Awaken City Church, your generous support is making a great difference to mothers and their babies at Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana Puerta del Cielo in Chiapas, Mexico. By supporting their Survival programming, you are giving babies the best possible start in life, ensuring they get the care they need, from before birth until they reach their crucial first birthday. From regular growth monitoring and supplemental food, to immunization and specialist care, they are known, loved and protected from the very beginning.
Likewise, mothers are receiving a range of supports such as breastfeeding instruction, pre- and postnatal care and access to a skilled birth attendant. Thanks to you, they can bring a precious new life into the world with confidence, knowing that they will not only have professional care but also the emotional and spiritual support they need when they are at their most vulnerable. For a full year, both mother and baby are accompanied every step of the way as they begin their journey out of poverty.
In the photo above, Rebeca, whose letter is included below, holds baby Osvaldo.
Ministry Progress at Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana Puerta del Cielo
(January 2022 – June 2022)
Restoring Hope for Rebeca
Dear Friends,
Being a part of the Survival program has been a blessing to my family. My family is made up of my husband, children, grandparents and in-laws. We are a very united family! The teachings my son and I receive, both through home visits and at the church, have been significant.
As a mother, seeing my son, Osvaldo learn about Jesus every day encourages me to continue growing in my faith too. He is obedient to his parents and teacher because he learns to have respect and love for his classmates. Osvaldo is growing up happy and healthy, thanks to the Survival program. I like that he has many opportunities to socialize with his classmates. He has already made friends!
Through the Survival program, I have received teachings on nutrition, child development and the importance of showing babies love. I also receive medical check-ups and food and hygiene kits.
In the future, I want my son to have a healthy life, to be united with his family and above all, to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. I thank God and you for your support. May God fill your life with many blessings.
Sincerely,
Rebeca
Recent Survival Program Activities
Babies Transition to Compassion’s Sponsorship Program
Thanks to your support, these babies have recently celebrated their first birthdays and transitioned to home-based care through Compassion’s Sponsorship Program. They will continue their growth with the guidance provided to them by the staff at Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana Puerta del Cielo and a loving sponsor.
Survival Program Spotlight: Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment
Malnutrition is an underlying cause in more than a third of all deaths of children under 5 (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:
- Caregiver education on preparing health meals.
- Therapeutic feeding services.
- 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.
Additionally, a healthy birth weight is critical to a baby’s survival and malnutrition prevention. By also 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
The support you provide babies and their caregivers leads them on a path toward greater freedom, independence and peace. Thank you for partnering with Compassion International to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.