Our Savior Lutheran Church, your great generosity is helping babies to survive the crucial first 12 months, when their lives are at the greatest risk and they are most vulnerable to illness and hunger. Nallely is a new mother in the Survival program you support. In the photo above, she receives a gift basket of newborn supplies from Survival staff.
Impact of Your Gift
At Iglesia Bautista Sendero de Luz in Managua, Nicaragua, your support is providing proper nutrition, access to medical care and a broad range of life-saving neo- and postnatal supports for infants and their mothers. You are ensuring babies born into crippling poverty have the opportunity to thrive, setting them on the path to a healthy, happy childhood.
Ministry Progress at Iglesia Bautista Sendero de Luz
(July 2021 – December 2021)
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- 28 babies and their mothers received care.
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- 2 babies were born, both were at a healthy weight.
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- 1 baby, on average per month, received treatment for malnutrition.
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- 8 babies celebrated their first birthdays and transitioned to Compassion’s sponsorship program.
A Letter From a Caregiver at Iglesia Bautista Sendero de Luz
Dear Friends,
God bless you, my name is Nallely and I am the mother of baby Joel. I want to express my gratitude to God, to the sponsors, and to the church for this Survival program. I entered the program when I was pregnant and the Survival center has been a great blessing to me and my baby. I am 15 years old and I had to abandon my studies before graduating. I had no way to face the expenses that are incurred when having a baby at my age.
Throughout the process of pregnancy and the birth of my baby, I have had the support of the Survival staff. They gave me a Bible and supplies for the course work, a mosquito net, and I also receive monthly food packages.
When my baby was born the staff brought a gift basket of newborn supplies. Each month, staff visit me at home and we go over lessons on parenting and infant care. The visits have helped me learn how to raise my baby. I also participate in group Bible lessons and learn more about the Word of God.
My baby was hospitalized with pneumonia shortly after his birth, but God had mercy on him and He healed him. Throughout this process the brothers and sisters of the church cared about the health of my baby and today my baby is healthy.
I say goodbye to you, thanking you with all my heart and wishing that God blesses you.
Sincerely,
Nallely
Recent Survival Activities at Iglesia Bautista Sendero de Luz
Currently, 19 mother and baby pairs are enrolled in the Survival initiatives at Iglesia Bautista Sendero de Luz. Each mother has the comfort of knowing that she will receive comprehensive support as she navigates the first year of her baby’s life, with breastfeeding assistance, regular growth monitoring and supplemental food and vitamins. Mothers in the Survival program also have the opportunity to learn a new skill so they can earn an income to help support their young families. Thank you for making all this possible.
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- A Survival Specialist visits a mother in her home, they are reviewing a lesson on income-generation. Mothers were encouraged to learn at least one skill that would provide income for their households.
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- During the pandemic, Survival staff met with mothers in their homes to continue Survival coursework. A Survival Specialist and new mother discuss a lesson on the nutritional needs of growing children.
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- Irvin and his mother received a care package of groceries and hygiene supplies. Survival staff followed health protocols as they delivered food and supplies to all of the participants in the program.
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- In September, medical staff visited the church to provide health checkups and labwork for babies in the Survival program. Complete health checkups are provided twice a year.
Survival Program Spotlight: Treating and Preventing Malnutrition
Malnutrition is an underlying cause in more than a third of all deaths of children under five (UNICEF). These deaths can be attributed to stunting, severe wasting and restricted growth inside the womb. But most of these deaths can be prevented through proven and simple interventions. With this in mind, the Survival program incorporates several key services to preserve the physical well-being of these precious little ones:
- Therapeutic feeding services
- Education on preparing healthy, balanced meals
- Provision of food packs that include essential nutrition and vitamin supplements
- Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life
- Regular monitoring of each baby’s height and weight
A healthy birth weight is critical to a baby’s survival. By focusing on caregiver nutrition through prenatal care and nutritious food, newborns registered with Survival have up to a 30% better likelihood of having a normal birth weight.
Thank You for Your Support
Your gifts are helping to create healthier lives for mothers and babies. May the Lord bless you as you have blessed those in need. Thank you for partnering with Compassion International!