Open Doors began helping Rael in 2021. We helped her with rent, hospital bills and essentials for Rael and her children.
In 2019, Husband left Kenyan woman Rael and six of their eight children after finding out that Rael had converted to Christianity. Rael spent a week on the streets until she was rescued by a good Samaritan.
Rael never thought that at 45 she would become a single mother of six children. Nor would she believe that she was putting her faith and life in the hands of God. But as this sister from Kenya knows, our plans are not God’s plans.
The dream that changed everything
Like most Muslim girls her age, Rael was raised to follow Islamic law and eventually married a Muslim man. Practicing Islam was all she knew. Life was comfortable, and the husband provided for the whole family.
However, in 2018, everything changed. She took part in a parish evangelization event and heard the good news about Jesus. The next night she had a dream in which Jesus appeared to her.
After this, Rael wanted to follow Jesus. She began to act like Christians who had just come to faith: attend church meetings, pray and read the Bible.
But unlike converted Christians in general, she had to follow Jesus in secret.
Her husband threatened the whole family
Rael attended religious services in secret for months. Sometimes she took her children with her. However, her husband found out that Rael had converted to Christianity and was attending church.
Rael said her husband was furious and threatened to kill her or one of their children if she continued down her chosen path.
A year later, in 2019, Rael’s daughter saw her father walking around in a rage with a knife in his hand. He was not ready to fulfill his father’s demand, to give up either his mother or his life. By the grace of God, the young girl was able to escape and report this to Rael.
Together, Rael and the children ran away and ended up on the street. They knew that they would never be able to return to their home and their old life.
“I found myself in a very bad situation because my husband left me after I became a believer,” says Rael.
After spending a week on the streets, a good Samaritan offered Raelle and her children a room to stay. They had no food or beds and slept under old clothes. Rael later fell ill due to a cold and stress.
God answered prayers
After she escaped, local Open Doors partners met her and offered help. Rael says she got to the point where she just sighed “help me” to God because she was so tired.
“And God helped me. He took my hand and allowed me to experience friendship through you.”
Our partners saw the family’s significant suffering and various needs, such as Rael’s medical expenses. “You’ve bought me mattresses, fed me, and helped me pay my rent since I met you. You contacted me. Now I can continue. God helped me through you. What He promises, He fulfills.”
Pray for Rael and the many Christian mothers like her who are raising their children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Through tears, Rael can speak and sing about God’s faithfulness: “If You, Lord, will be with me, there will be no death, no sorrow, no loss, no crying.”
Please join us in praying for Rael and the many Christian mothers like her who are raising their children in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Please remember all my children, my entire family and all those who have the same problems as me in your prayers. Remember them. Please pray that God will continue to bless me with the education of my children. And in time I will be able to testify to where God has led me. God bless you!”
Thank you for your continued support in helping new Christians and their families survive financially and be witnesses in their communities.
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