Ready to change a life? We need your help. A better question would probably be, “Ready to Change a Lot of Lives?” It is going to be really easy for YOU to make a difference. I am so excited to share with you something that has been on my heart for quite some time.
A Little Background
I began blogging because I wanted to make a difference in my family. Parenting was more challenging than I imagined, and I was simply surviving rather than being the kind of mom I always wanted to be. I needed motivation to do this very important job better. The blog became accountability for me, but I also wanted it to be inspiration for YOU. My life was full of great role models, but I wondered how the moms out there do it without the kind of back-up I have had on this journey. Meaningful Mama became a place where I hoped other moms would come for encouragement and ideas. My goals have grown since the beginning of blogging. Yes, I want to change my parenting path. Inspiring moms is still a goal. However, as the blog grew, I realized that I could use it to make a difference in the world. I decided I wanted to use my voice, presence online and my income to serve people and care for the needs of others. These dreams are what inspired me to reach out to Paula of Beauty through Imperfection, Becky of Your Modern Family and of Kristen of We are That Family.
The Need
We started dreaming of ways to impact our world through our blogs and the idea of “The Mom Quilt” was born. We see a variety of moms in this world, each with their own unique stories of motherhood. The stories are beautiful and unique, yet we are woven together through the common experience of motherhood. The result is a beautiful tapestry that we want to celebrate. “The Mom Quilt” will be a compilation of mom stories that unite us. Think “Chicken Soup for the Soul” style but with a focus on motherhood. It will be a book that rejoices in our unique experiences and wonders at the similar ties that bind us together – the hope that we have for our children’s futures, the difficulties that we face and the immense joy that motherhood brings to our hearts.
Our goal, however, is not just to compile a book but to make a difference in the lives of other mothers. Therefore, we are giving 100% of the proceeds from this book to the Mercy House in Kenya, Africa to build a water well. Kristen from We Are That Family began the Mercy House after a visit to Kenya. Kristen was burdened by the large number of backstreet abortions by girls forced into prostitution to feed their families or girls had been raped. She has been impacting lives in Africa ever since her first trip in 2010. Here is a peek into how the Mercy House began:
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Our goal for the Mercy House? Water. There is a great need for accessible water in Africa. Currently, the women have to travel to bring back water to the house. It is not only inconvenient but also expensive. There is a water reservoir that can be tapped into under the Mercy House, but the house is located on a mountain, so it is going to be an expensive process get to the resource. Through the selling of the Mom Quilt, we hope to raise $40,000 to bring water to women and children in Kenya. Not only will the water bring a much needed resource to Mercy House, but it will also become an income generating opportunity as they sell the water to nearby villages. I will be writing another post so you can learn more about Mercy House soon, but I would encourage you to check out their site to learn more.
My Trip to Kenya
The need for water is a topic close to my heart. In 2003 I travelled to Kenya with an organization called Women’s Enterprises. I’m the white girl surrounded by a sea of beautiful black children in the picture above. The goal of my trip was to come alongside women in Kenya to help with three things: education, income providing opportunities and water. While most of my time there was spent building a library, I was able to travel to some of the villages where water wells had been provided, and the life it brought to communities was palpable.
I also visited a village that did not have a well yet. I hiked down a steep path to a dry riverbed (pictured above). We hiked a mile to a well on the riverbed to fill the buckets full of the water we needed and hiked back uphill to the village. It was exhausting. The women of this village make this trip three times a day.
Bringing water to a community changes the quality of life for people – for other humans placed on this earth. Bringing change through water is what we want to see for the women at Mercy House. Above is a picture of one of the above ground wells that were provided to one of the villages I visited while in Kenya. It was transforming for these women.
“The Mom Quilt” – How You Can Change Lives from Your Own Living Room
We want YOU. Today we are doing a call for writers. If you are a mom and a blogger, a writer or even just a woman with a story, we encourage you to submit a portion of your parenting journey. You can find all the details in our Google Document found here. YOU can help change a life be being a part of this book. Your story can be knit together with other moms to present a beautiful tapestry for our readers.
Not a writer? Perhaps you are a reader. Please support the goal to bring water to Mercy House by purchasing the book “The Mom Quilt” once it is published. Further, help promote by sharing with your friends. You will also have a way to donate more directly. We can’t wait to make you part of the team that will make a huge difference in the lives of women and children on the other side of the globe. Will YOU join us?
This is an amazing idea! Love it. Submitting and sharing.
Awesome! So glad you’ll be joining us. Can’t wait to read what people write.
Awesome idea! So great of you all to put this together and donate all the proceeds for such an important cause.