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Orphans and the world at large

Losing a parent is undoubtedly a traumatic experience for any child. It is an experience that will follow that child, likely playing a larg...

Thursday, December 11, 2014

The health fight continues

Malaria progress threatened by Ebola, drug resistance, says WHO
Though there have been steady gains in the fight against one of the world's deadliest diseases, challenges remain.
The past decade has seen major gains in the fight against malaria, with steadily declining cases, “dramatically” fewer deaths, and the global mortality rate nearly halved since 2000, according to a new report from the World Health Organization. But progress is fragile and there are many emerging challenges — including anti-malarial drug resistance and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which has completely overwhelmed local health systems and had a “devastating impact on malaria treatment” in the region.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Be a part of Amnesty international Week

Nov 25 through December 10 (Amnesty International)

This year's theme--From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World
Dear Friends,
 When our homes are peaceful the world will experience peace.  We will love each other just as others love us!  When our homes are violent, everything around us is a threat, acts of kindness are interpreted as hatred. When our homes are violent, the utterance of the most simple word that reminds us of violence provokes anger and results in a violent reaction.
Join the international community of women and men, as they speak out this week against violence on us, women. Chances are you have experienced violence, know someone who has or is currently in a violent relationship. 

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Getting the villagers to trust westerners can be an uphill task

Its sometimes not very easy to get through to my people . You can't blame them if they are not trusting , experience has thought them otherwise.

"Public health experts stress importance of trust in West Africa as they fight Ebola
When public health workers began canvassing West African villages this spring and summer warning of something called Ebola, they were met with fear — but not of the deadly virus. Residents said the outbreak was a scheme to collect aid money, or even to collect body parts. It wasn't until they saw Ebola's death toll that residents began to trust health workers. But if that trust had been in place when the virus first appeared, the outbreak, which has killed 5,000 people this year, might have gone differently, according to Tim Roberton and Hopkins colleagues, who evaluated the outbreak response for the Red Cross."

The Ebola Saga continues

Mourning the death of a selfless man who died as a hero trying to save his people. The Ebola saga continues.


Dr.Martin Salia, surgeon and a native of the West African nation whose family lives in Maryland, was flown from Sierra Leone on Saturday and rushed to the Nebraska Medical Center's Biocontainment Unit. He died about 36 hours later.

Friday, November 14, 2014

More Recent update !!

Johns Hopkins experts help train Congolese health workers to fight Ebola
Goal is to train 1,000 to combat outbreak in West Africa
As Ebola continues to all-too-swiftly spread and inflict its human toll in West Africa, overstretched and undermanned health care systems need all hands on deck. Johns Hopkins wants to help send in a cavalry.
A team of faculty members from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, School of Nursing, and the School of Medicine are assisting in an effort to train 1,000 Democratic Republic of Congo health care workers—including nurses, doctors, lab techs, and hygienists—to combat the outbreak in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
The health care workers first will be trained in the DRC, then sent in waves to the West African locations where they are needed most. The first group will be deployed later this month.
"There simply are not enough health care workers in regions of Liberia now to effectively deal with this outbreak," said David Peters, chair of the Department of International Health at the Bloomberg School and the team leader for the Johns Hopkins involvement in this initiative. "We need them."
Johns Hopkins researchers will all also work with those in Liberia and DRC to improve data collection and analysis, and to improve modeling based on this data for both epidemic response and preparedness.
The initiative, which will be logistically handled by UNICEF, is based on the Democratic Republic of Congo's experience in effectively dealing with seven Ebola outbreaks since 1976, and that government's offer to provide trained health workers to Liberia to assist with combating the current Ebola outbreak.
Peters, who recently returned from Liberia, said the DRC has a lot to offer, both in terms of manpower and capability.

"They've witnessed firsthand that a quick response is the most important," Peters says. "You also need comprehensive community outreach, good case identification and isolation, good burial measures, and good medical care. This is the type of knowledge we're looking to help pass on."

Monday, November 10, 2014

Things are slowing down with this outbreak !!

For Americans, Ebola still very much foreign thing
Specialist and others say there are signs that Americans have retreated from widespread Ebola panic and have reached a kind of equilibrium when it comes to the hemorrhagic fever that is ravaging parts of West Africa. In the news today ,
Haiti imposes West Africa travel ban as Ebola headlines fade in America
where do we go from here , dealing with those are still sick , others who have lost loved ones and most of all children who are now orphans as a result !!

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Some questions and Answers to to the big issue at present !

How can you get infected with Ebola?
You can be infected with the Ebola virus by direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of someone who is sick with Ebola. (Bodily fluids, according to the Centers for Disease Control, include “urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk and semen.” You could also be infected by needles or syringes contaminated with the virus or by contact with infected fruit bats or primates (like apes and monkeys).

What are some ways you can’t get infected with Ebola?
You cannot be infected with Ebola by contact with someone who is not ill. If a person is infected, but not exhibiting symptoms of Ebola, that person cannot infect you. You cannot be infected by casual (non-blood and non-body fluid) contact even with someone who is sick with Ebola. You can’t get it through the air, through water, or through food grown or legally purchased in the United States. There is no evidence that mosquitos or other insects can transmit Ebola.

Am I at risk for Ebola by doing what I do every day?
Going to class, attending programs, going out for coffee or participating in other typical activities are not risk factors for contracting Ebola. In the United States, we are at very low risk for an Ebola outbreak.


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Still in the news

Ebola is still devastating West Africa, in one chart
The number of known Ebola cases in the US dropped to one on Tuesday when the second nurse to contract the disease was deemed cured. But Ebola cases are still skyrocketing in West Africa, new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows.
To deal with the growing epidemic, the World Health Organization projects that West Africa needs 5,000 health-care workers. But, as Vox's Sarah Kliff wrote, recent restrictions on health-care workers returning from West Africa to the US could actually discourage doctors and nurses from volunteering in the region.

That could have detrimental effects in the US, too. If Ebola cases continue to climb in West Africa, the chances of the disease spreading to other parts of the world increase as well.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

More from the news !

The Washington Post
No unity over Ebola monitoring of travelers
The Ebola quarantine controversy has become a chaotic brawl involving politics, science and the law. The rules on quarantining health-care workers returning from West Africa are changing almost daily and varying according to geography and political climate. The Pentagon announced Monday that Army personnel returning to their home base in Italy from Liberia will be held in quarantine for 21 days — even though none have symptoms of Ebola or were exposed to patients infected with the virus. 

Just thinking ....

In recent times , there has been certain health issues involving a great amount of people ,couple years ago it was the H1N1 virus , now its the Ebola Virus that is killing many people. At the end of the day we are left with families and especially children needing help to continue with life. That is where you and I come in . To make a contribution of some sort to help those that have found themselves in this unfortunate situations. For those of us from West Africa, we are going to have to deal with the aftermath issues of today's Ebola.So let us now start to think of how we can help each other prevent future occurrence as well as take care of those who will be left behind.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Support a great cause !!

It's almost the end of year and we have been working hard to gather clothing , school supplies and more for kids in orphanages. Now we need your help in shipping these items to them for the holidays and the new school year. All you need to do is visit our website and make a tax free donation . Any and every amount is welcome and greatly appreciated. www.foadac.org
you can also send us your comments , ideas and more -foadac@yahoo.com , www.foadac.blogspot.com. Many Thanks in advance.










Yesterday foadac received a large donation of books for kids , crayons , book bags and more. Many thanks Johns Hopkins for that support always

Hopkins News !!

JHSPH in the News October 23, 2014**

Reuters
Some U.S. hospitals weigh withholding care to Ebola patients
The Ebola crisis is forcing the American healthcare system to consider the previously unthinkable: withholding some medical interventions because they are too dangerous to doctors and nurses and unlikely to help a patient. Officials from at least three hospital systems interviewed by Reuters said they were considering whether to withhold individual procedures or leave it up to individual doctors to determine whether an intervention would be performed.
Nancy Kass comments.
Agence France-Presse via Yahoo! News
Cuban response to Ebola outbreak helps thaw relations with US
Cuba’s contribution of hundreds of doctors and nurses to fight Ebola puts the island at the forefront of the international response and is even thawing relations with a sworn enemy the United States. Despite its small population and strapped economy, Cuba has sent 165 medical professionals to Sierra Leone, a larger contingent than most Western countries. Another 91 Cuban doctors and nurses are to begin work shortly in Liberia and Guinea, and Cuba has pledged to send more than 200 others.
Diane Griffin comments.
The Blaze

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

From the media to Us !

Why This Ebola Epidemic Won’t Become the ‘Black Death’ of the 21st Century
A new CDC report warns that, without intervention, Ebola cases in West Africa could double every 20 days. But basic improvements in medical infrastructure can — and will — be able to stop the bleeding.
The ongoing outbreak of Ebola in a three-country region of West Africa is the worst that mankind has ever seen.
The latest assessment estimated that more than 5,800 people have been infected and 2,803 people have died, but many health officials warn the toll could be much higher.
At its current infection rate, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 20,000 Ebola cases by November in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine today. Now that the infections have moved from largely rural areas to densely populated cities, some projections show many more infections by the end of September.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed a new report Tuesday that states that without additional intervention, Ebola infections in Nigeria and Sierra Leone could reach 21,000 cases by the end of the month. That rate is expected to double every 20 days.

“If conditions continue without scale-up of interventions, cases will continue to double approximately every 20 days, and the number of cases in West Africa will rapidly reach extraordinary levels. However, the findings also indicate that the epidemic can be controlled,” the report concludes.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Keeping up with the news . Ebola and the after effect !!!

EBOLA AND THE BLACK DEATH MAY BE TERRIFYINGLY SIMILAR, SCIENCE SAYS

History does not paint the Middle Ages as a fun time. Between 1347 and 1352, a vicious plague known as the Black Death ravaged Europe, killing an estimated 20 million to 25 million people — almost a third of the population at the time. History classes have long taught that the Black Death was synonymous with the bubonic plague, a bacterial disease spread by fleas on rodents, but in the wake of the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa, researchers are discovering that the Black Death could have been an Ebolalike virus. I didn’t think the Ebola situation could get any scarier, but it just did.
Researchers Christopher Duncan and Susan Scott make the argument that the Black Death was most likely caused by a hemorrhagic virus like Ebola, rather than the bacteria related to the bubonic plague. The duo looked at everything from symptoms to the way the two diseases spread. In order to draw detailed comparisons between the medieval disease and modern Ebola, let’s revisit history class. 
So how does it compare to the Ebola virus that is currently devastating West Africa?

Brace yourself: The Black Death earned its ominous name from the black liquid that seeped out of swollen lymph nodes on the afflicted. The swollen areas, which are also known as buboes, were a defining characteristic of the disease and they usually occurred in the armpit and groin areas.
If infection reaches the blood stream, it severely damages the organs and causes blood vessels to hemorrhage, which then results in bleeding from the nose and ears and vomiting blood. These extreme symptoms are also accompanied by flulike symptoms, including fever, headaches, chills, and weakness. 
Despite the similarities, it seems that modern Ebola may be even scarier and more deadly than a disease called Black Death. According to Dr. David Dennis, coordinator of the plague program for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, victims of the Black Death, if untreated, had a mortality rate of 50 to 60 percent. Ebola, on the other hand, has a mortality rate of up to 90 percent.

Similarly, Ebola, which was formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, also starts out with flulike symptoms, including fever, headaches, and muscle aches. And like the Black Death, Ebola victims often go through a bleeding phase that can result in vomiting or coughing up blood and bleeding from the eyes, nose, and mouth. 

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Statistics

I came across this statistics and thought it was worth sharing  , though 2years old , it shows there is a major problem that is yet to be addressed,
Sometimes just seeing these numbers , will force you think of how you can help in any small way.

Visit  www.foadac.org to make a comment , share some ideas on how to help AIDS Orphans or you can simply make a donation to support the cause.

Thanks


HIV and AIDS estimates For Cameroon ( 2012 )
  • Number of people living with HIV
600,000 [550,000 - 660,000]
  • Adults aged 15 to 49 prevalence rate
4.5% [4.1% - 4.9%]
  • Adults aged 15 and up living with HIV
540,000 [500,000 - 590,000]
  • Women aged 15 and up living with HIV
310,000 [290,000 - 340,000]
  • Children aged 0 to 14 living with HIV
59,000 [51,000 - 67,000]
  • Deaths due to AIDS
35,000 [30,000 - 40,000]
  • Orphans due to AIDS aged 0 to 17
330,000 [300,000 - 380,000]


Friday, September 19, 2014

Poverty & HIV

This piece hit straight on the core of the African problem. I could not have said it any better so as to reflect the truth in community today.


" Poverty fuels the HIV epidemic due to its impact on all aspects of life, including income, housing, education,nutrition, access to health care -- and the list goes on. In the African-American communities where poverty rates are even higher, there exists a greater gap in all of these areas that fuels the inability to negotiate, feel empowered, get educated on HIV and get tested.
Show Less

Let's be real: If I can't afford my next meal or next month's rent, do you think I'm going to make a big deal about using condoms? Because the man that's taking care of me is taking care of her too. No, I have too much else to deal with.
But there is hope. Many community organizations are now targeting these communities to conduct HIV testingand connect those who test positive, or are lost to care, to medical treatment. Even though we cannot always directly impact the poverty levels in these communities, we can impact the availability of testing and education resources."

Ingrid Floyd, Executive Director, Iris House, New York

Just a thought I found

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Invisible Enemy !!

6pm national news today ; Ebola is now a national security issue. President Obama has now sent 3000 troops , medical, engineering and more to join other nations on the ground to help people in west Africa fight this invisible terror. I can only imagine how many children will die or be orphaned at the end of this . So help us God!

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Antiretrovoral treatment is now reaching many more people

Although progress is being made daily by the health powers to be , there is a lot more that can be done. The ultimate goal is to have a cure for HIV in the near future.
Don't hesitate to do your part.

Today's statistic:

"One out of every four new infections in South Africa is in young women between the ages of 15 and 24, experts say in remarks distributed by the South African Broadcasting Corporation. He said the number of new HIV infections among young women remain a major challenge. Although with a higher infection rate, South Africa puts more HIV patients on antiretroviral treatment, compared with other African countries. One in five people on antiretroviral treatment in the world lives in South Africa. That means 250,000 of those 2.4 million are being treated in the public sector in South Africa, according to the government. "  

Friday, August 22, 2014

More feeds from the last AIDS conference

Still learning from the last international AIDS conference.
getting this information from time to time will help us stay current and be able to help someone living with the disease.
The statistics continue to be alarming despite what region is being highlighted.

" Most HIV infections in the past 12 months across the world took place in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to figures released Wednesday. During the period, over two million more people have contracted HIV, bringing the number of people living with HIV to 35 million globally, says a report released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Xinhua reported. The UNAIDS report points out that of the 35 million HIV infected people, 19 million do not know they have the virus.

Close to 13 million people now have access to antiretroviral treatment (ARV), an increase of 2.3 million from last year.  Three out of four people on treatment are in Sub-Saharan Africa. This comes as more people get tested and governments secure funding for treatment. South Africa continues to bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic. One in five new HIV infections in the world took place in South Africa, chief executive officer of the South African National AIDS Council, Doctor Fareed Abdullah, said. "

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Encouragement.

Loved this when I came across it today. It simply encouraged me to continue to volunteer and give of myself to others at any opportunity .
If we all try to do this , I think the world will be a better place.

"The worth of a human being lies in the ability to extend beyond oneself, to go outside oneself, to exist in and for other people."

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

RACE , POVERTY & AIDS

"Even before the conference began, we learned about new breakthroughs that might help in the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine. Researchers identified three antibodies that when combined provide protection against 99 percent of strands of the virus, and the primary antibody was found in a Black man.
A few days before the conference opened, President Obama released the first U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The strategy explicitly calls for focusing on the most at-risk populations including Black Americans, men who have sex with men and people living in the south and north east.
The first major story of the conference was about race, poverty and AIDS. To make sure that this story was characterized and contextualized in an accurate way, a delegation of Black journalists met with a representative of the CDC to provide a Black perspective on this study.
The third and most moving experience of this conference is the story about microbicides. This story is important for women, and it's particularly important for Black women across the Disapora and in Africa. The fact that this extremely elegant clinical trial and presentation were performed completely by South Africans exposes the lie and the stereotype that Africa can't deliver quality science."
My Thoughts:
If we are having a problems here in the US , you can only imagine that the difficulty is even more in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is hard to focus on the at risk population let alone everyone that is infected.
Yes Africa can deliver quality science and has always done so , what we lack is the resources to bring this science to the local population such that it will help reduce infection rate.
Waiting to hear some suggestions by end of Conference !

INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE GOING ON NOW !!

Excepts coming in now from the Black AIDS Institute , currently attending the International AIDS conference in Melbourne 

"Light at the End of the Tunnel

The evidence on AIDS has never been more compelling or more exciting. As a result of research breakthroughs, including proof that antiretroviral therapy reduces the risk of HIV transmission by 96%, we now have the tools to lay the foundation for the end of the epidemic. In the quest to end AIDS, no group has more at stake than Black America, which accounts for less than 14% of the U.S. population but for 44% of new HIV infections.
But ending AIDS won't happen with rhetoric. It requires sound action, national solidarity, the active involvement of those most affected, a commitment to results, and a willingness to let evidence be our guide. "

Will bring you more form the conference via statelite. Learning a little each day goes a long way.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Nurturing is vital !

Most of the time , we concentrate on making sure disadvantaged kids get food to eat , a place to stay , education and vocation. Although these are all important things, there is a great need for these kids to be nurtured as well.

For us to give them the best and the most that we can afford , we need  someone to nurture and guide them as they develop life skills and sustenance them to become mature individuals.

A child might have it all but lack love , care and concern. Someone to simply listen and pay attention to them , to love them , to hug them , to validate them. This is why we need volunteers to not only donate financially but to give the free gift of time and a listening ear.

When you spend time with another person, give them your whole attention and focus , you never know how much you can positively impact their life in those few minutes or hours. Providing communication, willingness to listen, compromise, and comfort in knowing that someone actually cares for them and that they are worthy.

There has been reports that shows supporting and encouraging "vulnerable" children  increases their positive self image and helps to avoid negative expectations and stereotypes of everyday life.

Thinking about more ways to help FOADAC kids and many like them around the globe is what I was thinking about today:)

If you have some other great ideas, please don't hesitate to add it to the comment box.

Thanks

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

My Sister , My Friend ( The End )

For the past almost three months,
Silence and pain is what has become the friend I never wanted , yet it seems to have made its home with me. Dreams of the future with my sister are now  gone , and wonderment of words not said or wanting to say it or to hug her close , to never let her go.

 I will love her forever, might seem like empty words now , but I feel that way because  I had hoped for her to be in my live forever.  There is no greater gift in life than a Sister or a Brother
Losing my sister was like no other pain I’ve ever felt. She meant a lot to me.  "No one can ever replace Abby. Her death brought me terrible anguish, for my heart is filled with pain and loss. I continue to yearn for the sight, smell, voice and feeling of Abby ever since she passed. It is almost impossible to fathom that she is no longer here. However, I believe that beyond our death we will find something similar but far greater than we can imagine.
  
God's love welcomes us like a warm blanket, wrapping us up to support, protect and comfort us in eternal joy. Death is only a passage into a larger loving family. Dear Abby as you transition into your new loving family that I know nothing about, I will always savor those moments we spent together though few and far between in recent times.  

I will miss your laugh, the funny times, the times we argued even. One thing I know for a fact is that you are free from all your pains and I will forever be very proud of you. God wanted you now, God set you free.
You will be in our hearts forever.


Love always !

Friday, June 13, 2014

My Sister , My Friend ( 4 )

 As I continue to deal with my grieve , I look at things in serveral differnt ways. Like the fact that sometimes

People forget the importance of siblings in our lives. Here are some characteristics of the sibling bond that caught my attention:

• It's the longest relationship we'll have in our lives. We are typically only a few years apart in age. We usually know them longer than our parents, spouses and children.

• We witness more life events and life changes with our siblings than anyone else.

• We share a sense of family, belonging and culture.

• They teach us how to function in society and communicate with others.

• The time spent together in our early years is greater than with our parents.
 sibling loss reminds us of the uniqueness of the sibling bond.

Typically, siblings will carry this loss through a large portion of life. We will want a way to memorialize our sibling. No one ever gets over a death, it becomes a part of us and we take it with us throughout life. 
 I know deep within my shattered heart that I was blessed in life with not only a wonderful loving sister but also someone I called my best friend.   


The days are dark and gray now , I do not see any joy or thoughts of what would have been in our life in the form of dreams we both had together . It’s hard to come to the realization now that this will never be.  We will not be two old ladies rocking on a porch someday chatting about yesterdays , or sharing a hug as we did most times ,or a call just to say hello .  I miss her more than my soul thought it could know .

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Todays's update !

" In sub-Saharan Africa a child is orphaned every 14 seconds.  As a direct result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, there are over 15,000,000 orphans living there.
Our Work
In the small Southern African kingdom of Swaziland, AIDS infects more than one in four people, making it the country with the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world.  The result is an exploding number of households headed by children, some as young as eight or nine years old. "

saw this information today online snd passing it on to my viewers !

My Sister ! My Friend ( 3 )

Talking to people about my wonderful sister is actually helping me cope.

I am also learning now that While your sibling may have been a pivotal person in your life, he or she may have been insignificant to others who now are quite important parts of your life. 

  For this reason, your friends may not understand your grief or help you with it in the way they could if someone they knew well had died. They may not understand what the loss means to you or why it affects you like it does, since they did not know you when your sibling was more a part of your life.

I have known Abby as a child and she is a part of my past. I remember unique and intimate experiences that we had.  Like seeing ourselves in embarrassing situations, participating in family jokes against each other, being hurt by childhood insensitivity, and so forth.

Though our perceptions may have been quite different at the time of her death, because of the people we have become , the fact remains that we have known ourselves for a long time and the unique co-history we share is a very important bond between us.


When death takes your sister, it also takes away one of your connections to the past, someone who knew you in a very special way, totally unlike those who know you now as an adult.

Although I did not have frequent contact with her due to distance, I cherished the little that we could afford, at least I knew that she was always there when I called, text or skype .


Thinking about Abby and praying for others who are sad today.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Today's lesson !

As I continue to deal with my lose and the process of grieving . I learn one thing every day.
Intouch ministries is helping me a great deal. I am sharing with the hopes that another soul can feel some relief.

God Is Always In Control
Isaiah 45:5-7
I admit that I often don’t understand why bad things happen. Even so, I believe that God has a purpose for everythingHe does or permits. My faith is rooted in the biblical principle that says the Lord is sovereign (Ps. 22:28). He is in absolute control of this universe, the natural and political climate of this earth, and my life and yours.


When we are in the midst of a trial, it is hard to resist crying out, “God, Why is this happening?” Sometimes we get the answer and sometimes we don’t. What we can be sure of is that nothing happens by accident or coincidence. 

He has a purpose for even our most painful experiences. Moreover, we have His promise to “cause all things to work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28).
Seeing in advance how the Lord will work evil or hurt for our benefit is very difficult, if not impossible. My limited human perspective doesn’t allow me to grasp His greater plan. 


However, I can confirm the truth of this biblical promise because the Father’s good handiwork appears all through my pain, hardship, and loss. I have experienced Him turn mourning into gladness and have seen Him reap bountiful blessings and benefits from my darkest hours.


As believers, we must accept that God won’t always make sense to us. Isaiah teaches that His ways and thoughts are higher than our own (Isa. 55:9). He sees the beautifully completed big picture. We can rely on the fact that God is in control, no matter how wildly off-kilter our world seems to spin. 

Monday, May 19, 2014

On My mind today as I continue to Reflect !

Sometimes our life can seem like a long, dark tunnel. Perhaps we are unable to discover a solution for a problem, or we cannot find relief from pain. Regardless of the direction we turn, we can’t find hope for anything better than our present circumstances.
Thankfully, we serve a God who feels our pain and knows our limitations firsthand. Jesus Christ walked through the valley of the shadow of death and cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mark 15:34). 

This means that when our faith is stretched to the breaking point, our strength is exhausted, and our dreams are shattered like glass, Jesus understands. And He asks us to hold on, even when everything in us screams to give up.

Giving up means abandoning God’s help for our own strength. We try to manipulate a situation or simply avoid pain. In essence, we are choosing to believe that Satan in his worldly power is stronger than Christ within us—which is the exact opposite of what the Bible says is true (1 John 4:4). Of course, the devil is not more powerful, but we let him win a battle if we give up on the assurance that God will see us through difficulty. When we have that attitude, we miss the Father’s blessing and limit our usefulness in His kingdom.

Even when we cannot detect His presence, God is working every moment on our problem. But we must trust His perfect timing for revealing the answer. Your Father knows your hurt, and He will bring you through that dark tunnel. Do not give up before receiving His blessing. "

This meditation piece has truelly helped me not to throw in the towel and wallow in woe is me effect.

Hope this can help someone else going through pain and saddness now or in the near future.

Monday, May 12, 2014

My Sister , My Friend ( 2 )

As the days go by and I continue to think of my sister , certain thoughts have found their way into my mind . Like the fact that there are special characteristics unique to the sibling bond. It is a relationship that can be quite profound, either positively or negatively.

Brothers and sisters influence each other’s identity in fundamental ways
Along with this, just living together in the intimacy of family life puts us in positions with our siblings where normal feelings of tension and aggression are bound to erupt. Yet siblings are also often sources of affection and security.

Sibling relationships may be close and intimate, distant and formal, or anything in between. What is important to remember is that sibling relationships are often marked by attachment as well as antagonism, caring as well as competition, and loyalty as well as lingering resentment. Certainly one of the primary factors influencing my grief over the death of my sister is the type of relationship I had with her. In this case I loved our relationship irrespective of the ups and downs.

You are all over my head today dear Abby , missing you lots !

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

My Sister , My Friend ! ( 1 )

Greetings to all who visit my blog & Foadac outreach,

I have been away from my outreach and my blog for quite some sometime now. That is because the cold hands of death took my sister away. She was my friend , she was my poster girl for (foadac) My sister was beautiful , kind , loving , fun , a jewel that was simply special .

There is no other loss in adult life that appears to be so neglected as the death of a brother or sister. It is sometimes not even a subject of discussion. Nevertheless, this is a loss to which most of us are repeatedly exposed. While we have only one mother, one father, and one spouse (at least at any given point in time), it is not uncommon to have several siblings. Therefore we are more exposed to sibling deaths than to other losses.

When you lose a brother or sister in adult life, you experience many of the same losses as you would if you had lost that sibling in childhood. However, despite the fact that you are more mature and have access to the resources you require, you have the disadvantage that there is less social recognition of the loss as an important one.

The death of a sister means that you have lost someone who was a part of your formative past. This person shared common memories with you, along with critical childhood experiences and family history.

Abby has died and I have lost someone who has been in my life for a very long time. A constant in my life is now gone though not erased.

When death robs you of a sibling, it feels particularly unfair, untimely, and cruel. On the flip side, her sweet and gentle soul has now moved on to the great beyond and resting in perfect peace.

So I will just let grief run its course as I continue to thank God for allowing me to share in her life.

Please bear with me as I run this series on my blog for a little while yet!!


Wednesday, April 2, 2014

You can make a difference where ever you are !

You can make a difference where ever you are !
This past week end we at foadac did just that. Mixing , blending and baking using healthy recipies to feed the homeless in our Baltimore community.
It was a fun activity for a great course. One should not only plan week end activities to please themselves. Sometimes just giving up a few hours of your saturday can help people in need.

Here is a note from United Way to Us (foadac)

Dear Ethel,

Thank you for volunteering at United Way of Central Maryland's “Stone Soup” event on Saturday at Our Daily Bread. What a fun and productive day!
FLUimageMarch.jpg
Together, we helped our neighbors in need in Baltimore City by assembling more than 1,000 healthy cookies and enough healthy casseroles to feed more than 2,100 people facing homelessness.

The food will be distributed to the homeless community in Baltimore City. It’s not often that they will get healthy (and delicious) meals like the ones you helped make.

None of this would have been possible without your time and support!


Sincerely,

Beth Donnelly
Special Events Manager
United Way of Central Maryland

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