Outside the gate of our office stood a young woman with a tiny bundle in her arms and, next to her, a near-collapsing older woman.
They were from the same family in the south of the country: a mum with her daughter and new grandaughter.
Shame
The women were exhausted and weeping and explained that the tiny baby had been born just hours before.
The young woman had given birth at 2.30am and, at 3.00am, they had to run from the hospital. Amazingly, despite the fact that she was not married, her mother took pity on her and stayed with her.
They had to flee from the hospital in fear of their lives. They had received death threats and it would not have been safe to remain inside. It is extremely ‘shaming’ for a family to have an unmarried pregnant daughter – these threats often turn into real consequences.
Exhausted
Any woman who has given birth knows how gruelling it can be – can you imagine just 30 minutes later having to run with your newborn?
The women had no money but they managed to get on the 4.00am train in the south (a miracle). It is a six-hour ride up to the capital and they arrived at the station exhausted and having no clue where to go.
Our worker takes up the story:
“All they knew was that our organisation was based in the capital and would help them. Amazingly, a taxi driver took pity on them and agreed to let them ride for free (miracle number two).
Even more amazing was that he knew the place where we work and managed to bring them to our head office (miracle number three).
“Another ‘coincidence’ was that I was the only person at the office and was about to leave (miracle number four).
“Ninety per cent of the usual staff were out of the country at a conference; if the women had turned up a minute later there wouldn’t have been a soul around (miracle number five).
“They had no phones – or more importantly numbers – so they would have been really stuck.
“I didn’t know the women but recognised a serious situation. They knew a family that happen to live above us, so I was able to call the family and explain that two women and a baby were at the office in a bad way. The family agreed to take them in.
“We are in frequent contact with the single mothers’ safe house here in the capital, so booked the new young mum and her baby into the safe house and delivered them straight away. They are now safe.
“It was a traumatic time for the new young mum and her mother – they are very close and have shared a room for 23 years.
“It was very emotional as they said goodbye and the girl’s mother was then left to return to the south and face the wrath of her husband and family.
“We were able to pray with the women but it is still a very delicate and sensitive situation. You don’t know their names but please pray for these women and their family”.
Mission is about engaging with real people in real situations, and being Jesus to them. Could this be you? Click
here for a number of opportunities to serve with BMS on short, mid or long-term mission.