Sometimes mothers have to stand up for their children against superstition as well as fighting to keep them nourished. Read this article for the story of one woman who did just that.
World Vision Wednesday
Who knew that something as simple as a water filter could make such a difference in people’s lives.
World Vision Wednesday
Malaria is the number one killer of children under five in Zambia and many other countries in Africa. Bed nets are the answer to stopping this killer, but at a cost of $10, are beyond the reach of most. World Vision has been working to provide bed nets for many. To read a story about the nets’ effectiveness and find out how you can help check this out.
World Vision Wednesday
From World Vision comes a true story of a young girl tempted by a job offer to good to be true. Unfortunately, it really was too good to be true and quickly became a nightmare. To read this account go here.
World Vision Wednesday
I received an e-mail the other day from a World Vision representative who is in Japan. Here is the e-mail:
I arrived in Japan just 40 hours after the giant quake and tsunami that became one of the most heartrending disasters in the country’s history. One thing I’ll never forget is that people in Japan don’t seem hopeless; they are resilient and are determined to move forward. The World Vision Japan staff members, specifically, have tremendous faith, and it’s encouraging to see them respond with such passion.
World Vision’s response in Japan started with an assessment team deployed to Sendai — the hardest-hit area. The team brought an initial supply of relief items, and talked with local leaders and families to find out what their greatest needs are. That gave the team a much clearer picture of how to move forward.
In the last couple of days, World Vision has delivered blankets, bottled water, and sanitary and hygiene supplies for more than 6,000 people in urgent need in Minami Sanriku and Tome, two devastated towns where thousands were evacuated to shelters.
In the coming weeks and months, World Vision plans to continue providing essential items — including hot food rations — to survivors in Miyagi Prefecture, and begin establishing Child-Friendly Spaces to help respond to the emotional needs of children who have survived so much.
Please keep the people of Japan in your prayers. I was speaking with one of our World Vision Japan staff members, and she expressed her gratitude for all the donations that have poured in from around the world. “But more important to us,” she said, “is knowing that people are praying for us.”
World Vision Wednesday
World Vision is putting relief efforts together to aid the people of Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami. To read more and learn how you can help check this out.
World Vision Wednesday
Last year in Romania, a group of brave teenagers put together an exhibition of photographs that they had taken, exposing the evil of human trafficking in that country. To read about their work and see some of the images visit this site.
World Vision Wednesday
Recently, the House of Representatives voted to cut spending in a number of areas. While I am normally in favor of less government and lower spending, I believe that some of the cuts should not have been made. According to World Vision president Richard Stearns, the budget “shrinks global AIDS, malaria, and hunger programs by 41 percent. It slashes funding for humanitarian emergencies by 67 percent. By comparison, other budget accounts are reduced by an average of just 8 percent. To put this in perspective, the existing U.S. budget for international humanitarian programs is only about one-half of 1 percent of the total federal budget.”
There are undoubtedly many things that should be cut out of a bloated budget. Humanitarian aid should not be one of them. While I believe that the church should be the primary agent of humanitarian giving, there are some places where the need is so great that government aid is needed along with private aid.
If you agree that this spending should not be cut, please contact your senators and ask them to vote to restore the funds for this needed humanitarian aid. The vote is on Friday, so time is of the essence.
World Vision Wednesday
“An offer to good to refuse leads to a nightmare.” This is true of what happens to a number of children around the world. World Vision is working to help those who have been trapped in a life of slavery. To find out more read this.
World Vision Wednesday
John Fischer has written an excellent article concerning lessons learned working among Muslims. I’ve quoted it below.
This morning I had the opportunity of hearing Dave Robinson speak at a Women of Vision Orange County Partnership Breakfast. Dave is the Senior Advisor for Operations for World Vision International. He has also lived most of his life as a Christian amongst Muslim people, and this is what I have to say about that: Why don’t we let this man inform our thinking and our activity towards Muslim people in this country and around the world instead of listening to a man who has lived in suburban America all his life and whose only claim to understanding Muslims is the fact that he is a popular radio talk show host? Why were 75 people listening to what the qualified man said and hundreds of thousands listening to the other? Why is fear more popular than reason?
Among a number of stories Mr. Anderson imparted was this one. In the wake of initial U.S. successes in Iraq, a moderate Muslim man said to Dave, “America is great.” To which he responded, “No. God is great,” which is actually a very common Muslim phrase of worship not unlike our Christian, “Praise the Lord.”
“Are you Muslim?” asked the man excitedly when he heard that.
After some thought, Dave replied, “I am a student of Jesus Christ.”
Notice he didn’t say, “I am a Christian,” which would have put him at odds with the Muslim man. Actually, Muslims are students of Jesus Christ too.
“Initiate open ended conversations that will eventually lead to Jesus,” Anderson said over and over. “Seek common ground even though the core of the message is missing.”
How often do we do that?
Last September, we had as global crisis on our hands because a pastor in Florida wanted to burn a copy of the Koran in retaliation for the memory of 9/11/2001. Anderson said that had he succeeded, it would have ended World Vision’s presence in any and all Muslim countries of the world.
Seek common ground. Initiate open-ended conversations that will eventually lead to Jesus. Not a bad way to operate with everyone. Cast aside fear and get smart.