Will you consider joining in our Living Free Together 2018 COMPASSION Initiative? Our first project is to join with Mission India to raise funds for two literacy classes for women who have never learned to read. ~ Suzie
118 degrees, no roads, a mountain of trash
I stood in a rag picking slum in India. Houses with dirt floors and rags as the only roof. Tires holding those rags down while children scooted in and out. Little ones picking through mountains of trash.
Later, in that same rag picking slum, I sat with a group of women and children as their animator (a teacher) taught the women how to read. We sat in a dark tent with crazy wiring that snaked up a metal pole. Light flickered. The floor was dirt. Women proudly read from their workbooks, and some from a Bible. They smiled shyly, so excited to read. Something they had been told they could never have.
There were moments I staggered under the weight of oppression placed on the women and little girls I met on that vision trip. I’ve traveled to 19 countries. I’ve witnessed oppression. I’ve seen poverty. This was different. This was darkness that cast its widest shadow on little girls from the moment they were born.
They were called untouchable. The lowest of the lowest caste.
But in that tent, these women were given a gift of literacy and of hope. Little girls sat in their mamas’ laps, taking in every word. Women impacted, yes, but generations would be influenced.
As I climbed on the plane to come home, I was thankful to be a small part of such a beautiful adventure. Later, a leader in the ministry I’m so privileged to be part of (P31), challenged me.
“Suzie, do something. If this is a burden, pursue compassion in your own life.”
And I had, but God was asking me to do more. In a world where the enemy wants to divide us, and mix us up in debate and meaningless arguments, there are still women who God loves who have no voice.
Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them, Suzie.
Those were the words deep in my soul.
So, we started the 2018 Living Free Together Compassion Initiatives.
We’ll launch three projects in 2018 . . . together.
Our first project is to partner with Mission India, the amazing ministry that has created literacy programs across India, specifically for those who have and would never have the opportunity to learn to read.
[bctt tweet=”In a world that tempts us to divide, let’s unite to make a difference in the lives of our oppressed sisters. #CompassionLFT https://wp.me/p4jbdw-4xl #joinus ” username=”suzanneeller”]
Our goal was to fund one literacy class — 30 women, one teacher, all the materials. We started in January and thought it would take all winter and spring.
It took 18 days! Thirty women forever changed. Those classes have already begun!
So, we knelt and asked God what to do next, and the answer came quickly.
Do it again.
Our current goal is to raise funds for one more class, and maybe more (see me dancing in my living room, that’s me thinking there could even be more!).
All it takes is you, and you, and me, and us.
$5. $10. Whatever you can give. $40 (one night of pizza, bread sticks, and soda) sponsors one woman for one year of literacy class and all her materials. It trains an animator. It teaches her how to read. How to measure. It teaches her how to read signs so she can traverse city streets and public transportation. It gives her a fifth-year education, which opens doors for her.
It teaches her that she is valuable. It teaches her that Jesus loves her.
Will you consider joining us? It’s easy.
In a world where division is becoming commonplace, let’s be uncommonly united and come alongside our sisters and make a difference. Let’s tell her that we see her and we care. Let’s wrap around little girls considered “untouchable,” and touch them with his love.
Check out this link. Donate. A little. A lot. Whatever God asks of you. I’m reaching with a huge hug to say thank you.
Suzie
Thank you Suzie for this initiative. May God bless you.
Suzie, reading this post makes my heart fill with joy and sorrow. How can precious little girls be seen so dirty…so unwanted? Breaks my heart. But God. He sees these precious beauties as His perfect creation. Loved deeply. Wanted. Seen.
Thank you for bringing this to the light. I had no idea that this was taking place in India. I learned about it from you. Thank you.
Father, the One who loves each of us equally, we thank you for this opportunity to help change lives. We thank you for stirring Suzie’s heart to do more. We thank you for the LFT Compassion Team and the hard work to set this in motion. We ask you to bless this effort. Run with it. Do big, life changing opportunities to change the women who are obsessed and use it for your glory. How can I help? Show me…move my heart. Moves other hearts, too. We thank you for allowing us to partner with you. Thank you Jesus. Amen.
Amen!!
We can’t do it all, but we can do something! Beautiful call to action, Suzie. Thanks for this opportunity to serve as Jesus’ hands and feet.
https://sowhope.org/
Please look into this organization- my friend Mary shares your burden for women & passion for doing something about it.
I pray for both initiatives- there’s never enough resources to bring hope love & joy to all the oppressed women & girls we share this planet with.
Praise & blessings on you heart & mission.
I have always believed that being able to read is the one thing that can make all t,he difference in a persons life. I struggled to learn to read but love it now. I always read to my daughter, when she was young, and she too developd a love for reading. I can’t imagine being a mama and not being able to read to my child. This Compassion initiative will have such an amazing ripple affect. I’m so blessed to be able to support this effort and know that I am making a difference in lives around the world-if we each do our small part we can end illiteracy and then end Bible illiteracy-Big goals, yup, but we have an even bigger God!!
Done! Thanks for the opportunity.
I remember these days with you, Suz! And absolutely! Let’s partner together with the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do… again!
Thank you for being a voice to share God’s heart for these precious women! My heart was so touched by your story.
I have loved to read since I was a little girl. I cannot imagine what my life would’ve been like without it. The written word has educated me, enlightened me, entertained me, and most notably help save my soul by giving me knowledge of God and Jesus. I could not read this today and let the opportunity pass to enrich someone else’s life in a similar way. I do not know who my donation will benefit, but I know God does and I pray his blessing upon her and her family. Thank you for your heart of compassion, Susie, and thank you for highlighting this worthy cause.
Thank you Tiffany!