Bite Back

Compassion has a Malaria Prevention program called

Bite Back

Malaria is a preventable, treatable disease, yet a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds. This can happen when malaria is not treated, and cerebral malaria develops in as quickly as two days. Once this happens, a child can slip into a coma and eventually die.

Families in poverty need help dealing with this potentially fatal disease. Many cannot afford insecticide-treated mosquito nets or medical treatment.

I love this video Compassion put out....

All it takes to prevent malaria is a net...and Compassion is providing them quite affordably.

For more information about this initiative, you can visit Compassion's website HERE or the Bite Back website HERE.

Also, if you want to read more about my thoughts and ideas when it comes to raising money for Bite Back, simply click on the label bite back in the side column.

World Malaria Day

Thursday

April 25, 2013

I have written many times about Compassion's Bite Back program. In case you don't know, Bite Back is the campaign to fight and end malaria.

Malaria kills. 

And what gets me is that it is completely preventable. 

Mosquitos serve as the agents of this disease. When they bite an infected person, they become carriers. Then they turn around and bite someone else and transfer the disease to the unsuspecting person.

And it all takes place at night, while little ones are safely tucked in their beds and sleeping.

But it's preventable!!!!! 

For a very small amount of money ($10), you can provide a mosquito net that will hang over a bed and protect those sleeping under it.

I have raised awareness and funds for this campaign in many different ways over the years (VBS, Christmas gifts, homeschool group and more). It's so easy and it's so easy to get a response because it's affordable. And it provides a concrete solution to a very real and dangerous problem.

If you are an advocate, you can order a Bite Back presentation kit which will include a net you can display.

I'm actually in Mexico this week where I'm sleeping under a mosquito net. Thankfully, it's not to protect me from malaria. Rather it's to protect me from regular annoying mosquitos, no seeums, scorpions and iguanas! But it's still amazing how comforting it is to have the luxury of protection that the net provides.

I would love to hear about your experience with malaria prevention....have you done a Bite Back presentation? Do you sponsor kids in areas where malaria is present?

Bite Back Bracelets

Last week at our VBS I was presenting Bite Back. I challenged the kids to bring in $100 (for 10 nets) and if they did everyone would get a bracelet. 

I had 57 of these ~ the official ones from Compassion. 

But there were 55 kids and several more teen helpers and adults. I really wanted to have enough for everyone but didn't have time to order more.

So I got creative and made some myself.

I couldn't find netting material, so I bought a roll of black tulle.

I cut it to the length I needed and then cut it in half.

I also bought a bag of red pony beads.

And then I figured out how to put the pony beads on the tulle to make and adjustable bracelet.

I tied off the ends and had a similar replica of the original.

Not exact, but close enough!

Bite Back VBS

A couple weeks ago I asked for ideas of how to present Bite Back at VBS. Thanks to your great ideas, my own creativity and the work of the Holy Spirit, we had a great week.

Here's a peak at what I did. Keep in mind that each day I had 2-3 minutes during the opening session to collect coins and 5 minutes during the closing session to talk about our mission initiative.

Day 1 ~ This was a general introduction. We had a sample mosquito net hanging in the sanctuary and I briefly told the kids we were raising money to buy mosquito nets. I explained that many, many children around the world are at risk of contracting malaria and that for most, this disease is fatal.

I issued a challenge to raise $100 ~ enough for 10 nets. I told the kids that if we could raise $100, I would give each child a bracelet.

We also sent the following handout home with each child.

Day 2 ~ I showed the following video and read the script out loud so the younger kids and slower readers wouldn't miss out on the message. I loved that most of the kids giggled when the little boy in the video started dancing ~ it's my favorite part of this video.




Day 3 ~ My daughters and I put on a skit to further explain and illustrate how malaria is transmitted from one person to another. We got a lot of positive feedback about this simple skit.

I don't know if you could tell from the video, but my "mosquito" was wearing this t-shirt that I made for her. I used the stencil provided in the Bite Back presentation kit.

Then, we popped balloons to see how many nets we had raised money for (thank you Nicole for the idea!). Our goal was $100 so I put 10 balloons on a cardboard box. Each balloon we popped would represent one mosquito net. I used the stencil found in the Bite Back kit to draw mosquitos on each balloon.

As I popped balloons, the kids counted. Keep in mind, when I made this, I had no idea how much money the kids would bring in that night.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.....(pause), 8.....(longer pause - gotta build up the suspense!)....9, 10!

They did it in two nights of collecting money! God is so good. (I should have probably set a higher goal, but I was afraid to shoot too high). So everyone got a bracelet. I didn't quite have enough of the official bracelets from Compassion, so I made a few of my own (I'll tell you about that in the next post).

Day 4 ~ On day 4 we watched another video from Compassion.

On day 4  the church told me they would match whatever the kids brought in. So I told the kids. 

Day 5 ~  My only plan for the final day was to announce just how much money we raised. I really wanted another visual illustration (like the balloons), but thought I should try to do something different. I decided to  stuff kids under a mosquito net to show them how many kids' lives we would be saving from our efforts that week. The balloon illustration focused on the mosquitos and this one focused on the lives that were being saved.

I had one net to illustrate the money the kids raised, and a second net to illustrate that our efforts would be doubled by the church.

I was absolutely floored when I learned the total amount.

Friday's donations alone amounted to $151, which doubled our previous total.

When all was said and done, we are able to send a check for $600 - that's 60 mosquito nets! 

I actually ran out of kids to stuff the nets and had to turn to the adults.

What a week! 

I love that I was asked to be the missions representative.

I love that I was able to raise money for mosquito nets. 

I really love that I was able to do this through Compassion.

I really, really love that God is faithful and good.

Guest Post - Michelle Kelly

Michelle is the daughter of The King, wife to Ben, mom to 5 delightful ladies.  She spends her time laughing with her family & at her assortment of animals, learning along with her home educated kids and speaking on behalf of the poor and oppressed.  She blogs about life, living a life of gratitude, and loving the least of these at www.bystreamsofquietwaters.blogspot.com

In early May our youngest daughter, Chica, planned and held a Lemonade Sale in our front yard to raise funds for malaria intervention. As we helped her prepare for this event, I picked up several books from the library on malaria. What I learned saddened me, discouraged me, and gave me words to speak out.

Malaria is an old disease, its victims are believed to include Alexander the Great, emperors Tiberius and Hadrian, Julius Caesar, Oliver Cromwell and King Charles II. Shakespeare mentioned it numerous times in his works. Laura Ingalls Wilder tells of her family’s bout with malaria in her book Little House on the Prairie. 

In the early 20^th century approximately 5 million Americans suffered from malaria per year, but without a doubt, people in the South suffered the most. A 7 year anti mosquito campaign on Stanton Island, resulted in a reprieve from the parasite as they transformed marshy Stanton Island into valuable real estate. In the South, the hot and humid climate definitely played a role in the high numbers of malaria infection, but the main issue was Poverty. Southern cities and rural areas simply lacked the funds to fight back at malaria in the ways the people of Stanton Island had done successfully.

And today, Malaria continues to be an affliction on those in poverty. Despite the eradication of the disease in many places it continues to plague those in the most poverty stricken areas of the world. Places where the mosquito thrives, where education is lacking, and doctors and medication are few.

BUT People behind organizations like Bite Back are making a difference. One by one they are educating people, giving out medicine and mosquito nets, and planting trees. (certain trees that are quite possibly a mosquito repellent)

This is what our family learned about and worked for in the month of May. It was Chica’s fundraiser, but each member of the family joined in and grew through this experience.

Just $10 can provide a child with an insect repellent treated net, medicine if he is already infected with the malaria parasite and education for his family on how to prevent further infections. Just $10.

Global Fast

This Wednesday, January 25, is a global fast through 58:

This particular stop on the global tour is northern Thailand, and the designated project is to provide insecticide treated mosquito nets to children living there. You can read more about the need on the global tour section of the 58: website.

Our own sponsored child, Orm, lives in this area and I hope and pray she already has access to one of these nets or will receive one soon.

Here is a short video of Scott Todd explaining this fast.



Would you consider joining me and fasting one or two meals on Wednesday. You can then make a donation to Compassion for mosquito nets. You can donate either through the 58: site or on Compassion's website. If you want your net to benefit children in northern Thailand, then be sure to donate at 58:

If you do decide to join, please sign up over at 58: to let them know you are fasting and praying.

Bursting With Praise

Last night our church hosted a showing of 58: the film. If you have not seen this film, please go to www.live58.org and request a screening kit. The film challenges, inspires and excites me in this fight to end extreme poverty.

Although 58: is not a film about Compassion, the ministry of Compassion is so beautifully seen throughout the film. Before the viewing, I spoke a bit about the alliance created by ten international ministries, and then pointed out how they would see the work of Compassion in the film. At the bottom of this post I will write out what I said in case you want to use it as a reference for your own showing. After the film, I invited everyone respond. In the lobby I had set up a display....

I had a mosquito net hanging over a cot as a visual demonstration for Bite Back. The little kids loved this and many came and asked what this was for. 

I also had child packets, brochures for CSP and a Safe Water system for people to try.

This is what the water inside the bucket looked like - straight from our rain barrel. It tasted surprisingly good - just like it was out of the tap.

 

I'm bursting with praise because our church was ready for this message. Within minutes, 5 of the 6 child packets were taken. When I got home, the remaining child was spoken for! We also received donations for 5 mosquito nets and all the Water of Life forms were taken.

6 children. Plus 2 that were sponsored last week.

8 new children have sponsors.

Now...here's the script I used.

Welcome to 58:  This initiative, this film is based on the 58th chapter of Isaiah. There is an alliance of 10 international ministries that are behind this initiative. They are considered experts in the fight against poverty around the world. They include: Micah Challenge, Plant With Purpose, Living Water, ECHO, World Relief, Hope International, Food for the Hungry, International Justice Mission, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and Compassion International.

Is there anyone here tonight that is a representative of one of these ministries? (this allows others to share about their ministry).

I am here tonight as a member of this church, as a member of the body of Christ and as a representative of Compassion International.

This film is not about Compassion International and yet you will see the work of Compassion throughout the film. You will see and hear from Dr. Wess Stafford. He is the CEO of Compassion and also the executive producer of this film.

You will hear the story of the pastor of a church in a Kenyan slum. You will hear how his church is reaching out the children of his community. This is Compassion at work through the local church.

You will hear how expectant mothers, babies and their caregivers in India are receiving education, supplemental nutrition and vocational training. This is Compassion's Child Survival Program.

You will also be introduced to two families in India. Both fathers are bonded laborers in the quarry system. The one father will leave a legacy of bonded labor to his children, their children and their children. The other father is working hard to pay off his debt. He has hope because his daughter is able to go to school and attends a project through her local church that provides her the support she needs to be successful. His wife is also getting vocational training through this project. This is Compassion's sponsorship program.

**************************then we showed the film**********************

Now that you know, what will you do?

Although the message of this film is heavy, I hope you leave here tonight challenged, inspired, excited and hopeful. God is calling us, as a church, to be part of this work and that is exciting!

Before you leave, please take a look in the lobby for some ways to respond. I have children available for sponsorship and for $38 a month you will be put in a one on one relationship with a child. There are brochures for Child Survival Program and for $20 a month you can sponsor one of these programs. For a one time donation of $10 you can provide a mosquito net for a child living in a high risk area for malaria. And although Compassion is not the water expert for this initiative, they have created a safe water system that will provide a lifetime of safe drinking water for a family - this is a one time donation of $55.

As you leave here tonight, I ask you to read the words of Isaiah 58. Meditate of them and pray. Ask God to guide you in a way to respond.

Mosquito Net Drive

As summer is wrapping up and we begin to say goodbye to swimming, gardening and picnics, we also get to say goodbye to our pesky little friends enemies.

Others around the world are not so fortunate. Not only do the mosquitoes not go away, one bite can be deadly.

As I sit here, uncomfortable scratching the few bites I have, I am reminded to be thankful that they are merely annoyances and not life-threatening.

I’ve been inspired to have a mosquito net drive, as we approach the end of summer. Will you join me?

A $10 donation will buy a mosquito net. My own little Orm in Thailand recently wrote to us that with our gift, she was able to buy a mosquito net. I’m so thankful she has protection when she sleeps at night.

To encourage you, I will send you a Compassion bracelet or correspondence kit for each $10 donation you make.

These are not “official” Compassion bracelets…they are just ones my husband had made that say Compassion. This offer is good for one week – through Wednesday, September 7th.

• Consider purchasing a mosquito net for each of your family members - then each family member can have a bracelet.
• Consider purchasing some now to give as gifts to your friends/family at Christmas. You can give them the bracelet (or correspondence kit) and tell them you made a donation in their name.
• Consider purchasing a mosquito net for each sponsored/correspondent child you have (if you have 3 sponsored children, purchase 3 nets)

Make your donation HERE – then let me know (you can send me a copy of the email confirmation to fiddlejill(at)yahoo(dot)com).

Let’s see how many mosquito nets we can buy!

Ready?

Set?

GO!!

Bite Back

Today we are going to talk a little bit about those pesky nuisances that appear each summer, depending where you live.

That’s right…let’s talk about mosquitoes.

Their bites are annoying and leave us scratching for days, but in some countries their bites can be deadly.

Take a moment to educate yourself.

If you have another couple minutes, watch this one too.

Talk to your kids about how you can Bite Back. Look around Compassion’s Bite Back website and brainstorm ways your family can raise money to buy nets.

Also, be sure to read Out of the Slums of Kenya on Compassion’s blog. This is an inspiring post written by Joshua Miago, a formerly sponsored child from Kenya and a former LDP student. Joshua is currently living in the Netherlands, working to create a vaccine to create malaria.

Have you done something to raise awareness about the fight against malaria? If so, I'd love to hear your story.