I'm learning more and more each day that I cannot even imagine what it would be like to grow up as an African child. The differences I've observed between my childhood and that of many of the children I know here are more even than night and day. Those differences range from how I was parented, how I was educated, how I lived and functioned within a community, my religious background, how I viewed the world, and so much more.

In the past week I've gotten to know a young lady named Mallory*. I've known Mallory for a few months, but it was only last Friday that I first heard her story. Mallory had a typical African childhood. She even grew up knowing both her mother and father, a blessing that many children here don't know. At eight years old, however, her life changed forever. Her mother had been dating an abusive man. One night, after cooking dinner, the boyfriend called her mother into the room where he was eating. He then began to berate her for the food being below his standards. Mallory and her brother were in another room, listening and watching from the door. Her mom's boyfriend began to beat her mother. First, he took a bottle and broke it on her head. He followed that up with a hammer. After swinging the hammer against her head, he left the house. Mallory screamed at her brother to go for help, while she rushed to her mother's side. She held her bleeding, lifeless body close to her chest, but before help could arrive, her mother was dead. That was the first of many painful events in Mallory's life.

She went to live with her father, and has great memories of her dad from her childhood. But at thirteen years old, Mallory started attending church and became a believer in Jesus Christ. Her father was adamantly against that church. Mallory tells me her father would have approved of a Luteran or a Catholic Church, but despised the charismatic Christian church she was attending. He began to beat her when he found her in her room praying or reading the Bible. He would try to do everything he could to keep her from going to church. He found out she was leading a Bible study at school and began to try to control her Christian activities. When she was in the middle of writing her Grade 12 exams, she came home to her father completely outraged. She returned from her exams one night and he accused her of being at church, even though the exam schedule was posted throughout the community and it was obvious that is where she would have been. He met her before she entered the house and refused to let her inside. He told her to leave and never come back. He didn't even allow her to go back inside for her books that she would need for her final exams. She left with the clothes on her back and was able to call someone who helped find her a place to stay. From there, Mallory came a few hours south to Windhoek, where she has been ever since. She has tried to visit her father, but he refuses to let her back in the house. At 19 years old, Mallory is on her own here, completely without a family. She was unable to complete her Grade 12 exams, which leaves her with limited options for her future. Her time in Windhoek has been filled with darkness, only now is she beginning to see hope and light. Shortly after arriving, she found that drugs helped to take her mind off of her depressing life and quickly became heavily addicted. This landed her in rehab and though it was a painful process, she came out of rehab and stayed clean for 18 months. Last month she tried to visit her family again. Once again her father refused her company. Mallory returned to Windhoek, met up with her old friends, and used drugs in an attempt to forget the pain. Realizing she needed help, she came to me. She shared her story, I was able to pray with her, and now we're meeting on a weekly basis. She asked me to be her accountability partner as she fights the addiction, and I told her I would also like to disciple her towards a closer walk with the Lord. We've started to read "The Purpose Driven Life" together and we're already seeing great improvements as she focuses on God and His power to save her from herself.

Mallory wants to be a missionary. She has a huge heart and passion for children. She has applied to work with a missions organization in South Africa, and I am encouraging her towards that goal. I realize she still has a ways to go before she regains complete control over her life, but during those 18 months of sobriety, she had been serving the Lord as a staff member at her church and volunteering with local Christian organizations. She admits her relapse last month was a mistake and knows that God can forgive her and give her strength to avoid the same mistake in the future. Like I said, I can already see a huge change in her. Her spark is back and she is filled with so much encouragement towards her future. I think what she needed was someone who believes in her, who can encourage her and be ready to pick her up when she needs the extra strength. I am praying that God gives me the strength to be her big sister and her mentor during a time when she desperately needs someone to walk alongside her in this painful journey.

I share Mallory's story not so that you can feel sorry for her, unless that pity turns to action. I have written in a journal, "Knowledge demands action." I'm sharing Mallory's story because she desperately needs prayer. She needs a family of believers behind her, willing to take her needs to the throne of God. Hebrews 4 tells us that we can approach the throne of God boldly, confident that He will provide mercy and grace in our time of need. As we intercede for others, they can receive that promise as well. Here are some specific things you can pray for Mallory...

She needs a job. She is working at the church, but it doesn't pay anything. They have been helping pay for her living expenses, but after the end of the month she has to find a new place to live. At 19, without a proper education, she is struggling to find a job and without a family, she has no one to help her financially aside from what little the church has been able to provide. Her dream is to get to South Africa next year to work with a missions organization, but even working with them she must provide her own accommodation. She has no money for that. You can pray that God would provide the necessary funds for her, or perhaps you even feel called to give towards her need.

I know without a doubt that God has huge plans for Mallory. Please keep her in your prayers. And please pray for me as my relationship with her continues to grow in these coming weeks and months.