Spoiler alert : you can’t do it alone.
We’ve all heard the cheesy story about the starfish, right? Here’s a condensed version — a father and son are walking along the beach, and there are hundreds of starfish that have washed ashore. The starfish are dying because they are out of water. The kid begins throwing them in one by one, the dad makes a remark about how ‘you can’t save all of them’ and the kid replies ‘yeah, but I saved that one.’
I’ve come to realize how true that really is. A few weeks ago, I shared on my instagram a story of the ripple effect that helping others has. I’ll share it below:
Her precious mama told us about her neighbors who just gave birth to two tiny, precious twin girls. “They are chiquititas, como Estefani!” she reflected on when Estefani was first admitted into our care. Yesterday, Hope of Life arranged for the little 4lb babies to be brought in. They are our third set of twin girls this year, and I’m so proud of Estefani’s mama for making us aware of them.
This is why you do for one what you wish you could do for everyone. Helping others is not some sort of debilitating crutch that leads them into a life of dependancy… Rather, giving help is an extension of your hand to lift them out of their current situation. If it is done in grace, love, and with some education, it can truly change future generations. Empowered people empower people. [Acts 20:35]
Empowered people empower people, y’all. That’s just a fact. And you know what? So much has changed since I posted that!! Estefani has had her first surgery for cleft palate. Although she had some complications, she is doing well and awaiting another surgery for her mouth.
Along with Estefani, the little twins have made tons of progress as well! Keila and Keimy are so much bigger, much more alert, and love being held. Their mama has also taken pride in helping other mama’s in the hospital — sharing her phone for them to use, and helping them care for their babies even though she has double the work.
I feel like I say this all too often– but the transformation we see in the mamas is just as beautiful as the transformation we see in their precious babies. I truly believe the change in them happens after receiving love– unmerited, unabandoned, unreciprocated love. The kind of love that comes without a price tag, but is worth the weight of the entire world.
Andy Stanley says it best, “Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.”
And while that alone may not change the world, it will change one person’s world so that they may have the opportunity to share this free gift with others. While Hope of Life is continuing treatment for children like Estefani, Keimy and Keila, we are also focused on bringing help to the nearly 2 million people affected by the recent volcanic eruption near Antigua, Guatemala.
News reports are showing that nearly 3,000 people are still being searched for. Time is of the essence right now, if people are trapped beneath collapsed homes, they need to be found as soon as possible if they have any chance of survival. The National Institute of Seismology continues to evacuate residents as the volcano continues to have subsequent, but much more mild eruptions. This places the already affected villages in extremely high risk for further damage. Although Hope of Life is already on the ground bringing help and hope to this tragedy, the thing I love most is that the ministry has not halted other projects. Tomorrow, we leave early to bring back 2 malnourished babies. The ministry is a ministry that never sleeps, as we continue to mobilize and bring help to where it is most needed.
If you would like to come beside us and partner with Hope of Life as we “do for one what we wish we could do for everyone” click HERE to donate to victims of the volcano eruption.
I’m thankful to serve in a ministry that springs into action, no matter the cost, no matter the place.
I’m thankful that love and service have a ripple effect, and that we can reach many by first starting to reach people one by one.
I’m even more thankful to know a God who brings beauty from ashes– within the lives of these children, the lives we are reaching near Antigua, and even in my own life… I am able to love because He first loved me.
You, too, are loved.
-Whitney
