Ivorian children head home after worshipping at the Methodist Hospital in Dabou, Cote d'Ivoire on Sunday, November 9. The children were reminded to come back later in the week for free vaccinations and treated mosquito nets that stop the spread of malaria.

Their lives are worth a $10 net. A life-saving sacrifice that roughly equals the 2 venti lattes I won’t have this week.

Their lives are worth the 16-hour plane ride, the 3 hours you spent at the 3-on-3 game or the 30 minutes you dedicated to your church’s dribble-thon or basketball lock-in.

Their lives are worth every cent you spent on spaghetti suppers, pancake breakfasts, popcorn or any other means to an end that ended up raising the $1 million to make this trip possible.

If you ever doubted for a single second (and I doubt you doubted) that your sacrifice was needed, look in their eyes, with your heart, and I know you’ll see that their lives are worth it.

And if you haven’t been blessed with an opportunity to give, your chance is coming… Our continued commitment to covering the country of Cote d’Ivoire with long-lasting, insecticide treated nets that stop the spread of malaria will save lives — lives that are worth it!

Eleanor

An Ivorian girl takes a break while the women visit after worship. Nearly 1 million African children her age and younger die each year of malaria.