Mom to Mom

I was trying to think about one story I could tell you to really affect you. One thing I want you to know about Compassion and El Salvador and about my trip. One thing I wanted to leave you with.

And I couldn’t come up with just ONE story because I have seen so much this week. But I can tell you what I think the one thing that has struck me the most. And I can tell you that two years ago – I could have come on this trip and felt completely different.

This trip I saw everything through a mother’s eyes. I know probably 65% of you are mothers and probably another 35% of you hope to be a mother one day. (and maybe 3% of you are men? Ha!) Being a mom has just totally changed my heart. And this week I have thought SO much about the mothers here.

I planned for years for Harper to come. I bought dresses ahead of time with her monogram. I carefully planned her nursery so she would have a wonderful bed to sleep in. I spend all of my time trying to keep her safe and happy. I wipe everything down constantly to keep germs off of her. My every thought these days are about her and how to help her in life.

Now imagine the moms in El Salvador (or other third world countries). Imagine not having a warm bed to put your baby in. Imagine having to put all your children in a dirty bed on a dirt floor. Imagine not being able to give your baby a warm clean bath every night. Imagine letting your children play outside knowing that gangs kill people right outside your house all the time.

Imagine living down a very long, steep ravine that crosses over a sewage creek and having to make that walk several times a day when you are eight months pregnant or carrying a newborn.

Imagine working all day long so hard to earn $2 and having to lock your baby in your house with no food or protection. Imagine wondering that day if you would even have food to give your child that night.

Imagine having no other “mom” friends to have play group with or to hang out with. Imagine no “girls night out” while your husbands keep the kids.

Imagine having to dress your kids in the same dirty outfits day after day. Imagine storing those clothes in an old unworking refrigerator or a clothes line outside.

Imagine having a little girl that would grow up and worrying she would be raped or become a teenager mom (which is so common). Imagine being that teen mom with no family to support you and no idea how to be a mom.

Imagine living in a small house that was completely wiped out by a mud slide after a hurricane and having two children including a 2 week old baby and having no where to live and no food or water.

These are all things I've witnessed this week.

And now imagine your own family and just how blessed you are. Think of those moms and how you could help them and their children.

I know I want to give Harper the WORLD. And literally I want to give her the world by teaching her about how people live in other countries and how blessed we are. I want her to know it is SO much better to give than to receive. I want her to know that to whom much is given – much is required. I want her to know she CAN change the world – one child at a time.

Sponsor a child – www.compassion.com. You won’t regret it.

I know we are SO thankful that we do - and we will sponsor more!!!

I wish you could have seen how hard Daniela's mom cried this morning as we prayed with her and told her we would be supporting Daniela until she graduates and we would pray for them every day. I imagine the relief she must feel to know that someone across the world is going to help her and give Daniela the best chance at a good life. I feel honored and humbled that we can do that!

P.S. To see video of us meeting Daniela this morning - go HERE!

P.P.S. I totally played Soccer today, spoke quite a bit of Spanish, watched chickens being killed, feathered, and gutted and used the bathroom outside - I am so far outside my comfort zone that you have NO idea. And it's a week I will NEVER forget!!!

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