it's live!

the day that judah died, one of my oldest and dearest friends called to chat.  the second i answered the phone, she knew something was seriously wrong.  i don't even remember what all we said that day other than this:  we agreed that nothing happens outside of the LORD's sovereign hand and that he could and would use even the death of a very sick, very defenseless six-week-old to bring about great good.

what was that good going to be??  oh, so much more than i could have imagined!!

we've gotten emails, calls, and notes from people we live life with everyday, people we're just getting to know, and others we've never even met before letting us know that because of judah's story, the reality of issues like poverty and orphan care have become real and tangible for the very first time in their lives.  more than just a story you read or a quick blurp you see on the television, judah's life and death are having deep impact and are driving people to seek the LORD, to know the LORD, and to take action.  GOD has been so gracious to our family in letting us take part in this process and to see the fruits begin to flourish from what seemed to be a hopeless situation.

yes, the good news is in, my friends -- compassion international has the addis ababa, ethiopia CSP up and running online now, and we all have the blessing and the opportunity to have a direct impact on the lives of mothers and babies who live in the very place where our son died.

judah was so underweight and small when he was born.  the child survival program teaches mothers proper prenatal care to enable them to deliver healthy babies.

within a couple of weeks of his birth, it was clear that judah wasn't growing or gaining weight well.   the child survival program teaches families about good nutrition and helps get them to a place of healthier living through the provision of vitamins and nutrients in conjunction with eating well and eating enough.

at five weeks old, judah began fighting for his life due to relatively simple conditions and illnesses (by U.S. standards) such as diarrhea and pneumonia.  the child survival program provides regular home visits, checkups, vaccinations, education, and access to further needed medical care. 

these are just a few of the gifts that the addis child survival program is able to give, through our donations, to mothers and babies in that area.  in addition (and certainly vital), mothers in the CSP learn and grow spiritually through bible studies and prayer meetings, and many of them attend literacy classes as well as learn vocational and income-generating skills.

and the sponsorship program is only $20 per month!!!!  (one time gifts are welcome as well)

please consider joining with our family to give with awareness and love for these tiny ones a continent away.  our family is living proof that there is a dire need and a real face behind the terrible sting of poverty.

click HERE to learn more and to give.  THANK YOU and make sure you tweet this, like this, post this, and pass it along!!!!

(and come back tomorrow to see how izzy's been doing her part to keep things, um, interesting around here.)