"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:18 Our good friends, Kristen and Jeff, adopted two remarkable children from Ethiopia. As our families have become closer, we have joined them in their calling to give back to the people that have given them so much through their children. Last year Julian and I contributed to 7 wells, a medical center and school house but so much more is needed! As a woman and mother, I have been extremely impacted by the difficulties the women of Ethiopia face on a daily basis. I am especially moved by the challenges these women face while being pregnant. What would it be like to go into labor and be a 3 - 4 hour walk from the nearest hospital? What would it be like to arrive at the hospital and not have access to clean water, life saving equipment if a complication occurs, and only a few health care professionals? Complications during delivery are a leading cause of death for women giving birth in developing countries, like Ethiopia. In remote areas, women sometimes languish in labor for days. This is the every day reality for these women. Imagine for a moment what it might be like to give birth here... We have an amazing opportunity to drastically change this torment for the women in Tercha, Ethiopia. Tercha is home to the only hospital in the entire region which serves over 550,000 people in the Dawro Zone located in southern Ethiopia. Jeff recently returned from a trip to Ethiopia and was able to see with his own eyes the courageous people and their overwhelming need. They desperately need a maternity ward for the women in the region. They currently do not have a facility for women giving birth or the resources should any complications occur and what is most horrifying is that the hospital does not have access to a constant source of clean water and electricity. Since mothers are capable of just about anything, :) I propose that we come together to make a change! The overall cost for the building portion of a maternity ward, equipment and clean water to Tercha hospital is $78,000. We have been blessed with a donor who has agreed to match dollar-for-dollar up to half of this amount-meaning we can make it happen by raising $39,000! My goal is $5,000 of that amount. The money raised through this campaign will have a drastic impact on the lives of these women and their children. I invite you to join me in actively loving these beautiful women of Ethiopia. There are several things you can do: 1. Help me spread the word! Please pass this link and information to every mother you know! 2. Donate directly to the fund and be blessed by the donation progress as we get closer and closer to our total goal of $39,000. 3. Plan an event to raise funds for this project (jewelry, candles, bake-sell). THANK YOU for being the amazing mothers that you are and giving your love to other mothers and children! Love You All! -Jasmine Please view the video of Jeff's visit at the bottom of this page.
