Neyemi

Three years ago, I met a 14 year old girl during Bible study at the brothel. As we got to know her, we learned that unfortunate situations led her working there. She became a part of our jewelry ministry and we started to pour into her more one on one. During one of the Bible studies, she revealed to us that she was pregnant. She was young, confused, and terrified about the future. Everyone was telling her to abort the baby, but she knew she couldn’t.

Thanks to the mission birthing center, we were able to get her into the prenatal program. She came every week for her appointments and the nurses spent extra time loving her and pouring into her. They not only offered their medical knowledge but their personal life experiences to her. The nurses made sure that they gave her every resource they could and that they reminded her that she was capable of raising this baby. Nine months later, a beautiful baby girl Abigail was born.

I had the privilege of naming her and wanted to make sure that her name had meaning. I had heard another little girl named Abigail, but most people called her Gaelle. The way they pronounced Gaelle was similar to the word ga’al, which means to redeem. I could only imagine how this situation was one that God could use to redeem her situation and use her for His glory. We watched as she loved her daughter and did the best she could. 

This spring, she found out she was expecting again. She was humiliated, frustrated, and felt completely incapable. But the nurses walked along side of her through the pregnancy. One morning a few weeks ago, her sister showed up and told me that Abigail had died that morning. She wasn’t sick and they don’t know what happened but her little girl was gone. It didn’t make sense and she struggled to find peace in the situation.

And then today, she came in in labor to the birthing center. She had a quick, safe delivery and a baby boy was born. She had come and asked if I could name the baby. I was hesitant, but realized it was something she really wanted me to do. I thought all day, asked different people, and tried to think of a name that had great meaning. One of my friends reminded me of Nehemiah and how we had spent all year going through the book of Nehemiah with the brothel girls. So I looked up Nehemiah, which happens to mean comforted by Yahweh or Jehovah comforts. I also love that Nehemiah was a compassionate and willing man who was obedient to God’s calling on his life. In Nehemiah, it says “the joy of the LORD is our strength,” which I think is something we could all be reminded of in that bittersweet moment. I explained to them why “Neyemi” (Nehemiah in Creole) was the name and we all agreed it couldn’t fit more perfectly. They are still very much grieving the loss of their little girl and here was God’s reassurance that it was going to be okay; that he had a greater plan in all of this.

Join us in praying for their family. For their hearts as they continue to process all that has happened, for mom and baby’s health, and that God would continue to reveal himself to them.