Charis Around the World

Childbirth Paths International
by Amy Elliott, CD, CCE, MA
Executive Director for Childbirth PATHS International

Thats right! Thats right, people!! We are GO for launch!!!!

Charis Family, our God is G.O.O.D?..GOOD GOOD GOOD. Childbirth PATHS International, Inc. is now an official, legal organization registered in Florida! It is really crunch time for us as we work to finalize our registration to fundraise and launch the website (complete with online giving options). PLEASE be lifting us up as we finish these building block tools for the organization and begin moving forward in our plans for the year. PLEASE track with us on the website as we move towards launching it: www.childbirthpathsinternational.org. Tell others about it, too, if they are interested in supporting (financially, through prayer, or through donating resources or time) the ongoing work overseas.

As God opens doors for us in 2016, it looks like our areas of ACTION for the year will be:

1. KENYA: Kristin Schuchmann and Amy Elliott will travel to Kenya next Spring to further equip a Kenyan Charis midwifery student, and to establish a more firmly connected network of childbirth professionals who want to see better birth options for women in three different regions.

2. PHILIPPINES: An opportunity has just recently opened up to us to partner with a Christian clinic in a rural area where midwives struggle to provide appropriate service to minority rural populations. We are excited about what Childbirth PATHS International can do to support the work there.

3. MALAWI: We still have a passion for beginning a work in Malawi. We are praying for an opportunity and for funding to conduct an exploratory trip in the area. Anybody on board with me for that????!!!!

Remember that the vision of Childbirth PATHS International, Inc. is to SEE EVERY WOMAN IN THE WORLD ACCESS HER BEST POSSIBLE BIRTH EXPERIENCE. Have you had an awesome birth experience or witnessed one? What made it awesome? I would really like to know, so please feel free to write me at:  . As I'm forming thoughts about how to explain this vision to others, I am also curious as to how others would define this goal if it was applied to themselves or their loved ones.

We also spoke in past newsletters about the mission of Childbirth PATHS International, Inc. The special way we can contribute to the possibility of our vision becoming a reality is to NUTURE COMMUNITIES TO ELIMINATE THE IMPACTS OF POVERTY ON CHILDBEARING WOMEN. If you are reading this newsletter, you are obviously interested in birth and the beautiful gifts God has given the Body of Christ in order to nurture LIFE! So, I challenge you then?, born out of your interest in these things, would you do a bit of research?? Would you poke around in person, in a book, on the internet, etc. and discover a bit about what it is like to face giving birth as a woman trapped in a cycle of poverty? What kind of women are in this condition? What are the obstacles to their best birth experience? What impact does poverty have on their birth outcomes? What impact do their birth outcomes have on their cycle of poverty? What do they say about birth? What is possible for them? What will it take for them to have positive childbirth experiences? What will it take for their children to experience positive childbirth?

These are BIG questions! But, I am serious about this challenge. If any of you would like to conduct research and write a paper on these subjects, Childbirth PATHS International, Inc has a prize waiting for the winning essay! This is not a joke! This is not a drill, people! PATHS actually has prizes! Could a better organization exist? I think not! Wait. I take that back! Could a better NOT FOR PROFIT organization exist?!!!! Besides church? and crisis pregnancy centers? and the Red Cross... I THINK NOT, my brothers and sisters! :-)

Thank you for putting up with my goofiness. I'm just excited. Do you know that just before writing this newsletter update, a small country church handed me a check to cover ALL our bills and startup costs??!!!!! Out of the blue! God is doing something! Please don't doubt His faithfulness in the endeavors to which He has put your hands. Keep your hand on that plow and hold on.

I was thinking of inundating you with statistics for this post, but I have kindly decided to spare you. Be blessed, my friends. And please keep Charis Around the World and Childbirth PATHS International, Inc. in your prayers.

Lots of Love,
Amy Elliott