From Famished to Famous: The Story of our Current Poster Child
Filipina in July 2011, at the beginning of the Anemia Feeding Program.
She was the face of hunger, improper nutrition and poor health: so small and lethargic. She did not run and play with the other children, she sat and watched from a distance, not smiling, not laughing, simply watching. She had no light in her sweet little eyes. I saw the future and promise of a woman of God caught in the body of a hungry, malnourished child.
In 2011, Circle of Hope partnered with Texas Tech University to start an anemia feeding program and research project. We knew that without proper intervention and nutrition children would not reach their God-given potential. We collected data and put the most anemic of the children at the Grace Center in a feeding program that received goat meat daily.
What we did not know was how uniquely personal it would be. The tiny faces were not just faces of children who needed nutrition; they were faces of God’s kingdom!
Kaitlyn Miller, 2011, holding another child with severe anemia.
It was then I met Filipina. She had no energy or drive toward childhood, no desire to play. Over the year of the project I loved hearing of her progress and I was thrilled when I saw her a year later, playing! There something so magical and pure about childhood and to see it restored is a gift!
Fast-forward five years, Karen and I were talking about our plan for fall fundraising and she told me she had some beautiful images for us to use. A cry of joy escaped when I saw her, Filipina, looking SO healthy and beautiful! She is literally our poster child this fall, what a story of God’s grace!
Filipina, 2016, healthy, learning, growing!
We are approaching another year of difficult hunger in Malawi. Crops were impacted greatly by the drought and people are without food for years in a row. When I hear this, I am drawn back to sweet Filipina’s face when I first met her…what if it had remained that way?
We need YOU to partner with us so we can continue addressing hunger, malnutrition, and anemia. We want food security for Malawi and we are starting down a path towards it with your help! Our school lunches have made all the difference in the world for our kiddos. They now receive TWO hot meals per day at school on our campus. In a hungry community that is the difference in life and death, in existing and thriving.
Join us today! Give a gift of food and life in someone’s honor this holiday season…contribute to our school lunch program or to the new kitchen and dining hall. My heart is forever humbled seeing what a difference a meal per day can make…allow yourself the privilege of joining this journey!
