I wanted to do something awesome for my 32nd birthday, and so I am so excited to be a part of this amazing adventure with my good friend Kristen (whom I have known since we were 4 and 5). Recently she and her husband adopted 2 adorable children from Ethiopia. Because of their undying love for their kids, they have made it their mission to support women in Ethiopia by supporting a hospital in Tercha, Ethiopia. It is the only hospital in the entire region which serves over 550,000 people. Per Kristen’s latest report, her campaign so far has almost funded the entire Maternity Ward!! Praise God! So now we are moving onto phase 2 of the campaign which is raising funds for all of the equipment needed to fill it up! To view a complete list of all the items needed please visit this link; https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Aj9F3DC6us5tdDY3NThTZ3JXekR4NDRfNk5WankyNWc&hl=en
As Americans we have the right to see a highly qualified OB each month, receive weekly emails on the development of the baby, get advice on what we should be eating, what to avoid, and have any concern or question answered within a few hours of having the thought. When we arrive at the hospital to deliver, we are confident that they will have everything they need to safely deliver our babies and care for us as mothers (which is also a great comfort to our husbands!).
In Ethiopia, it is a different story. An Ethiopian woman in labor is most likely to deliver her baby outside her hut with the assistance of her mother-in-law, or maybe a “mid-wife” whether trained or untrained. It is also not uncommon for her to labor alone. Most Ethiopian women live too far away from any medical facility to get help, should there be any complications. If there is a hospital with maternity care, she could walk 3 to 4 hours to get there. WALK. WHILE IN LABOR. Can you imagine?? That hospital may not have access to clean water or consistent power. The medical professionals are scarce and the equipment may not be sufficient for her needs. This Ethiopian woman has a 14 in 1000 chance of dying in childbirth; Her baby has a 116 in 1000 chance of not surviving.
So, in honor of our amazing savior who is healing and touching lives, and as my 32nd birthday wish, I am partnering with Kristen and her family to ask that (if you were going to get me a gift or send me a check for my birthday, please don’t! …and support this amazing ministry to get equipment into this new Maternity ward so we can continue to bless expectant mothers in Ethiopia, and put those statistics to shame! If you do accidentally send me a check, that money will go straight into this fund.
Thank you so much! And May God bless you for your giving.
Kendra
**We are teaming up with a great organization, "A Glimmer of Hope". Over the last 10 years they have helped improve the lives of over 2.5 million people by providing clean water, health care and schools. They have an amazing 100% promise that ensures that every single dollar you give will reach the people in Ethiopia. A separate endowment was created that covers ALL overhead operating expenses, and even reimburses the credit card fee so you can be blessed knowing that every dollar you give will make a difference!
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