Patricia's New Family
At just 19 years old, Patricia found herself alone and pregnant. “[My boyfriend] said he didn’t care and that the baby could not be his. My family also didn’t welcome the news of my pregnancy, so I found myself without support.”
Months passed, but with no money for prenatal care or proper nutrition, Patricia doubted she would deliver a healthy baby. But hope emerged when she learned about a local church caring for new mothers.
Patricia walked through the doors of the small church and prayed she would be accepted. “I was given a warm welcome and they took good care of me. I was worried about raising a baby, but when I met the other mothers, I was encouraged.”
As Patricia prepared for her baby’s birth, church staff began teaching Patricia about proper nutrition, early childhood development, preparing for delivery, and the love that Jesus has for her. They praised God as they witnessed the young mother transform from malnourished and scared to healthy and confident.
Patricia’s daughter, Prudencia, was born healthy and she is now 9 months old. Church staff have continued to care for both mother and baby, including covering medical bills when Prudencia fell sick with a fever and when Patricia developed a severe case of mastitis.
Today, Patricia has found hope in her new family of mothers and friends at the church. The staff and other mothers continue to show her love and help her as she raises Prudencia. “I am learning a lot from their experiences, and it gives me more reason to trust God,” she shares.
Lives change with every new mother and baby reached. Thank you for standing with our church partners as they reach further into their communities to minister to the most vulnerable among us.