A Bundle of Joy

Should the Australian government be giving more money to charity? Are we giving enough already? Or can we even afford it?

I don’t know the answers to these questions – in an ideal world though, I think we should definitely be giving more – but then again, if it was an ideal world, there’d be no poverty!

World Vision Australia’s Bundle of Joy campaign is all about getting Australians together for one cause: asking the Government to give more to impoverished mothers and their babies in the next budget (due in May).

The global community has made significant progress in reducing child deaths over the past decade or so. In 1990, 12.4 million child deaths were recorded globally. By 2010, this figure had reduced to 7.6 million.

While this shows we are making great progress, we still have far to go. The death rates of newborn babies in developing countries is still unacceptably high, with infant mortality of newborns during their first 28 days making up 40 percent of global child deaths.

(- World Vision Australia)

When Frustration Gets the Better of Me

I wrote this post about a month ago, when I was working my little toosh off, getting everything ready to launch The Sunflower Effect (if you don’t know what The Sunflower Effect is, click here for info). I thought you might like to read it.

Be encouraged

***

Frustration has been dogging me all day. I tried everything I could think of to get rid of the gnawing feeling in my gut. I did some housework, wrote a list, watched some Gilmore Girls but none of it worked (that’s how bad I was feeling – even Gilmore Girls didn’t work!!)

So finally I sat down and had a chat with God.. which should really be the first thing I do but it usually isn’t (note to self: change this habit!)

I told God how frustrated I was, about the fact that I really  want to make a difference in this world but that it just all seems too hard. I told him that I felt like I had hit a wall. How on earth could I do anything which would change the lives of those dying from normal, everyday things like being pregnant and having a baby?

In His usual, gentle way, He showed me the bigger picture. Speaking with His quiet voice, he showed me that I have a compassionate heart because He gave me one. He revealed that I’m excited about this project because He put that excitement in my heart. He made me realise that I have a passion to help and change lives – because that’s what He wants me to do.

Be encouraged – all of you who are passionate about helping, building, changing the world.. God has given you that heart of gold, compassion, love.. He sees your tears, your frustration, your moments of hopelessness. He has a plan, and you’re a part of it. I know you are – otherwise you wouldn’t care.

(Mike and Danae Yankoski – Zealous Love)

ACTION STEPS:

1. Take a moment to reflect on all the amazing things, people, opportunities you’ve enjoyed today.

 

2. Grab a copy of  Mike and Danae Yankoski’s book, Zealous Love. It’s compact format is informative with easy to read facts and powerful first hand accounts.

 

3. Jot down some of your thoughts about the topic of child and maternal mortality. Include some quick facts and maybe a true story. If you’re a blogger, post it for all your readers to read. If not, email it to your friends and family. If you like, include a link to the Every Mum Matters project – perhaps they’d like to be a part of it too

Please don’t forget to let me know if you post about the project, I’d love to read it and support your blog!

See you on the morrow

Joni x

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About The Sunflower Effect

There are many things I take for granted. The fact that I have food to feed my children – I take that for granted. When I am pregnant, I assume there will be quality health care available to me and my baby. If my children are sick, I know I can pop out to the doctor or chemist for advice and medicine. Without realizing it, our family is kept alive and well by the infrastructure of our country.

The thought that my children would miss out on food for hours, days, even weeks.. until their tiny bodies can no longer function – that’s a thought I’ve never had to ponder, let alone fear. Unfortunately, a large portion of the mothers in our world do have to think through this scenario, fear it and all too often – experience it.

I’m a busy mum. My husband has a business and we have three young children. Like everyone, life is full. But I can’t shake that small still voice inside me which whispers, “No mother should have to watch their child die from hunger..” When I’m going about my day, loving my kids, feeling frustrated by my kids, dropping into bed exhausted by the end of the day – every now and then the thought enters my mind, “Why do some mums miss out on the opportunity to care for their kids like I do?”

The reality is, right now in the western world, as we raise our children and establish our lives, the large majority of us mums are unable to actually go overseas and help – in a hands on way. We can give though, and if we give together, we can make a real difference. It actually doesn’t cost as much as you’d think. Organisations like Mercy House Kenya do amazing things on a tiny budget. They have perfected the art of doing a lot of good, for a small amount of money. The money we give allows the people at The Mercy House Kenya to do what they do best – give life, hope and a future to mothers who are otherwise without all these.

Here’s my idea:

I want to raise money to support The Mercy House. I don’t want to (and can’t!) do it alone. I want to do it with you – the readers – if you’re keen and agree with me; that other mums deserve just as much opportunity as we do.

These precious ladies have just moved into The Mercy House Kenya (left to right, Violet, Elizabeth and Lucy)

No matter how small (or big!).. every donation will allow Mercy House Kenya to help women and their babies. If we all give the bit we can afford, together we can make a large donation to help the people at Mercy House Kenya do what we can’t do right now. The Sunflower Effect is signed up at Razoo (kinda like the EverydayHero site). You can donate at Razoo by clicking here and the money will go directly to Mercy House!

What is Mercy House Kenya?

Mercy House Kenya was started by Kristen Welch from We Are That Family (blog) last year as a safe haven for women who are pregnant and in danger. Annually, 21,000 women are hospitalized from having an illegal, unsafe abortion in Kenya (Center for Reproductive Rights). With rape being incredibly common and 1500 women dying in childbirth everyday in Africa (WHO), Kristen and her family decided to do what they knew God wanted them to do and opened a home in Kenya. The home is run by Maureen, a Compassion International Leadership Graduate and provides medical care, counselling, safety, bible teaching, education, opportunities for future self-employment and more.

What can you do?

There are three things you can do right now which would really help kick start the project.

1. Tell your friends. Every (1) Matters is on facebook (Joni’s Jottings) and twitter (@jonisjottings). If you like what you have read, please share this post wherever you can. Feel free to use information on this blog to inform others. You could also email your friends and family about The Sunflower Effect!

2. Pray. I really believe that God is supporting this little project and that He will be right behind us as we raise these funds and talk about these issues. If you feel that way inclined, I’d love to have your support in prayer. Things always work better when God is on board

3. Donate. I know, everyone is after your money. If you don’t want to donate, that’s cool. If you do, thanks! Any amount, even $10 is wonderful! If we all gave at $10 we’d be there in no time.

I’m really excited about doing this – I hope you are too Let’s do this thing together.

*The Sunflower Effect supports the work of The Mercy House Kenya and Kristen Welch (wearethatfamily.com)

3 Ways to Support New Mums (without spending a dime!)

In Kenya, life is tough for women – especially pregnant women who have no support. Many turn to back yard abortion and tragically, a lot of women die from abortion complications. These women – pregnant and without support – need a safe-haven.

The Sunflower Effect exists to help these women and their babies by raising money for Mercy House in Kenya.  Mercy House is taking in pregnant women, caring for them throughout pregnancy, labour and after.. as long as they’re needed!

It’s definitely a worthy cause – saving lives and all – but we can’t all necessarily afford to support them single-handedly.

If we are all going to put our money together – whatever small offering we can each bring – it adds up so quickly! So why not just give it a try. How about choosing one thing – one idea – to raise some money for Mercy House.. and then sit back and watch what can happen.

CNN Story Helps Inspire Mercy House Founding

In 2010, after returning from a trip to Kenya with Compassion, blogger Kristen Welch read a story which broke her heart. It was one of many signs pointing Kristen and her family towards starting Mercy House Kenya.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

Beatrice was 14 when she died after an illegal abortion last year, and left a hole in her mother’s heart.

Her mother, Nancy Wanjiku, said that after the girl’s father died from AIDS, Beatrice secretly became a child prostitute to help feed the family.

Too afraid to tell her mother when she became pregnant, Beatrice didn’t ask for help or go to a hospital — she went to a backstreet abortionist.

Nancy shows CNN writer a photo of her daughter Beatrice.

Nancy Wanjiku said: “After having the abortion she contracted an infection in her private parts and she got wounds. She stayed without telling me her condition. Three days before she died is when she told me how she’s feeling. I looked at her and saw that she had wounds. I cleaned the wounds. I didn’t have the money to take her to hospital, so I was washing her with Dettol.”

She added: “Many children have died leaving parents behind and even many parents have died and left their children orphaned because of abortion.”

Social worker Emmaculate Musya said Beatrice’s story is common in Kenya, and the U.S. group’s study backs her up.

Musya said fetuses are dumped in the sprawling Kibera slum. She said that every week they find aborted fetuses in one garbage-filled stream. They wash away or get eaten by pigs, she said.

The report says that Kenya’s current confusing abortion law forces women to the backstreets.

So in Kibera, where shacks are packed together on a warren of garbage strewn streets, they search out abortionists.

Now church groups in Kenya are pushing for the new constitution, coming up for a parliamentary vote soon, to make almost all abortions illegal. The church groups want to define ‘life as starting at conception,’ and heavily restrict abortion except for cases where a mother’s life is in immediate danger.

The National Council of Churches in Kenya says society should provide safety nets, not abortion services.

Read the full article by CNN here.

I totally agree with The National Council of Churches – safety nets are so much better than abortion services – and in a way, that’s what Mercy House is – a safety net! Many of the women now living in Mercy House and raising their children, may have been faced with the choice whether or not to abort, had they not been taken into the safe haven of the House. And their babies are just beautiful. I’ve added their photos to the side margin .

That’s why I’m so excited to be supporting Mercy House – they’re doing amazing things! Saving and transforming lives.

Let’s not turn a blind eye to the difficulties faced daily by our sisters. Yes we’ve never met them and perhaps never will but we’re all joined by shared experiences, dreams, hopes and sensitivities. We are all the same, just living in different countries – in many ways, we are the lucky ones.

Please support the work of Mercy House Kenya by joining with me to raise funds through The Sunflower Effect. Click here to read more about blog project, The Sunflower Effect, or here to donate securely (all donations over $10 are tax deductible).

A little off the subject, I’ve started compiling a fun list of ways to raise money without spending any/much.. I’d love to hear your ideas!

Thanks for reading – have a lovely day.

Joni x

*The Sunflower Effect supports the work of The Mercy House Kenya and Kristen Welch (wearethatfamily.com)

The Story of Hadija and Moses

“My twins were born alive; I held them in my arms and it was beautiful. I tried desperately to feed them, but my body was too weak to produce the breast milk they needed. I did everything I could to source nourishment for my babies; I fed them water every day. And yet sat by helplessly as I watched my precious children die one after the other.”

These are the words which broke my heart. The words which started The Sunflower Effect. The words of a heartbroken mother. One who lost six babies – babies who should all be alive today, but aren’t. Simply because there was no help.

This beautiful mother – Hadija is her name – recently gave birth to a healthy baby boy. She named him Moses. Moses is healthy and alive. Why? Because there was help. The Compassion Child Survival Program stepped in and saved Moses and changed Hadija’s life forever.

The question is, will you allow your eyes to well over and cry for Hadija’s lost babies? Will you feel compassion and wonder, what if that was me? After all, the only difference between Hadija and us, is that we were born in a different country. A country which values women and provides health care and support. That’s the ONLY difference.

While we’re blessed here in Australia, we’re not all able to make large donations. Most of us can make small ones though – I’m talking $10, $15 even. And if we all give our small donation, more women like Hadija will get to care for and raise their precious children.

People like those working at The Mercy House Kenya – a home for pregnant women where they are nurtured, cared for, educated and shown the love of God right through pregnancy, childbirth and way beyond. Most of us can’t go to Kenya and save lives, rescue mums, provide care. But we can enable those who can.

Will you put your small amount out there? And watch what it does?

***

About The Sunflower Effect:

How does it work?

Donations. No matter how small (or big!).. every donation will allow Mercy House Kenya to help women and their babies. If we all give the bit we can afford, together we can make a large donation to help the people at Mercy House Kenya do what we can’t do right now. The Sunflower Effect is signed up at Razoo (kinda like the EverydayHero site). You can donate at Razoo by clicking here and the money will go directly to Mercy House.

How do I donate?

1. Go to www.razoo.com
2. Search “The Sunflower Effect”
3. Click the “Donate” button

What is The Mercy House Kenya?

Mercy House Kenya was started by Kristen Welch from We Are That Family (blog) last year as a safe haven for women who are pregnant and in danger. Annually, 21,000 women are hospitalized from having an illegal, unsafe abortion in Kenya (Center for Reproductive Rights). With rape being incredibly common and 1500 women dying in childbirth everyday in Africa (WHO), Kristen and her family decided to do what they knew God wanted them to do and opened a home in Kenya. The home is run by Maureen, a Compassion International Leadership Graduate and provides medical care, counselling, safety, bible teaching, education, opportunities for future self-employment and more.

*The Sunflower Effect supports the work of The Mercy House Kenya and Kristen Welch (wearethatfamily.com)

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Dear Sunflower Effect:

I’m sorry for neglecting you this week! I still love you and see massive potential in you – promise!

Things are crazy busy at home so I haven’t had even a scerick of time to invest in you.. but I will soon.

Love, Me xx

This Is What It’s All About

I was so happy to read an inspiring blog update from Mercy House Kenya.. Beautiful Sarah and her little boy Myles.. This is what it’s all about.

Truly a happy story to brighten your day

Here’s Mercy House Kenya’s facebook update:

one pregnant girl rescued from a terrible situation + one miraculous c-section to save her baby’s life + 9 days in a private hospital with epic care =priceless. Reality: nearly $2900. Thank you God for providing. P.S. Everyday a different hospital staff member visited Sarah and brought her little gifts! And the OBGYN’s college daughter is serving at our home 3 days a week! We are so thankful for their love and care.

Sarah and Myles home from hospital!

That $2900 medical bill? That’s where our money is going. That’s what The Sunflower Effect is supporting.

Read the full story here.

Happy weekend everyone!

Xx

To find out about Mercy House Kenya and how this blog is supporting them through The Sunflower Effect, click here.

To donate to Mercy House Kenya, click here. All donations are tax deductible and go towards helping people like Sarah and Myles.

*The Sunflower Effect supports the work of The Mercy House Kenya and Kristen Welch (wearethatfamily.com)

In The Mood To Shop

I’m in the mood for fashion today …

I NEED those lime leg warmers!!

… and there’s some pretty cool stuff out there – funky and ethical

Check out these tees from Sevenly (below)

Purchasing one provides a child in Darfur with 35 nutritional meals

Sevenly Tee - $22

This gorgeous necklace was made by one of the women living at Mercy House Kenya

25% of proceeds goes towards setting up her very own business to help her provide for herself and her children

This line was designed by Marianne Angeli Rodriguez of STAY by MAR to raise funds for Care for Kenya – a women’s empowerment providing sustainable income generation options for Kenyan women

All products sold at Nine50 help sustain families in Peru

Check out this stunner!

.. and if I could be wearing anything at all, whatever I want today… it would be this…

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/browse.sets?.mid=embed-gridv-3352379&_out=embed&display=gridv&displayOptions=%7B%22withBy%22%3A0%7D&size=m&sort=-pop&src_action=browse.sets&uid=3352379

xx

*The Sunflower Effect supports the work of The Mercy House Kenya and Kristen Welch (wearethatfamily.com)

Tally Update & Doin’ It Tired (& delirious!)

So The Sunflower Effect is into it’s second week and I’m exhausted *yawn*.

What was I thinking when I decided to commit to a new blog project (as cool as it might be!) and daily blog posts?

Add three kids, a business to help manage (a job which is definitely more fulltime than not) and I find that my days end when I fall onto the couch after nine, so tired I can’t think straight! Then I decided to add a new blogging project. I must be crazy!

Well, truthfully, I love it. I love being busy raising my amazing kids, I love supporting my husband in the business, I love writing, blogging, social networking … and I love that at the end of the day, I can still help the women in Kenya with real problems (not like my soppy first world problems – I’m sooo tired! Gah.)

Mercy Store

Good morning friends..

One aspect of The Mercy House that I really love is the fact that the women are taught different skills, including jewellery making, to give them options for income after the graduate from Mercy House.

What’s even cooler is that the items they make are sold online, in the Mercy Store with 25% of the proceeds being deposited into the personal bank account of the lovely lady who made it, to be used after graduation to help establish them in a business of their own! How cool is that?!