Four Little Girls; 120 Miles
During our most recent trip to Kenya, the Spread Truth team met four little girls of the Maasai people. As four sisters aged 8 to 13, the story of how they got to a girls’ rescue center is nothing short of God’s amazing provision.
An Ultimatum
Several years ago, the girls had suffered the loss of both their parents and so came under the guardianship of their grandmother and uncles. But then the family started to struggle with financial needs.
Maasai culture dictates that an unmarried girl can be married off for a bride price, so the oldest sister, then 11 years old, was chosen to be married off so that her family could receive a dowry to ease their financial burden. To be marriageable, she would be forced to undergo FGM (female genital mutilation). Both child marriage and FGM are illegal in Kenya, but are deeply cultural and still practiced. Her husband-to-be would be 30+ years old, and the then 12-year-old girl said “no.” She had no wish to be either “cut” or married. Furious, her uncles told her that if she didn’t do this for her family, her next youngest sister would be chosen instead. But she couldn’t let that happen.
Escape
On a Thursday night, the four sisters went to bed as usual, but before dawn, they got up, gathered a few belongings, snuck out of the house, and began a journey to safety. They had heard a government announcement on the radio that had spoken about a rescue center for girls like them. They didn’t know where it was or how to get there, but they had to try.
They walked night and day, stopping to ask directions and beg for food and water. Once, a shopkeeper gave them some bananas. Many times, the only water they had to drink was from dirty puddles or ponds. They walked through the bush full of hyenas and other predators, but the whole time they were providentially protected from harm.
Rescue Center for Girls
On Monday afternoon, the guard at the rescue center heard a knock at the gate. He looked out and saw four little girls with swollen feet. He informed the headmaster, who quickly ordered that they be let in.
They were fed, cleaned up, and given some uniforms to borrow so they would look like all the other girls, just in case someone came looking for them. One of the sisters had stomach issues due to drinking dirty water; one had such swollen feet from the walk that she needed a medical professional’s attention. But God had protected them across nearly 4 days and over 120 miles. Today, they are adjusting to life in the rescue center, but have a long way to go.
Thank You!
Girls like these four sisters hear about the God who loves them–many of them hearing the gospel for the first time, through the faithful Spread Truth Africa staff who visit these rescue centers. They teach our curriculum, What is a Little Girl Worth?, and the girls learn of their immense intrinsic worth as image bearers of God. The team listens to their stories, prays with and encourages the girls, and is also able to meet their physical needs, all because of our generous donors. You are enabling them to be the hands and feet of Jesus to these little girls.
We look forward to seeing what God will continue to do through our Spread Truth Africa team.
Check out Spread Truth Africa’s Webpage