Grace. Mercy. Peace: Guest Post: from Maurine Owino~ Exec. Director of The Mercy House

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Guest Post: from Maurine Owino~ Exec. Director of The Mercy House

I asked Maurine if she would share with me how sponsorship changed her life.... she said YES!

Remember Maurine is the young lady our oldest daughter, Mandi met and spent time with in Kenya back in 2010. They are forever friends and we love her so much. She is one of the most grateful people I know. We have emailed, skyped and talked on the phone since Mandi returned home after 6 wks in Sept-Nov. 2010.

1. What was your age when you received your first sponsor?

Maurine:

7 years old my first sponsors were from Australia Mr. & Mrs. Bill and Louise, in high school I got other sponsors from Australia Mr. & Mrs. D & R Fechner. in LDP Mr. & Mrs. Rick and Roxanne Robinson from Oregon USA

2. What did the Compassion project offer you?

Maurine:

Christ as my personal savior this is so special to me, my first bible, first pair of brand new school uniform and pair of shoes from the store, balanced diet food, clothing, bedding, dishes, holistic curriculum that entails my spiritual, physical, social, economic and emotion life, attended camps and VBS in various churches and places in Kenya, love,compassion, a very dear family to me, nourished healthy body

3. Did you receive letters?

Maurine:

Yes so many letters in a year What did the letters say? the letters were the only way I could communicate with my beloved sponsors, the letters were so affectionate and I always thought they were close to me. the letters would always say; Maureen we love you so much, we pray for you everyday, we have your pictures on our refrigerator so that everytym we go there or walk in and out of the house we would see your beautiful face and smile. Maureen you are so beautiful. Poverty does not determine your future but shapes it, you have a very brighter future ahead and we are glad to be part of your life. my sponsors were the first people to tell me I am a beautiful girl and loved by God and them, they always shared bible verses with me and that's how I learnt to memorise verses because every verse they wrote I would memorise it the next day to share at home, sunday school, to friends and at the project. I got so many things from the projects that I cannot note them all. They are so so many blessings maybe if one sees me now can prove it and I thank the Almighty God for all that.

4. Who was the first person to tell you about Jesus?

Maurine:

At the compassion project, the social worker and teachers not forgeting my beloved sponsors who from the first time I received their letter it would always talk about Jesus so I was eager to learn more about this Jesus who was always doing wonders

5. What would you tell others about child sponsorship?

Maurine:

Child sponsorship is the noble act that one will never regret, it is more than being a millionaire, being famous, staying in a big house or driving a big car you know why because you are doing a very simple free thing that God has commanded us to do in James 1:27 taking care of the poor and widows, and by doing this you are sharing CHRIST'S HOPE with the less fortunate because for me I define poverty as tremendous lack of hope not lack of of material things so in sponsorship is not all about $ alone but all about passion, commitment and being obedient to God. On the other hand for the sponsored child it is a total life transformation a radical change occurs in the child's n her/his family life you know why whatever they receive at the project the fruits will be seen for years later when they will be serving back as christian servant leaders in their former communities and being the light in to the world proclaiming the goodness of God and their lives being a testimony and encouragement to others. To me I believe child sponsorshhip is not in vain, good products that can be seen are there and you know that all the glory goes back to God.

6. What is your work at the Mercy House?

Maurine:

I am the executive director of Mercy House in Kenya( Rehema House) a christian servant leader who is humbled to be part of transformation in our girls and their babies lives, it is also a holistic ministry and our main/core thing is to make Christ known in their lives, share christ's hope and promote life.

Maurine: For sure poverty did not determine my future but really shaped it I can prove that phrase by my beloved sponsors.

Thank you, Maurine for taking the time to share with all of us... what sponsorship and Compassion means to you and how it has forever changed your life.... We love you so very much!

Nakupenda!