It is difficult to be a mother when ...
December 1, 2010
It is difficult to be a mother…. when you live in a jeep. Such was the case for Rosie’s mom - a mother of 5 in the Philippines.
Sharing seven Christmas’s amongst slum dwellers ... in Asia brings back vivid memories of babies, lots of babies. Often Christmas family celebrations were spent together in the charitable clinic, as my wife Inneke, would work as a midwife to usher in the new lives. Our daughters would delight in the miracle of the new life; between births we would have family time. Returning home after a long night, would leave me to ponder the birth of a Saviour, born in humble circumstances two thousand years ago.
When I also ponder the hundreds of babies my wife delivered, the memory of baby Rosie still clearly resonates. After Rosie’s mother had missed her post natal visit appointments at the clinic, Inneke sought to find the family. To her surprise, their home was an abandoned jeep on the side of the road, housing the newborn child, the mother and four siblings. It was rough for Rosie and her mom at that time; so rough that Rosie’s mother came to our home offering to give Rosie to us, saying that she could not afford to keep her. Through a series of remarkable events, Rosie now lives with her mom and is part of a program that we set up that ensures that her nutritional needs and education are on track, while Rosie’s mother is part of a supportive community. This family will not only be celebrating the birth of Christ this Christmas, but also the new life that Jesus has given them.
The Christmas story begins with the birth of the child of promise; Jesus – hope of the nations who lived and gave his life so that others would live, truly live. The story extends to today where millions of children are born every year, each with a potential to live abundantly. “And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I announce to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people; for today a Saviour has been born to you in David's city, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10,11
Would you consider giving a gift of good health, great education or glad tidings this Christmas? Inside the Christmas copy of Asian Report, you will find a mini-catalogue that will show you a few ways of how you can give the gift of health, the gift of education and the gift of equipping workers to bring glad tidings.
Glad Tidings to you and your family this Christmas!
Patrick Elaschuk
Regional Mission Director, North America
Asian Outreach International
GOOD HEALTH – give to life saving care
( ) $15 HIV/AIDS and TB Treatment - Cambodia
( ) $50 Water Filters – Greater Mekong
( ) $5000 Toilet Facilities for a Whole School - Cambodia
GREAT EDUCATION – invest in the future
( ) $30 Education and Books - Mongolia, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam & Indonesia
( ) $200 Education for Whole Class - Mongolia
( ) $1500 Home and Education for Child - Nepal
GLAD TIDINGS – help share the good news
( ) $10 Bible Printing and Distribution – Bhutan and Mongolia
( ) $25 Outreach and Discipleship of University Students - Thailand
( ) $80 Church planter training - all across Asia
( ) $200 Small Business Training for Church Planters – Indonesia
Click here to give a gift of life and hope.
It is difficult to be a mother…. when you live in a jeep. Such was the case for Rosie’s mom - a mother of 5 in the Philippines.
Sharing seven Christmas’s amongst slum dwellers in Asia brings back vivid memories of babies, lots of babies. Often Christmas family celebrations were spent together in the charitable clinic, as my wife Inneke, would work as a midwife to usher in the new lives. Our daughters would delight in the miracle of the new life; between births we would have family time. Returning home after a long night, would leave me to ponder the birth of a Saviour, born in humble circumstances two thousand years ago.
When I also ponder the hundreds of babies my wife delivered, the memory of baby Rosie still clearly resonates. After Rosie’s mother had missed her post natal visit appointments at the clinic, Inneke sought to find the family. To her surprise, their home was an abandoned jeep on the side of the road, housing the newborn child, the mother and four siblings. It was rough for Rosie and her mom at that time; so rough that Rosie’s mother came to our home offering to give Rosie to us, saying that she could not afford to keep her. Through a series of remarkable events, Rosie now lives with her mom and is part of a program that we set up that ensures that her nutritional needs and education are on track, while Rosie’s mother is part of a supportive community. This family will not only be celebrating the birth of Christ this Christmas, but also the new life that Jesus has given them.
The Christmas story begins with the birth of the child of promise; Jesus – hope of the nations who lived and gave his life so that others would live, truly live. The story extends to today where millions of children are born every year, each with a potential to live abundantly. “And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I announce to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people; for today a Saviour has been born to you in David's city, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10,11
Would you consider giving a gift of good health, great education or glad tidings this Christmas? Inside the Christmas copy of Asian Report, you will find a mini-catalogue that will show you a few ways of how you can give the gift of health, the gift of education and the gift of equipping workers to bring glad tidings.
Glad Tidings to you and your family this Christmas!
Patrick Elaschuk
Regional Mission Director, North America
Asian Outreach International
GOOD HEALTH – give to life saving care
( ) $15 HIV/AIDS and TB Treatment - Cambodia
( ) $50 Water Filters – Greater Mekong
( ) $5000 Toilet Facilities for a Whole School - Cambodia
GREAT EDUCATION – invest in the future
( ) $30 Education and Books - Mongolia, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam & Indonesia
( ) $200 Education for Whole Class - Mongolia
( ) $1500 Home and Education for Child - Nepal
GLAD TIDINGS – help share the good news
( ) $10 Bible Printing and Distribution – Bhutan and Mongolia
( ) $25 Outreach and Discipleship of University Students - Thailand
( ) $80 Church planter training - all across Asia
( ) $200 Small Business Training for Church Planters – Indonesia
Click here to give a gift of life and hope.
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