Sold then Redeemed

Her father saw her as property, but her God saw her as his precious daughter. 

In many remote, Kenyan communities, a girl’s life is not believed to be her own. Harmful cultural practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage are still observed, and girls are often denied an education because it’s seen as ‘wasting money and time’ on property that will simply belong to someone else eventually.

When she was only 13 years old, Hope's life was shattered by this brutal reality. 

She was walking home from school when a man appeared on the path. He sexually assaulted her. If that horror weren’t enough, Hope soon realized she was pregnant.

When her parents realized what had happened, Hope's father was furious…at her. Instead of receiving comfort in the face of the horrific crime committed against her and her trauma, Hope faced her father’s rage. Her pregnancy foiled his plan to marry her off to a much older man who would now no longer want a girl who wasn’t a virgin. Her father was so furious that her mother became fearful for Hope's safety.

A woman named Asilia visited the community, and she spoke about having been forced into a child marriage when she was a girl and then running away to grow up at the Agape Hope Center. Hope's mother saw an opportunity for Hope to escape, and she secretly arranged for Hope to go back with Asilia. 

At Agape, Hope finally found what she deserved: love, safety, professional counseling, and a place to continue her education. 

This new family would support her through the tragic loss of her baby through delivery complications, and their gracious love and tender care led her to her Savior, Christ.

Today, Hope is a born-again Christian and a committed member of the Agape Hope Children ministry. She is finishing high school, but her story doesn't end there. She dreams of going to college. “I want to one day go back to my community as an agent of change.”

She wants to be a voice for the girls still trapped in the silence she escaped. 

Your support this Giving Tuesday will go to girls like Hope who are often coming out of unimaginable circumstances. They have survived horrors, and the Agape house gives them a shelter where they can heal, know God, and grow into lovely and strong women.