Mescals Childrens Center of Hope Inc

Ruth Owuor came to America in 1996 from Kenya, East Africa, with $20 in her pocket. She left behind a patriarchal culture in which women were often abused and in fact, a home in which she herself was the victim of much personal pain. Her country of Kenya was also being ravaged by AIDS, leaving thousands of children orphaned and homeless.

In order to support herself, Ruth started a small business selling items at flea markets and later at the local mall. As her business grew, God continued to burden her heart for the orphans and abused women in Kenya. As she was able, she would send money to family in Kenya, who eventually bought a piece of land, built a very simple shelter, and she began feeding and housing abused women and orphans. For the past 10 years, Ruth has been the sole supporter of Mescal's Children's Center of Hope in Kima, Kenya, giving refuge to 30 orphans and 4 women rescued from abusive situations.

Although Ruth has been the sole financial supporter of MCCH, without the help of her family in Kenya, this ministry could never had developed.  Ruth's daughter, Dorothy Owuor Semo, was the one who served as administrator and oversaw the daily operations of MCCH.  For the past 10 years Dorothy has faithfully served the needs of the children and women, and has done so with a passion and love for Christ and for them, as well as with integrity and financial skills.  Her strong faith in God and service to Him indicates that truly "the apple does not fall far from the tree."

[Speaking of her mother's journey] Dorothy says " . . . . it makes me proud of who you are because you never gave up, but you struggled and fought for your family and yourself and through all this you let God turn your shame into fame  . . .  your test into a testimony . . . .  and your misery into ministry.  If you hadn't passed through all this you might not have a passion for hurting women and children, thus MCCH would not have been born."
Some time ago, God began calling Ruth back to her homeland to see family she has not seen in 15 years and to personally direct the shelter/orphange herself.  Her dream and calling was fulfilled on May 17, 2012, when she returned to Kenya.  She is most joyous and fulfilled as she is settling into life back in Kenya with her family and Mescal's kids.

Why "Mescal's"?

Ruth met Mescal Kelley Griffin of Lineville, Alabama, shortly before her death and felt an immediate and special connection to. Mescal, like Ruth, had a compassionate heart for “spiritual orphans,” or children whose parents did not take them to church.

Year after year, Mescal would pick children up each Sunday and take them to church. She felt owning a car was a special blessing from God and felt God calling her to use it to minister to these children, as well as many others in her community.
When Ruth heard the many personal testimonies at Mescal's funeral from some of these children (now adults) who were profoundly impacted by Mescal, Ruth was inspired. As a memorial, Ruth renamed the orphanage Mescal's Children's Center of Hope.