When I gave birth to my children in 2008 & 2009, I had
great experiences. I had excellent care and great facilities. I had some
various complications throughout my pregnancy and again in delivery and was
fearful for my children on a regular occasion, but I was bolstered by the
confidence that I had in the medical attention that they would receive were
something bad to happen. I was never more than a little fearful for my own well
being, even during complications, as the medical staff met every need right where
it began and took care of all of my complications in a timely, efficient
manner. At the end of my experiences, I was blessed to bring home a handsome
baby boy and a beautiful baby girl, whom I’ve had the joy of caring for and
raising since.
It wasn’t until after my childbirth experiences that I was
made aware of just how special they were.
When my friend Melissa told me the devastating statistics about women in
Uganda – that 15 women die EVERY DAY during childbirth – I was horrified. When I learned that this is happening so
often because of a lack of sterile supplies, I was embarrassed at my own lack
of gratitude during my deliveries. I always
knew in a very peripheral way that I was lucky, but I had no idea just how big
of a difference things like a clean tool to cut the cord made in my life…and
the lives of my children.
After Mercy for Mamas was founded and I saw just how
effective a $7 kit could be, I was inspired to begin spreading the blessing of
these kits to the mamas that I know and love here at home as well. Now, when I attend a baby shower, I include a
donation card representing a kit purchased in the mother & baby’s honor.
Stop and think about
that for a minute: For the price of 2 greeting cards that will probably be tossed in the
trash at the end of the shower, you can give life to a mama & child in Uganda in honor
of your friend or family member.
I’ve been blessed to have a lot of babies born into my
family in recent months. I’ve had a great time attending showers and loving on
these new moms and have been privileged to donate mama kits along with the
gifts that I buy from their registries. My prayer has always been that these
little donation cards that they receive would help them realize what I didn’t
understand enough when I had my babies - just how blessed they are to look
forward to a sterile, safe birth and just how much of a difference their baby
can make to someone on another continent, even while still in utero.
To give you an idea of what these $7 kits given in their
name can mean to new mamas, I asked for some testimonies from some of my family
that I gave them to recently. Here is
what those gifts meant to them:
Ashley,
soon-to-be-mommy to a baby girl:
“Having a mama kit
donated in honor of me and my baby was a very sentimental gift. As I prepare to bring a child into this
world, I know that the one thing I don’t have to worry about is not receiving
adequate care or supplies. I know God
provides these mama kits to expecting mothers that otherwise wouldn’t have
access to sanitary supplies. Knowing
that at least one mother will receive a kit in honor of me having a child is a
humbling feeling and a blessing.”
Kelli, new mommy to a
baby boy:
“It is amazing the
technology and health benefits we have in America. To think of giving birth without the basic
sanitary needs is beyond me. If for
every birth and baby shower gift here, a mama kit could be purchased as well
(or instead!) then the outpouring of love we share here can be passed along to
the women in Uganda! To receive a gift in your honor means that someone is
willing to pass that love along and Jesus’ love as well!”
***********
To donate a kit in someone’s honor, visit the PayPal link on
the Mercy for Mamas website or donate through The Hope Venture.
We’ll provide you with a card that you can give to the special recipient
to represent your gift and can provide you with further informational material
as well.
