This month’s tenet is one that every individual can relate to in her own way: “We greatly value the contributing role of families.” Although each family is unique in its situation and trials, we all strive for loving and impactful connections. Like most young mothers, I was overwhelmed when I welcomed my first child. How…
Big Ocean Women Cottage leader Fatima Njoku in Jos, Nigeria was appalled by the news she was hearing: On 12 May 2022 a Christian college student, Deborah Samuel, had been stoned and burned alive by radical Islamists for “committing blasphemy.” Then, Fatima explained, “they proceeded to start burning, looting, and attacking other Christians in the…
Most of the efforts by Big Ocean Women to help in Ukraine lately has been coordinating the sending of gathered and donated medical supplies, quilts, and bulletproof vests to those in need through the organization, Backroads Foundation. They are able to get these much-needed supplies to the hardest hit areas, including most of the smaller…
Over the Easter weekend, the 15th to the 17th of April 2022, the Jos, Nigeria cottage hosted a retreat for youth in their area, including orphans, displaced children, and some from under-privileged homes. They wanted to get teenagers together in an atmosphere where, cottage leader Fatima explained, they would feel free to “express themselves without…
Check back for more updates and follow our Facebook page! We have been so happy to find willing volunteers and helpful partners in our continued efforts to help the people of Ukraine. You can donate HERE. May Update Mid April, Big Ocean Women board member, Vilma, went with two volunteers, Valerie VanLeuven Ockey and Jarrod…
The tenet, “We live and promote a Life Culture within the womb, the home, and our ecological environment,” is really an intimate and far-reaching belief. It is also something that applies to so many of the current events that we see in headlines and frontlines across the world at every level. In the United States,…
Life culture is a way of life based on the belief that human life at all stages from conception through natural death is sacred. This belief informs how we respect and value ourselves and others. Reflections on generating and preserving a life culture led me to discover similarities to starters or cultures required to make…
We live and promote life culture and are stewards over our environment. What a great theme to focus on this month. Each day we are given is a gift from God. What we do with that day is our gift back to God. It’s a wonderful reciprocal, synergistic cycle that brings growth and consequences. This…
Happy news from Fatima sent from her new room which she has rented for the year. Isn’t it heartening to see how generative solutions breathe life and hope into our lives? Dear Ann, Trusting that this email finds you well. We had our first meeting in our new meeting place last week. It was such…
Penny Power When we discuss global sisters and generative solutions, my mind immediately jumps to the needs and challenges of women in distant locations and ambitious projects that bring water to parched communities. This month, though, as I reviewed Pat’s video by our founder, Carolina Allen, my heart was turned to the power and importance…