Seen and Loved by God
Samaritan's Purse meets critical needs and offers real hope as we serve women around the world.
Samaritan's Purse is working around the world to help vulnerable women. We provide livelihoods training, safe places for women to gather, Bible study courses, and hot meals for them to enjoy. We remind them God knows their every need and also share the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ—offering abundant life now and forever.
Rina is one of many who have benefited from our programs. She lives with other women inside the confines of a Liberian prison and longs for the day she'll be reunited to her child. Until then, she encourages other women, develops useful tailoring skills, and prays every day for strength. She's learning to depend on God and He has opened her eyes to see purpose behind bars.
For four years now Rina has learned skill upon useful skill through our Hope for a Brighter Future program, which serves inmates of the Liberian prison system. She's learned tailoring and teaching. She has also been taught how to run wire to power a solar water pump, so that the system we installed keeps the reservoir full for the women's wing.
“I can say with the help of Samaritan's Purse, I've learned so many things,” she says.
“We sew here. I can repair clothing. I can make clothing.”
“We sew here. I can repair clothing. I can make clothing.
“I love to keep myself busy. I don't love sitting around.”
Rina and other inmates have found renewed purpose for their lives even while imprisoned. And on the day they are released, they will have skills to make a living and are offered follow-up care to help them readjust to life outside the walls.
When she's not busy working with her hands, Rina studies the Bible and encourages others with what God is teaching her. God's Word has become a rich well of hope for her since completing Samaritan's Purse discipleship courses.
“gave me that spirit of boldness. I can encourage my friends....”
The courses also helped her overcome her fear of speaking in public as God “gave me that spirit of boldness. I can encourage my friends. It was in prison that I discovered that I can encourage people when they are brokenhearted.”
Rina herself had been brokenhearted when she arrived at Monrovia Central Prison, confused by the charges that landed her there and ended the life she'd known.
“It's hard. It's very hard. Leaving my kid out there. It's sad even to see him,” she says. “But now I am a Christian and I have learned to read my Bible. I can speak to women and talk about the Gospel. I tell them they still have a future, and this is not where your future lies.”
Though she continues to pray and to hope she'll one day soon hold her son again, she's learned where her identity and freedom are found within or outside of prison.
“I am so thankful to Samaritan's Purse,” Rina says. “I was able to discover who I am in Christ.”
“I am so thankful to Samaritan's Purse,” Rina says. “I was able to discover who I am in Christ.”
We praise God that He opened Rina's eyes to His plan for her life!
Would you join us in praying for Rina and many other women in need around the world? Pray that God would meet them in their difficult circumstances and that He would use the work of Samaritan's Purse to remind them they are not forgotten by God. He sees them. They are loved.
