I've Never Asked for 50 Million

If you threw up a few prayers for me and our crew on Monday, thank you.

It meant everything to me, really everything. To all of us. Thank you.

A moment before walking into Congressman's Altmire's office, I couldn't steady my hand to text Paul. My heart raced. An ugly thought sneered, "You don't even know what you're talking about."

And then we walked in. Me. Pastor Charles. Amy Gerwig.

And I felt peace. And confidence. And strength that wasn't my own. It seemed like we all did.

We laid a framework for our involvement in the issue.
We provided stats:

* 158,000,000 children are victims of human trafficking (Actually, I blanked on this stat, so I just said a very vague, "UNICEF estimates that there are millions...oh well.)

* Children that are trafficked are engaged in the worst forms of child labor:

* Enslavement that endangers the physical and moral well-being of children, debt bondage, mandatory military involvement, use of children for drug production and trafficking, use of children for prostitution and pornography, etc.

* The US State Dept lists trafficking as the world's third largest criminal enterprise.

We respectfully asked for his support and cosponsorship of HR 2737:

This bill, called the Child Protection Compact Act of 2009, allots 50 million dollars over three years to the State Department's Trafficking In Persons office (TIP.)

With that money, TIP would provide grants to a number of different National Government Organizations, including International Justice Mission, World Vision, Amnesty International, The Polaris Project, Equality Now, Sojourners, etc.

With previous grant money received over the last 5 years, IJM has been able to investigate foreign pedophiles, obtain official release permits for children enslaved in work camps, and provide after-care services to children who have been rescued from the "industry."

(On a side note - in one city in the Philippines - over a 2 year period of working with local law enforcement - IJM has seen a 75% reduction in child prostitution - 75%!!!!!!!!!!) IJM's work is incredible.

Though IJM has been supportive of current TIP grant making, the money has been widespread (distributed to 43 countries and over 100 different NGO's) but not sufficient enough to eradicate a problem of this magnitude.

That's why this bill is asking for more. The goal is an abolition of slavery in our lifetime.

Altmire's response:

Lots of questions.
Lots of talk that flew over my head (technicalities of the bill process.)
A friendly and informative conversation, certainly a foundation for future advocacy meetings.

Bad news: He didn't sign on the dotted line to co-sponsor the bill right then and there.

Good news: It certainly sounded as though he would in the near future, after reading the bill in its entirety. And we have contact information for 2 of his staffers, in the local office and in Washington. We are to check back in 2 weeks if we haven't heard anything about his support first.

So it's a start.

Please keep praying. For a commitment to be made on his part. For meetings around the nation just like this one. For the bill to be passed. And for the money to impact millions of children internationally.

Thanks, again, for supporting us if you did.

And keep an eye out for that young Amy Gerwig. I knew Pastor Charles would be awesome with Altmire. He has wisdom and knowledge and a quiet confidence and articulation...

But Amy, man. For 18, she was the bomb! Fearless and smooth. She made the situation personal to Altmire because he thought of his own daughters (with comments she made.) I was so proud of her. You go, girl!

Bet she never thought she would ask for 50 mil either.

Confirmed for the 24th!

UNICEF estimates that there are nearly 2 million children in the commercial sex trade worldwide.

2 million kids just like my own. Just like our youth group students.

I can't handle that. At all. But ignoring the reality doesn't help either.

On Monday, August 24th at 11:30, I'll be meeting with Congressman Altmire to urge him to cosign the Child Protection Compact Act of 2009. As IJM states, "This bill supports poor countries’ efforts to stand up to criminals that traffic children by investing in effective law enforcement that puts traffickers and slave owners out of business and behind bars."

I'm SO excited to have gotten a meeting. And COMPLETELY freaked out.

Got some studying to do and prep work till then. Won't be online much.

If you're available on Monday and local, please consider coming along. Paul's Dad (and the pastor of our church) will be joining me. The more voices, the better.

If you can't make it this time, please pray. I would cherish your prayers much. I don't know what I'm doing. And this is out there for me. But 2 million times worth it.

Thanks and Much Love,
Kristin

Ugly

Just a heads' up. This post is not going to be pretty, so stopping while you're at it would be a good suggestion. For real. I am infuriated and repulsed and deeply saddened by an issue destroying the place I once called home.

Rhode Island is the place of my roots. There is a level of comfort here in the coming back. The fierce ocean waves, gritty sand in between my toes, drinking a Del's lemonade, clam cakes. There are the carousel rides, the cliffwalk, Pawsox games, waterfires. I love this place. Like really love it.

And yet I am coming to realize that this is not the home that some residents ever know. Their home is their prison. They are victoms of trafficking. Sure, in some cases prostitution is a choice. In other cases, women and children are bought and sold without any consent. Every freedom that I know to be true is lost to a pimp and politics who count their cash.

Rhode Island just got ratted out by a 16 year old runaway who was permitted to strip for cash. You've probably heard all about it. Turns out, she's allowed by law to continue. Even Vegas prohibits child abuse. You've got to be at least 21 to work in a club there. Not in RI. I suppose she didn't rat out the state after all.

If that weren't horrific enough, Rhode Island permits indoor prostitution. It is the only remaining state that sanctions it. Providence is littered with clubs, but so are small town communities. Massage parlors have infested the state and will continue to do so if these laws are not changed.

Since the seedier side of RI has broken into the news, the media has had a heyday. A recent clip on Fox news shows Bill O'Reilly shaking his head and laughing at the loopholes in the law. He is quoted as saying, "They might want to fix it up there. You might want to fix it in the Ocean State."

Come on now. The segment was almost portrayed as an advertisement for traffickers and predators. Was there no better way of highlighting this problem than through sarcastic laughter? How can anyone have the gall to laugh when children and teenagers are being abused? Maybe the attention was beneficial if it infuriated people. But only if it infuriated them to do more than shake their heads.

Are we just not getting it? Do we not care? If Rhode Island doesn't change its legislation soon, this state's problems are going to amplify across the nation and world. As it is, three neon x's are screaming to offenders that there's freedom to be found here. Freedom for offenders. Modern day slavery for the offended.

As this state continues to reap profits from the industry, it is also going to reap a sludge of problems. Prostitution ramps up crime, is inherently debasing, destroys families and communities, and preys on our next generation. Individuals enslaved to their traffickers undergo severe physical and psychological abuse, are forced into drug and alcohol abuse, and are at high risk for deadly disease. It sickens me to no end that children are trafficked to my home to know no other life but this.

Now that you've read this rant, I'm sure you're sorry. I told you it was ugly. I've ruined your morning, upset your stomach, stolen happy for today. I didn't mean to. I just needed to speak up to someone, for someone. And you were caught in the crossfire. Sorry.

Writing this will have done nothing to stop these injustices. I know that. They're words on a computer screen. But it's how I could find peace with my pillow for tonight.

I don't know where to begin to deal with this. But I know people who do: my friend Court, International Justice Mission, and oh yeah - Jesus. (Courtney runs with only the best.)

Someone once said, "This world is not mine to save, but I can serve the mission of God Who has already done so." Amazing words to live by. Now to figure out how. I guess I've got a lot of figuring out to do.

Goodnight.

Please Let Your Voice Be Heard

I received this email from International Justice Mission today. I'm not certain when (said) meetings would be held in our area, but I would love to organize a group to head to one. If you would like to join me, let me know. Thanks.

You can do something today to help end child trafficking.

Will you help IJM pass the Child Protection Compact Act of 2009 (HR 2737)?

IJM has expertise about what it takes to end slavery and trafficking, but the people who matter most to Members of Congress are their constituents. We need your help to urge your Members of Congress to support the Child Protection Compact Act of 2009 — groundbreaking legislation that seeks to eradicate trafficking in children in focus countries.

With your help, we will reach policymakers in all 50 states.

Here is what you can do: Commit today to attending a meeting with your Member of Congress and/or Senators in your home state/district this August and share your passion to abolish modern-day slavery.

The IJM Justice Campaigns team will schedule and coordinate these meetings for you as part of a unified month of action -- sign up online and indicate your availability.

We will guide and support you, provide you with talking points, offer trainings by phone before your meeting, and will help you connect with other advocates in your area. Take the leap and sign up today! (Please reply by July 10 — we may not be able to schedule meetings after this point.)

Schedule too full for a meeting? Urge your Member of Congress to support the Child Protection Compact Act today through the current IJM Justice Campaigns Action Alert. The CPCA holds promise for vulnerable children around the world who desperately need an ally — thank you for giving them one.

Gratefully,
Eileen Campbell
Director of Justice Campaigns

P.S. Please forward this e-mail to friends, family and colleagues who may want to attend a district meeting with you!

30 Hour Famine

The youth group is participating in a 30 Hour Famine this weekend, proceeds benefiting World Vision. They will be "starving to provide food" for others in need.

The students have raised money through donors and sponsors that will go towards projects in areas like Malawi, Swaziland, North Korea, and the States. They will be fasting to feel the pangs of hunger, felt around the world. There are 26,000 who die from hunger every day.

Included in the weekend will be basketball, volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee, a late evening message and worship, building cardboard homes to sleep outside in, morning devos, community and church work projects, a scavenger hunt, and a spaghetti dinner to break the fast.

Paul and I would like to thank Heather O. for all of the work she has done to help organize this. We love you, girl. Thanks for having a heart for God, the girls in your small group, and the world at large. Thanks for also being flexible when everything started falling through.

If you would like to donate to the famine, please let me know. If you want to host your own famine, find out more information here.

Please pray that these 30 hours will draw students closer to God, each other, and somehow to that 13 year old in the North. Thanks, guys.

FAMINE UPDATE:
Our incredible students raised $900 for the fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! Are they amazing or what? And they had a blast while doing it. I'll post some of the pics this week.

Don't ever count teenagers out.

Ever.

Impact

Talk about impact.
William Wilberforce lived it.

He loved his God.
He loved his neighbor.

So much so that he fought unceasingly for his neighbor's freedom, by means of ending England's participation in the slave trade.

He often referred to himself as "being feelingly alive."
Feelingly alive to the joys of this life and the sufferings of his fellow man.

But. How?

What we see on the pages of history was birthed from a knowledge of God. Walking with Him every day, in the quiet, without anyone seeing a thing.

Not so much unlike the root system of a tree. Healthy tree, healthy roots. Beneath the soil, there's a largely invisible system absorbing water and transporting minerals. Dead tree, dead roots. Possible culprits being soil compaction (no room to breathe), competition between roots, lack of water, stress, toxins, whatever.

Gosh, me and dead roots have a lot in common.
And that stinks.

Cause I want to live a life of impact. A life that is full of life. Seen and unseen.

It is said that Wilberforce walked to and from Parliament every day, where he served in the House of Commons. On these daily commutes, he memorized the word of God. He spoke truth to himself. He listened and meditated. One of his favorite objects of meditation was Psalm 119.

Have you seen that baby? That's the big one. And he knew it by heart.

Did you know...

There are more slaves today than ever before.
Trafficking is the second largest – and fastest growing – criminal industry in the world.
Over 12 million people worldwide are trafficked for forced labor or sexual exploitation.
Over 200,000 children are at high risk for sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation in the United States every year.

I am crying as I am typing these words.
Cause these are children like my own. And women like me. And it can't continue.

So what can I do? I'm just a mom, a busy mom. Trying to take care of my family.

I can love my God with a foremost passion, above all other passions.
I can live an unseen life.
I can hide Psalm 119 in my heart.
And then live it out in my day.

I can enter into another's riches.
And another's poverty.
And learn from both.

I can inform myself on the injustices of this world.
And tell others.
And then do something. Just something, anything.

I can partner with organizations like
International Justice Mission
Love 146
Polaris Project
or Compassion International.

I can
Pray.
Give.
Plead with government officials.
Organize a drive.
Love and protect and defend.
Hope.
Be feelingly alive.

Remember that,
"The world is not mine to save, But I can serve the mission of the God who has already done so." Tyler Wigg Stevenson

Thought Provoking Editorial

Matthew Parris recently penned this article, "As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God."

In it, he claims that, "Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa's biggest problem - the crushing passivity of the people's mindset." A shocking claim that, "Confounds [his] ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit [his] world view, and has embarrassed [his] growing belief that there is no God."

In another section of the article, Matthew also observes that some of the most impressive African members of the Pump Aid team (largely from Zimbabwe) were, privately, strong Christians. In reference to this assertion, he states, "It would suit me to believe that their honesty, diligence and optimism in their work was unconnected with personal faith. Their work was secular, but surely affected by what they were. What they were was, in turn, influenced by a conception of man's place in the Universe that Christianity had taught."

"Their work was secular, but surely affected by what they were." For anyone in a secular work environment, there's no greater challenge than this... to stand out in excellence and to let our conception of God affect who we are.

Up For a Challenge?

I've got spoiled feet - flip flops, running shoes, black boots, a few unfortunate heels, ordinary loafers (who still wears those but me?), and my favorite pair of brown Sketchers. All in all, my feet have 13 different looks. Thirteen ways to dress up my horrid little feet.

It is estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unworn shoes lying in their closets. I'm part of that 1.5 billion.

It is estimated that 300 million children have never owned one pair of shoes.

3oo million. And children at that. It's probably safe to assume that these kids aren't walking on carpeting either. As a mom, I cringe to speculate what a broken bottle could do to a pair of tiny feet. Without clean water and Neosporin and pretty Tinkerbelle band aids to make those jagged cuts better...

Imagine giving a ten year old their first pair of shoes? Can you conjure up the delight that would beam from this child? Shoes give dignity, bring hope, and save lives. Shoes have saved millions of lives. Shoes.

Soles 4 Souls is a non-profit organization whose goal is to impact as many lives with a simple pair of shoes. Just $5 buys 2 pairs of shoes. That's $2.50 a pair. What a deal! I've been known to drop a whole lot more than $2.50 to spoil my stinkin' feet.

So here's the challenge. Soles 4 Souls wants to raise funds for 50,000 pairs of shoes in 50 days. Let's blow that goal out of the water! Would you consider helping to tackle it?

Paul and I just donated $25. That's 10 pairs of shoes. Would you consider giving just $5? (Or more?) Just click here. Your $5 will buy 2 pairs. Forgive me if I sound like a pesty salesman, but I think this cause deserves it.

Would you mind helping me spread the word? Re post it on your blog, tell others on facebook, give shoes in honor of someone (birthday gift?), get your youth group involved, do whatever...

Just do something.

Thanks and thanks.
Much Love,
Kristin

Give More Presence

Bailout Plan

Loved loved loved this post by Tim Glenn. It was posted on Compassion's blog. If you don't sponsor a child from Compassion, please consider doing so today. It sure does mean the world to us. I can't imagine them. Here is what he had to say:

“It’s extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can’t find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases.” –Bono.

I don’t mean to make light of the current economic crisis in the United States, but there’s a part of me that wonders if we don’t deserve this.

As a country, we have been getting fat and lazy while two thirds of the world struggles just to stay alive. Not all of us, mind you, but collectively — as a country — we’re complaining not because we can’t survive but because our luxuries cost us more than we want to spend.

We want cheap gas and “affordable” four-bedroom homes. We want 200 channels on television and to be able to go out to eat two or three times a week.

As Americans, many of us believe we deserve those things. There’s a sense of entitlement. Meanwhile, on the other side of this tiny little planet of ours, someone is praying, pleading to God for a slice of bread.

So our government is working on a bailout plan. How can we maintain the “American way of life” without suffering the consequences of our decisions? A loan. We’ll loan ourselves money and turn a blind eye to the root causes of greed and selfishness.

We do that so well, don’t we? We attack problems by trying to change the circumstances, instead of battling the root causes. I know I’ve done it in my own life, so this is as much an indictment on me as it is on anyone else.

Then I start to think about the poor.

What is the bailout plan for that family living on less than $2 a day in a developing country? The family who struggles not with wants for luxury but needs for survival. Who will bail them out?

The answer, oddly enough, is us. Yes, the same “us” that’s struggling in the midst of this economic downturn. When our economy is bad, it trickles down to the poorest of the poor.

Higher food costs and fuel prices mean their $2 a day doesn’t go nearly as far. We have to look beyond ourselves, now more than ever, to be the church God intended us to be.

The Church is God’s bailout plan for the poor....

I’m not saying we should throw money at poverty and turn a blind eye to its root causes. I understand why Bono is frustrated over the lack of funds, I really do. But money alone won’t stop poverty.

It goes deeper than that. Besides, I think the Church can do better than any government. We understand the spiritual implications that despair and hopelessness cause. And no one can meet those needs better than the Church. If we’ll just be the Church.

This is a time to pray. Not just for the economic crisis in our country, but also for the ones hit hardest — the poor. And, there’s something else we can do: give more.

That’s right . . . more. I know it sounds odd, but what if, instead of hording our money during this time of economic struggle, we decided to be more giving? Wouldn’t that be something?
Imagine the headlines: GIVING TO THE POOR IS UP — EVEN AS STOCKS DECLINE.

At the very least, we can’t afford to cut back on our giving. The poor simply cannot survive if we do.

I don’t know what giving more means to you. It could be sponsoring a child. It could be giving to a fund that feeds the hungry.

Maybe it means going on a mission trip and getting your hands dirty. But this is the time to do it. Now. Not tomorrow. Not to change circumstances . . . but to attack the roots.

Def.i.ni.cion

So Paul got this cool t-shirt for me the other day. It says hwamok (over and over) and is Korean for peace, harmony, and accord. I love it.

Having lived near the border of North Korea for three years, my heart aches for the men, women, and children starving there under the communist regime. I found myself asking God constantly, "Why me?" Why have You given me freedom, food, education, health care, and opportunities when people an hour away are deprived of all that and more?

The purchase of this shirt will help support Helping Hands Korea and their efforts to bring a measure of peace to the turbulent lives of North Korean refugees. If you're going to buy a new item of clothing, (and we are increasingly advocating used), at least it can support a worthy cause.

The company who sells this shirt, as well as a whole slew of jammin ones, is called def.i.ni.cion. Def.i.ni.cion sells t-shirts that benefit tons of organizations: Good Samaritan Medical Ministry, Second Harvest Food Bank, SAFEHS, etc. The guy who runs the company is another youth pastor. So, you gotta figure, even that is a sweet cause.

Maybe an early Christmas idea? Just thinking. Enjoy!

Miniature Earth

Possibly one of the most informative and humbling videos I have ever watched.

It reminded me of the wealth of my resources...

And the poverty of my soul... when I am ever and always wanting more.

Sweet Investment

I recently stumbled upon Opportunity International, a microfinance non-profit dedicated to helping the working poor (very similar to Kiva.)

Their goal is to provide opportunities for people in chronic poverty by creating jobs, stimulating small businesses, and strengthening communities. Through small business loans, financial services, training, and counsel, millions of poor entrepreneurs worldwide have attained an income, provision for their families, and education for their children.

If that weren't amazing in and of itself, Opportunity International is motivated by Jesus' call to serve the poor. Not too shabby, I would say. "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." "From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

Loans start at $25. That's a sweet dinner out for our family. 98.5% of the loans even get paid back. I'm not sure that there's a better way to spend our money. Not spend, but invest. Better get ready to bat my eyelashes at Paul. Thing is, he won't need convincing. Just one of the things I love about him..

Here's how you can give.

Let Him Be Our Example

Donald Miller recently gave the benediction at the Democratic National Convention. Though I don't always agree with everything this cat says or does, I don't think you can argue his words at the DNC. Here is some of what he had to say. To read the prayer in its entirety, check it out here.

Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left. Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them. Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions...

I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.

Let Him be our example.

Rescue Coverage

I received this email today from International Justice Mission:

Dateline NBC this evening will feature a special update on IJM undercover work in Svay Pak, Cambodia that resulted in the rescue of 37 girls. The Dateline NBC story, entitled “Children for Sale,” originally aired in January 2004 and has received significant airtime as well as two Emmy awards.

Tonight’s update will include a new interview with Gary Haugen as well as interviews with several of the young girls rescued by IJM in the original raids.

9pm EDT/PDTDateline NBC

Please watch and spread the word to friends who may be new to IJM!
Gratefully–
International Justice Mission


P.S. Feel free to visit www.ijm.org/presscenter for previous Dateline NBC footage along with recent IJM media coverage. For more information surrounding the Svay Pak operation, please read Terrify No More by Gary Haugen.

Passivity Breeds Injustice

In a Hand Full of Stars, Rafik Schami tells his story about growing up in poverty and political oppression in Damascus, Syria. As Rafik is confiding in an old friend about a horrific, unwarranted encounter with the police, his friend says, "Whoever forgives injustice, gets more injustice."

"Could Rafik's diary rouse us all to ask ourselves whether our passivity about the injustices in the world has simply allowed them to multiply faster?"

- Marva Dawn

In Unfettered Hope: A Call to Faithful Living in an Affluent Society, Marva explores the issues of poverty, injustice, and racism among other things - and our responsibility to this crises as followers of Christ. I just concluded the first chapter today and it is incredible.

She implores us to "expand our grief at tragedy to encompass the world" by comparing the stats of September 11. In no way does she belittle the 2,800 lives lost in our country that day, but she does put things into perspective.

The stats for 9/11, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, concerning deaths from starvation and other preventable conditions on that same day:

Victims: 35,615 children
Where: poor countries
Newspaper articles: none
Special TV programs: none
Messages from the president: none
Bills before Congress to deal with crisis: none
Military alert level: unchanged
Minutes of silence: none

And to conclude, a stat that makes my stomach turn. Sorry. I am all about taking care of animals as pets and such, (when the kids are older, we are thinking of having a little Fido running amuck, so I'm not pointing fingers or anything!) but not to the exclusion of human lives. The UN Development Program says that to meet basic health and nutrition needs for the world's poorest people, it would cost $13 billion more a year. Here's the killer. Americans and Europeans spend more than that on pet food yearly. You have got to be kidding me.

Ellen

Enclosed you will find a letter here, written by my friend Kristin's sister, Kassie. Kassie is doing amazing work with the Peace Corps in Togo, Africa. This is her story of a beautiful baby girl named Ellen.

Since Ellen is not an isolated case - in giving her our time - we are giving a generation of children our time. And maybe our time will grow compassion in us. And maybe then, we will fight against these injustices and take Christ's commands to heart.

He asked us to care for the least of these.

Ellen's story, as told by Kassie:

A few months ago, I wrote some of you to tell you about a little girl named Ellen who lives in the compound next to my house. Ellen was abandoned at birth by her mother, and was then brought by her father to Kabou-Sara to live with extended family members. She never was given breast milk, and she was without it for a few months in the very beginning of her life, making it difficult for another woman to start giving her milk (which is usually done) because she probably would have gotten sick.

Ellen is a beautiful two year old little girl, who I knew really needed help of some kind. Her body, being extremely frail—so much so that when she was naked, her skin literally just hung off of her bones. At least two years old, she was unable to walk. (She looks about 10-12 months). I bought enriched flour and decided to start preparing enriched porridge for her. I did this for about a week, until I stopped because I thought it was important for the family to learn how to prepare it and feed it to her. I had said that I would be willing to keep purchasing the flour, if they would prepare it for her and give it to her on a regular basis.

I also called other Peace Corps Volunteers who worked with Nutrition and HIV/AIDS organizations, seeing if there was a possibility of an organization taking Ellen on as a member…perhaps giving her an HIV test (because she had never been taken to the doctor before her), or perhaps providing nutritional supplements or food so that her body could become strong.

On Wednesday, April 9th, I came back home from being in Togo's capitol, Lome. My neighbor, Justine, who had been helping translate information I had to the family in the local language, told me that Ellen had died at 2am that morning.

Her guardian noticed that Ellen had become extremely weak, had taken her to the hospital in Kabou where she was given medicine, but Ellen wasn't able to get the medicine into her body in time. She was just too weak. It was just too late. It was horrible news to hear. When people say, "Oh, well if you can just touch one person's life…it'll all be worth it." --this was that person for me I thought. She was the first little girl in Africa…actually…I can honestly say that it was the first person that I could associate with that saying.

I remember two nights, so vividly, where I just sat down on a little wooden stool, blowing on spoonfuls of porridge, and feeding them to her. Her eyes, and her little hands clutching the goblet of food so tight, like it was some prize that she won and never wanted to give away. The day after I first fed her, Little Ellen scooted (she was never able to walk, so she would just scoot in her little dress, bare-bottomed with no underwear or anything) through the dirt, maybe 50 yards from her home to mine, and just sat on my front step, looking up to me. She NEVER left her house, unless someone picked her up and carried her somewhere. This was the only time I had ever seen her move anywhere…and it was to come sit on my step.

I just knew she wanted something…I just didn't know what I had to give. She wanted a chance at life…that's all. Though she couldn't speak, her eyes screamed at me, saying "WHAT ABOUT ME?!". I will never forget her eyes…how empty they looked. She wasn't even given a chance.

I find it very strange that I wasn't there the day that she died. I'm always in my village it seems. If I would have been at my house that morning, and seen Little Ellen, I don't know what I would have done.

-- Kassie Eberle

Health Care Haves and Have Nots

The kids have been miserable of late - high fevers, chills, coughs, no appetites, and lots of crying. Adden is in the midst of Roseola and Selah just seems to have tons of congestion and an evening fever. Thankfully, Paul and I have dodged stuff thus far. Though it stinks to look in their cloudy, sick looking eyes and though it's not so much fun to have to deal with, I can't help but think how good we've got it.

We've got clean water to drink, affordable health care, 24 hour access to amazing medical professionals, and medicine to relieve their symptoms. If Adden didn't make a complete turnaround in an hour Saturday night, we would've landed in the ER. It would have been inconvenient, we would have had to wait a good while, and we would have been nervous for our little guy, but it would have been posh - clean facilities, 20 minute drive in our little Mazda 5 (or is it 6 or 7? I'm so bad with numbers!), and great doctors and nurses. (The staff at Children's is phenomenal.)

Contrast that with a mom who has a feverish, lethargic little one and no meds or clean water to give him, no one to call, and no access to transportation. My heart breaks for these women who carry their children miles upon miles to the nearest clinic in scorching heat, only to find out it's too late. I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer here, but it happens all the time, every day. This is an injustice.

Paul sent me to a blog a while ago of a short-term medical doctor journalling her time in Haiti. She is now back in the states, but the archives of her days are still available at sleepydoctor.blogspot.com. She tells countless stories of poverty, suffering, terrible medical conditions, and an extreme lack of funding in her facility. Yet she also journals stories of hope, healing, and sacrifice that give promise to the country of Haiti.

If you have the means and even if you don't - please consider supporting medical missions somewhere in this world. Consider personally encouraging doctors that your church may support, going on a medical missions trip yourself, or giving to those who do this stuff everyday. Here is a skinny list of organizations to check out:

Real Hope for Haiti (realhopeforhaiti.org) : a faith based organization that is intentional in its efforts to improve the quality of life for the citizens of rural Haiti, while communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For $10 a month, you can treat 30 people for Malaria. For $20 a month, you can deworm 128 kids. For $40 a month, you can provide a monthly supply of formula for a child. Not too shabby.

Compassion International (www.compassion.com) : for $32 a month you can provide for a child's
education, health care, and nutrition, among other things. You will also allow a child to hear about Jesus, the One who came to bring hope to this world. This organization is the real deal. I reread at least 25 old letters last evening from our sponsored kids. Roberto, the oldest, has been a part of our family for 8 years now. Wow. He'll be graduating from the program soon!

World Vision (www.worldvision.com): a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. World Vision has this cool gift catalog, by the way, that enables you to make a donation in honor of someone. I personally can't think of a better gift! For $41, you can provide basic immunizations for one child. For $50, you can provide safe drinking water for a school. For $39,000, you can build or renovate a health clinic in Africa (okay, well this one is way out of our financial league, but it would be very, very cool!!!!!)

Hoops of Hope (www.hoopsofhope.org): a mission started by a teenage guy that provides care and hope to the 15 million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS by encouraging people of all ages to participate and raise funds through annual free throw shooting marathons. We're praying that one of our teens will head one of these babies up. It would be an absolute blast and would raise money for an awesome cause!

Any other worthy organizations you know of? I'm curious to learn about more. Thanks!

The Best $10

Today is World Malaria Day. Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in the third world, particularly in parts of Africa, where it’s the number one killer of children. And here's the thing. It is completely preventable. A $10 treated net can protect and eliminate the disease for individuals and families who have them; and simple and affordable treatment is available (if made accessible) to those who do contract the disease.

Here are some crazy stats:
- 350-500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide each year
- Malaria causes 20 percent of ALL childhood deaths in sub-Saharan Africa
- 90 percent of malaria deaths occur in Africa - that's nearly 1 million people
- Malaria kills 3,000 children each day

Please give to this campaign. We will. It'll be the best $10 we spend today. Thanks!

The Poverty of Our Affluence

"I asked him whether he thought it better for a child to be brought up in the wealth of America or in the poverty of Uganda."

"Oh Uganda. Uganda. Absolutely," he said with passion.

"In America, your plentifulness drives you away from God. Here, for the poor, for me, I am grateful for every meal. I am dependent upon God and I know it."

I have often asked people this question of missionaries, aid workers, and nationals themselves - and have heard this answer repeatedly. As Americans, we don't know how rich we are, but at the same time we don't know how poor. Our souls have some confronting to do.

Please read this blog entry. The author is a guy who is touring Compassion International sites in Uganda and journalling his thoughts. It will be well worth your time. I beg you to read it. Please. And if you've got the time, read his other entries concerning his Compassion trip also. If they don't stir you to do something, I'm not sure what will.

Maybe consider sponsoring a child from Compassion - as a family, as a small group, as a classroom. It's $32/month. That's a few pennies for some and a sacrifice for others. But if anything is worth a sacrifice, a child is. Your sponsorship provides educational opportunities, health care and supplemental nutrition, opportunities for safe recreation, opportunities to learn about important life skills, and opportunities to hear about Jesus. Compassion is the real deal. We can vouch for it personally. Our letters from our kids are the most endearing we've ever read.

If you don't do this, do something. Please.