Showing posts with label hunger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hunger. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Article & Images about Hurricane Gustav
This news story can be found here
An estimated 6,300 Haitians, mostly city-dwellers from Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and Leogane, were forced from their homes by Hurricane Gustav as torrential rains pounded the deforested southern peninsula of the country on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"The population of Haiti is already suffering from extreme poverty, and soaring food prices are aggravating the situation," says Annamaria Laurini, UNICEF Representative in Haiti. "Whenever a natural disaster such as Gustav hits the region, the consequences of its impact are amplified."With nearly 45 per cent of the country's population under the age of 18, children are among those most affected by the grinding poverty, high food prices and now a substantial natural disaster striking the country.
UNICEF, WFP and their partners are working with the government to ascertain the extent of the damage and to determine what actions are required to assist those affected. While humanitarian access to most of the disaster areas has improved as weather conditions have slowly begun to return to normal, damaged roads and insecurity still impede rapid assessment to some areas.
Of special concern to Laurini is the impact the hurricane may have on schools. Only 51 per cent of girls and 48 per cent of boys of primary school age attend school in Haiti, and in a country faced with such immense challenges, education represents a key source of hope for the future.
Too many Haitian families are already being faced, this year, with a decision no family should ever have to make: to feed their children, or to send them to school. While a UNICEF initiative aims to help get children back into school in Haiti as the new school year begins, the effects of the hurricane may be disruptive.
"If schools are seriously damaged or used as temporary shelter, this could seriously delay children's return to school, which is due in about a week," says Laurini. UNICEF
I found the video that follows posted on this blog
Please join me in praying for all the people already impacted by this storm, and for the people that remain in the storm's path in the U.S.
***********************************************************************************
To have to decide between feeding your children or sending them to school?!?!
Go back and read the article again-this is what it says, word for word.
"Too many Haitian families are already being faced, this year, with a decision no family should ever have to make: to feed their children, or to send them to school. "
Let.
That.
Sink.
In.
"Too many Haitian families are already being faced, this year, with a decision no family should ever have to make: to feed their children, or to send them to school."
Did it hit you, like it hits me?!? I read quickly, and the first time I skimmed the article, I almost missed it. (and I have been to Haiti and seen the poverty first hand.)
Then it HIT ME like a ton of bricks.
Like.
A.
Ton.
Of.
Bricks.
I can't even fathom how a family deals with a situation like this. Choosing between food and education?!?! And it upsets me greatly, that only 500 miles from America, this is a decision that needs to be made. It is unacceptable.
We have to do something, anything. Is God calling you to adopt? Is God calling you to become a missionary? Or support one? Maybe God is calling you to go on a short term mission trip? Or maybe God is doing something else in you. Or........?
I'm not saying everyone has to do what I am doing, but I am saying that everyone has to do SOMETHING. Especially if we call ourselves Christians. How can we claim to follow Christ who said If we don't, how will it ever change? How will these children ever come to know the love of our great God? It is one thing to tell them God loves them. But who will show them?
The easiest thing I can think of is to sponsor a student at Three Angels Christian Academy by going here. $27 a month can make a difference in a child's life-and in the future. And make a difference in the populations of heaven and hell.
$27.00. A month. That is less than $1.00/day. I KNOW that all of us can find a way to come up with $1.00 a day. Three Angels is a good organization, run by good people, trying to make a difference. The money goes to the children, not to the administration. I have seen it.
Children are precious gifts from God and we ought to make the world a place where choosing between food, education, and medical care are not decisions parent have to make. Children are our future-and nutrition and education of children is the only way that things are ever going to change in such poverty stricken places as Haiti.
My Bible says "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17
and
"I have cried until the tears no longer come. My heart is broken, my spirit poured out, as I see what has happened to my people. Little children and tiny babies are fainting and dying in the streets. "Mama, we want food," they cry, and then collapse in their mothers' arms. Their lives ebb away like the life of a warrior wounded in battle. " Lamentations 2:11-12
and
One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God." Luke 18:16-17
I want my faith to be alive, a living thing, that can be seen by what I do, not by what I say. How is your faith? Is it time for more action and less talk? Or maybe you are already doing exactly what God has called you to do. I don't know-but I want to implore you to talk to God about it-and more important-LISTEN to God. Then take action. Do something.
Ugh. My "Holy Discontent" strikes again. :-)
God is great.
An estimated 6,300 Haitians, mostly city-dwellers from Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and Leogane, were forced from their homes by Hurricane Gustav as torrential rains pounded the deforested southern peninsula of the country on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"The population of Haiti is already suffering from extreme poverty, and soaring food prices are aggravating the situation," says Annamaria Laurini, UNICEF Representative in Haiti. "Whenever a natural disaster such as Gustav hits the region, the consequences of its impact are amplified."With nearly 45 per cent of the country's population under the age of 18, children are among those most affected by the grinding poverty, high food prices and now a substantial natural disaster striking the country.
UNICEF, WFP and their partners are working with the government to ascertain the extent of the damage and to determine what actions are required to assist those affected. While humanitarian access to most of the disaster areas has improved as weather conditions have slowly begun to return to normal, damaged roads and insecurity still impede rapid assessment to some areas.
Of special concern to Laurini is the impact the hurricane may have on schools. Only 51 per cent of girls and 48 per cent of boys of primary school age attend school in Haiti, and in a country faced with such immense challenges, education represents a key source of hope for the future.
Too many Haitian families are already being faced, this year, with a decision no family should ever have to make: to feed their children, or to send them to school. While a UNICEF initiative aims to help get children back into school in Haiti as the new school year begins, the effects of the hurricane may be disruptive.
"If schools are seriously damaged or used as temporary shelter, this could seriously delay children's return to school, which is due in about a week," says Laurini. UNICEF
I found the video that follows posted on this blog
Please join me in praying for all the people already impacted by this storm, and for the people that remain in the storm's path in the U.S.
***********************************************************************************
To have to decide between feeding your children or sending them to school?!?!
Go back and read the article again-this is what it says, word for word.
"Too many Haitian families are already being faced, this year, with a decision no family should ever have to make: to feed their children, or to send them to school. "
Let.
That.
Sink.
In.
"Too many Haitian families are already being faced, this year, with a decision no family should ever have to make: to feed their children, or to send them to school."
Did it hit you, like it hits me?!? I read quickly, and the first time I skimmed the article, I almost missed it. (and I have been to Haiti and seen the poverty first hand.)
Then it HIT ME like a ton of bricks.
Like.
A.
Ton.
Of.
Bricks.
I can't even fathom how a family deals with a situation like this. Choosing between food and education?!?! And it upsets me greatly, that only 500 miles from America, this is a decision that needs to be made. It is unacceptable.
We have to do something, anything. Is God calling you to adopt? Is God calling you to become a missionary? Or support one? Maybe God is calling you to go on a short term mission trip? Or maybe God is doing something else in you. Or........?
I'm not saying everyone has to do what I am doing, but I am saying that everyone has to do SOMETHING. Especially if we call ourselves Christians. How can we claim to follow Christ who said If we don't, how will it ever change? How will these children ever come to know the love of our great God? It is one thing to tell them God loves them. But who will show them?
The easiest thing I can think of is to sponsor a student at Three Angels Christian Academy by going here. $27 a month can make a difference in a child's life-and in the future. And make a difference in the populations of heaven and hell.
$27.00. A month. That is less than $1.00/day. I KNOW that all of us can find a way to come up with $1.00 a day. Three Angels is a good organization, run by good people, trying to make a difference. The money goes to the children, not to the administration. I have seen it.
Children are precious gifts from God and we ought to make the world a place where choosing between food, education, and medical care are not decisions parent have to make. Children are our future-and nutrition and education of children is the only way that things are ever going to change in such poverty stricken places as Haiti.
My Bible says "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17
and
"I have cried until the tears no longer come. My heart is broken, my spirit poured out, as I see what has happened to my people. Little children and tiny babies are fainting and dying in the streets. "Mama, we want food," they cry, and then collapse in their mothers' arms. Their lives ebb away like the life of a warrior wounded in battle. " Lamentations 2:11-12
and
One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God." Luke 18:16-17
I want my faith to be alive, a living thing, that can be seen by what I do, not by what I say. How is your faith? Is it time for more action and less talk? Or maybe you are already doing exactly what God has called you to do. I don't know-but I want to implore you to talk to God about it-and more important-LISTEN to God. Then take action. Do something.
Ugh. My "Holy Discontent" strikes again. :-)
God is great.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Back To School Harvest!
This is taken from the Three Angels Children's Relief website (http://www.threeangelshaiti.org/)
*************************************************************************************
Haiti is a Caribbean country occupying the western third of Hispaniola, sharing the island with the Dominican Republic. It is about the size of the state of Maryland, 50 miles from Cuba, and 600 miles from Florida. It is only an hour and a half flight from Florida yet is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Haiti has historically been poverty stricken due to a variety of reasons including historical factors such as war and war debt, occupations and dictatorships, isolation and racism that are still impacting Haiti today along with current economic and environmental factors such as international aid sanctions, internal political conflict, deforestation that leads to soil erosion and flooding, hurricanes, etc.
The average Haitian earns less than $1 a day, and there have been estimates that 1 percent of the country's 8.1 million people controls nearly half its wealth (Mozingo). More than half of Haitians eight million people lack access to clean water or sanitation. Fifty percent of the population is undernourished, with one in five children underweight or under-height for their age. Twelve percent of Haitian children die before their first birthday, and one third do not make it to their 5th birthday (globalsecurity.org).
According to a 2004 U.N. report, Haiti ranks with Afghanistan and Somalia as one of three countries of the world with the worst daily caloric deficit per person with 2.4 million Haitians unable to afford the minimum 2,240 daily calories recommended by the World Health Organization. In addition, only 1 in every 10,000 Haitians has access to a physician (globalsecurity.org). A 2005 report declares Haiti the second worst place in the world to live (Moyes). Haiti is the fifth most corrupt nation in the world for 2005, according to Transparency International, a global watchdog group who publish an annual list of corruption levels in 159 nations. Haiti was tied for the most corrupt country in 2004.
************************************************************************************
The Bible tells us: "These were his instructions to them: "The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, and ask him to send out more workers for his fields. " (Luke 10:2)
I'm writing to let you know about a SIMPLE way that you can help. Maybe you can't adopt a child. Maybe you can't travel to Haiti to work on construction projects. But there is something you CAN do...read on for more info.....
Visit here to help today! Please consider sponsoring a student.
Three Angels Children's Relief opened Three Angels Christian Academy (TACA) aka Institution Mixte Chretienne de Petion-Ville in 2005. TACA serves nearly 400 students in a 2 room building on the Three Angels Campus. There is a huge need for inexpensive, quality schools in Haiti. Well over half of the adult population is illiterate. Most of the children currently attending would not have the opportunity to attend a school without TACA opening and granting scholarships. Without an education there is no way out of the cycle of poverty.
Children in Haiti are starving. The students that attend TACA are hungry too-and you can help! Many of them do not get regular meals at home. At this time, TACA provides 1 meal of bread and peanut butter. For many, this is the only meal they get in a day. The goal is to get sponsorships for all the students, so that a full meal of beans, rice and milk can be provided. The only way that this goal can be reached is via the student sponsorship program. For less than $1.00 per day, you can change the life of a child, and change the world. What better way to change things that to feed and educate a student. For $27 a month you can help end the cycle of poverty.
To learn more about this program (it's very simple to do) visit http://www.threeangelshaiti.org/sponsorship.htm
$27.00 a month
Imagine the difference that $1.00 can make in the life of these students! It would not be hard to figure out a way to give up something that costs less than a dollar a day to help.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
God's calling-the harvest is great and the workers are few. Will you answer?
to make a difference TODAY!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
The Gift of Another Day!
Today is Sunday, and in Haiti, they take the day of rest seriously. So we did too. We went to church and arrived early in order to get a seat on a hard wooden pew. If you don't get there early, you sit or stand outside. It was a long service, filled with worship-lots of singing. It was in English too. Met some interesting people.
Then we went to the 'beach'. In Haiti the beaches are different than what we are used to. We made sandwiches and enjoyed the breeze and the water. Took a couple of kids with us, and they had never seen the ocean or even spent that much time outside, so that was pretty cool.
The ride to the beach was interesting. The poverty and street scene never really got better. Although, there were a few points that it seemed better, but not really. We passed the capital/president's home. That is where the most recent rioting that was in the news before we came took place. Things are still damaged-windows boarded up etc. Even up to about the 4th floor on some buildings. Amazing.
Another interesting thing I noticed today-in addition to stray dogs wandering the streets, there are chickens, roosters, goats and pigs. Wandering the streets. Not every day you see pigs and goats at the beach!
Tomorow is a visit to Mother Theresa's orphanage/hospital, then back to Three Angels...and before we know it we will be headed for home. Amazing. I have so much more to say-but I'll have to do that another time as people are waiting for the computer.
www.ThreeAngelsHaiti.org
Then we went to the 'beach'. In Haiti the beaches are different than what we are used to. We made sandwiches and enjoyed the breeze and the water. Took a couple of kids with us, and they had never seen the ocean or even spent that much time outside, so that was pretty cool.
The ride to the beach was interesting. The poverty and street scene never really got better. Although, there were a few points that it seemed better, but not really. We passed the capital/president's home. That is where the most recent rioting that was in the news before we came took place. Things are still damaged-windows boarded up etc. Even up to about the 4th floor on some buildings. Amazing.
Another interesting thing I noticed today-in addition to stray dogs wandering the streets, there are chickens, roosters, goats and pigs. Wandering the streets. Not every day you see pigs and goats at the beach!
Tomorow is a visit to Mother Theresa's orphanage/hospital, then back to Three Angels...and before we know it we will be headed for home. Amazing. I have so much more to say-but I'll have to do that another time as people are waiting for the computer.
www.ThreeAngelsHaiti.org
Friday, July 11, 2008
What an Amazing Day!
Just a quick note to say hi while the power and internet are up....
We had an amazing day at Three Angels today. Played w/ the kids/babies, helped clean and organize a supply closet and storeroom, painted, cleaned up in the yard and did a Vacation Bible School lesson, among other things. The team is really kicking butt on getting the labor/work done-the paint crew, the concrete and misc. crews are really working hard and accomplishing a lot.
Haiti really is a country of contrasts. I'll write more about that later, when I return home. But over and over I am struck by the contrasts and differences I see. On Sunday we will go to church and Monday we'll visit Mother Theresa's orphanage. I anticipate that will be a spirit filled day.....
This really is an adventure and we really are doing God's work...it's overwhelming, exhausting and uplifting and energizing all at the same time!
God Bless!
Be sure to visit www.threeangelshaiti.org for info on the Orphanage, School and Medical Mission. You can do a little by simply giving up your lattes or some other unnecessary habit......even $5 or $10 can make a difference. Or maybe God's calling you to do something more, something bigger.....travel here? donate money? sponsor a student at the school? tell others about the work that Three Angels is doing? Pray for the kids? I don't know what you are to do, but I know we all (Americans) can do something! There are so many things we take for granted in the states....electricity, ice cubes/cold water, safe water, air conditioning, water-showers, safe roads to travel on....oh my, I could go on and on. Pray about what God would have you do to help....you can do something.....I know it!
We had an amazing day at Three Angels today. Played w/ the kids/babies, helped clean and organize a supply closet and storeroom, painted, cleaned up in the yard and did a Vacation Bible School lesson, among other things. The team is really kicking butt on getting the labor/work done-the paint crew, the concrete and misc. crews are really working hard and accomplishing a lot.
Haiti really is a country of contrasts. I'll write more about that later, when I return home. But over and over I am struck by the contrasts and differences I see. On Sunday we will go to church and Monday we'll visit Mother Theresa's orphanage. I anticipate that will be a spirit filled day.....
This really is an adventure and we really are doing God's work...it's overwhelming, exhausting and uplifting and energizing all at the same time!
God Bless!
Be sure to visit www.threeangelshaiti.org for info on the Orphanage, School and Medical Mission. You can do a little by simply giving up your lattes or some other unnecessary habit......even $5 or $10 can make a difference. Or maybe God's calling you to do something more, something bigger.....travel here? donate money? sponsor a student at the school? tell others about the work that Three Angels is doing? Pray for the kids? I don't know what you are to do, but I know we all (Americans) can do something! There are so many things we take for granted in the states....electricity, ice cubes/cold water, safe water, air conditioning, water-showers, safe roads to travel on....oh my, I could go on and on. Pray about what God would have you do to help....you can do something.....I know it!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Please Pray for Peace in Haiti
I got this email from our trip's organizer-who forwarded it from a board member of Three Angels in Haiti. It breaks my heart. Please pray for the people of Haiti.
Thanks.
Lena
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phl 4:6
*********************************************************************************
If the link below doesn't work here is the web address:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080408/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/haiti_food_protests;_ylt=ApL8e9p7PcuR1TQHlDckOWpvaA8F
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 09:04:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Please pray!
Please pray for peace to return to Haiti. The following message has been posted with regards to the situation in Haiti. This could not only hinder adoptions but could cause devastation to the country.
This recent outbreak of violence has been caused by the rise in the cost of food, gas, etc.
Some basic examples of the increases that have been noticed here-
1 bag of rice (50kg) 1200gds ($31.37us) 2000gds ($52.28us)
1 bag or beans (50kg)2000gds ($52.28us) 3000gds ($78.43us)
1 bottle of cook oil 175gds ($4.57us) 300gds ($7.84us)
1gallon of gas 175gds ($4.57us) 230gds ($6.00us)
1 can of powder milk 1000gds ($26.14us) 1800gds ($47.05us)
As many of you know, Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries and even in peaceful times life is hard. So, please join us in praying for Haiti and for peace to return. Pray for wisdom for the government officials and pray for provision for the Haitian families.
For more information click here.....
Embassy Operations Suspended
WARDEN MESSAGE NO. 51
This Warden Message is being issued to alert American Citizens traveling to or living in Haiti that the U.S. Embassy has suspended operations effective Wednesday, April 9 due to demonstrations, looting, and violence in the capital, and continuing protests in the city of Les Cayes, located in the South Department of Haiti. All visa services and routine American citizens services will be temporarily unavailable during this period.
The Embassy urges all U.S. citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security/safety awareness. Americans residing in Port-au-Prince and its environs as well as Les Cayes are encouraged to remain indoors, monitor the local news and maintain contact with the U.S. Embassy. Americans should avoid all crowds and demonstrations, and be sure to keep family and friends updated on their welfare and whereabouts. The Embassy will continue to evaluate the situation and will notify U.S. citizens of any changes to Embassy operations or any new security threats.
American citizens in need of emergency services can reach an Embassy officer by contacting the Embassy switchboard at (509) 222-13540 or (509) 222-98122. American citizens can also reach an Embassy Duty Officer at (509) 417-2399 or (509) 558-9099, or may call Post One (U.S. Marine Guard) at the Chancery at (509) 222-0200.
Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Department of State's travel website at www.travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html , which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. Citizens living and residing in Haiti are advised to register their presence in the country through the U.S. Department of State's automated online registration system, https://travelregistration.state.gov.
Lena Wright
www. ConnectionsWellnessCenter.com
Thanks.
Lena
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phl 4:6
*********************************************************************************
If the link below doesn't work here is the web address:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080408/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/haiti_food_protests;_ylt=ApL8e9p7PcuR1TQHlDckOWpvaA8F
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 09:04:52 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Please pray!
Please pray for peace to return to Haiti. The following message has been posted with regards to the situation in Haiti. This could not only hinder adoptions but could cause devastation to the country.
This recent outbreak of violence has been caused by the rise in the cost of food, gas, etc.
Some basic examples of the increases that have been noticed here-
1 bag of rice (50kg) 1200gds ($31.37us) 2000gds ($52.28us)
1 bag or beans (50kg)2000gds ($52.28us) 3000gds ($78.43us)
1 bottle of cook oil 175gds ($4.57us) 300gds ($7.84us)
1gallon of gas 175gds ($4.57us) 230gds ($6.00us)
1 can of powder milk 1000gds ($26.14us) 1800gds ($47.05us)
As many of you know, Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries and even in peaceful times life is hard. So, please join us in praying for Haiti and for peace to return. Pray for wisdom for the government officials and pray for provision for the Haitian families.
For more information click here.....
Embassy Operations Suspended
WARDEN MESSAGE NO. 51
This Warden Message is being issued to alert American Citizens traveling to or living in Haiti that the U.S. Embassy has suspended operations effective Wednesday, April 9 due to demonstrations, looting, and violence in the capital, and continuing protests in the city of Les Cayes, located in the South Department of Haiti. All visa services and routine American citizens services will be temporarily unavailable during this period.
The Embassy urges all U.S. citizens to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security/safety awareness. Americans residing in Port-au-Prince and its environs as well as Les Cayes are encouraged to remain indoors, monitor the local news and maintain contact with the U.S. Embassy. Americans should avoid all crowds and demonstrations, and be sure to keep family and friends updated on their welfare and whereabouts. The Embassy will continue to evaluate the situation and will notify U.S. citizens of any changes to Embassy operations or any new security threats.
American citizens in need of emergency services can reach an Embassy officer by contacting the Embassy switchboard at (509) 222-13540 or (509) 222-98122. American citizens can also reach an Embassy Duty Officer at (509) 417-2399 or (509) 558-9099, or may call Post One (U.S. Marine Guard) at the Chancery at (509) 222-0200.
Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Department of State's travel website at www.travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review to "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html , which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. Citizens living and residing in Haiti are advised to register their presence in the country through the U.S. Department of State's automated online registration system, https://travelregistration.state.gov.
Lena Wright
www. ConnectionsWellnessCenter.com
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