Monday, July 26, 2010

Meet Emily Blake

Perhaps one of the most difficult things we encounter as we think about those in poverty around the globe, comes when we try to fully comprehend the actual scope of the need.

There may be a twinge of pain in our hearts when we hear that 25,000 children under the age of 5 die each day from preventable circumstances, but there is admittedly something that gets lost as our minds try to understand what this tragedy really means. This is a reality I seem to return to again and again.

Perhaps the Internet has truly made our world seem that much smaller, but even so, do we even think of these forgotten souls as our neighbors who God loves? Can we really be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who live an ocean and world away? Matthew 5:13-15 assures us, that as followers of Christ, we are indeed equipped to be salt and light in a world that so desperately needs it.

I would like to introduce you to the true story of a young woman who took these verses to heart, and who God used in an incredible way to save the lives of mom's and babies in a tiny Kenyan village. At age 12, Emily Blake was inspired to raise $40,000 to start and sustain a Child Survival Program in Embu, Kenya. Her story is truly remarkable and was the primary inspiration for our own family's commitment to raise funds for Mbulu, Tanzania. This link will take you to a PDF version of Compassion's Fall 2009 magazine. By turning to page 6 you can read her story which is titled, To Africa With Open Arms.

Though this is Emily's story, this is also a wonderful tale of hope for the mothers and children of Embu that allows us to witness the miracle of lives that are touched and changed when one is simply willing to obey.

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