She expected the hard parts of new motherhood. She did not expect to try to stand up after delivery and realize she could not walk. Erin Simpson joins us to tell the story that begins on August 21, 2021, when a complicated labor, multiple anesthetics, and a C-section lead to a shocking postpartum injury and a long season of unknowns. Before doctors confirm sciatic nerve damage, she is treated under stroke protocol, spending more time in radiology than holding her baby, all while trying to process the fear and the whiplash of becoming a mom overnight.

We get honest about what recovery actually looks like: early physical therapy while healing from major surgery, living with a walker, and learning to accept help without losing yourself. Erin also shares the moment things turn from difficult to terrifying when she develops a postpartum blood clot and the lingering effects that follow, including medical anxiety. This conversation is full of practical insight on self-advocacy in healthcare, learning to trust your instincts, asking better questions, and finding the right support when you feel overwhelmed.

Erin also opens up about the faith that held her steady, the community that carried her, and how those lessons became the foundation for her own faith-based motherhood podcast, Strong As a Mother. If you are searching for hope after birth trauma, postpartum recovery support, or stories that make you feel less alone, this one meets you right where you are. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

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The distance between West Monroe, Louisiana and Guatemala may be measured in miles, but for Abby Wood and her teenage son Gavin, that gap closed into something far more meaningful during their recent mission trip. What began fifteen years ago with a simple $43 monthly commitment to sponsor a child has blossomed into relationships that transcend borders, languages, and cultural differences.

When the Woods first connected with Compassion International, they simply wanted to sponsor a child sharing their newborn son's birthday. That initial connection with a Ugandan boy named Xavier has lasted nearly two decades. More recently, they added Guatemalan Ellie to their sponsorship family after their church helped establish a Compassion center in her community.

The true magic happened when Abby and Gavin stepped off the bus in Guatemala to an unexpected welcome—community members with phones and even a drone capturing their arrival, children holding welcome banners, and celebratory fireworks lighting their path. The abstract concept of sponsorship suddenly had faces, personalities, and embraces attached to it.

Walking into Ellie's home where eight family members live together revealed details no letter could convey. Her father leaves at 4 AM six days a week for a 12-hour factory workday. Her mother rises at 3 AM to prepare his meals. Despite modest surroundings, they proudly displayed their collection of letters from the Woods, kept securely in a locked drawer like precious jewels.

Most touching was discovering Ellie's true personality—not the shy girl from photographs, but a playful, competitive spirit who couldn't wait to play games with her American friends. These moments of connection transcended language barriers (requiring both Spanish and Mayan Kekchi translators) and revealed the human bonds at the heart of global ministry.

The impact wasn't one-sided. At another home visit, a skeptical father finally approached after observing from a distance. "I just really didn't know this was real," he admitted. "Today I know there's really someone out there who cares about us." His words captured why showing up matters as much as financial support.

Ready to make a difference that ripples through generations? Visit compassion.com to discover how a modest monthly commitment can transform lives across the globe—including your own.

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Joanna Herman shares her journey through divorce after seven years of marriage and how she discovered that her circumstances don't define who she is in God's eyes.

• Facing fears of financial insecurity, loneliness, and judgment as a worship leader going through divorce
• Battling shame and the feeling that divorce "wasn't supposed to happen" to her despite doing things "the right way"
• Finding hope by realizing this difficult period was just a chapter, not her entire story
• Clinging to Isaiah 43:2 as a reminder of God's presence during deep waters
• Drawing strength from her mother's example as a single parent and supportive community
• Discovering deeper worship connection through her pain and healing journey
• Learning to combat negative thoughts with truth about her identity in Christ
• Recognizing how God strategically placed supportive people in her life before her crisis

"Find yourself a godly community to surround yourself with who's going to be there to celebrate those mountaintops and pray you through the valleys... just because life may not always be going good, we still serve a good God."

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