Kefilwe’s Story: A Girl With HIV (For World AIDS Day)

by Elisa | Dec 5, 2010 | Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Global Health, Poverty

“My momma’s got AIDS” the little girl whispered. It was one of those whispers that is so quiet that it knocks your breath away, like a sonic boom. Her skin was like copper, hardened, darkened, but smoother than silk. She had a pock-mark on the corner of her forehead, near where her coarse, black hair began to embrace her head. I couldn’t help but think that she looked beautiful.

Soundtracks: Changing the World in Humility

by Elisa | Oct 18, 2010 | Art of Advocacy, Spiritual Discipleship

Sometimes I am pretty sure the only reason our lives are so dull is because we don’t have the appropriate music playing in the background constantly. I am convinced my life would be amazing as any Oscar-winning movie if some D.J. in the sky always had a perfect soundtrack going for me.

Blog Action Day: Delicious Water

by Elisa | Oct 15, 2010 | Art of Advocacy, Clean Water, Good Charities, Poverty, Ways to Make a Difference

I remedy this by walking over to my refrigerator, overflowing my glass with ice-cold water as I am distracted, making a puddlely mess on the floor for my toddling son to slip on. Or if I am not home, I can stick a crisp George Washington in a machine, which then pops out a fresh bottle of water. I pull of the top, twist, snap, and drink deeply from the bliss of agua deliciosa. It’s somewhat sad then, that a good part of the world experiences thirst and water shortages pretty regularly.

Delicious Water: Charities

by Elisa | Oct 14, 2010 | Art of Advocacy, Clean Water, Good Charities, Helping that Doesn't Hurt

These charities have very effective, considerate, and sustainable practices. Which means giving to them does not just throw money down a bottomless well by building these wells. These wells actually transform communities and save lives. They are magic wells.

Label Me: A Housewife, A World Changer, and the Organization L2F Needs Network

by Elisa | Sep 17, 2010 | Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Art of Advocacy, Poverty, Refugees and Immigration, Spiritual Discipleship, United States

I am part of an organization, L2F Needs Network. Actually, a best friend (the director of L2F) and I spend the majority of our non-essential-household-taking-care-of-time (there has got to be a better way to say that) running L2F. . . It’s like we are Robin Hood, but we don’t have to steal from the rich. Which is good, because I would probably have some moral qualms about that.

Post-It-Notes for Advocacy: My Kid

by Elisa | Sep 13, 2010 | Global Health, Human Trafficking, Poverty, Seeking Justice, Spiritual Discipleship

She picks up some stacking pegs, then goes about dropping them in specific locations on the floor. This must either be creative art or she is practicing war tactics again. If the latter, these landmine-like devices will cause pain in one foot and hopping up and down on the opposite leg. I choose to presume this is an artistic expression, while make a mental note not to step on them . . . My daughter is a delight. She makes me crazy, grating on my impatience or shocking me with her callous little girl evil. But, its impossible to not love her.

Qur’an Burning: America’s Response to the Spread of Islam

by Elisa | Sep 10, 2010 | Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Spiritual Discipleship

Burning hairspray is cool. Burning bras- that was cool in the 60’s. Burning books? Um, didn’t we learn in American English from Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 that book burning is the end of society as we know it? But burning one fifth of the world’s population’s holy book!? Dude, we don’t burn cows as a public outcry against Hindus! We only burn cows if we like our steak very very well done! But that is a whole different thing.

Reflections on Childbirth: Reducing the Misery of Delivery in Developing Countries

by Elisa | Aug 26, 2010 | Spiritual Discipleship, Ways to Make a Difference

“There were 45 woman in a small room, all in active labor. There are five beds that are steel and not every woman even gets a bed, they are sitting on the floor and under the beds. There is not room for them to walk around or even move.”

Loving the Oppressor

by Elisa | Aug 15, 2010 | Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Human Trafficking, Seeking Justice, Spiritual Discipleship

You see, I get so obsessed with those who are suffering from injustices, that I forget that God loves the oppressors as well.

Adventure

Swamp Wisdom: An Ecclesiastes on Human Rights

Ever heard of ancient King Solomon? He was said to be the wisest of them all as he philosophized...

Busy Moms, Community, Family & Relationships, Raising Kids

Identity Crisis #3467 – My Messy Beautiful

The other day, my daughter was excitedly expressing her admiration of the teachers and helpers at her school. I usually resist the temptation to to ask my kids what they want to be when they grow up because at some point in my...

Anthropology Psychology Sociology, Mental Health, Recovery, Safe Spaces

What to Do With that Blasted Holy Discontent (I used to be a radical)

I used to be a radical. I used to be a radical–until I wasn’t. After high school, I...

Ethical Fashion, Fair Trade Products, Giving Back, Socially Conscious Brands

Responding to Injustice With Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn

Do our responses to social issues reflect trauma responses? If so, how can we help ourselves to help others better?

Children-in-Need, Clean Water, Conflicts, Wars, Genocides and Atrocities, Global Health, Good Charities, Helping that Doesn't Hurt, Human Rights, Poverty, Refugees and Immigration, Seeking Justice, United States

Spectrum of Belief About Justice Issues: Art of Advocacy

Not everyone shares the same beliefs, so using the Spectrum of Belief graph helps us to have healthy conversations about justice that aren't so black and white.