That was fast. The world has suddenly shifted, and we don’t yet know what the outlook will be in our lives…As we’ve watched this global health crisis unfold, we’ve seen a temporary shift in vulnerability to encompass the whole world. Suddenly, we’ve all become vulnerable (or is it that our vulnerability has become exposed?), and it’s been heart-wrenching to watch the number of ways an invisible enemy like a virus can affect all of humanity.

We’re seeing families here at home move from being financially stable to filing for unemployment basically overnight. Businesses are applying for loans to stay afloat, restaurants are closing, our elderly family members are suddenly at-risk, and so much more…It brings me to tears just thinking about the magnitude of it all. And as I watch our own country and other developed nations struggle, I can’t help but turn my gaze, for a moment, toward all the different at-risk populations, people, and countries with vulnerabilities that pre-existed what we’re battling now.

If we, who are relatively healthy and well cared for, struggle to help ourselves amidst all of this, how can nations or populations already living in the margins survive such a crisis? It’s a question I can’t get out of my head, because the answer could be devastating.

September – It’s that time of year again, a month full of celebrations! Well, at least over here at Lovelight stories. 

The last two years, together, we’ve supported Charity: water – in 2017 as part of my birthday campaign (Yes! September is my birthday month!) and in 2018 as part of Charity: water’s own birthday campaign with the launch of Scott Harrison’s book, Thirst. If you’ve read last year’s story about Charity: water and Thirst, you know funds from the birthday campaign were put towards delivering water in Mozambique. Indeed they were! We just received reports of TWO water projects our campaign helped to support! Click here to see hot-off-the-press reports from Charity: water of both projects in Napera and Triangulo – detailing GPS coordinates, photos, number of people served, and more!

And as if that’s not enough to celebrate, this month, we’re celebrating two more birthday’s! Lovelight stories is officially 1 and MAP International is celebrating 65 years of bringing life-saving medicines to the world! In fact, MAP is the focus of this month’s story and is very much deserving so.

MAP International is a Christian organization providing life-changing medicines and health supplies to people in need around the world. While they’re Christian based, they serve all people, regardless of religion, gender, race, nationality, or ethnic background.

Food. It has long been a source of gathering and community, a silent facilitator of relationships and celebration. In fact, we as a nation, just celebrated one of our most beautiful reflections of these very things, Thanksgiving! Aside from all that yummy Turkey, the tradition is an expression of gratitude and a time to gather […]

Elite Women of Excellence exists to provide programming for girls from all socio-economic backgrounds with life-changing perspectives and practices to build confidence, wisdom and courage.

The key piece I find most interesting is life-changing perspectives for those from all socio-economic backgrounds. I was all ears when she started sharing how her programs are integrating girls from inner-city Atlanta with girls from all communities throughout metro Atlanta.