Abigail’s Story

Abigail Kapango is a 24 year old young woman who came to Mercy House with personal struggles of rejection from her father. Abigail lives with her mother, and siblings. When she was born, her father rejected her and left her mother to single-handedly fend for her needs. Four years ago, Abigail had the opportunity to meet her dad, and hoped for a restored father-daughter relationship. Sadly, her father did not share her desires. Whenever she tried to reach out to him for help, her father would ask why she wouldn’t simply find a boyfriend to meet her personal and family needs. Months later, she learnt that her dad wanted little to do with her. Devastated by this, she became bitter towards him. 

At the time, Abigail was also dealing with other challenges at home. Her grandmother became ill and her mother who worked as a maid to support them was forced to give up her job in order to take care of her sick mother. Abigail narrates: 

Life was very hard. We depended on money sent by other relatives for grandmother’s medication and upkeep. In the same year my mother stopped work, I looked for a job as a maid. This was initially to help me raise money for school so that I could rewrite some subjects. But that didn’t work because the situation at home worsened. So, we used the money I earned for food at home and I became the one helping to provide for my family. 

The burden of taking care of family because heavy for me and so I often cried and lamented about my tough circumstances. Knowing my father lived in a nearby community but refused to help made it worse and left me wondering how to relate to God as father. 

I was very bitter and really hated my father until I came to Mercy House where I learnt that we should not hate people but love them, including those we consider our enemies.

I was a Christian before coming to Mercy House but my biggest struggle in my relationship with God was to accept that God truly loves me. It was very hard to put together my father’s rejection, my personal needs, my family’s suffering, and my sick grandmother with God’s loving kindness…

Just before reporting to Mercy House, Abigail made the difficult choice of giving up her job. Fortunately, her boss agreed for her to continue helping with laundry on days she would not be learning at Mercy House just so she could get a small pay at the end of each month. She found more people to help with house chores at a small fee.  This is how she continues to help her family. 

She attests she made the right choice because Mercy House has given her more than what the job could ever have.  

In May this year, I lost my grandmother and I was broken. However, I received professional counseling at Mercy House from Carrie Gundlach, one of the supporters of Mercy House who was visiting from the US. She encouraged me in my grief and there began my healing.  Apart from the love and care I have immensely experienced, and all the wonderful business knowledge I have gained, I have also learnt that I don’t have to be anxious about my circumstances. Rather, I must rest in the unchanging nature and loving-kindness of God. So, I no longer complain or cry because I know my struggles are known by God who is my heavenly father, and that He loves me with loving-kindness. And I will make it because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

Abigail looks forward to becoming a micro-business owner through the help of Mercy House. She wants to start a chicken business and hopes to one day buy her own farm.

My dreams are big – I want to become a poultry farmer in Ndola so that I can build a house for my family and help others like me who are struggling.