True Story: Conny

After a great week raising money and awareness at The Sunflower Effect last week, I’m feeling inspired and excited for this week. Thursday was International Women’s Day – and the launch of The Challenge. I’ve finished my challenge – if you want to get involved and do it yourself, click here for more info!

Today I’ve posted Conny’s story – a good news story 🙂 It’s good to read the good new stories – not just the heart breaking ones – and be encouraged and inspired!

Enjoy xx

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.

Profile: Cotton On Foundation

There are many people and organisations working towards the same goal: improving child and maternal survival and health standards. In these profile posts I’ll try and spread the word on the good works people are doing to change the situation …

True Story: Lidia

Lidia & Celia

Hi all~

I hope today has been a good-en’!

I’ll try and post at least one True Story: each week. It’s so encouraging to hear about women who’s lives have been changed and restored through the love of others. Today’s beautiful lady is Lidia – her story comes to us with much thanks to Compassion. This is her story..

FACT SHEET: Mother & Child Mortality

• Every minute a woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth. That’s over 500,000 deaths every year.

• Annually, one million newborns die within their first 24 hours of life due to lack of quality care.

• In Timor-Leste, a mother has a one in 35 chance of dying in childbirth or from pregnancy complications compared to Australian women who face a one in 13,300 risk.

• 1 500 mothers and 10 000 newborns die every day due to complications that could have been prevented just with the presence of a skilled birth attendant.

Every (1) of these mothers and babies matter.

(http://www.unicef.org.au/Donate/Other-Appeals/Maternal-Health-Appeal.aspx)

The Sunflower Effect: Project Launch

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.

Poverty Halved… ?

I was so encouraged when I read this on the Compassion blog (read the complete article here)… thought you might be too!

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“Official estimates of global poverty are compiled by the World Bank and stretch back 30 years. For most of that period, the trend has been one of slow, gradual reduction. By 2005, the year of the most recent official global poverty estimate, the number of people living under the international poverty line of $1.25 a day stood at 1.37 billion – an improvement of half a billion compared to the early 1980s, but a long way from the dream of a world free of poverty. …

Why I Only Donate To Christian Charities

Yep, when it comes to charities and charitable organisations, I’m discriminatory. This is how I see it; there are way too many people living beneath the poverty line. They lack clean water, food, shelter, safety, necessary medical care, education and on many different levels – freedom. These problems are huge but this is where God comes in – only He is big enough to fix them. He also has a plan.

Praying and Fasting for Social Justice

Yeah I know, fasting isn’t a popular subject. But if you’re a Christian, fasting and praying might be something to consider if you’re passionate about seeing strongholds brought down and people set free. Many people fast for their families or for personal breakthrough. Have you ever thought about fasting and praying against poverty? Human trafficking? War?

It works!

God gives us this promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  (NKJV)

Start the Conversations

Some subjects are difficult to bring up. Human trafficking, poverty, sexual abuse; these are all subjects nobody really wants to talk about. Ironically, it’s these subjects that we must bring up. If we don’t have conversations about human trafficking, how will the shroud of secrecy be lifted? If we don’t discuss the millions of starving people, from where will the funds come to feed them? If we don’t bring up the fact that our children are being exposed to too much sex, too early, who will even notice it happening?

Part of the edict of Every (1) Matters is to help all of us raise awareness about the issues plaguing our people; because every 1 matters.

 There are some great resources flying around the www so I’ve collated a few. These clips are easy to share, tweet, fb or email. Send them to your friends, family and colleagues. Start the conversations.