This sweet girl, Evelin, stole my heart eight years ago - spunky, brave, and super excited about her pressure garments!   She was four years old and had extensive burns on her arms and abdomen that had required skin grafts and a lengthy hospital stay.   We started her therapy while I was visiting Bolivia and she made a big impression on me. 
          I was thrilled yesterday that I was in the clinic when she walked in, EIGHT YEARS since I saw her last!   She immediately ran up to our photo WALL OF LOVE and pointed herself out to me!  She still wears a garment every day and is working hard to keep her skin soft and malleable as she turns into a teenager and her body begins to change.   Take a look at the  photos from yesterday, Evelin is 12 years old now!   Of course, she stole my heart all over again and we have become what's app buddies too!   I love you sweet Evelin!  

Hey Sweet Baby - You Need Glasses!!  But NOT these fashion ones of your momma’s, you need to wear real SUNGLASSES when you are in the sun!!  Yep, it’s true!!  80% of our sun damage happens before we turn 20 and babies don’t get a pass either.   We already know about protecting their skin from the sun but during these important years their eyes are also more susceptible to UV rays.  The sun can damage their retinas, and increase the risk of cancer, cataracts and macular degeneration later in life.
👓 Always use sunglasses that block 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays on your babies (and big kids), choose a medium tint, and NO cheap fashion sunglasses, they can actually hurt your child’s eyes too. (see our SHOP)
⛅️ Always stay out of the sun during peak hours - 10 am to 2 pm, even on cloudy days
⛱ Always wear a large brimmed hat with UV protection and a broad spectrum non-nano zinc oxide sunscreen (see our SHOP)
         Our precious babies and our big kids need our protection from so many things but let’s add this one more important thing to our list - their eyes!!

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       Every trip I take usually ends up with an "eventful" story!  Since I travel alone it generally is something that happens to me - like when I arrived in Conakry, Guinea in West Africa to the Africa Mercy Ship-  Enroute to the ship, in the dark, late at night, the driver from the hotel I booked was stopped by the police, arrested and the car was towed.  I was standing on the side of the road with my suitcases smiling at a huge crowd of curious new "friends" thinking "no one will believe this one".   I texted Wick, shocked that my phone worked for once, and he said CINDY - CAN YOU FIND A POLICEMAN?   Ha Ha That was the LAST thing I needed!!!   Before it worked out and the police let the driver take me in.a taxi to the hotel, I held up a picture of the Mercy Ship with my best hand signals and the BOSS LADY of the group started grinning and pointing to her eyes.  Years earlier she had cataracts removed on the ship - It is a very small world even on the side of the road in Guinea.  God has shown me protection in so many ways and he always makes sure I am able to see HIS hand in it all. 
    Today's story, for once, does not directly involve me, even though I probably lost a few years from it.  On Friday night at midnight, Juana, Maria, and I were to fly from Addis Ababa to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  We had planned that Aminat would join us at the airport in Addis and fly with us to Tanzania.  At about 10:00 I began to worry because she had not shown up.  I could not reach her by phone so I texted Wick to try to call her.   She finally answered and said her flight was the next day.    NO, NO, NO I said,  you are getting confused with am and pm.  The flight is right now at 12:10 am thinking she thought it was noon.  I doubted if she could make it with traffic and distance but I said to hurry, don't worry about packing, just bring her passport and come now.   Later I found out that she was right, her ticket had been reserved for the following night at 12:10 am and she was not joining us.   No one knows how that happened   The next day she got on the midnight flight to Tanzania.
    But, I had no way to get her from the airport at 3:40 am.  Thankfully the owner of the airbnb was kind enough to line up a driver to pick her up.  I set my alarm for 3:00 and waited - 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 - no word from her and the airbnb could not contact the driver.  She finally called me from a borrowed phone to say no one picked her up.  She was waiting at the airport and did not know what to do.    The airbnb contact talked to the man from the borrowed phone, a taxi driver, and he agreed to bring her to the apartment.  One hour later she had not arrived............it was a fifteen minute trip.   Pendo from the airbnb had now come to the apartment and we were down the road in front of a hotel in case she was lost. He was sick with worry.   - the driver would not answer the phone and we had no idea where she was.   Finally, the driver answered and they had spent the hour fixing a flat tire on the side of the road and did not hear the phone.  At 7:00 they drove up - Pendo and I were so relieved.    It ended up that the scheduled driver had fallen asleep in his car in the parking lot of the airport and woke up with the daylight in a huge panic too!   God keeps me on my toes so I will depend on him for sure!!!
      

​Two weeks ago, the country of Tanzania suffered a horrific tragedy when an oil tanker was involved in an accident and exploded on a busy street!  Over 60 people were killed instantly and to date, over 100 have died.   In one month, Burn Care International will be traveling to the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam to set up a rehabilitation program for the survivors.   They desperately need our help!!

Will you partner with us make this possible?  Ironically, we were already talking with this hospital about setting up a rehabilitation clinic BUT the need became urgent when over 40  survivors from this accident were all admitted to MNH in one day.  We knew we had to help and the time to help is NOW!!

Burn healing is a LONG process, anywhere from 1-3 years.  Tanzania needs a proper rehabilitation program to meet the needs of burn victims and to help minimize unnecessary scars and contractures.  
Custom made pressure garments, physical therapy, appropriate nutrition, psychological counseling, and hygiene all make a well rounded rehab program.   During our time there, we will make custom pressure garments for each survivor, implement individualized treatment plans, and train the staff there to run their own effective program.   Muhimbili National Hospital will then serve as the model site for rehabilitative burn care in Tanzania with future plans to train across the country for all hospitals with burn patients.    

Helping burn patients heal properly changes lives and gives hope.  These patients desperately need help and your donation will truly make a difference!!   Your investment will meet the immediate needs of these survivors and also insure a better future for burn patients in Tanzania !    Please give generously!   All donations are tax deductible with zero administration fees!  Pay pal is a convenient method of giving but they do charge a small fee.  If you would prefer, you can send a tax deductible donation to 

Burn Care International
419 Woodland Drive
​Florence, SC. 29501

Thank you!!
Cindy Jackson
Proverbs 3:27

https://news.yahoo.com/toll-tanzania-truck-blast-reaches-100-100603467.html;_ylt=AwrCmrB_4mFdLz0AuAAPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByMHVzM20zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMzBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--

          Last night we had such a fun Christmas party to pamper our essential oil customers complete with yummy snacks and several DIY essential oil crafts.  One was this cute test tube of Lavender Bath Salts!  Check out the recipe below!       
          One way that I raise funds for this ministry helping burned patients in developing countries around the world is by being a distributor for essential oils!  These are products I love and use for my own family!  I am committed to living as toxin free as possible - what I eat, what I put on my skin, and what I breathe.  We use Young Living products for all things CLEAN - over the counter products, body care, makeup and skin care, supplements, oils, etc.  Ditch the chemicals and GO CLEAN!!  It's good for your budget and good for your family!
          To purchase your own 100% pure essential oils visit bit.ly/burncareessentials 

Lavender Bath Salts
(Test Tube recipe - full one below)
1/3 cup Epsom salt
1 teaspoon lavender buds
3 drops Young Living lavender oil
Mix well and add to test tube
 
Enjoy!!
 
***​NOTES:   Epsom salt, named for a bitter saline spring at Epsom in Surrey, England, is not actually salt but a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate.  Stress drains the body of magnesium and increases levels of adrenaline. When dissolved in warm water, Epsom salt is absorbed through the skin and replenishes the level of magnesium in the body. Magnesium helps to produce serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of calm and relaxation. Research shows that magnesium also increases energy and stamina by encouraging the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy packets made in the cells.          The sulfates in Epsom salt help flush toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances. Your skin is a highly porous membrane and adding the right minerals to your bathwater triggers a process called reverse osmosis, which actually pulls salt out of your body, and harmful toxins along with it. Experts believe that bathing with Epsom salts a minimum of three times each week is beneficial to your health.  Ideally you want to use 1-2 cups of salts in your warm bath and soak at least ten minutes so make up a bulk supply. 3 cups epsom salt, 2 cups sea salt, 1 cup baking soda, 15 drops essential oil!