2 for 1

A "Two Birds, One Stone" situation (horrible, don't go around killing birdies! Or I'll find you).

 I hope to shine some light towards this season of elections, and encourage you to make the wise choice of sticking to your gut and what you believe. 

    While we prepare to vote, the media seems to make it harder and harder time after time. Sometimes putting physical appearance, relational connections, stature and personal matters of each candidate as a priority, that honestly affect and blur our opinion whether we like it or not. I recommend that individually we look at their agendas, place our priorities as individual and as a country, and choose those who stand for what you believe. I don't believe in standing on a party alone, but rather looking at what the people around them (working for them) are doing. A lot of time it is not necessarily the candidate's words, but what his public relations committee would like him to say or appear to be. They want to please the people and say what you or majority of this country want to hear. Thus, if you know you disagree with the position each candidate takes on matters that are very important to you, make your case (explore, get informed, ask around you), but don't refuse to vote. I suggest you keep in mind the next generation coming behind you, and how they will be facing our decision today. Remember that we form our government, it is up to us to choose. (And not for them to tell us what to do.) 

So with that being said, what are some topics you should keep in mind? (And take a stance on!)

This is BOUND4LIFE (http://bound4life.com/), an organization that stands up for life (or against abortion). Life is a gift, not a curse. The future victims of this crime (killing innocent babies) could get a chance by the way you vote. Abortion has been a "touchy" subject since the day it became allowed. In my opinion, it is that way because of all the emotional chaos attached to the word. It is also rooted in selfishness and increasing in revenue every passing moment. I think that life is life, given by God and not allowed to be taken away by us. (In NO circumstance). Thus, abolishing abortion is not taking away a right or our choice. 
I encourage you to take up the responsibility to do what's right for the world. Do not be intimidated by the big words, the super-knowledgeable people or the constant oppressors that may stand against what you believe. For a long time, I really thought I was uninformed on subjects like this one to speak up. (And I still don't know a lot on it). I do know that I can't just know a little bit and still do nothing. And many, many organizations are not passive when it comes to letting everyone else know. 
Here are some links to movements/organizations standing up for millions of unborn babies:

http://backtolifemovement.com/

http://www.whyprolife.com/

http://www.operationrescue.org/

http://www.everylifeisbeautiful.com/

Do take consideration for the people that have been part of this or know women that have had an abortion, and choose to love them. A lot of times, in hopelessness and in desperate times, we long for someone to shine some light and bit of hope, and you could be it. There is help and options, but abortion is not one of them. 
  

I believe this is a battle for my generation and generations to come. Get informed! 

One more thing, I also recommend you watch the movies "180" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y2KsU_dhwI&feature=youtube_gdata_player)  and "October Baby" (http://octoberbabymovie.net/)  
(Do it!! :) Please!)

“Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:9)

The foundation of my values is Truth, and it is the base of my stance in this matter. 

Pray and stick to your gut as you vote, 
Estefania. 

Ya Basta!

To continue the list of great organizations, campaigns, causes and charities, I must tell you about this one. It is not in "English", but it is for everyone. Before I introduce you to this organization let me just say: Props to a fully prayer-based, SPANISH-speaking, eye-opening organization. 

Photo obtained from www.yabastausa.org

      This organization is opening the eyes and making aware an entire Spanish-speaking culture of the world we live in now. YA BASTA!  is composed of world-changers, prayer warriors, mainly college students in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. They are taking the gospel view into our world today. They are opening the eyes of the church to subjects like Human Trafficking, Prostitution, Sexual Abuse, Pornography, Abortion, Homosexuality (that it is rarely discussed in Hispanic communities, but a real struggle and battle in our society today). This organization is not passive towards the battle against these, starting off with prayer. 

    Ignorance may be have been bliss for the past generations, but I have encountered the effects of it in mine. Many times I have heard that a culture cannot be changed, unless the culture decides to change itself. Meaning, it is the individual transformation that leads to an impacting change to an entire culture. So I believe that, although it is a greatly corrupted society we live in, there's individuals standing up for what it is morally right. Standing up for morals, godly morals, period. This organization has been a loud-speaker for these and impacting an entire culture. YA BASTA! has partnered with associations like Pozo de Vida, Traffick 911, and have been active in Pro-Life activities. They also have an innovative program that has freed people from the great battle of pornography (Pasos A La Libertad/ Steps to Freedom).
This organization is fully aware that these aren't just statistics or made up numbers. These are people found in hopelessness, blinded by or slaved to the philosophy of a selfish world, in need of freedom. And some of these people could be your sister, your brother, your father, your cousin, or you. 

If you are Hispanic, speak Spanish, or know someone that does, I'm asking that you share about this organization. They need your help! Although a lot of their informational workshops have been held in Mexico, you can help them spread knowledge through the entire Hispanic community here in the United States and many more countries. Visit their website. Stay up to date on Facebook. Or follow them on Twitter. Watch them and about them on YouTube.

I'm all for organizations that are passionate about much needed change, taking initiative, and standing on prayer. And even more so because it is reaching out to my very own. 

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: because you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children." Hosea 4:6. Another version says, "My people have been silent, because they had no knowledge..." Once you know it is up to you to take action. 

Estefania. 

Please Check out my campaign, http://mycharitywater.org/estefania-21 

Ps. They're actually having a Car Wash on September 29 to raise donations for Traffick911 
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=403893523009429&set=a.142849039113880.29902.100001663550062&type=1&theater

A21

Keeping it short and simple (impossible):

This cause speaks volumes. It speaks FREEDOM. It represents millions of  hearts mending due to corruption, brokenness, injustice and evil of this world.

A21 (Abolishing injustice in the 21st Century) does more than stand in the gap for those being forced into human trafficking, they are getting their hands dirty. The rising number in human trafficking represents, it takes life, in the numerous victims. Some of these precious women are suffering every hour, "servicing" an ongoing clientele. In reality: raped, forced to have sex for money, addicted to drugs, deceived, mistreated, used, broken. Under a great INJUSTICE.

This campaign opened my eyes to a million captivating stories. Stories that belonged to girls like me. My age. With families. I grasped that their story was their reality. A hard, cruel, evil reality. Their reality was hopelessness, but through A21 their lives were transformed. A21 works with preventing human trafficking (due to so many factors in society, such as poverty, but still inexcusable). They also take in and help the victims overcome their fears, their past, their hopelessness, their brokenness, their slavery, and bringing them FREEDOM. They bring HOPE.


 If you are a women, understand that your value is great. Many try to undermined it. Many try to ignore it. Many try to make it disappear. But rather, it is mean to be admired and appreciated. Yet, we will never capture the reality of this suffering if not encountered and faced. Help fight. 
Please, take some of your time to read about the reality of our society today. Please, take sometime to get informed about such injustice. Take some time and tell your friends about it. Take sometime and check their apparel out. Here's 21 ways you can HELP! http://www.thea21campaign.org/21-ways-to-help.php

On October 18, 2012, (International Anti-Slavery Day), YOU can join them (and I!) in raising awareness of the facts by simply wearing a key. Get to their website and join me!!


Facing reality being aware of others' reality,

Estefania

All Girls Allowed

You can also find them on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/AllGirlsAllowed

        It wasn't long ago when I first heard of All Girls Allowed. I cannot stress enough that organizations like this one represent and stand in the gap for millions of faces that no one has ever heard about. My heart breaks at the thought that so many women suffer by being forced to make a choice between keeping their baby and suffer great consequences, or aborting, killing them, or abandoning them. No one should be standing in such place of hopelessness.

All Girls Allowed has been working to gain support of nations to end gendercide in China. This government specifically has been forcing women to abort their children due to the "One-Child Policy". This only allows a Chinese family to have ONE baby or in special occasions two IF the first born is a GIRL. And because of the higher demand for strong, manly man, many families choose to give up their daughters, abandon them, and even kill them for their chance to have a boy.
(The cause of this has been an incrementing rise of human trafficking, abortions, and orphans.)

Through this movement, many women who chose to give life are now being helped and taken in through their "Baby Shower" program that helps them facilitate a mother so that she may keep her baby.


Recently, I was able to read about some GREAT NEWS! (if you could only see my excitement!! I seriously leaped for joy! Click on "great news" to read why). Because of the policy, many parents that were to have a second child must abort it (no matter the stage of the pregnancy). But through the fighting, many fervent prayers of Chinese Christians and because of all that China is involved in (foreign policies and United Nations regulations), they have now left it up to the parents to choose if they want to abort the child.



Expose, Rescue, Celebrate from All Girls Allowed on Vimeo.


I urge you to check their website, to donate, and/or to spread the word. Not many know that if not stopped, this epidemic idea can spread and make millions upon millions of babies, baby girls, mothers, women its victims. Please, follow their link and share it with others. If possible sponsor a mother for only $20 dollars a month. Please keep them in your prayers as well. 

All women are valuable, carriers of life, they are a God-given treasure to a filthy world. 

From a woman, 

Estefania. 

(Videos are from their Vimeo account. I have included their links on the underlined words, where you can get more information, sponsor, and purchase products.)