Sunday, November 29, 2009

Christmas Giving


Last year I explained how many of the gifts we give are donations.
Many years we search out non-profit organizations to donate our Christmas dollars to but this year we didn't have to search far.
My dear friend Lis', and her family, have been donating their time and money to help children who are a part of Compassion International.
This year has seen a different focus for Lisa's family. Not only do they continue to support each and everyone of their Compassion "children" but they also have begun to work with Compassion to help others see the needs of the poor around the world.

So, I have decided that Compassion is the organization that we are going to give our Christmas dollars to this year. And, we are going to be even more specific than that. We are going to be helping save lives in Africa.

Many of you know that three years ago we brought home two Liberians to be adopted into our family. Some might remember that our Brown Sugar almost died before we were able to bring her home. It was April of 2006 (two months before we brought them to the U.S.) when I got a phone call from one of the Acres of Hope workers. She informed us that Brown Sugar was very ill with malaria. She was being put into a foster care situation and that we should be aware that she might not make it. She did make it but most children don't. The statistics are astounding:

- 350-500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide each year.
- Malaria causes 20 percent of ALL childhood deaths in sub-Saharan Africa.
- 90 percent of malaria deaths occur in Africa—nearly 1 million people.
- Malaria kills 3,000 children each day.

Every thirty seconds a child dies of this dreaded disease and yet the amazing thing is malaria is preventable.
Compassion is working on many different fronts to combat this problem.
They are planting trees that naturally repel mosquitos.
They are providing mosquito nets as well.

I am so thankful that Brown Sugar lived in an orphanage that saw the signs of malaria early enough to get her help. So many African children are not so blessed.
The thing is...it takes very little money to provide nets, medicine, and education.
$10.
That's it...just $10 can prevent a household from suffering the effects of malaria.

So, the Davis family challenges you to spend your Christmas money wisely. Give life to someone on the other side of the globe in exchange for a gift that will likely be piled up with the rest of the gifts the day after.
Oh, and by the way...during the time that it took you to read this blog post five children have died due to a preventable disease called....Malaria.

Please watch the video that I have posted above this blog post and for more info click on
the Bite Back logo above.

~Heather



2 comments:

Smidge said...

Thanks for spreading the word, friend!

Cara said...

I recently stumbled across your blog and have spent the last couple of days reading over the last couple years of posts. It's like reading your biography. I am honored to have read some of your story. I have been married for just four years now with two children. When you described your late husband, I thought "wow...that's my Chris!" I have spent my life being selfish, prideful and lazy. A few years ago, I asked God to reclaim my life and I laid it at His feet. After reading your posts, my husband came over and asked if I was ready for bed. I stood up and ran to him in tears. He was, of course, quite bewildered, but held me and listened while I professed my love for him and my gratitude for the husband that he is. Thank you for your candid honesty and perseverance. I would imagine that you'll never know just how many lives God has used you to touch.