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Welcome to my blog. This blog seeks to demonstrate compassion by highlighting people and organizations impacted by compassion. Inconvenient Love also seeks to demonstrate compassion by giving a voice to the voiceless. Please let me know if you have any stories you would like to share. Thanks for stopping by.
A ray of hope for women in Taiwan
Fourteen years ago, three missionaries were praying for Taiwan, that God would respond to the need of the many young pregnant women they were ministering to. In response, these three women decided to start an organization called Ray of Hope.
Taiwan has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in Asia. Taiwan has the highest abortion rate in Asia and the lowest birthrate in the world. One out of two pregnancies end in abortion. Sex-selective abortions are not legal but still happen because boys are preferred.
Recently, Ray of Hope’s director, Juanita Hebard spoke to SPU students about the work of Ray of Hope.
Many times in Taiwan, parents force their daughters to have abortions, Hebard said. Ray of Hope provides a home for those pregnant women who have no where to go of they want to keep their child. The maternity home or mama’s home as Hebard called it has two live-in counselors and is furnished almost entirely of items donated by local businesses. Eight pregnant mothers are able to live in the home which opened in October.
The clinic run by Ray of Hope is the only clinic in the city of Tainan that does not perform abortions. According to Hebard, doctors in Taiwan do not talk about adoption because it is considered a double death– death to self in being pregnant and death in giving up the child.
Ray of Hope gives these women another option. Their crisis pregnancy center offers counseling, a 24 hour help line, fetal and abortion education, pre and postnatal follow up, parenting classes, post abortion and sexual abuse recovery and adoption referrals.
Six hours away from Ray of Hope’s center in Tainan is the orphanage where 500 babies have been adopted. Of the 25 babies currently at the orphanage, 18 of them are are from Ray of Hope. The children adopted from this orphanage are only adopted to couples who are not able to have children of their own.
Ray of Hope does not stop with care of pregnant women and adoption. they also run a thrift store in order to train and give mothers opportunities.
Ray of Hope wants to change the culture that creates the need they are meeting. The Worth Waiting for program presents in schools, churches and other organizations. This program teaches students the importance of sexual purity and the sanctity of life. They bring fetal baby models to show children what they looked like before they were born. The curriculum also teaches the importance of boundaries in dating and protecting the heart.
Hebard said that one of the goals of their organization is to break the shame in Taiwan. She also wants people to see that the doctors are lying, “It’s not [just] tissue, it’s a life!”
Gendercide is Violence Against Women
An article published in the recent issue of Yes! Magazine presented the shocking statistic that one out of three women worldwide experience physical abuse.
This article focuses on Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues, and how she is using her story and the story of others to speak out in opposition to violence against women.
One group of women who are largely ignored by American feminists are the unborn– who are discriminated against before they are born, many times because they are females.
Recently, Rep. Chris Smith led congress in an attempt to pass a law that would outlaw gender based abortions in the U.S. The Prenatal Nondiscrimination act was opposed by President Barack Obama and was not passed by the House.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-real-war-on-women/2012/05/31/gJQAV9cQ5U_story.html
Where are people like Eve Ensler when it comes to fighting for the women in China who are forced to have abortions?
Reggie Littlejohn of Women’s Rights Without Frontiers and Chai Ling of All Girls Allowed are two examples of women standing up for these women in China.
Where are the Enslers taking notice of the fact that 200 million females are missing from countries like China and India because of those countries’ preference for boys?
In these countries girls are often aborted, killed at birth, or abandoned shortly after birth.
In China this preference has led to sex selective abortions, infanticide and a lack of women for men to marry which has led to trafficking of young girls.
The recent documentary, “It’s a Girl” documents the deadly power of those three words by highlighting female infanticide, dowry death, female feticide/ sex selective abortion, China’s one child policy, forced abortion and forced sterilization, child trafficking, and abandonment.
Estudiantes Para Vida Ayudan Mujeres/ Students for Life Helps Women
Estudiantes para Vida Ayudan Mujeres
En mi universidad, Seattle Pacific, yo fundé una organización se llama “Estudiantes Para Vida”.
Yo fundé esta organización para ayudar a mujeres embarazadas en mi universidad.
Esta organización existe en muchas universidades en los estados unidos.
Esta organización enseña a estudiantes ayudar a mujeres en esta situación. Ellas necesitan alguien escuchar a sus cuentos. Ellas necesitan saber que personas cuida y quieren ayudar.
En mi universidad muchas mujeres piensan que necesitan eligir escuela o vida para su bebe. Mujeres puede eligen vida para sus bebes y asisten universidad. Ellas necesitan ayuda, sostiene, y recursos. La organización, “Estudiantes para Vida, existe para ayuda estas mujeres y da esperanza. Estudiantes para Vida también existe para fomentar otros estudiantes respetar vida para todas personas.
Para mi, es importante vivir tu creencias. Yo creo que es muy importante proteger las inocentes y los bebes.
Mi participación con esta organización me dio la oportunidad viajar a Washington D.C. en enero.
Students for Life Helps Women
During my junior year at Seattle Pacific University, I started a student organization called SPU Students for Life. I wanted to start an organization to help pregnant women at my university as well as unite with other pro-life students to educate others about pro-life issues.
Students for Life is an organization that exists at more than 670 campuses across the United States.
Through sidewalk counseling training, SPU Students for Life, teaches students how to help women who are pregnant. These women need somebody to listen to their story. These women need to know that somebody cares and wants to help.
At many universities, women think that they need to choose between school or life for their child. Women can choose life for their child and continue their education. In order to continue their education, these women need help, support and resources. Students for Life of America’s Pregnant on Campus Initiative helps student groups provide pregnant women with resources.
Students for Life exists not only to help pregnant women but to encourage students to respect life for all people.
In my opinion, it is important to live what you believe. Being pro-life should not be a title but a lifestyle. I think it is important to protect the innocent and stand up for those who cannot speak up for themselves. This is why I started SPU Students for Life two years ago and continue to be pro-life.
Orfanato da familia y futuro para huérfanos (versión español y English)
Cada año un grupo de estudiantes de Seattle Pacific University visitan El Sauzal orfanato en San Antonio de Las Minas, Baja California, México. Ese grupo se llama SALSA (Español y Latino estudiante conciencia). El año pasado yo fui con este grupo al orfanato después de dos años en el grupo. Estuve emocionada para conocer los huérfanos, enseñar sobre la vida de los niños en el orfanato y practicar español.
Nosotros llegamos a un pueblo después de un día y medio de viaje en un camioneta llena de personas. Nosotros estábamos cansados por el viaje largo pero estábamos ansiosos de conocer los niños. Los estudiantes que regresaban al orfanato esperaban que los niños se acordaron de ellos.
Durante los primeros dos días, los niños tenía escuela hasta el almuerzo. Cuando los niños asistían a la escuela, nosotros trabajamos en varios proyectos incluyendo limpiar, pintar y desherbar. Después de los niños regresaban al orfanato, nosotros estábamos listos para comer y estar con los niños. Cada día, nosotros compramos sus comidas favoritas– pizza, comida Chino, y lasaña.
El ultimo día en el orfanato era alegre y triste. Nosotros estábamos tristes porque no teníamos mas tiempo con los niños. Ese día, los niños no tuvieron escuela entonces nosotros tuvimos mas tiempo con los niños. Cada año, el grupo hace una fiesta para los niños el ultimo día. Ese año decidimos dar a la niñera una pausa. Por un hora, nosotros jugamos con los bebes en el campo de juego con burbujas. Luego, los niños mayores hicieron una carrera de relevos consistió de saltar por llantas, comer buñuelos de una línea y una carrera de saltos.
Una familia, se llama Espinoza, administra El Sauzal orfanato. Desde 1967, tres generaciones de Espinozas suministraban una casa cariñosa para niños que lo necesitan. Ahora, cuarenta huérfanos viven en El Sauzal entre quince meses y 22 años. Durante el primer día de nuestra visita, la directora, Erika Espinoza, mostró las cuartos de los niños.
La directora dijo que los empleados del orfanato conocen a los niños y conocen sus apellidos. Yo estoy impresionada que había huérfanos mayores. Erika explicó que El Sauzal es como una familia tradicional de México. Ellos sostiene a los huérfanos antes de y después de cumplir 18 años. Este amor y al sostener a las huérfanos es un ejemplo de su misión que es fe, familia y un futuro exitoso.
Mas niños en el orfanato que eran abandonados o abusados. Los huérfanos que nosotros encontrábamos en El Sauzal no tienen todas las cosas pero tienen personas que los aman a ellos y cuidan de sus necesidades básicas.
El Sauzal se comprometer al futuro de los niños y ellos aseguran una educación completa para los niños. Los niños menores asisten a la escuela y el orfanato paga para que los mayores asisten a la escuela secundaria. Los dos huérfanos mayores asisten a la universidad.
This version was published on Global Visionaries’ blog on September 27, 2011.
Every year the student organization SALSA (Spanish and Latino Student Awareness) at SPU visits El Sauzal orphanage in San Antonio De Las Minas, Baja California, Mexico. This year I had the opportunity to go on the trip after being involved with SALSA for two years. I was excited to have the chance to get to know the orphans, learn about the lives of the children of the orphanage and practice speaking Spanish.
We arrived in a small town just outside of Ensenada after spending a day and a half of driving in a 12 passenger van. Even though we were tired from the long journey we were eager to meet the children. The students that were returning to the orphanage were excited to reconnect with the children and hoped that they would be remembered.
During our first couple of days at the orphanage the children attended school until lunchtime. While the children were at school we worked on various projects such as cleaning, painting and weeding. By the time lunchtime came around we were definitely ready to eat and spend time with the children. Each day we bought their favorite foods — pizza, Chinese, and lasagna.
Our last full day at the orphanage was both joyful and sad. We were sad to be leaving after such a short time. That last day the children did not have school so we were able to spend more time with them. Each year SALSA plans a party for the children on the last day. This year we decided to give the nanny a break for an hour and take the “bebes” (the children in the nursery) to the playground and play with bubbles. Later, with the older kids, we did a relay race—consisting of hopping through tires, eating donuts hanging from string, and a sack race.
El Sauzal is operated by the Espinoza family. Since 1967 three generations of Espinozas have been providing a loving home for children in need. There are currently 40 orphans living at El Sauzal ranging in age from 15 months to 22 years old. During our first day the orphanage’s director (Erika Espinoza) took us on a tour that introduced us to the children and showed us the rooms in which they slept.
Erika Espinoza told us that the orphanage staff knows each of the children personally and that they know the last name of each of the children. I was most impressed with the fact that there were older orphans. She explained to us that El Sauzal is like a traditional Mexican family and they support children even after they turn 18. This loving support is an example of two of the three aspects of their mission listed on their Facebook page — family and the chance for a successful future.
According to El Sauzal’s website, most of the children who come to the orphanage were abandoned or abused. The orphans that we encountered at El Sauzal may not have everything that we have but they are surrounded by people who love them and take care of their basic needs. Many of the orphans at El Sauzal have siblings at the orphanage but those who don’t still have a surrogate family in the other children and staff at the orphanage.
El Sauzal is committed to the futures of its orphans and it ensures that the children receive a complete education. The elementary children are sent to school and they pay for the older children to go to high school. The two oldest orphans are currently in college.
Both Global Visionaries and El Sauzal change the lives of young people; Global Visionaries through its leadership programs and El Sauzal through providing a loving home and supportive education. Working at Global Visionaries will give me the opportunity to be a part of an organization that impacts the lives of young people locally and globally.
Organización Guatemalteca ayuda mujeres estar independientes
A.M.A
En Guatemala, las mujeres trabajo mucho. Las mujeres tienen menos educación y ganan menos dinero.
Una organización que se llama “Asociación de Mujeres Altiplano” ayuda a mujeres de las áreas rurales.
Esta organización ayuda a mas de setenta y cinco mujeres.
Para ayudar a las mujeres, A.M.A. crea grupos pequeños. El trabajo de la comunidad ocurre cada semana con grupos de ocho a doce mujeres.
Durante estas reuniones ellas construye dirección local.
Un proyecto de A.M.A. se llama “Círculos de Mujeres”. Este proyecto trabaja con mujeres de cinco comunidades que incluyen a Espumpuja, la Xeabaj, Tierra Colorada Alta y Chucavioc, y la Cantel.
Cada grupo trabaja en cuatro temas diferentes– dignidad, salud, micro empresa y participación cívica.
Yo pienso que el trabajo de A.M.A. es importante porque las mujeres necesitan ser independientes. La organización puede la vida de las mujeres.
Child sponsorship available through multiple organizations
As I was walking down Market Street in Ballard, a man said to me, “I’ve been waiting for you all day.”
It’s hard for me to ignore people who want to talk to me on the street but there are so many people on this particular street who ask to talk, that I usually ignore them.
But this time, I decided to let the man talk to me. This man went on to tell me that there was a child who needed me. I responded by telling him that I am already involved in helping children. According to this man on the street, the best way to help children is through sponsoring a child through Save the Children.
At first I told him that I was not ready to make a commitment but that I would think about contacting their organization. In fact I had been thinking about child sponsorship for awhile.
Fifteen minutes later, I came back and told him that I would sign up. and he assured me that I could change my mind at any time. “You’re in control of your sponsorship,” he told me.
Save the Children is one of many child sponsorship organizations. Through Save the Children, sponsors can provide support for children in any region of the world including the U.S for $28 a month.
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization with many projects including child sponsorship. To sponsor a child through World Vision it costs $35 a month. Like Save the Children, sponsors get to choose the gender and location of the child. Prospective sponsors can even search for a child based on their birthday on World Vision’s website.
Sponsoring a child through World Vision provides clean water, nutritious food, healthcare, and education for the child. Compassion’s child sponsorship program pays for that plus life skills training. Compassion also ensures that the child has the opportunity to learn about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Their sponsorship program costs $38 a month.
Projects funded by the non-profit vary depending on the needs of the community.
Other organizations with child sponsorship programs:
Touch the World
Child Empowerment International
Do you sponsor a child? If so, how do you maintain a relationship with your sponsored child?
If you don’t sponsor a child, do you think child sponorship is something you will consider in the future?
The 300
The 300 after a full day of setting up for two 4US events. Other volunteers included the Knights of Columbus, the Christian Motorcyclist Association, churches, and individuals.
Everybody’s hard work made these events a success and saved lives through raising money to buy ultrasound machines for pregnancy centers in the northwest.
Inconvenient Love 