Archive for the ‘NFPI’ Category

The Most Difficult Apostolate

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011

The Catholic NFP apostolate is not for sissies.  It is the most difficult apostolate in the Church because it is the only one that has had 40+ years of opposition from the theological left field.  We would welcome any support, including regular prayer, that you can provide.

People from over 100 countries have downloaded the NFPI manual, almost all without making the suggested donation.  Charities are supposed to be helping people who can’t help themselves as much as they would like to, and we are grateful to our donors for making it possible to offer this service free to people in developing countries.

If you Google “NFP” or “natural family planning” or “natural family planning chart,” our organization is the first one listed.  We think it is the most complete NFP website, going far beyond just signs of fertility.

Of interest to a good number of you, we blog weekly on topics related to NFP.

This year priests from six states have had their engaged couples take the NFPI Home Study Course.  This is a great form of recognition, and we ask your prayers that it continues.  This course is also available to engaged and married couple.

My husband and I continue to work for NFP International as volunteers without any sort of compensation.  Some day we hope to hire someone to take over our work, but for that we need a significant increase in income.

We know that ecological breastfeeding and not using hormonal birth control are the best ways to reduce your risk of breast cancer.  We believe that marital chastity and generosity in having children are essential elements in the reconstruction of a culture of life.  That’s what NFP International is all about, and we need and ask for your prayers and financial help.

Thanks very much for anything you can send to help, and may God continue to bless you richly.  You can donate electronically or by check at http://www.nfpandmore.org/missionhelp.shtml.

NFP International is a 501-c-3 non-profit organization; all gifts are tax deductible.

In His service,
Sheila Kippley
Co-founder
NFP International

Couple Helped by Natural Family Planning International

Sunday, September 4th, 2011

To: John and Sheila Kippley at NFP International
I am emailing you because my husband and I may be interested in teaching the “complete approach” NFP method from nfpandmore.org.

Our NFP history:   When we were engaged to marry in the Catholic church in 2004 we were told our only choice was the Creighton model introductory class. We took it and also spent $165 on the follow up one-year class. We were open to life right away after our wedding day, but we didn’t conceive until 11 months into our marriage.  I feel it took 11 months to achieve pregnancy because of stress issues.  My Creighton model charts showed that I was experiencing constant fertile-type mucus, but that was probably seminal residue (SR) making it very hard to learn and follow the Creighton model. Between failing at breastfeeding and failing at using the Creighton method to space my children I gave birth to 3 blessings (children) in 2 ½ years.  I asked my Creighton model teacher questions about the sympto-thermal method (STM).  She told me misinformation about STM and refused to help me.

So we self-taught ourselves the STM after the birth of my 3rd baby.  I feel that the basal body temperature charting and cervix checks illuminate the confusion about SR and are an invaluable tool in the cross-checking method of STM. We feel the NFP STM is a way of life we have, and we use the knowledge to be responsible parents and have a choice each day/month to postpone pregnancy or to be open to conception and life. Therefore we feel we are living God’s plan. We feel breastfeeding is so important especially for those who feel using NFP is immoral, and therefore ecological breastfeeding is a moral and very healthy way to space children for them too.  We also feel that by teaching ecological breastfeeding and STM that you teach young engaged/married couples to live on one income and live according to God’s plan.

I thank you both for the knowledge we have learned about breastfeeding and NFP. We live in an area where the Creighton method is dominant, and most of my Catholic mother friends buy pregnancy tests by bulk and take them every two weeks or so because they don’t know where they are in their postpartum cycles.  Some have also bought expensive fertility monitors to help. I have been slowly trying to explain to them that with STM you don’t need pregnancy tests or fertility monitors.  We would be interesting in teaching the “complete approach.” We think both of you have heroic virtues and encourage others to have trust in God.  Thank you for making such a difference in our lives; we love your writings.  We have read Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach and we feel we could teach it.
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NFPI requests a donation of $70 for the NFPI classes or for the Home Study Course.  We also have an introductory online NFP course available.  For those who can afford it, a donation of $10 is requested for the download of the NFPI manual mentioned above.  For the truly poor the downloading of our online manual is free.  We believe most couples can teach themselves from the NFPI manual.  Our classes are limited to a few states.  If anyone is interested in teaching with us and using the NFPI manual, please contact us.

Sheila Kippley
www.NFPandmore.org

Thanks for the online NFP manual: Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Thank You! Your online NFP book is easy to read, so helpful and informative!

This is our first month using it.   We switched immediately [from condoms].  We are already noticing a difference in our relationship.  The manual is very easy to read and understand, enabling quick use of NFP.

Thank you! It has helped us already. I looked it up before our 2nd daughter was born, to learn about ecological breastfeeding. It’s been such a wealth of information. I also read all Sheila’s books during my 2nd pregnancy. We had a lot of trouble conceiving our son, but then got pregnant with our daughter when he was only 7 months old. Your wife’s books really taught us a lot, and we really appreciate all your work. We’re hoping to use your information to conceive again. Thank you!

We really appreciated your Biblical foundation to marriage relationships. It helped my husband and me to really understand and follow God’s view of the marriage act. I recommend people getting married to read your “Introduction” in the NFP book because I think it is a lot more solid than most mainstream Christian views.

Thank YOU for providing this invaluable information without charging an arm and a leg… I figure, if you want Catholics to practice NFP, it should be easy to get access to materials and some people just don’t have money for fancy courses but still want to do what’s morally right. So THANK YOU!  We will definitely check out the blog!

I have started into your manual and other recommended readings in your manual. Seeing specifically how I should have behaved as a husband and father is proving to be good for me. While I have been forgiven for my previous sins there is still some healing going on as I read. I gave up television for Lent, and particpated in 40 Days for Life prayer and fasting vigil. Since Ash Wednesday I have read Chapter 1 of the NFP Manual, Evangelium Vitae, Humanae Vitae (twice), Casti Connubii, and your blogs on “How to Preach Humanae Vitae”. This has been a good Lent and has given me motivation to become more chaste. I plan to complete your manual over the next few weeks.

Thank you for providing such a helpful resource for learning NFP! God bless you!

My husband and I have been encouraged to try NFP, and we are thankful to have this help.

I used the NFP method once before and it worked well.  I am looking forward to using it again as a form of natural birth control.  Thank you so much for offering it free to everyone who needs it!!!

Excellent! Thank you so much for providing this manual online and at such a reasonable cost.

I’m 22 and just engaged and I haven’t had the chance to learn any of this yet. I’m always amazed when I see how God really did think of everything and that His plan is perfect. It makes me feel like I really am part of a bigger plan and that’s a really good feeling!  It was easy to understand. I especially love the use of diagrams. I printed out a chart and have started becoming more familiar with the signs and charting.  I appreciate this manual so much! I have obviously been living in my body my whole life and somehow this manual has made my body seem like a whole new world of wonderful functions that God planned as only God can. The biology and theology included is immensely helpful! Praise God for all that you have done and continue to do, and you are in my prayers.

Thanks for your work on this subject. I look forward to reading more and learning about a very God-honoring form of family planning.

A heartfelt thanks to you and the other volunteers at NFPI!! My fiancee would like to use NFP once we are married, and your downloadable manual has already been a huge help to us. We found the manual thorough yet easy to understand, and appreciate the inclusion of the subjects on morality and theology. May God bless you.

Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach
in all its versions (spiral, perfect bound or as an ebook) is available at lulu.com through August 7 at a 40% discount.

Sheila Kippley