Josphine's Hope
"As for me, I am poor and needy, yet The Lord takes
thought and plans for me. You are my
help and my deliver. Oh my God, do not
delay." Psalm 40:17
The heat in Turkana is oppressive. It fits the culture.
Survival in the desert is no small feat and the powerless
must battle tenaciously to manage any hope at all. Josphine's story takes place in the desert
county of Turkana. It is a story of both
tragedy and redemption. Its beginning is
far too common in Turkana.
Josphine was given away as a child bride at the age of 12
to the highest bidder. Older men are
usually able to pay the largest dowry for a bride, so often a man in his 60's
is wed to a young girl like Josphine.
This practice allows for some economic relief for desperate families in
Turkana. At age 14, Josphine delivered
twin sons. Her husband had already grown
tired of Josphine, however, and abandoned her.
Josphine was now responsible for two babies at age 14, with no education
and no hope. Josphine tried to begin
school at a newly established MOHI Center in Turkana, but found herself married
off again. At the age of 17, Josphine
was abandoned again while pregnant with her third son. Sadly, this
cycle goes on and on for women in
Turkana. Abuse. Abandonment. Child-parents living without hope.
But God is doing a new thing in Turkana.
Missions of Hope International opened the doors to their
Naapu Center to over 300 students in 2015. Though this region historically has not valued
education, MOHI's staff and social workers, have worked hard to convince
parents in the community that rather than sell off their young daughters into
marriage, it is better for them economically to educate them.
Though Josphine was forced to drop out of school shortly
after she began, the MOHI staff and
social workers stayed close to her. When
she was abandoned for the 2nd time, MOHI offered her a job to try to help the
unskilled teen earn some income.
Josphine refused multiple job offers by MOHI insisting that she must
instead re-enroll in classes. Josphine
is wise enough to know that she could lose a job but what is gained in an
education cannot be taken away.
MOHI now has a boarding school for grades 4 through 8 and
plans to have their new high school completed by this October. Boarding students allows vulnerable boys and
girls to live in the dorms where they are safe.
When I knew God was calling me to support MOHI's crucial
ministry in Turkana by sponsoring a girl, I asked the social worker who might
be one of the most vulnerable in need of a sponsor. Rose wasted no time and introduced me to
brave Josphine. Josphine now lives in
the boarding school and is enrolled in grade 5.
She just passed her first exam after enrolling only one short month
ago. Josphine's twins are also sponsored
now thanks to our visit and are enrolled in the preschool. Josphine's mother helps care for Josphine's
baby along with Josphine's 6 siblings.
Meeting Josphine was a privilege and an experience I will
never forget. After sponsoring Josphine
and spending some time with her and her twins, the MOHI staff, including Mary
Kamau, transported our team to meet Selena (Josphine's mother), Josphine's
baby, and Selena's other children. As
the social worker recounted his experience with this family, our team was once
again reminded of the hope of Christ offered through these tireless heroes who
literally care for hundreds of families in their region. Through emotion the
social worker recounted Selena's own abandonment and her family's struggles to
survive. We were warmly welcomed and
after spending time with Josphine and her family, we prayed with them, hugged
them, and said good-bye through tears.
Selena walked over an hour to get to our women's conference today after
experiencing the love of Christ through our visit. Life is hard for this family but where there
was once only desolation, there is now help and hope.
Josphine's courage, wisdom, perseverance, and joy can
only be matched by the hope found in a faithful God who heard her cry and made
a way in the wilderness. So many like
Josphine are gaining a future full of hope and opportunity through the ministry
of MOHI. Yes, God is doing a new thing
in Turkana. Hope springs up as readily
as the young saplings we helped plant around the Naapu Center.
What a joy and privilege it is to partner with MOHI
through child sponsorship. Lives are
transformed, families impacted and the hope, peace, and joy of Christ is
advancing the Kingdom of Light in Kenya.
Find out more about how you can bring hope and sponsor a
child here: cmfi.org/mohikids.
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