World AIDS Day

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 33.4 million people worldwide now living with HIV according to 2008 statistics.

“In 2008, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 67% of HIV infections worldwide, 68% of new HIV infections among adults and 91% of new HIV infections among children. The region also accounted for 72% of the world’s AIDS-related deaths in 2008.” (WHO)

HIV/AIDS is a reality for many who live in FH communities across Eastern Africa. Many children are orphaned because of HIV/AIDS, and some of the children are innocent victims of this deadly disease and have contracted it from their mothers during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. African countries are not the only ones to be affected by this disease, it has touched the lives of people in Asia and South America as well.

Education is the key to eliminating this disease. Teaching children and families about how to prevent this disease by practicing safe sex practices and careful medical treatment. It is important that people learn ways to treat HIV/AIDS early if they are diagnosed and to protect themselves so they do not infect those around them.

By being a part of our sponsorship program, children and their families receive this education and training by our staff. The staff visit the families in their homes and walk with the thousands of families in our communities that are living day to day with the realities of this disease.

To be a part of the work being done around the world do bring awareness and prevention for this disease sponsor a child in Africa. For some more information on what Food for the Hungry is doing to combat AIDS check our website out. Or listen to a podcast on FH’s work with AIDS.

A thankful heart

As we approach one of the biggest holidays of the year, a day that we set aside to give thanks, I am reflecting on everything I am thankful for. How many times during the day do I not appreciate my healthy family, the roof over my head, my refrigerator full of food and the job that I am so blessed to have. It is convicting as I read stories and see faces of people who do not have any of those things. So as we gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, hopefully we can not only reflect on the things that we have in our lives but also lift a prayer for those around the world that not only do not have food, water and clothing, but do not yet know Jesus as their Savior and have the hope that Jesus gives. I wanted to share a quick story about a young girl in Uganda who has chosen to be thankful for everything that she has been given in her life even though some may think she has little to be thankful for, she would disagree.

Faith has been sponsored by FH for four years now, she started sponsorship while in the sixth grade. Without the support of her sponsor and FH, she would not have been able to attend Secondary School. Because Faith is the last born, her parents are very old and no longer live in Kitany with her. They were unable to support her academically.

However, with FH support, all of her school fees as well as purchasing uniforms, books, pens, and pencils are paid for. Through her sponsorship, she has received counseling from the CDP staff, encouraging her in her studies as well as fostering within her a deep relationship with God.

She is very involved in her church, singing in Church Choir every Sunday.

FH has helped Faith to think about and plan for her future. After Secondary School, she hopes to attend university in Kampala where she will study to become a nurse. After completing her university education, she hopes to return to Kapchorwa District, bringing her valuable knowledge back to aid her community.

Faith is very thankful for the support she has received and will not let the money, time, and love of her sponsor and the FH staff be laid to waste, she’s forever grateful for the good work God has used FH to do.

She asks for prayer; that she would be able to study hard and finish secocndary school strong.

Steps toward Justice

Food for the Hungry partners with a number of different artists who passionately speak about the work that Food for the Hungry does all over the world. Sara Groves is one of these artists. She has travelled to Rwanda a number of times and is very involved in the work that is being done in this war torn country. Recently Christianity Today wrote an article about Sara Groves and her partnership with Food for the Hungry and other non-profit organizations to make a lasting change in our world. Sara is passionate about the injustices that she has seen in Rwanda, check out the article to learn more.

Typhoon Update

On Saturday, September 26, 2009 the whole world was shocked to see on TV the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana, known locally in the Philippines as Typhoon Ondoy. As early as Thursday there was the usual warnings raised of the possibility of flooding and other negative effects of the typhoon. However few people could have actually predicted the amount of devastation that resulted from the flash flooding, the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and the death of almost 100 Filipinos in the various areas affected. Because the warnings did not predict the amount of devastation most people were unprepared and the response to the disaster was very slow.

Six weeks after this disaster we have received an update from our staff and more specifics about the communities and the families that were caught in the middle of this Typhoon and the aftermath of the flooding.  Here are the updates by community that was affected:

Gulayan, Catmon- The flooding reached 4 feet high and remained that way for two days. The public elementary school was used as an evacuation site. Most families lost kitchenware, clothing, books and other school supplies. FH staff distributed food and clothing to the families and school supplies to the children. All children are back to school now. One hundred and eighty five CDP and non-CDP families benefitted from the services from Food for the Hungry.

Tibag, Montalban- The flooding reached up to 10 feet which lasted for 24 hours. In some areas there is still up to 3 feet of mud. Most families lost their clothing, children’s school materials and kitchenware. FH distributed food and clothing to the families and school supplies to the children. There were also many families that were given medicine for skin diseases that were contracted because of the unsanitary conditions brought about by the flood waters. All the children are back at school now. One hundred and seventy three CDP and non CDP families benefitted from the supplies that were distributed.

Curayao, Montalban- This community was under 6-7 feet high flood waters which lasted for over 24 hours. Most families lost their clothing, children’s school materials and kitchenware.  Food for the Hungry staff distributed food and clothing to 193 families in this community and the children received needed school supplies to help them all return to school.

Towerville, Bulacan- In this area the flood waters reached five feet and lasted for 2 days in some areas. 40 CDP families were greatly affected by this disaster.  Most families lost their clothing, kitchenware and school materials. 243 families both, CDP and non CDP benefitted from the distribution of food, clothing and school supplies.

Matictic, Bulacan- This area was especially affected by the high level of waters because of the release of water from the nearby dams. The water rose up to 7 feet for 2 days. Even now, water rises unexpectedly even without rain because of the release of water from the dam.  FH distributed food, clothing and school supplies to the families. There were medical clinics held for the community members to distribute medicine for skin diseases brought about by unsanitary water.

Inaction is not the answer.

I am aware that this blog has been unusually quiet these past few weeks. It isn’t that there are not tragedies or emergencies to report or that there are no stories to tell or faces to share. Instead I have found myself overwhelmed with the amount of tragedies and injustices that so many around the world face on a daily basis. It only takes a brief pause on the news channel while surfing the tube, a quick click of a mouse on the CNN home page or the unfolding of the morning newspaper and  scan of the headlines to be reminded of the reality that this world is full of injustice and need.

Do you ever do what I have done these past few weeks and get so overwhelmed by it all that you are paralyzed to silence? Do you ever sit and wonder how your $5, $10, $32 etc. could ever possibly help the millions that are dying of hunger? Or how prayers and letters to your sponsored child could affect their day to day life and change the course of their future? Does this paralysis ever push you to a point of inaction as it has me? As I was taking a walk today with my son I realized that by ignoring the injustices faced by those in the world around me I was only adding to them. My goal for this blog has always been that peoples voices around the world would be heard. That we could share the stories and faces of children and their families who are being impacted by sponsorship. In my silence I was communicating exactly what I have been trying to overcome.

So in light of what I have just shared I wish to bring attention to not only a need but an upcoming opportunity. So many times I imagine, we have each read that passage in James about true religion being caring for orphans and widows. Jesus did not view religion as sitting in the pews at church on a Sunday morning or lifting your hands in worship though these are beneficial in their own right. Instead Jesus was intent on sharing his life with “the least of these” while he spent his three years in public ministry. I have to imagine that there were many stories that were never told or instances that were never even seen because Jesus cared for these people in private.

Sunday November 8th has been claimed by many churches and organizations as “Orphan Sunday”. A day set aside to bring awareness to the need to minister to the millions of orphans worldwide, even some here in our own communities. These orphans don’ t just need our money thrown in their direction but more importantly they need the love of someone who cares and the love that only the true Father can provide. Not every church will be making a big deal of “Orphan Sunday” but I hope that it can be a day that we can at least lift our prayers up for the work that is being done by so many to impact the lives of these children. That they may grow up knowing that they are loved and they are not alone.

Food for the Hungry’s Child Sponsorship program does that in many communities around the world. The field staff spend time with these children that have lost so much because of war, disease or famine. These children are taught about the love of a Father and encouraged to study and learn that they may grow up to change their lives, their families lives and ultimately the future of their country. If you are overwhelmed by the injustices you see in our world and these realities paralyze you to inaction, I challenge you to overcome this paralysis by simply taking one step at a time. One easy way to do this is to sponsor a child for $32 a month. Not only will your funds be used to develop the community where your child lives, but you will also have an opportunity to write to your child and build a relationship. It is this relationship that will change the future for this child.

Bringing Light to the “least of these”

As HIV/AIDS and other fatal diseases have struck the continent of Africa and the rest of the world a new kind of family has been created. One that is virtually unheard of in the developing world because we understand the absolute chaos it would be. These families are what we call Child Headed Households meaning that when the parents pass away the oldest child becomes the surrogate parents to the younger children. More often than not though the oldest is still a child themself. Our West Coast Regional Manager of our Advocate Ministry, Wendy McMahan has an incredible passion for bringing light to the injustice that is happening around the world. She does so through her podcasts. She just recently focused one of these podcasts on these Child Headed Households, you should check it out.

Recovering from the Flood

Our staff on the ground in the Philippines have sent us an update of the situation and have included some pictures.

” 100% of the families in Tibag and Curayao were affected on different levels. Some families lost all of their belongings (house and what they own), some have kept their house but there is nothing left inside. Some families kept their houses and belongings but they are no longer useful. Many CDP children neeed new school materials, bags, uniforms and sleepers. Some families have returned to their respective houses but some families continue to stay in relocation sites as they have no homes to return to. The entire community is full of mud, they don’t have clean water or electricity at this time. Classes are suspended until further notice because schools are currenty being used as evacuation centers. The need is great- food, clothing, drinking water, cleaning materials, rubber boots, school materials, utensils  and stoves. Having a church within the community is a great encouragement for the families. Although the church was also affected, the pastor and the church members continue to serve unselfishly. The church was opened for the families to do their laundry because the church has water from a deep well. About 7 families are staying in the church.”

And the Rain Came Down

Saturday brought hours and hours of rainfall to Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. This rain was a result of typhoon Ketsana that was not expected to have much affect on the islands of the Philippines. This storm was only expected to be a category 1 storm and yet the rain that was brought by this storm in just a matter of five hours was the same amount of rain that they usually receive in a months time. In just six hours, Manila received over 13 inches of rain, they average 15 inches for this whole month.

That one day of rain caused submerged houses, swept away shanties and made roads raging rivers. Terrified residents of this city were forced to climb on top of their houses, cars or anything they could find where they waited for more than 24 hours for help. Though this country is not a stranger to the battering of typhoons, Saturday’s rains were some of the worst ever experienced. What made it worse was that it was unexpected and there was little planning to be done. News sources are reporting that at least 140 people have died as a result of the flood but that number is expected to climb in the coming days as the water recedes.

There were four CDP communities that were directly affected by the flooding and many of our sponsored children were displaced from their homes and forced to find refuge in schools and other shelters on higher ground. Some of our CDP staff were also forced to leave their homes as the waters were waist deep.

Our FH Philippines Office is currently preparing relief goods to be distributed to the affected families. The have sent a list of prayer requests for us to lift up:

- Pray that the children will not get sick from water borne diseases.

- Pray that there will be enough food.

- Pray that the weather will improve.

- Pray that families will keep up their attitudes and have hope.

- Pray for the staff that were affected by the typhoon.

Food Crisis Escalates

Our field staff in Kenya have alerted us to a problem that is also being reported by many news sources. There is a food crisis in Kenya that is affecting 3.8 million people and part of the reason for this is the drought that this country is experiencing. This drought has been blamed for a number of elephants dying because the rivers are drying up. Some of the other reasons for this food crisis are the high prices of food that Kenyans can no longer afford, the lingering effects of the election violence that cut production of crops in the fields of Kenya. Though most people are feeling the affects of the food crisis are those living in the slums, and the farmers living in arid and semi-arid lands.

In January 2009, FH was awarded a $15 million, 3 year grant from USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to respond to the growing food crisus in Kenya. FH will lead a consortium of four other partners including World Vision, CARE, Catholic Relief Services and Action Against Hunger. The program will have two primary phases: an immediate, short term action to mitigate the effects of the food crisis and longer term, sustainable activities that both strengthen and diversify livelihoods through viavle economic opportunities. More than 660,000 people will benefit from this program.

Benefiting more than 660,000 individuals, the program activities include:

• Construction of livestock water points and community irrigation.
• Cash for Work to provide a source of income and build the local economy.
• Seeds distribution to restore and strengthen crop production.
• Introduction and distribution of high-yielding, improved breed of goats to upgrade the local breeds for increased production.
• Training and equipping of community-based animal health workers and agro-vets.
• Repair and construction of livestock markets.
• Credit and capital access for livestock traders.
• Business development training for farmers and traders.

If you would like to partner with Food for the Hungry in responding to this crisis click here.

Lives Transformed

There are so many success stories that come from our field offices. Children and their families who participate in Food for the Hungry programs and their lives are changed. I love to read these stories. There is nothing like reading about transformation. As sponsors here in the US we don’t get to see the incredible things that go on in the field and in these people’s lives. Hopefully sharing some of these stories on this blog will help us as sponsors get a brief glimpse of how God is working around the world.

Sabina Yasmin lives with her family in the village of Bilboka, in Kanthal union, Trishal, Bangladesh. Her father Tafajul Hossain is a farmer and her mother Ratna Begum is a housewife. She has one brother and two sisters. Sabina is the youngest.

From a young age, Sabina’s parents had been anxious about their daughter. As the youngest of four children, Sabina could be a handful. Her attitude toward her siblings and schoolmates ranged from indifference to rudeness and hostility. In her primary school she was a poor student and was known for her anger and inability to make friends. Sabina’s own mother was lead to believe that Sabina “would like to live her life alone.”

But Sabina’s life began to change when her family came into contact with FH. With regular visits and encouragement from FH staff, Sabina took a new interest in school and opportunities to make friends. Her studies improved and Sabina eventually gained her admittance to high school (grade 6). In her free time Sabina played chess with friends and became active in her school’s library club. The club, named Srijoni, was started at the local school with the support of FH so students could collect and share books. Through the club,  Sabina also had new opportunities to sing and dance in cultural performances.

Yet it was through an FH adolescent class that Sabina really flourished. Every week Sabina met with other adolescents from her community to learn about Biblical values and good character, about health and legal rights, and about the particular physical and emotional challenges of being a teenager.

Sabina was inspired by what she learned in her adolescent class, especially about serving others. Now she is always looking for ways to serve and help others. She takes time to tutor and help other students with their schoolwork. She has a heart for the poor and donates clothes when she can, sometimes even going door-to-door collecting rice for the poor and physically disabled in her community. FH staff, Nirmol Halder, says “now Sabina does not only think about herself. She always thinks about the well-being of the community.”

Through her adolescent class, Sabina is also developing her artistic and creative talents. She takes part in FH cultural performances and Christmas celebrations where she sings songs. She has earned certificates in dance, and is known in the community as a talented artist.

Sabina’s mother is active in the local FH Mother’s Club. Both Sabina and her mother are now advocates in their village for women’s education and for the prevention of child marriage. They take a stand when they see old friends and neighbors about the arrange an early marriage for a girl. When they were barely 16 years old, Sabina’s own friend Aktara was about to be married, but Sabina spoke up and helped to stop it.

Sabina’s father says “FH has enabled this change in my daughter.” Sabina is now 17 years old and studies in grade 12. She prays regularly and is always seeking ways to serve others. No longer shy or sullen, Sabrina has become a role model and young leader in her community.

Story written by Chelsea Hurlburt