; AND DISCIPLE WOMEN AS LIFETIME FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST.

MERCY HOUSE GLOBAL REACHES OUT BY PROVIDING HOPE AND SUPPORT TO THREE MATERNITY HOMES THROUGHOUT KENYA IN CONJUNCTION WITH REHEMA FOUNDATION, A LOCAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION. THESE PROGRAMS SAVE THE LIVES OF NOT ONLY THE GIRLS AND THEIR BABIES, BUT MANY TIMES POSITIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF A GIRL'S ENTIRE FAMILY. IN 2021, MERCY HOUSE RESCUED SIX NEW GIRLS AND SAW SIX BABIES BORN THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF GIRLS AND BABIES RESCUED SINCE 2010 THROUGH 2021 IS 69 GIRLS AND 66 BABIES. WITHIN THE THREE RESIDENTIAL HOMES, THE TEEN MOMS RECEIVE TRAUMA-INFORMED INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING WEEKLY. BEYOND MEETING JUST PHYSICAL NEEDS, THE PROGRAMS PROVIDE FOR SPIRITUAL DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING. TUTORS PROVIDE THE GIRLS BASIC EDUCATION LIKE MATH, ENGLISH, WRITING, ETC. IN THE ONSITE CLASSROOM WITH A GOAL TO REINTEGRATE THEM BACK TO A LOCAL SCHOOL OR TRANSITION THEM TO A VOCATIONAL JOB PROGRAM ONCE THEIR CHILDREN REACH TWO YEARS OF AGE. ONCE THEY ENTER THIS PORTION OF THE PROGRAM, THEIR SCHOOL FEES, UNIFORMS, BOOKS, AS WELL AS THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION IS PAID FOR BY MERCY HOUSE GLOBAL THROUGH A SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. MEDICAL NEEDS ARE A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE PROGRAM. IN 2021, THE PROGRAM ASSISTED IN THE SAFE DELIVERY OF THE BABIES, INCLUDING SIX C-SECTION DELIVERIES AND PROVIDING PRENATAL AND POST-NATAL CARE TO DOZENS OF TEEN MOMS. MEDICAL CARE DOES NOT STOP WITH THE MOMS. DURING 2021, TWO INFANTS/TODDLERS HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED DUE TO VARIOUS AILMENTS. THERE ARE ALWAYS ONGOING SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS TO BE TREATED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INCLUDING HIV, GRAVES' DISEASE, EPILEPSY, HEARING LOSS, VISION ISSUES, RICKETS, ETC. VOCATIONAL TRAINING IS IMPORTANT TO ASSURE A TEEN MOM DOES NOT END UP HOMELESS OR BECOME A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AFTER HER TIME AT A REHEMA HOUSE PROGRAM IS COMPLETED. THE GIRLS CAN BE INTRODUCED TO A VARIETY OF VOCATIONAL SKILLS INCLUDING HAIRDRESSING, SALON SKILLS, COMPUTER, TECHNOLOGY, MUSIC CLASSES, BAKING, COOKING AND SEWING. TRADITIONALLY, OTHER LESSONS AND SKILLS ARE TAUGHT IN THE HOME INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO JEWELRY-MAKING, CHILD-REARING, AND INSTRUMENT LESSONS, LAUNDRY, AS WELL AS TRAINING IN HOW TO CARE FOR THEIR BABIES. WHILE THE GIRLS ARE TAKING LESSONS, WIDOWED HOUSEMOTHERS CARE FOR THE CHILDREN IN A NEARBY PLAYROOM. THE COUNTRY ENDURED A NEARLY YEAR-LONG LOCKDOWN DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHICH CAUSED DELAYS IN EDUCATION INTO 2021, ELEVATING THE IMPORTANCE OF IN-HOME TUTORING. FOR THE SAKE OF GIRLS ATTENDING SCHOOL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTERS, PROGRAMS WERE CREATED TO FACILITATE ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORMS TO KEEP THEM AT PAR WITH THE SCHOOL AND TERTIARY WORK AS THEY CONTINUE WITH THEIR NORMAL HOUSEHOLD CHORES AND ORDER. ON JANUARY 24, 2021, ONE OF THE THREE HOMES IN KENYA, A TRANSITION HOME WHERE 19 GRADUATES AND THEIR CHILDREN LIVED, BURNED TO THE GROUND IN A DEVASTATING FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WALLS OF THE HOME. EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE UNHARMED WITH ONLY MINIMAL SMOKE INHALATION AND FIRST DEGREE BURNS ON FEET. THIS LOSS WAS EVEN MORE TRAUMATIC CONSIDERING THE HOME WAS A SECOND CHANCE HOME. THE STAFF AND RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN COUNSELING TO WORK THROUGH THE LOSS AND FEAR. WHILE THE TRANSITION HOME WAS A RENTAL, IT PROVED DIFFICULT AND COSTLY TO FIND A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT, A MAJOR FUNDRAISING PROJECT CALLED BEAUTY FROM ASHES WAS CREATED TO RAISE MONEY TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT HOME THAT RAN FOR MOST OF THE YEAR WITH A TOTAL OF OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FROM DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CREATED AN UNSTABLE HOUSING MARKET IN 2021 IN NAIROBI, KENYA AND THE MONEY RAISED WAS NOT ENOUGH TO PURCHASE A NEW COMPOUND. A NEW RENTAL WAS SECURED AT MORE THAN DOUBLE THE RENT. A SOCIAL WORKER VISITS EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL HOMES OF EACH TEEN MOTHER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THIS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT 2021. DUE TO COVID-19, CARING FOR THE GIRLS IS INTENDED TO ENCOMPASS ALL OF THEIR NEEDS AND OFTEN THE NEEDS OF THEIR FAMILIES.

THE MERCY MATERNITY HOUSE INC. BELIEVES IN CREATING, OPERATING AND SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST WOMEN IN IMPOVERISHED CIRCUMSTANCES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, TO LEARN AN ARTISAN TRADE AND CREATE AN AVENUE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD. THE MINISTRY LOCATES WOMEN WHOSE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES ARE HOPELESS AND COME ALONGSIDE THEM TO MENTOR THEM AND MINISTER TO THEM THROUGH BIBLE STUDIES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS DISCIPLESHIP, ALONGSIDE PROGRAMS THAT TEACH AND TRAIN THEM IN VIABLE METHODS OF PRODUCING INCOME FOR THEIR FAMILIES. WITHOUT THESE PROGRAMS, MANY OF THE WOMEN HAVE NO WAY TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES OR THEIR CHILDREN LEAVING EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY SUSCEPTIBLE TO A LIFE OF HOMELESSNESS AND STARVATION OR AT RISK OF BECOMING VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. ALL PROGRAMS ARE HOLISTIC IN THAT THEY SEEK TO MINISTER TO EVERY ASPECT OF THE WOMAN'S LIFE. AS A PART OF THIS PROGRAM, TRAINING THE WOMEN IN ARTISAN CRAFTS IS INTRICATE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM AND THE SUCCESS OF THE WOMAN. THE PROGRAMS ARE STRENGTHENED BY THE MINISTRY'S CREATION OF DISTRIBUTION AVENUES FOR THE PRODUCTS CREATED THROUGH THE PROGRAMS. IF THE PRODUCTS COULD NOT BE SUCCESSFULLY SOLD, THE WOMEN WOULD NEVER FIND THEIR WAY OUT OF POVERTY AND WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY SUSTAIN THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. DISTRIBUTION OF THE NATURAL BYPRODUCTS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE BOTH AN ONLINE AND IN-PERSON RETAIL STORE AS WELL AS THROUGH MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION CLUBS ENCOMPASSED IN THE FAIR TRADE FRIDAY PROGRAM. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMS IS TO PROVIDE THE WOMEN WITH A SOLID WAY OUT OF THEIR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND PROVIDE A PATH TO A SUCCESSFUL LIFE WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE PROGRAM. CREATING A MARKET FOR THE PRODUCTS CREATED BY THE WOMEN PROVIDES BOTH THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROGRAM AND SELF-ESTEEM TO THE WOMEN INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM. THE TRAINING OF THESE WOMEN IS CRITICAL TO THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS, AND IT WOULD BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO TEACH THEM PROFICIENCY OF THE SKILL AND THEN NOT PROVIDE THE EMOTIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE WOMEN REALIZING THEIR SKILLS PRODUCE A PRODUCT THAT CAN BE SOLD. THE ONLINE AND IN-PERSON RETAIL STORE PROVIDES DIRECT ACCESS TO SELECT MERCHANDISE PROMOTING THE ORGANIZATION MERCHANDISE CREATIVELY PRODUCED BY WOMEN PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS PROVIDING A WAY FOR MERCY HOUSE GLOBAL TO PARTNER WITH OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS CONDUCTING SIMILAR PROGRAMS THEREFORE ASSISTING AND BENEFITING, IMPOVERISHED WOMEN ON A LARGER SCALE. THE FAIR TRADE FRIDAY PROGRAM IS FIVE SUBSCRIPTION CLUBS THAT ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO RECEIVE BOXES OF GOODS THAT ARE CAREFULLY SELECTED AND PACKAGED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S VOLUNTEERS. THE MONTHLY CLUBS, FAIR TRADE FRIDAY MAIN BOX, EARRING OF THE MONTH AND BRACELET OF THE MONTH HAVE OVER 3,000 MONTHLY SUBSCRIBERS. THE QUARTERLY SUBSCRIPTION CLUB, GRACE CASE, HAS A SUBSCRIBER BASE OF AROUND 1,000. THE GRACE FLAME IS MONTHLY CANDLE SUBSCRIPTION CLUB WITH AROUND 400 SUBSCRIBERS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 350 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN 20,000 HOURS TO CAREFULLY PACKAGE AND SHIP EACH MONTH'S OFFERINGS IN THE CLUBS. FOR THESE MONTHLY CLUBS, EACH OF THE GOODS SELECTED FOR THE PACKAGES EMPOWER ARTISANS BY SELLING THEIR HANDMADE PRODUCTS IN U.S. AND CANADA. MERCY HOUSE GLOBAL CURRENTLY WORKS WITH 130 FAITH BASED ARTISAN GROUPS IN 34 COUNTRIES TO EMPOWER MOSTLY WOMEN ARTISANS AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 5000 WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE HAVE BEEN ASSISTED THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S SUPPORT OF ARTISAN PROJECTS FOR IMPOVERISHED WOMEN. FOR THESE ARTISANS, THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM MERCY HOUSE GLOBAL AND THE AVENUE ALLOWING FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF THEIR PRODUCT IS THE DIFFERENCE FOR MANY BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH OR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FREEDOM OR SLAVERY.

THE MERCY MATERNITY HOUSE, INC. DISCOVERED IT DID NOT NEED TO EXTEND ITS REACH OVERSEAS TO FIND GROUPS OF WOMEN IN IMPOVERISHED CIRCUMSTANCES AND IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE IN BUILDING NEW LIVES FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE HOUSTON REFUGEE PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO REACH OUT TO REFUGEES IN THE HOUSTON, TEXAS AREA AND SEEK TO PROVIDE ENCOURAGEMENT, TRAINING, EDUCATION AND COMFORT DURING A TIME OF TRANSITION IN THEIR LIVES. EACH WOMAN IS SPECIFICALLY SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM. IN 2021, THE MINISTRY CONDUCTED OVER 100 IN-HOME VISITS WITH 12 REFUGEES, PROVIDING ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSESSING NEEDS. THE MERCY MATERNITY HOUSE, INC CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH WAS PRACTICED AND HELP WITH DAILY TASKS LIKE ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT BILLS, MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, ETC. VOLUNTEERS AND MINISTRY TEAM MEMBERS WORKED WITH THE WOMEN ON ISSUES INCLUDING HEALTHCARE, CHILDREN AND SCHOOL ISSUES, AND QUESTIONS ABOUT DAILY LIFE IN AMERICA. THE MINISTRY'S TEAM ALSO MADE HOSPITAL VISITS, PROVIDED MEALS, AND HELPED HUNT FOR JOBS. IN 2021, NINE OF THE WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN THE PRODUCT TRAINING PROGRAM TO ASSIST IN PROVIDING A WAY TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND LEARN SKILLS. NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONING TO LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE REFUGEES OBTAINED SKILLS THEY DID NOT PREVIOUSLY HAVE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WORK ETHIC, STANDARD MEASUREMENTS SYSTEMS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, MONEY MANAGEMENT, AND TIME MANAGEMENT. SINCE THE REFUGEE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION, APPROXIMATELY 72 UNIQUE PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE TRAINING PROGRAM THAT HAVE TAUGHT DOZENS OF SKILLS THAT CAN BE USED BY THE WOMEN IN THEIR HOMES AS WELL AS BEYOND THE PROGRAM INTO SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT IN OTHER LOCATIONS. IN 2021, DURING TIMES OF CRISIS AND CRISIS INTERVENTION, THE MINISTRY HELD FOOD DRIVES, COLLECTED NEEDED ITEMS, PROVIDED COUNSEL, ADVISED IN CHALLENGING SITUATIONS INCLUDING DOMESTIC ABUSE AND INSTANCES OF ABANDONMENT, AND INTERVENED IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS WITH REFUGEES. SPECIAL GIFTS AT THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS WERE ALSO PROVIDED TO THE FAMILIES. AS WITH ALL PROGRAMS CONDUCTED BY THE MINISTRY, THE END GOAL IS TO DISPLAY THE LOVE AND CONCERN OF GOD TO THOSE IN OVERWHELMINGLY HOPELESS SITUATIONS BY MEETING INDIVIDUALS' CORE PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS. IN OCTOBER OF 2021, 6,000 REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN WERE RESETTLED BY THE UNITED NATIONS TO HOUSTON, TX, AND MERCY HOUSE ASSISTED THE YMCA INTERNATIONAL AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES, RESETTLEMENT AGENCIES, IN HELPING OVER 200 OF THOSE FAMILIES BY MOBILIZING VOLUNTEERS TO DELIVER GROCERIES FROM THE FOOD BANK CREATED AT MERCY HOUSE. THIS DAILY ONGOING CARE INCLUDED VISITS, MOVING FAMILIES INTO APARTMENTS, HELPING REGISTER KIDS IN SCHOOLS, NAVIGATING PAPERWORK, ETC.