Rebecca’s world shattered in a single moment.
She remembers the day she home from school to find her life was no longer her own—her family had arranged for her to marry a man twice her age! “They told me it was decided three years ago, when I was just 14,” Rebecca shares. “I told them I wasn’t ready to get married. I’m only 17… and I didn’t even know who he was!”
Terrified but resolute, that night, she fled to the only safe place she could think of: a nearby church. There, the Bishop’s wife opened the door and listened as Rebecca poured out her story. The couple gave her refuge, and through Tearfund’s Trauma Healing program, her journey toward healing began.
The program has helped Rebecca see her worth and dignity through God’s eyes: “I learned I am made in the image of God. I don’t have to marry if I’m not ready.” A member of the trauma healing group welcomed Rebecca into her home, enabling her to continue her studies and graduate high school.
But the battle wasn’t over. When her family discovered her location, they agreed to cancel the marriage if she would come home—only to increase her bride price and try again! Rebecca fled once more, trusting God to guide her steps.
Today, Rebecca’s faith is stronger than ever. “I think this whole experience has brought me closer to God,” she says. “I continue to pray that God would change the minds of my parents.” She longs to complete her education and keeps praying and fasting as she makes these decisions.
Through support from donors like you, Rebecca has hope, safety, and a future rooted in God’s love.
