Beauty from Ashes
Young Ruth (Stavlund) received Jesus into her heart in sixth grade. This set a path for Jesus to work in her life over the next 60 years in ways no one could imagine. Just one year later, when Ruth was in 7th grade, she experienced her first period. Ruth had no idea what was going on with her body. She innocently went to her mother who told Ruth that her menstrual cycle was a curse from God because Eve had sinned. That was a heavy load for young Ruth to bear. There was no education or reassurance. She wished she had been born into a different home. Ruth was not even told that it came every month until a friend informed her years later. Because of a rough time at home, Ruth had no loving parent to help her prepare for her monthly cycle. But God knew this and remembered Ruth. He was at work in her life. Ruth is no longer that young girl. She is now a young 76-years-old with a huge passion for young girls to have menstrual coverage. Ruth works hard to make sure no girls have to endure what she went through. Her passion comes from our Lord as He has made beauty from ashes throughout Ruth’s life.
Days for Girls is Ruth’s God-given passion. Days for Girls is a tool to share the gospel across our community and around the world. Since the Days for Girls team formed last year in October 2018, 1,225 sustainable, reusable menstrual kits have been distributed to three different countries. Seven hundred kits went to Zimbabwe, 100 kits went to Haiti, and 425 kits went to over 20 schools and shelters in the Cedar Rapids area, reaching both local and overseas needs! How great is our God!
Thank you to all of you who have supported the Days for Girls Team at NCBC. It costs about $8 per kit along with many hours of sewing, cutting, tracing, and assembling to get one kit to be completed. We have amazing volunteers who make this all happen; everyone doing their part to create a kit that can change a life. Thank you to all of you and for your support.
Our next Days for Girls workshop is Saturday, January 11 at 1:00 PM. All are welcome to take part! For details, go to ncbc.church/daysforgirls