How everyone can help orphans and widows.

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. Isaiah 1:17 ESV

November is National Adoption Month. "But adoption isn't for me." Some may say. And then they ignore the month's plea. I'd like to present a different front that is for everyone. From those will little to those with much: Sponsorship.

There are child sponsorship programs. But there are also family sponsorship programs. This helps not only the child but the whole family.

An orphan can mean a child with or without parents. Many children grow up in orphanages simply because parent cannot provide for them. Orphanages are not nice places to grow up. See this article: Abuse in many forms. Not to mention the obvious fact: growing up without a family. So instead of spending money on orphanage care: Creating Problems in Haiti and Are we helping or hurting?

Let’s consider spending money more effectively: on sponsorship programs, programs that promote family unity instead of tearing them apart.

But let’s start with the statistics of this enormous problem. I am borrowing the statistics from this post, see the whole article here: http://skywardjourney.wordpress.com/orphan-statistics/

It is estimated there are between 143 million and 210 million orphans worldwide (recent UNICEF report.)

The current population of the United States is just a little over 300 million… to give you an idea of the enormity of the numbers… (The current population of Russia is 141 million)

Every day 5,760 more children become orphans

2,102,400 more children become orphans every year in Africa alone 

Every 15 seconds, another child in Africa becomes an AIDS orphan

There are an estimated 14 million AIDS orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa (a number higher than the total of every under-eighteen year old in Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Ireland combined)

This figure is estimated to reach 18 million orphans in Africa alone by 2010 (only two and a half years away)

8 out of 10 children orphaned by AIDS lives in sub-saharan Africa

Approximately 250,000 children are adopted annually, but… 

Each year 14, 505, 000 children grow up as orphans and age out of the system by age sixteen

Each day 38,493 orphans age out

Every 2.2 seconds another orphan ages out with no family to belong to and no place to call home

In Russia and the Ukraine, studies have shown that 10% – 15% of these children commit suicide before they reach age eighteen

These studies also show that 60% of the girls become prostitutes and 70%of the boys become hardened criminals 

Another Russian study reported that of the 15,000 orphans aging out of state-run institutions every year, 10% committed suicide, 5,000 were unemployed, 6,000 were homeless and 3,000 were in prison within three years…

Sources: Human Rights Watch: “Abandoned to the State: Cruelty and Neglect in Russian Orphanages” November 1998 ; www.hfgf.org/statistics.pdf ;www.unaids.org/epi/2005 ; UNICEF’s Childhood Under Threat: the State of the World’s Children, 2005 ; www.unicef.org/uniteforchildren/  ))

Those are some big number! What can one person do?! A whole lot! Check out the benefits of sponsorship.

Here are just some of the highlights:

-- As a result of sponsorship, children stayed in school an extra year to a year and a half on average - more than 11 years in all, compared with slightly more than 10 years for un-sponsored children. In Uganda, girls obtained three more years of schooling, on average.

-- About 65 percent of sponsored children graduated from high school, with the best results in Africa, where education levels were lower to begin with. Just 45 percent of non-sponsored children had graduated.

-- About 7.8 percent of sponsored children graduated from college, "a remarkable rate among low-income families in developing countries," Wydick said. Just 4.3 percent of un-sponsored children graduated.

-- About 27 percent of sponsored children became teachers, health workers or other white-collar employees. Just 19 percent of un-sponsored kids did so.

For the full scoop, read the full report “Does International Child Sponsorship Work? A Six-Country Study of Impacts on Adult Life Outcomes” by Bruce Wydick.

Quite impressive the profound impact! And it helps not only the "orphan" but the family! (Here's to helping out those widow!)

Also quite impressive is that so much can be accomplished with only $20-$40 a month. “Ah, I can’t afford that every month!” Wait. Think about this. This monetary gift provides a child with 1) schooling 2) school uniform 3) school supplies 4) daily meals with CLEAN water 5) health care and, in many cases, 6) the lifesaving word of God. I don’t know about you, but I can’t feed myself, let alone my whole family for $20-40 a month. A visit to the doctor results in a co-pay of at least $25 here. And yet this little amount of money provides so much to a family elsewhere. And you can write to your sponsored child! This is a relationship.

Not sure where to look? Where will your money make the most impact? I happen to have a list of just a few sponsorship organizations with brief breakdown. Many of these I have personal experience sponsoring children from so if you have questions, feel free to ask! Also feel free to post your favorite sponsorship organization in the comments.

• Amazima Ministries (may have heard of “Kisses from Katie”?): http://www.amazima.org/7ways.html
• Country: Uganda
• Monthly Cost: $25
• Gospel for Asia (can also sponsor a pastor): http://www.gfa.org/
• Country: India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and other SW Asia countries
• Monthly Cost: $35 (100% goes to child, no overhead cost removed)
• Father’s Heart Africa (can also sponsor a pastor): http://fathersheartafrica.org/
• Country: Zambia
• Monthly Cost: $32
• Jua Project: http://mangomama.org/2012/05/meet-some-of-the-kids-and-our-new-moms/
• Country: Kenya
• Monthly Cost: varies, usually limited to 6 month spans for specific needs
• World Vision: http://www.worldvision.org/
• Country: many
• Monthly Cost: $35
• International Justice Mission: http://www.ijm.org/
• Not a sponsorship program per se, but has a profound impact on freeing people from slavery, including the sex trade. Many women are forced/sold/etc. or families sell their children. This helps to not only free the slaves but bring the oppressors to justice using the local laws. Thus preventing the freed from going right back to where they were freed from.
• Living Hope International: http://www.lovehopemercy.org/
• Country: Mexico
• Monthly Cost: $33 (100% goes to child, no overhead cost removed)
• Hearts for Christ International: http://www.ekg4christ.com/
• Country: Guatemala
• Monthly Cost: $20
• Compassion International: http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/
• Country: Many
• Monthly Cost: $38
• New Day Foster Home: http://www.newdaycreations.com/foster/help/sponsorship.htm
• Country: China (note: these children are in foster care or an orphanage, this is not a family sponsorship program but yet still important)
• Monthly Cost: $35
• Bethany Christian Services: https://sponsor.bethany.org/donors/sponsor.nsf/login?ReadForm&reason=1
• (Note: Link doesn't seem to open in Google Chrome)
• Country: Many
• Monthly Cost: $30

Child of Hope

As an adoptive mama, I am so very excited about this! Yet another reason why I love Trades of Hope!

Trades of Hope is pleased to announce a new Adoption Grant opportunity offered in conjunction with its Gifts of Hope program! It is called Child of Hope and its purpose is to assist families with the significant expense associated with the adoption process. It is our intent to offer up to two grants, each totaling between $500 and $1,000, every calendar year.   Applicants will be considered both from within the Trades of Hope Compassion Entrepreneur community as well as from its outside customer community.

First year grants will be made in December 2013. Completed applications must be received by November 15, 2013.  

The program is being independently administered by Compassion Entrepreneurs:  Colleen Biegger and Linda Jenkins.  All applications will be treated and considered in strictest confidence.  Please contact one of them for more information and for an application.  

              Colleen Biegger                              Linda Jenkins     

            cmbiegger@gmail.com                jenkins.toh@att.net

               (515) 988-1310                          (914) 591-9332

We look forward to seeing families blessed through this program! 

Trades of Hope - Empowering Women Out of Poverty

About a year ago I became a Compassion Entrepreneur for Trades of Hope. In case you've never heard of Trades of Hope, in a nutshell it is a fair trade organization that helps create sustainable business for artisans around the world; particularly in areas where women are devalued, unable to get an honorable job, or have been freed from slavery.  In honor of my one year "anniversary" I though it appropriate to talk about why I love this fair trade organization so much.

Trades of Hope's tag line is "Empowering Women out of Poverty."  It's nice, it's catchy, but what does that really mean. I'm going to use some pictures to explain the profound impact of those five little words.

This is my daughter, nearly 4, sporting the new turtle backpack from Trades of Hope, made in Guatemala. The bright colors are so fun, this picture doesn't do this lovely soft pack/friend justice! She can put quite a bit into that backpack, the shell is quite spacious!

This is "Jayanthi" who was one of the 27 million slaves world wide. That is until International Justice Mission (IJM) freed her and the other slaves who were working at a rock quarry and rice mill. (Picture from IJM's FB page.) This adorable little girl doesn't look much older than my daughter or nieces. And yet she grew up living and working in slavery. I'll just let that sink in a bit while you look at her stunning "I'm now free" smile.

This is "Yulisa" who was stripped of her innocence when she was 5 years old and left for dead. In her case her family actively sought justice with IJM, but in many other cases families are so poverty stricken that they sometimes sell their children to the sex trade or other form of slavery to survive.  Other children are stolen and are part of human trafficking. (Read my book review of "Terrify No More.") Living in a land of plenty, I cannot even begin to fathom what that might be like. And the fact that there are millions of slaves makes my eyes start to glaze over because of the sheer number. BUT that's not where the story ends. This is where hope begins.

Why am I telling you about "Jayanthi" and "Yulisa"? What do they have in common with my daughter. And what do they and IJM have to do with Trades of Hope?

I'm so glad you asked! See, girls like "Jayanthi" and "Yulisa" are NO different than my daughter. They didn't ask to be slaves, to have childhood stripped from them before they even experienced innocence, to be sold and used like property. When I see these girls, I see my daughter.  Each child is precious and a blessing. Life is precious. 

Organizations like IJM help free those who were slaves. But that's only part of it. What else is there for them? What prevents them from having to go back to slavery?  That's where organizations like Trades of Hope come in - teaching women a trade so they can become artisans and provide for their families. Not a handout, but skills to live. Making a difference to that one. Not only is the Trade useful but Hope is very powerful and contagious.

Products like the Guatemalan Turtle Backpack help little girls like this, so they don't have to live like many children in Guatemala do; being street children, or Living in the city dump.  Women of many walks of life: mothers, grandmothers, widows, single women, in the USA and around the world can have an honorable job and provide for themselves and their families. Meet our Trade of Hope artisans.

Please take time to check out all the beautiful, handmade, fair trade items available at Trades of Hope. New items are being added throughout the year. They are beautifully crafted and economically priced (all items are under $50!). You can bring hope to artisans all over the world by purchasing items, hosting a party, or becoming a fellow Compassion Entrepreneur. You can help create sustainable business that changes the course of lives when purchasing items you would purchase at a department store anyway! Pretty cool huh?

While my daughter sports the adorable and fun turtle backpack, another woman's daughter has the hope of a better life. That is why I love Trades of Hope, that is why I love being a Compassion Entrepreneur.

Frugal Omma Shout Out!

I am addicted to Homestead Survival. They are on Facebook: Homestead-Survival and blogger: http://homesteadsurvival.blogspot.com/

There is quite a bit of random stuff in there, but if you garden or are a do it yourself kind of person, you need to check it out!

Omma Brand Shout Out

I have a confession, I dislike cooking. I love to bake. I could bake all day (ok, I have actually done that). But I just find cooking to be such a chore.  That's why I love to use my slow cooker! And why I love to make big batches of whatever I do cook and freeze a portion of it for next week.  It's like making two meals at once!

And I have to give a shout out to http://onceamonthmom.com/ who has great slow cooker recipes that you can freeze.

You need gluten free and dairy free? She has it.

You need baby food ideas? She has it.

You need vegetarian meals because you are vegetarian or are just trying to save on meat costs? She has it.

Fellow Blogger Shout Out

Um, so sorry for the loooong gap in posts here.  My next post might give a hint as to why I've been away so long...

But! I wanted to give a Frugal Omma Shout Out to this fellow frugal blogger.  Check it out!

(Or cut and paste: http://learningthefrugallife.blogspot.com/)

The Menu Mom

Time for an Omma Brand shout out to "THhe Menu Mom"! www.themenumom.com

You can sign up for emails and get great stuff like the following:


Easy Breakfast Recipe Book:
http://www.menuplanningcentral.com/EasyBreakfastRecipes.pdf

Easy Breakfast Ebook:
http://www.menuplanningcentral.com/EasyBreakfastEbook.pdf

Halloween Party Recipe and Game Idea Book:
http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/Kid%20Halloween%20Fun%20Recipe%20E-book.pdf

Freezing Food Guide:
http://www.menuplanningcentral.com/FreezerFoodsUsed.pdf

Freezer Recipes Ebook:
http://www.menuplanningcentral.com/FreezerRecipes.pdf

A Year of Snacks:
http://www.menuplanningcentral.com/yearofsnacks.pdf

Summer Smoothies Ebook:
http://www.themenumom.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/SummerTimeSmoothieRecipes.pdf

Mother's Day Report:
http://www.menuplanningcentral.com/mothersday.pdf

*** Also this year we introduced our Blog Frog Community - you can find that here:  http://www.theblogfrog.com/themenumom

Our Facebook Page grew by leaps and bounds (we love to spoil our FB fans!)  http://www.facebook.com/themenumom

And we're also on Twitter!  http://www.twitter.com/themenumom ***

Cereal

Here's an Omma Brand shout out to Three Sisters Cereal.  All their cereal comes in ziplock bags to save on packaging (part of the savings is passed on to you too).  It's natural cereal that tastes great.  My little girl likes the Three Sisters Honey O's over the name brands.  AND you can really stock up when there's a sale, waaaay cheaper than the regular boxes of cereal.

Clean it, eat it

Here's a shout out to Shaklee's Basic H.  This stuff is natural, it cleans great, it's safe, you could drink it (that's me saying that, not Shaklee, and I'm not saying you should drink it just that you could and you'd still be ok).

Basic H is strong enough to clean your bathroom and safe enough to clean those nasty pesticides off your apple.  If you buy one natural cleaning product this should be it and you'll never need to buy anything else.

Disclaimer: I suppose I should also say that I don't get any money from my Omma Brands shout outs.  Just want to give my praises where they are due.  ^_^

Budget Tracking

I'm a fan of knowing your budget.  Realistically knowing what goes out in a month.  Knowing those "odd ball" expenses that don't come up every month such as paying insurance premiums.  If you don't have a budget here's how to start.

1. Write down every penny that goes out of your pocket during the month.  Every.single.penny.  If you don't know what's going out and where it's going it's rather difficult to get a realistic budget.  Use a spreadsheet or just write it down on a piece of paper, whatever works for you.  It sounds fine and dandy to set a goal of $x for say groceries but if you actually spend $y and it is no where near $x then it isn't realistic.
2. Add up all of the "odd ball" expenses.  Divide that up over 24 pay periods (assuming you or someone in your household get's paid twice a month) and then take that out of your paycheck on payday.  If you do online banking you can do this automatically.  That way when that car insurance bill comes in your mailbox you won't be scrambling to pay the bill.  (I'm also a fan of doing automatic savings this way too.)
3. After you see where all your money is going over the course of two months you can see where you may need to make changes.  You may not have realized you were spending so much money on renting movies for example.  Spending a $1 here or there does add up.
4. Write your budget down.  Be realistic but set goals that you think you can reach.  You may have been spending $y on groceries but with some organization, coupon clipping, sale hunting, baking more from scratch, etc. you may be able to lower that amount spent.
5. Put that budgeted money in cash, in envelopes.  David Ramsey (Omma "brand" shout out) is a fan of this method.  We "feel it" more when we use cash.  It's more "personal."  And it is visual.  I've tried the method of writing down what was spent on our credit card to stay within that limit and it didn't work for me.  I always ended up spending more.  But when I have cash in hand I can see how much is there, how much is for each week, and how much I have left.

Rebates

I enjoy rebates, basically free stuff.  For the cost of a little time and a stamp I get some fun free items. 

Words for the wise:

• You have to fill out and mail said rebate with all the items they request by the time they say it should be mailed by.  Otherwise you just bought it at full price.
• Make a copy of it (scanners are great for this as you don't have to print them out) and follow up if they take more than 6 weeks to return your money.  If they claim they never got it then kindly offer to mail them a copy.
• Take note if a brand doesn't return your money so you never do a rebate with them or any of their affiliates again.  They are officially on your "you irk me" list.
• Walgreens has great reliable rebates.  The down side is that they are in store gift cards.  But if you do shopping there that is just as good.  Note: They don't mind if you check out multiple times.  So get your priciest item first, the load it onto your card (after you've done this once already and have the card), and then check out the next item with the money you just got back, rinse and repeat.
• Menards also has good reliable rebates and your DH will be impressed that you shopped there.  It is also in store gift cards but DH will appreciate them for when he needs to buy manly stuff.  Just remind him to use them!
• Rebate items make great gifts, just ask my mom!

Omma's Brands!

I thought I'd start a new category of Omma's brands.  Like you, I have brands that I believe are tried and true.  And I'll periodically give a "shout out" to these brands.

Since I'm a babywearing Omma, I'll start with baby carriers.  A good carrier is worth its weight in gold.  Don't bother with anything that isn't ergonomically designed for both you and baby (so that means Baby Bjorn is not on my list).

My all time favorite carrier is the chunei.  It is based off the Korean podegi which less skill involved on the wearer's part.  It distributes the weight of your baby/child along your torso and keeps your child in a natural seated position.  My kids and I LOVE this carrier.  The downside of the carrier is that it is not easily adjustable between wearers (it is based on shirt size) so my DH cannot wear this carrier.

For my DH I got him the ErgoBaby Sport carrier.  He is tall and the sport has an extra four inches in the shoulder straps so that the chest strap fits where it should (on his chest).  I can also adjust it down enough for me.  The sport is a lighter-weight material than the original so it breathes better for baby and wearer which is great for summer.  The downside is that it really is a baby carrier instead of a toddler carrier.  The back panel is only 13" x 13" (vs. 16" tall on the chunei).  So as your child grows their legs may become more "pinched" in this carrier as they lose that natural seated position due to their long heavy legs.  Although weight wise it will be difficult to outgrow this as the weight limit is 90 lbs!

Unfortunately most of these "premium" carriers are not available at a regular store.  Which makes it difficult to find the best one.  There are certain babywearing groups that will have periodic meetings where you can try on different member's carriers.  This is the best way to try them out.  Otherwise do research and make the best guess possible (and find a place that will accept your return for a full refund if you hate the carrier).

Two great websites for finding out what carrier is best for your body type and babywearing needs (the first one also has a forum which you need to register for free to see but has more reviews from actual users):

http://www.thebabywearer.com/
http://www.theportablebaby.com/carrierfeatures.html

If you are feeling adventurous, you can SEW your own carrier.  Here's a link for various patterns and help: http://www.thebabywearer.com/lists/Sewing.htm

Depending on what you want, it may be cheaper to buy a nice used version rather than make it yourself.  For certain carriers the materials may be expensive.  But price it out, you could make a custom carrier for not a lot of money!  (Just be sure to reinforce all connecting pieces for safety reasons!)