The Earthquake in Nepal . . . How Can You Help?

As I'm sure you've heard by now, a massive earthquake hit Nepal yesterday, and tremors have continued to cause damage and delay relief efforts. Recently, Hubs and I have become friends with two international students who are from Nepal. What could have easily been "just another disaster in a faraway place" has instead become quite personal for us. Thankfully, our friends' families were not injured or killed, but they are sleeping in the streets as a safety precaution due to the tremors that continue to occur.

Often, I'm at a loss for what I can DO. You see, I'm a bit of a "fixer," and in situations like this I often  end up feeling a bit helpless. No, I can't go to Nepal and start cleaning up rubble. But I can offer financial support to enable those who are able to physically be "boots on the ground" and provide physical relief and comfort to those who have been affected. Two organizations that I trust implicitly are Samaritan's Purse and Baptist Global Response. We have given to both of these organizations multiple times and have always been impressed with how they have worked through existing partnerships in places where emergency assistance is needed. Please don't feel pressure from me to give or do anything. I just wanted to post these links in case you were feeling like me (you know, needing to do something, anything) and not really sure which organization(s) to trust.

And if you're wondering where God is in all of this or need some help processing the tragic nature of the situation, here are a couple of resources from David Platt, a pastor / teacher whose sermons have impacted my life over the past several years. These two sermons were preached in response to different natural disasters but are still very relevant in this situation.

• How Do We Respond to Natural Disasters?
• Tornadoes and the Trustworthiness of God

Photo 1: Credit  | Photo 2: Credit  | Photo 3: Credit

From Farm to Table: What Safe Food Means to One Child (Repost from Compassion International)

Today is World Health Day. I read this blog post on Compassion's blog yesterday and wanted to share it with all of you. What a wonderful story of how Compassion doesn't just help children, but impacts entire families and communities as well!

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World Health Day is April 7 and this year’s focus is food safety. More than 200 diseases are caused by unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses and chemical substances.

Helping meet the physical needs of the children in our program, and of their communities, sometimes means having to find healthy food sources. Often, farm to table is the best solution possible.

This is where little Borisut comes in. He is a sponsored child in Thailand’s rural northern region. And we’d like you to hear his perspective on how farm-to-table living has benefited not only his family but also his entire community.

This is 7-year-old Borisut.

And this is his family’s beautiful garden.

His grandparents’ generation used to plant all their vegetables by themselves. But by the time Borisut was born, people from the city had built roads into his village and started hiring the villagers to work in their fields and factories.

His mom and dad worked hard in others’ fields, but their own gardens started to dry up because no one was taking care of them. Before long, no one in their village planted their own vegetables anymore. They had to buy all of their food from other people.

The produce they purchased always contained chemicals from pesticides that gave Borisut fevers and often made his younger brother break out in rashes.

Buying food also took a lot of money, so Borisut’s mom and dad had to work extra to keep them in school. Sometimes they didn’t make enough money to buy meat, so they would eat only rice and vegetables.

Then one day at his Compassion child development center, the teacher said they would learn something new: planting a garden. The center was going to teach the children’s parents how to grow their own food again, and the kids would get to join in. Borisut was excited to learn!

The center director taught them a new motto: “Plant what you eat, and eat what you plant.”

He planted a large garden at the Compassion center to show them how it’s done. Their teachers took them walking through the garden often, teaching them about all the fruits and vegetables.

Borisut learned all about the different plants he can eat, how vegetables don’t need chemicals to grow, and how to help his mom and dad in the garden.

His parents learned about gardening from the center director. At first the family’s gardens died as soon as the summer started. But as his parents learned about water conservation and storage, the gardens stayed green all year long!

Soon they were picking their own food from the trees and bushes around their house for their meals.

Borisut’s dad is a leader in their village, so now other families come to learn from him how they can have their own garden. The village is going to be swimming in pumpkins and bananas soon!

When they have more fruits and vegetables than they can eat, the center director helps the the families sell the surplus at a small market he set up for them. Every day the families take turns sitting at their booth selling the extra produce to people from other villages.

The other villages like to buy from them because Borisut’s village knows how to grow their gardens without using harmful chemicals.

Since they stopped buying the plants with chemicals, Borisut’s fevers have stopped and his little brother no longer has painful rashes.

Not only are they healthier, they’re also saving a lot of money! With the extra money they save and earn, they can now have more meat in their food, and also money for school supplies.

This week the center director told them that one of Borisut’s friends needed food. His father is dead, and his grandmother just died; there is no one in the house to work for money. All who have gardens are going to be giving him fruits, rice and vegetables that they grew themselves.

Borisut thanks God for blessing their gardens so they can bless those around them!

* Reblogged from Compassion International's blog. Original story and photos by Jonathan Suwaratana

Learn how you can help meet needs like this for other families like Borisut’s by visiting Compassion's Gift Catalog.

We Love Moms | Mary Moses, the Educator

“Without education,” says Mary, “you won’t go far.” And in a rural region of Malawi where less than 45 percent of women can read, Mary has sent nine children—mostly daughters—to school. She saves money for school fees through her HOPE savings group, and she appreciates the opportunity to read God’s Word with others.

Click here to read Mary Moses' story.

HOPE International is a network of microfinance institutions and savings and credit associations operating in 17 countries around the world. HOPE works to empower men, women, and families to break the cycles of physical and spiritual poverty through discipleship, biblically based business training, savings services, and small loans. By incorporating a strong witness for Jesus Christ and employing a variety of approaches, HOPE is an innovator in the field of microenterprise development.

We Love Moms | Anandi's Story

On the outskirts of a small village in rural western India, a dirt road leads to Anandi's* small brick home. Sitting on her doorstep, Anandi speaks quietly, but she radiates confidence. Other women from her savings group sit on woven mats, a nearby tree providing welcome shade, as they listen to Anandi share her story. Next to the house, a goat sleeps peacefully, while clean laundry dries in the sun.

It’s hard to believe that only three years ago, Anandi’s family had no home at all.

“There was always a worry about how our needs would be met,” Anandi explains of that time, when she, her husband, and their three children crowded into her sister’s home. Like most men in their community, her husband found daily labor in the fields when he could. Because of his irregular income, the family relied on moneylenders to pay for unexpected expenses, paying between 120 and 240 percent interest on each loan.

Click here to continue reading Anandi's story.

HOPE International is a network of microfinance institutions and savings and credit associations operating in 17 countries around the world. HOPE works to empower men, women, and families to break the cycles of physical and spiritual poverty through discipleship, biblically based business training, savings services, and small loans. By incorporating a strong witness for Jesus Christ and employing a variety of approaches, HOPE is an innovator in the field of microenterprise development.

* Name changed for security purposes.

Giving Gifts that Make a Difference

The other day I posted about giving. There are lots of ways to give, but sometimes you want to give someone a gift, right? Well, I've been inspired by Vita Familiae to think about giving gifts that make a difference. She makes a list every year of shops, bloggers, friends, etc. who are selling something to help fund their adoption. It's a great list! After seeing her list, I was inspired to make my own.

Shipping deadlines for Christmas are quickly approaching, so shop fast! Already "finished" your Christmas shopping? You can always take stuff back, right?! Or ... maybe you've got birthdays, graduations, or other occasions to shop for?! Feel free to add these items to your own Christmas list ... I did. :)

So, here is a list of gifts for just about everyone on your list that will help someone else. Happy shopping!

Punjammies

These adorable pajama pants are made by women and girls who have been rescued from the sex slave trade. Through sewing these pajamas, they have the opportunity to learn about business and make a better life for herself and her family.

The History of Redemption

Proceeds from this hardcover Scripture memory book published by The Austin Stone Church in Austin, Texas, will help provide financially for the family of Ronnie Smith, a follower of Christ who was killed in Syria last week. (You can read more of Ronnie's story here.)

Rethreaded

Rethreaded ministers to people affected by the sex slave trade. Shop here to help them do just that!

World Crafts Village

Buy fair trade gifts—like this Noah's Ark finger puppet set—from artisans around the world.

Faces of Adoption Calendar

100% of the profits from these calendars go to fund the ministry of Lifeline Children's Services.

Scripture Memory Cards

These Scripture memory cards from The Ruby Pearl are so cute! And they help fund this family's adoption from Uganda!

Cross Door Hangar

I LOVE these door hangars from From Bham with Love! They'd also look great hanging on a wall. And they help a family bring their child home from Bulgaria! (Their FB page is great too!)

Candles

I sure do love yummy candles! And these candles from My Jie Jie and Me are going to help a family go on a mission trip to Eastern Europe.

Hope Bracelet

This bracelet is adorable! And Catju Handmade Jewelry is giving the proceeds from this bracelet to The Haiti Mission Program, which assists the poor in Haiti.

Rose Stud Earrings

Kurtz Kreations Too is selling these colorful stud earrings (and they're BOGO!). AND they're helping fund this family's mission trip to Haiti!

Lip Balm Holder

I'm slightly obssessed with Lip Smackers. And this is serving a great purpose for me—I never have to look for it again! (I couldn't wait for Christmas to ask for this, so I've been using mine for a couple of weeks now.) Plus 30% of the profits from Gabriel's Good Tidings goes to help others. Through the end of the year, that 30% is helping friends who are church planters in NYC.

Doll Clothes

Any mamas out there looking for an alternative to expensive American Girl doll clothes? Check these out? Get a great deal AND help fund international adoption.

Beaded Bookmarks

Love these beaded bookmarks from As One Rescued! And the profits go to help fund adoption.

Tree Canvas

I love these canvas prints! So sweet and small. AND they are helping fund the artist's adoption from Taiwan.

Leather Front-Pocket Wallet

So adorable ... and practical! The items in Standard Goods shop will help fund their adoption from China.

Key Necklace

Hender Sweet donates a portion of all proceeds to worthy causes. But several of her items are 100% fundraisers (like this key necklace!).

Lip Balm & Lotion Bars
These would make perfect stocking stuffers ... or even just a "happy" for yourself. :) Proceeds will help this family fund their adoption from Ethiopia.

Pillowcases!
I'm obsessed with pillowcases. Adopting Nations has a fantastic selection of pillow cases made from designer fabrics. I bought two to use in place of shams in our guest room ... but I'm not sleeping on them. And I will probably buy more in the near future. :) (I also bought an adorable purse from this shop and have LOVED it!) Shopping here will help fund this family's adoption of two children from the Congo.

Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is

The Countdown to Christmas Party is going strong, but I would be remiss if I didn't take time to share a little more about what the Lord is teaching me about giving right now, especially here at Christmas. I'd love to hear your thoughts, too!

There’s always a lot of talk about giving around Christmas. It makes sense. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the greatest gift in all of history. So giving is at the very heart of Christmas!

Sometimes, though, I’ve wondered if we wait all year long until it’s “time” to give.  As if because it’s Christmas, we’re suddenly supposed to open our wallets and start doing for others and giving more. But what if we didn’t wait until December 1 to start giving? What if we made it a lifestyle? So that every month, every week even, we gave to somebody, somewhere. Hubs and I have tried to make giving a priority throughout our marriage, but we’ve recently been challenged to dig a little deeper … give ‘til it hurts. I don’t know what that looks like or how that will play out, but it’s something we’re praying through right now.

Today it’s December 5, just weeks away from Christmas. Sometimes it feels like the needs are just … more … right here at Christmas. As I've thought about it, I think there are three "types" of giving ... especially at the holidays. 

• Giving financially to those in need ... directly to people we know or through trustworthy organizations. This can be straight up donations or there are lots of cool ways that you can give in honor of someone.
• Giving gifts that help others ... you know, gifts that people we love can use and enjoy but that help fund something bigger than simple capitalism.
• Giving by doing ... showing our love for others by helping, doing, giving our lives for the sake of others.

Let’s start now. Let’s do this. Let’s give ‘til it hurts. Feel the pinch. Feel the tug on your heartstrings. Feel your heart breaking a little more for those in need. Let the Spirit speak to you and tell you where to give, who to give to, and how much to give. And then obey.

Don’t know where to start? There are lots of ways to do this. Here are a few suggestions of ways to give financially to those in need …

Your Church: This seems so simple, but start here. Give faithfully to your local church. Is your church collecting a special offering this Christmas? Give to it. Is your small group buying gifts for a family in need? Participate!

Ministries or Organizations in Your Community: There are so many needs, and my guess is that your community has lots of organizations that are trying to meet as many of them as possible. Ask them what they need. Here are a few places to start: Department of Human Resources (or other organizations that care for foster children in your community), children’s homes, homeless shelters, hospitals, nursing homes/retirement centers. You get the idea. Love on somebody!

Compassion International: Surely you know by now how special Compassion International is to us. If you can swing it, sponsor a child. It’s $38 per month, and it is life-changing. Let me just tell you. If you already sponsor or can’t commit just yet, check out the Christmas Gift Catalog.

Hope International: Hope International serves people around through microfinance. Basically, individuals can request a loan, start a business, and provide for their families. And the best part is they work through the local church! I have seen them in action. They are the real deal. Check out their catalog for some really unique ways to help families around the world start businesses so their lives can be forever changed. (P.S. Someone in our family will be getting a GOAT for Christmas this year!)

Samaritan’s Purse: Samaritan's Purse provides spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. They are often one of the first organizations to assist in disasters worldwide and help meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. Check out their gift catalog for a huge variety of gifts … and quite a few for $15 or less if you’re on a tight budget.

Operation Christmas Child: Over the past 20 years, Operation Christmas Child has provided Christmas gifts to more than 103 million children around the world. This is a simple, tangible way to show the love of Christ. National Collection Week has passed, but you can now build a shoebox online!

International Mission Board: 100% of the International Mission Board’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goes to support international missionaries as they share the gospel overseas. Your gifts will help start churches and ensure that people hear the gospel … many for the first time.

Door of Hope: Door of Hope is an orphanage in Johannesburg, South Africa. They help rescue and care for abandoned, aborted, abused, and orphaned children in South Africa by providing a temporary home while seeking a forever family for each child. This ministry is so dear to me, as I volunteered here for several months after graduating from college. DOH meets a tremendous need in this community.

International Justice Mission: International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that brings rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to secure immediate victim rescue and aftercare, to prosecute perpetrators and to ensure that public justice systems - police, courts and laws - effectively protect the poor. Be part of this important work through IJM’s Gifts of Freedom Holiday Gift Catalog.

Gospel for Asia: Gospel for Asia is committed to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with lost men, women, and children throughout South Asia. Check out their Christmas catalog to see how you can be part of training, equipping and sending out laborers to share the Good News. Your partnership will impact the spiritual and physical well-being of those in desperate need.

That’s a starting place at least! So let’s get to it!

Put your money where your heart is!

National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child

I'm sure you've heard of Operation Christmas Child before. I didn't realize until recently that this ministry is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. During the past 20 years, Operation Christmas Child has provided more than 100 million shoeboxes to children in need around the world! Wow! That's a lot of children who have been helped through the years! (In case you're wondering, if you stacked all those boxes on top of each other, that would be more than 26,000 times taller than the Empire State Building!)

Hubs and I packed our shoeboxes over the weekend and had a great time doing it. It's so much fun to shop and try to think of little things that might bring a smile to a child's face or just let them know that someone, somewhere is praying for them. This week is National Collection Week (November 18-25), so you still have plenty of time to pack a box and drop it off at one of the collection sites around the country.

I know sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to try to figure out where to start, so I thought I'd give you a step-by-step for what WE did to give you a few ideas. Of course, feel free to do whatever works best for YOU!

Here are some really simple steps on how to pack a shoebox, complete with gift suggestions (and a few restrictions).

We decided to pack 4 boxes total—2 boys and 2 girls, ages 5-9.

We went to the Dollar Store and Wal-Mart to get everything we needed. You could probably get everything at one place, but both stores were a little picked over. See the pics below to see exactly what we got where. :)

 We started with the basics: washcloth, toothpaste, toothbrush, bar of soap, comb.

Then added a few school/art supplies: pencils, pencil sharpener, stickers, construction paper, crayons, colored pencils

Then we added in some purely fun stuff: candy, puzzle, bouncy ball, yo-yo, play dough, plastic spoon and fork, headbands (for the girls), Hot Wheels (for the boys).

We then wrote a quick note to let the child know that we were praying for them and wanted them to know the love of Jesus (including our address, so they can write back if they like!), tucked in a picture of us, and closed up the box.

We went online to pay the $7 donation per box to help it get where it needs to go. The online payment option allows you to track your box and see where it ends up. Very cool! Once we paid, we printed the label, taped it to the box, and put a rubber band around it. And then we delivered it to one of the collection centers near us. (Here's a complete list, searchable by city/state or zip code.)

Pretty simple, right?! This is a fairly simple and inexpensive way to give to those in need this Christmas. If you want more information, check out the Operation Christmas Child site.

And if you'd like even more info, here's a FUNNY video from Uncle Si (who doesn't love Duck Dynasty?!) with a few more tips on packing a box. (And here are more videos from Uncle Si.) Enjoy!

Giving Gifts in Jesus' Name

Children living in poverty rarely—if ever—receive gifts. Let's be honest. If you're struggling to feed your family, to find clean water, and to keep a roof over your head, gifts aren't really a priority. 

One of the ways that Compassion International ministers to children in their program is by giving each child in the program a Christmas gift in the name of Jesus. These gifts are a way to show each child that someone cares about them. Plus, it's a tangible demonstration of God's love.

Many sponsors contribute an additional amount each year to help provide a Christmas gift for their sponsored child. Of course, there are some who are not able to do so. No child is ever left out, but additional funds are needed to help cover this expense. Would you consider contributing to the Christmas Gift Fund to meet this need? A gift of $20 is suggested to provide a gift for one child. 100% of contributions will be used to purchase gifts. (The deadline to give toward this year's Christmas Gift Fund is October 31.)

Blog Action Day 2013 | How Can YOU Help?

Blog Action Day is a one-day international event that brings thousands of bloggers together to talk about an important issue. Throughout Blog Action Day, participants help raise awareness and money for charities and social causes. This year I'm blogging on behalf of Samaritan's Purse.

The focus of Blog Action Day 2013 is on human rights. Samaritan's Purse would like to draw attention to the crisis situation in Sudan and South Sudan that has been caused by brutal human rights violations carried out by the Sudanese government and its president, Omar al-Bashir.

This is the third of three posts today to bring awareness to this situation. If you missed the previous posts, you can read them here and here.

The Underlying Problem

The root of the refugee crisis is ongoing government-sponsored violence against Sudanese citizens. While Samaritan’s Purse is committed to meeting the urgent needs of refugees, the underlying problem can only be addressed with broader issues of governance and constitutionality. We encourage Christians to:

• Pray for the violence to end and for comprehensive peace for all of Sudan. 
• Give as God calls to help meet the needs of displaced people living in South Sudan. 
• Spread the word to raise awareness of the problem and encourage others to get involved.

Ways You Can Help

Here are some of the areas that need your prayer and support ...
 

Displacement

• The Need: Approximately 190,000 refugees populate camps in northern South Sudan. These refugees fled across the border as Sudan’s government troops conducted aerial bombings, ground raids, and orchestrated famine – atrocities that continue to this day. 
• The Response: Samaritan’s Purse works with partners inside the refugee camps to meet basic needs in Jesus’ Name, including food, water, and medical care.

Hunger

• The Need: Many children arrive in the refugee camps suffering from moderate and severe acute malnutrition. Families cannot provide food for themselves because the violence forced them to leave their farmland.  
• The Response: Samaritan’s Purse screens and treats children for moderate to severe acute malnutrition with outpatient therapeutic feeding programs. We partner with the World Food Programme to conduct routine food distributions inside the camps.

Scarce Medical Care

• The Need: Bunj Hospital is the only healthcare provider to offer specialized surgical care, at-risk childbirth intervention, and life-saving nutritional programs in Maban County, a large border region in northern South Sudan.
• The Response: Samaritan’s Purse began operating Bunj Hospital, in partnership with the UN High Council on Refugees, in January 2012, and since then more than 600 life-saving surgeries have been performed. We are currently expanding to meet increasing demand.

Lack of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

• The Need: Access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene is always a challenge in refugee situations.  
• The Response: Samaritan's Purse supplies the majority of clean water access in Yida refugee camp. In August, we produced approximately 13,605,000 liters of water, built 173 latrines, and trained 1,900 people in health and hygiene.

If you would like to contribute financially to the ministry of Samaritan's Purse as they assist in meeting needs in Sudan and South Sudan, you can donate here.

Blog Action Day 2013 | A Photo Essay

Blog Action Day is a one-day international event that brings thousands of bloggers together to talk about an important issue. Throughout Blog Action Day, participants help raise awareness and money for charities and social causes. This year I'm blogging on behalf of Samaritan's Purse.

The focus of Blog Action Day 2013 is on human rights. Samaritan's Purse would like to draw attention to the crisis situation in Sudan and South Sudan that has been caused by brutal human rights violations carried out by the Sudanese government and its president, Omar al-Bashir.

This is the second of three posts today to bring awareness to this situation. If you missed the first post, you can read it here.

Nurse Erin Whitehouse examines a child at Yida refugee camp’s Stabilization Center. Many refugees arrive with malnourished children who need immediate care. Mothers throughout the camp know to bring their children to the center if they become ill or need medical attention.

When roads are flooded during the rainy season, the only way to get food to the refugee camp in Yida is to drop it by plane.

Samaritan’s Purse has established nine water points throughout the Yida refugee camp, providing clean water for more than 20,000 people per day.

Yida refugee camp’s most vulnerable women, including widows and mothers who are heads of households, are learning income-generating skills like sewing, jewelry making, embroidery, and weaving. They can sell or trade the goods in the marketplace.

Dr. Evan Atar is on call 24 hours a day at Bunj Hospital in South Sudan. He is the only full-time surgeon in an area where more than 200,000 people live, including over 110,000 refugees who have been driven from their homes in Sudan.

The food laid out here will only feed 250 families for a month.

Choirs sang the national anthem of South Sudan at the Independence Day ceremony on July 9, 2011. Part of the lyrics include: “Oh God! We praise and glorify You for Your grace on South Sudan; Land of great abundance, uphold us united in peace and harmony.”

If you would like to contribute financially to the ministry of Samaritan's Purse as they assist in meeting needs in Sudan and South Sudan, you can donate here.


Photo Credit: Samaritan's Purse