A cup of coffee. Saving a baby’s life. The two are incomparable, yet one helps make the other possible! It is an honor to use the tip money from our Main Street Cafe and our Early Childhood children's offerings to save babies’ lives! We are currently ministering to 19 babies and their caregivers at the Iglesias Luz de Jehova in Leon, Nicaragua through Compassion’s Survival Program. Through lessons at home and group lessons at the center every month, moms are learning how to care for their babies…. and it’s making a difference. We began supporting the Child Survival Program in India in 2011, and now in Nicaragua since 2017.
Message from Arelys Miranda, Survival Implementer
Our ministry is making a great impact on our community – especially to those in our programs. Their situation has improved little by little thanks to the help you have given to each of the mothers with their babies. As we teach the mothers lessons at home and group lessons at the center every month, they strengthen their knowledge about how to care for their babies.
Sharing Jesus
We always preach God´s word for them with the purpose of winning souls for Christ. Over the past year, one of our mothers went to the river to be baptized and six children were dedicated at the church.
Other Highlights of the Year
• One mother, Melanie, is attending classes in manicure and pedicure with the purpose of generating an income.
• A couple got married. This is the third wedding since beginning the Survival program!
We ask you to pray for each of the beneficiaries and their babies so God keeps them healthy.
A Story of Hope
Baby Melani Arauz was suffering from very frequent convulsions. Through the survival intervention resources, we were able to take her to a pediatric neurologist. He ordered her tests such as electroencephalogram and the diagnosis was a head lesion. She is already receiving treatment and follow up care. She is doing better now thanks to God. Her mom is deeply grateful to God and this beautiful ministry.
More Information about Child Survival
In the developing world, the first five years of life are often the most difficult and challenging. Of the 17,000 children under age 5 who die each day, 73% die before their first birthday — nearly half within the first 28 days of life*. Compassion established the Child Survival Program in 2003 because we believe these obstacles to healthy development can be removed and because all children deserve to be given the best chance to reach their God-given potential.
Having a trained attendant at the time of birth is one of the most effective means of ensuring survival. Sadly, only 33 percent of births are attended among the world’s poorest. Today, we are happy to report that within Compassion programs, an attendant is present at more than 90 percent of births.
Intervening in the earliest stages of life, even before birth, is critical to saving lives and preventing needless suffering. In partnership with the local church, the Child Survival Program works with new and expectant mothers in their homes to ensure the health of her baby through:
- growth monitoring
- oral rehydration therapy
- breastfeeding support
- nutrition immunizations
We are honored as a church family to be a part of this Compassion ministry!