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Grace Chapel April 1, 2012

Grace Chapel April 1, 2012. Obstetric and Traumatic Fistula. A fistula is a medical condition brought about by obstructed labor and/or trauma leaving a woman with incontinence, resulting in isolation from family, friends and society, a lack of dignity, and a loss of hope.

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Grace Chapel April 1, 2012

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  1. Grace Chapel April 1, 2012

  2. Obstetric and Traumatic Fistula A fistula is a medical condition brought about by obstructed labor and/or trauma leaving a woman with incontinence, resulting in isolation from family, friends and society, a lack of dignity, and a loss of hope Photo courtesy of the Fistula Foundation

  3. Fistula Statistics • 90% of fistula patients consider suicide as a solution • 2-5 million women estimated to have fistula worldwide • The World Health Organization estimates there may be as many as 50,000 — 100,000 new cases of fistula each year, yet the global treatment capacity is less than 20,000 cases a year. • One $450.00 donation can provide a life-restoring surgery for one woman. • According to the United Nations Population Fund, success rates for fistula surgery are as high as 90% for uncomplicated cases (closer to 60% for more complicated cases).

  4. ''These are the women most to be pitied in the world,'' said Dr. Hamlin. ''They're alone in the world, ashamed of their injuries. For lepers, or AIDS victims, there are organizations that help. But nobody knows about these women or helps them.‘ – Dr. Catherine Hamlin, The New York Times May 16, 2003.Dr. Hamlin has helped 24,000 women overcome fistulas

  5. The “Journey” • The “Bubble” • Awareness • Discomfort • Decision • Action or Inaction

  6. Awareness Brooke Mimi • Obliviously living my life within my “bubble of safety”Read The Hole in Our Gospel – God used this book to burst my “bubble”, open my eyes, and break my heart • Recalls a man dragging himself past a church. He will likely drag himself through the rest of his life because he was a victim of Polio. I had my Polio shot a few weeks before….it cost me $60

  7. Discomfort ”A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.” Luke 10:31 & 32

  8. Discomfort Can Manifest Itself in a Variety of Ways * Fear Despair Grief Shock Guilt * More of this is addressed in Gary Haugen’s Just Courage

  9. If you are going to do something about your new awareness, it is going to cost you something. Decision • “But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him 34.35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.” Luke 10:33-35 THE COST

  10. Decision • Brooke • I knew I had to “do something” but had no idea what it was; asked many to pray for me and remained open to God’s leading • Read Half the Sky – Revealed my calling for fistula…the stories of those living under its weight were seared on my heart

  11. Inaction

  12. Inaction 19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.” Luke 16:19-21

  13. Action • Decision to create Circle of Hope • Establishing Hope for Our Sisters, Inc. • Willingness to lead Gathering for Hope

  14. Casting Stones… “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” ― Mother Teresa

  15. Mission of Hope for Our Sisters, Inc. • Our mission is two-fold: The first is to raise awareness of and support for women suffering from fistula • The second is to encourage and mobilize women to follow God’s calling on their lives as they are invited to give of their time, talents and treasures. • When we speak at teas, gathering and events, we touch on both aspects of our mission.

  16. Hope for Our Sisters, Inc. Guiding Verse • Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6)

  17. We Want to Help Move People from • Bubble • Awareness • Discomfort • Decision • Inaction • Action

  18. Hope for Our Sisters, Inc. is interested in encouraging the next generation to use their talents to help those who suffer from fistula. Today, on display, are two next generation photographers, Georgia Balentine (right) and Jessi Johnson (left). Georgia, age 14, had created the Sea and Surf collection after spending her family vacation in Washington State last summer. Jessi, age 10, created the Butterfly Collection. She began this project last summer while visiting her Aunt and Uncle in Wisconsin. She expanded her collection this spring while spending some time at the Butterfly Place in Westford, MA.

  19. We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.Mother Teresa

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