There God is, catching you by surprise: in the dish rack by the sink, in the deep of an Ethiopian forest, in the jubilation of a village dance, and in the soft eyes of a mother and child. In pictures and in poetry “I want, I choose . . . Prayers to a Merciful God” invites you to these places, faraway and deep within.

“I Want, I Choose …” is inspired by the mission of Maternal Life International (MLI). With life-affiirming programs in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Haiti, MLI works to build a world in which all children are given the gift of a safe birth and secure family. To that end – to mothers, babies, and families whose lives are haunted by poverty, hunger, discord and lack of obstetrical care - this book is dedicated.