Skip the Movie... Save a Life Instead

$10.00

A book. 3 mornings of coffee. A movie ticket. Lunch. A new hat.

OR

Malaria medication. A child’s life.

So go to the library. Give up 3 mornings of coffee. Skip the movie. Pack your lunch. And just wear your old hat.

And give a child another chance at another day. For $10.00 you can literally save a child’s life by providing malaria treatment.

Read the story behind this project and please consider saving a life today.

I watched a little girl die today. She died from the same disease I was treated for, in the same hospital I received medicine and made a full recovery in. She died because her Grandmother did not have money to have her admitted and treated for the Malaria. She was turned away from a hospital that could have saved her life because her family didn’t have the equivalent of 10USD. I jumped out of the car. I rushed into the hospital, as the Grandmother held the little girl close to her chest, wrapped in a blanket. My friend translated and let the Grandmother know that I would pay for ANY necessary medical costs. We entered into the crowded waiting room, making our way to the front desk. The Grandmother entered into an intake room with the little girl, and I informed the receptionist that I would pay any medical bills necessary to help treat this little girl. As I walked back and forth in between the desk and the room where the little girl lay covered on her Grandmother’s shoulder, I saw her two little brown eyes begin to fade. I assured myself that she would be okay. She was going to be admitted and begin treatment so soon. A few moments later, I hear the words, “The child has died, there is nothing more we can do”. I pleaded with the doctors, “Please there has to be something you can do. Try to help her, please”. I see the Grandmother stand up still holding her Granddaughter’s lifeless body tightly against her chest. The blank look on her face as she looked at me. I had no words. All I could get out was a quiet, “I’m so sorry”.

After today, we are in the process of setting up an account that will be used for the sole purpose of situations like these. We will meet with the staff of the local hospital where this little girl died today. We will explain the brokenness we feel for families and children who find themselves at this place. We will leave them with our cell phone numbers. The second a child comes in who so desperately needs immediate medical intervention, they can begin treatment and call us to come and pay the medical bill for those who do not have the money to do so.

The World Health Organization says that Malaria kills a child in Sub-Saharan Africa every 45 seconds. Today that is no longer a statistic. It is a little girl with a Grandmother who so desperately wanted to get treatment for her but didn’t have the money to do so.

-Kelsey Nielsen

To donate visit www.amazima.org and donate through paypal. Please make sure you designate MALARIA TREATMENT PROGRAM in the purpose section.

THANK YOU!!!!

Is Love Enough?

He steals food at night when you sleep, hiding it under his bed. At school he bites and kicks and pinches the other kids when they get near him. The school is close to kicking him out. At home he throws fits where he hurts those around him with his words and the objects he throws.

He tells you he wants his REAL mom back. He says he hates you and pushes you away.

You take him to countless therapists. You read all the books on adoption, attachment, and “difficult” children. You change his diet. You put him on medication. You pour out love until you wonder if it’s going to run out.

And you love and you love and you love… and then one day you realize it isn’t enough. It never will be.

This would be the end of the story. Except that Jesus died on a cross so that we could declare these children are NOT beyond saving. Jesus triumphed over death and he triumphed over the pain and hurt that traps these kids. He is the ultimate healer and because of his victory we can now run and take hold of it.

My love is not enough. Your love is not enough. They never will be.

BUT our Savior’s love is enough… enough today and every day.

Pain and hurt form a brick wall around these kids and try as hard you can you can’t get through. I was once naïve enough to believe my love could break it down. I was once naïve enough to believe all a hurt orphan needed was a loving home and eventually the healing would come.

I have had the privilege and painful experience of seeing these naïve ideas crushed to pieces. I have a very honest idea of what challenges could await me as an adoptive parent. Today I’m worried I’ll fail. I’m worried I’m not as strong as the parents I know who struggle through this.

But I CANNOT say no to this calling because all around the world there are children rocking back and forth in orphanages, flinching away from touch. If I say no out of my fear- if you say no out of your fear, they will remain there.

My love WON’T be enough… but I can bring my children to Jesus and I know his will be.

Some Days...

I dreamed about my babies last night. I dreamed about holding these twin boys I fell in love with, hearing them talk, and meeting their adoptive parents.

I woke up to new pictures of Esther. She is walking, or about to. I forgot about her Birthday. It was on Monday. I had two tests that day and spent the entire day in a state of constant stress... maybe I subconsciously knew?

I got an e-mail from Kelsey about watching a baby die from malaria because her grandmother couldn't afford treatment.

Some days it is really hard to follow God's calling. Some days I want to just

drop it all and run the other way... run back to Africa. Some days I just don't understand. Some days it just hurts too much.

But I won't. I will stay here because I know this is where God wants me. It is not about me, where I want to be or who I want to be with. It's not even about Esther or the babies dying of malaria or the twins... it's about Jesus and where he wants to direct my steps.

"Thou the vision tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

Habakkuk 2:3