Samaritan’s Purse is a ministry dear to my heart. Most people know of the work of this organization because of Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes; but, they do so much more. Last year I shared the Christmas catalog for Samaritan’s Purse and invited you to join me in buying gifts that spread hope and life around the world.
On April 27, 2011, tornadoes devastated North Alabama. In fact, the county in which we currently reside was profoundly affected by the tornadoes that day with one small town nearly destroyed and another drastically damaged. Samaritan’s Purse was part of the relief effort in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where they helped rebuild houses for those who had lost their homes in the storms.
Samaritan’s Purse may be most widely known for the Christmas Shoeboxes but there are families both in the United States and around the world whose lives have been forever impacted by the work of this organization. Three of those families share their story in the movie, Three Hearts.
Three Hearts introduces us to three children from Mongolia who suffer from tetralogy of fallot, a life-threatening heart defect. As we meet two teenage boys and a three-year-old girl and their families, we journey with them to Texas where they are welcomed into host homes and prepare for heart surgery.
My husband and I watched Three Hearts … we both were moved to tears at the bravery of these children, the love of their mothers, and the generosity of the host families, physicians, and Samaritan’s Purse staff who opened the doors not just for heart surgery, but for new life through Jesus Christ.
I’m thrilled to tell you all about this powerful movie and encourage you to read more about the Children’s Heart Project and find out how you can be involved. And, I am also very excited to be able to give away FIVE copies of Three Hearts to my readers!
In order to be entered into this giveaway, will you share your heart story? Maybe you have a family member who has faced heart surgery or maybe you have experienced the touch of the Great Physician on your own heart. Perhaps your heart story is about learning to love in a new way or having your heart changed by building a relationship with someone else. Whatever it is, will you take a moment to tell me your story?
Additional entries into the giveaway are available:
- Follow @SamaritansPurse on Twitter (http://twitter.com/
samaritanspurse ).
- Sign up to receive occasional email updates from Children’s Heart Project at http://ar.gy/chphome
Just come back and leave a separate comment for each entry.
If you want to purchase Three Hearts, you can do so at Amazon or on the Three Hearts website. I encourage you to experience for yourself the wonder of Three Hearts.
Don’t forget, leave a comment with your heart story and be entered to win one of FIVE copies of this amazing film! Giveaway closes Saturday, March 17, at midnight central time. Winners will be announced on Monday!
Thanks so much for sharing Teri Lynne. What a wonderful ministry! My dad suffered a heart attack that made him feel vulnerable in every way. It was not an easy season, but it helped him to realize there were things that he wanted to say, things he wanted to do, and things he wanted to be more important … and less important. I guess it was a wake up for his physical heart and his spiritual heart, too.
When I was a teenager, my nephew was born with a hole in his heart and a malformed valve. He died when he was 2 1/2 after what was a “picture-perfect” surgery. To be honest, I still struggle with why God chooses to heal some and not others…but it was truly and inspiration to watch my parents and my brother and sis-in-law deal with their loss and still come out of it trusting the Lord.
In 1976 I gave birth prematurely to a very sick little boy. There was something wrong with his heart and they didn’t know what it was or how to fix it. After 7 weeks in the Children’s Hospital and a 6 hour surgery he couldn’t take anymore and passed away. They asked to do an autopsy because they had never seen this kind of problem before and it might help them figure out how to fix it. What they told me was he had only 3 chambers in his heart, 1 at the top, 1 at the bottom.
Fast forward to 2002, I was walking with a friend in the our local mall when my heart began racing. It climbed to 130-145 and wouldn’t come down. I went to hospital and after 2 months of different tests they finally told me I had something called ASD. It’s a very rare heart defect and it’s hereditary. Then they explained that it’s essentially that my heart has only 3 champbers, 1 in the top, 2 in the bottom. The research that began with my son saved my life 26 years later.
Just saw my mistake and I reread it twice before I posted….my son was born with 3 chambers in his heart, 1 at the top, ‘2’ at the bottom. Sorry for the typo.
I recently meet a couple who had lost their son due to a heart condition. They have made it their mission to see that every school and recreational facility is equipped with an AED. Their son who was in high school would have survived if only an AED would have been available at the ball field where he was playing. They have started a non profit called AED Petition NOW. I’m amazed how Harold and Becky Cohn have accomplished so much and have connected with other families who have experienced the same stories. They haven’t allowed their grief to downcast them, they have allowed the grief to activate them to help others.
We have dear friends whose son was born with a major heart defect. We held a benefit concert for him to raise money needed for medical expenses. it was pretty touch and go there for awhile! But praise the Lord, he is now a happy and healthy 7 year old! The great Physician touched him and healed him! Thanks for the chance to win the DVD!