I’ve always been hesitant to talk about this topic in this space, mostly just because I grew up southern where talking too much about your own charitable giving is considered “tacky.”
Over the past couple of years I’ve been able to work with a few organizations s that I really love. I love the work they are doing and the heart behind the work they are doing. I feel honored to be able to support them and recently when I was wishing that more people did, I realized maybe more people would if they, you know, knew about it. Because I told them. So I just decided to be tacky and talk about it, y’all.
One of the wonderful things about blogging is that it affords me opportunities to give back in a variety of ways. Not only does the side income I make from this gig help with things like medical bills (pro tip: don’t have a micropreemie *wink*) but it also allows me to financially support some of the organizations that I believe in. It isn’t much, honestly. I’m probably not making a big difference to their bottom line but every drop of water goes towards filling the bucket, right? So I decided that every once in awhile I want to spotlight a cause that is close to my heart.
I began supporting The Mercy House Kenya nearly a year before I met Kristen. Mostly because I worked with the International Mission Board in college. I did many things in various countries but the time I spent serving at an orphanage in Guatemala had a profound impact on me and reading the stories of the work being done at The Mercy House deeply touched me.
The girls that seek shelter at The Mercy House are pregnant, often as a result of horrific circumstances. It is hard to read about, like the story of Violet who became pregnant after being assaulted and then was set on fire as punishment. I know. I told you it was hard. (You can see her story here.)
The Mercy House provides medical care, shelter, food, job training and counseling for the girls and their children as they grow. It truly is a haven of hope and healing for them. Just this week two new girls arrived. They are twelve and thirteen years old.
This year Kristen wrote a book and she called it Rhinestone Jesus so I immediately wanted to read it. Mostly because I related to the tagline which read “when sparkly, safe faith is no longer enough” Because that is what happened to me. I had sparkly, safe faith and then my only child almost died and that wasn’t enough for me anymore. I needed real faith, something solid and constant and simple enough to stand up to the test of grief and loss.
Plus, I think Kristen is funny so I figured it would be a good read. It totally was. See, Kristen was just like you and me, a mom living in the suburbs. Until she went to Kenya and started a maternity house called The Mercy House Kenya to help out girls who were homeless and pregnant and in danger. And now she is just like you and me, still a mom living in the suburbs, except she said yes to an impossible dream and is changing the world one life at a time.
The Mercy House Kenya will receive a portion of the proceeds from every book sale so that is a little more incentive, if you, you know, you needed it. The book details Kristen and her family’s journey in starting The Mercy House and it is a really good read. It’s funny and challenging and perspective-shifting. Because sure, we may not buy a home in Kenya to house the hurting but we can say yes in so many small ways that might change the world, one life at a time.
And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the ways that you can support Mercy House Kenya if you feel so led. (There is no pressure to donate and they don’t even know I’m writing this, I was just supposed to be reviewing the book and obviously I’ve gone rogue.)
You can purchase Rhinestone Jesus via Amazon or you can pick it up at Dayspring, along with their exclusive prints and other products that directly benefit The Mercy House Kenya (like my Live Mercy print featured above.) You can also choose to support The Mercy House Kenya with a one time or monthly monetary gift here. You can also learn more and download free printables + book club guides here and keep up with the work that The Mercy House is doing on facebook here.
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of the book to review & I purchased my own copies to give as gifts. This post does not contain any affiliate links.
