Every day, I’m hit with a headline in the news that leaves me feeling helpless. Acts of violence and hate seem to be happening more than ever. Compassion fatigue has hit me big time. I recently stumbled upon Mandisa’s new album, “Out of the Dark,” on Spotify. Her song, “We All Bleed the Same,” couldn’t have encouraged me at a […]
We’re escorted into a Honduran neighborhood with a reputation so dangerous even the police won’t go there, yet we’re welcomed by the gang leaders who control it. We spend the next two hours with Heimi, the community pastor who stares fear in the face every day. He’s like the local Clint Eastwood. Gang leaders love him because he loves their […]
I don’t like being called a millennial. It seems that negative words always follow to describe us. Restless. Unreliable. Always wanting something more, whether that be the next iPhone or next experience. Do millennials want more? Absolutely. And that’s why we take action and are constantly opening new doors. The next generation has this same spirit. They are bold and […]
Sometimes there are stories that just bother you, that rattle your soul, cause a lingering heartache and won’t let go. A few weeks ago, I heard about a tragic event that happened in Ethiopia and it hasn’t left my mind … or my heart. It started with a headline that you will likely never see in any western media outlet: […]
Head to toe. Mind, body, heart and soul. When it comes to releasing a child from the most extreme poverty, it’s important to address a child’s needs holistically. We dig deep into what it takes to make tiny humans “unfold” into healthy people. People who have the right tools to break the negative cycles poverty has brought into their lives. […]
You’ve made it. It’s the end of 2016. And while many of us are shaking the dust off our feet as we’re leaving the old year, it’s wise to take a few moments to look back before entering the new year. These are the most popular blog posts of 2016 with a little extra “behind the scenes” peek at how […]
I’m really proud of our Instagram feed. When I scroll through the images and videos that we’ve shared, here’s the thing I immediately notice: Faces. Instagram is full of faces. Faces of kids. Of families. Of sponsors. Of people. These faces reflect pain and joy and hope. And I think that’s why I notice them – because life is filled […]
It was a perfect December day to listen to Christmas music. I was out running errands, driving in a light, winter snow. A lesser known Christmas song filled the car – “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” I’d heard the song on the radio before. But this time I paid attention to the lyrics. And what I heard stunned and saddened […]
If you’re like me, you are welcoming 2017 with open arms. Forget you, 2016. You were hard! Bring it in for a hug, 2017. I will be walking boldly away from a year where our world faced hurt, hate and heartache. But if you’re really like me, you also don’t want to head into the new year without looking back […]
It’s full blown autumn in our neck of the woods. Leaves are changing colors, falling off the trees, and finding their way into our yards. The changing of seasons always causes us to reflect: on life, work, family, purpose. This month for Totally Worth It, we’re asking you to reflect as well. It’s easy to concentrate on what’s been hard […]
These girls are like any girls, anywhere in the world: They have best friends to laugh and cry with, teachers to please and chores to do. They love to dream about their futures. We see ourselves in these girls; we see our daughters, sisters, friends and aunts. But there is something extraordinary about these girls, too. Their resilience is astounding. […]
When you read that news article that totally rocks your perspective on something. When you see that Instagram picture that makes you wish there was something more than just a little “heart” to express how much you like it. When you hear that story that fills your heart and you can’t help sharing with all your friends. That’s this blog […]
Although the World Bank established the most widely held and understood definition of poverty in strictly economic terms, the World Bank has also described poverty as follows: Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. […]
Early in Disney’s new movie Queen of Katwe (in theaters Sept. 23, 2016), young Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) learns the basics of chess from another girl. The girl holds up a pawn and calls it “little man.” She points to the king and calls it the president. The queen, the girl explains, is the most powerful piece on the board. […]
Our lives are filled with a bunch of worthless noise. Celebrity happenings, shows to binge, funny cat videos (admittedly, some of those do have value … depending on who you ask). We’re keenly aware that you don’t need more clutter in your digital lives. Some might admit that the clutter Compassion adds is more valuable than other clutter because it’s […]
Any country that signs up to host the Olympics faces its fair share of public scrutiny. Leading up to the games this year, Brazil has been poked, prodded, dissected and inspected by the media. But what the media has portrayed of this culturally and economically diverse country is just a slice, just a sliver of the full story.What would you […]
It’s human nature to use generalizations. We compartmentalize information about the world as we view it through our own tinted lenses of experiences and interactions. And if we’re not careful, that compartmentalization can shape what we think about a group of people into a singular story. As Amber shared in A Short Guide to Talking About Africa, “It’s easy to […]
I met a beautiful family in the Dominican Republic. Their home was small but meticulously decorated and cared for. Everything had a place and the family was happy. Upon hearing their story I learned that their contentment and joy was not rooted in wealth or prosperity, but in the trust that comes when God provides enough for each day. As […]
“In the entire animal kingdom, the mosquito occupies a special place as receptacle for our hatred and disgust.” Reporter Archie Bland said this, and I couldn’t agree more. It’s safe to say the mosquito is the most hated creature on the planet. There are some terrifying creatures in our world. Lions and snakes and crocodiles, oh my! Sharks even get […]
It’s been hard not to follow the tragic situation coming out of Flint, Michigan. Nearly one year ago, high levels of lead were discovered coursing through the city’s drinking water supply and, as a result, in the blood of thousands of local children. In children ages 6 and under, even low levels of lead exposure can cause irreversible brain damage. […]
