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Samaritan's Purse» Articles http://www.samaritanspurse.org International Relief Fri, 17 May 2013 21:00:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 New Project Gives Fuel For Families http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/fuel-for-families/ http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/fuel-for-families/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 17:37:21 +0000 mdecarion http://staging.samaritanspurse.org/?post_type=sp-articles&p=16907 Biogas can a low-cost fuel alternative that can help in the areas of income and security while reducing the long-term effects of deforestation. It also isn't dependent on unreliable rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, or flash floods, and low crop yields. Peter's family was one of the nine chosen to test the impact of the technology in a region where deforestation for firewood is rampant. When Peter was approached by Samaritan’s Purse about installing the technology in his home, he was eager to learn what it could do. He and his family helped install the system by digging the pit for the tank and off-loading construction materials from the truck. “I was excited to get a source of energy and even to use the waste as fertilizer for my field,” he said. The technology has also affected his children. They’re able to stay awake after dark without needing to rely on kerosene. Before the biogas technology was installed, the family had to use kerosene for light at night. A week’s worth of kerosene costs $2. Now a gas-burning lamp provides light that his children use to read and do their schoolwork.

Cooking is also quicker and more efficient with biogas. Before, it took an hour to make porridge. Now it takes six minutes. With the time saved from cooking and traveling for wood, Peter and his wife can spend more of the day tending to their garden and increasing household food production. They are also taking advantage of the surplus bio-slurry by using it as fertilizer to plant crops in new places. The difference between the previous crops and those with bio-slurry fertilizer is stark. His fertilized crops are growing twice as tall and are flourishing with brilliant, nutritious green leaves. “It has greatly improved my family,” he said. Peter hopes the technology will spread throughout the community and benefit his neighbors. They have seen its incredible impact and want others to share in their new-found joy. ]]> Biogas can a low-cost fuel alternative that can help in the areas of income and security while reducing the long-term effects of deforestation. It also isn't dependent on unreliable rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, or flash floods, and low crop yields. Peter's family was one of the nine chosen to test the impact of the technology in a region where deforestation for firewood is rampant. When Peter was approached by Samaritan’s Purse about installing the technology in his home, he was eager to learn what it could do. He and his family helped install the system by digging the pit for the tank and off-loading construction materials from the truck. “I was excited to get a source of energy and even to use the waste as fertilizer for my field,” he said. The technology has also affected his children. They’re able to stay awake after dark without needing to rely on kerosene. Before the biogas technology was installed, the family had to use kerosene for light at night. A week’s worth of kerosene costs $2. Now a gas-burning lamp provides light that his children use to read and do their schoolwork.

Cooking is also quicker and more efficient with biogas. Before, it took an hour to make porridge. Now it takes six minutes. With the time saved from cooking and traveling for wood, Peter and his wife can spend more of the day tending to their garden and increasing household food production. They are also taking advantage of the surplus bio-slurry by using it as fertilizer to plant crops in new places. The difference between the previous crops and those with bio-slurry fertilizer is stark. His fertilized crops are growing twice as tall and are flourishing with brilliant, nutritious green leaves. “It has greatly improved my family,” he said. Peter hopes the technology will spread throughout the community and benefit his neighbors. They have seen its incredible impact and want others to share in their new-found joy. ]]> http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/fuel-for-families/feed/ 0 Clothed in Dignity http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/clothed-in-dignity/ http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/clothed-in-dignity/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 09:00:34 +0000 mdecarion http://staging.samaritanspurse.org/?post_type=sp-articles&p=16797 I loathe getting sick in public. It just feels undignified, and it was magnified by the fact that I was in Africa. We were two hours from our hotel, in one of the most remote locations with no toilet or clean water. Then I slipped and fell in the mud while wearing a white skirt. I wanted God to open a hole right then so I could sink in. But then I started praying. Not only for healing, but that God would change my attitude. This trip wasn’t about me. These kids and their families lived in these surroundings every day, and I didn’t want any self-pity on my part to detract from their beautiful experience of receiving shoeboxes. We headed to our next distribution, and I felt well enough to hand out the gifts. I noticed one little boy who had taken the lid off his shoebox but hadn’t touched anything. He seemed oddly removed from the whole thing, so I carefully showed him each item. Nothing sparked his interest until I got to a pair of little black gloves. He put up his right hand, so I put the glove on. Then he showed me his other hand. That’s when I noticed that he only had two fingers on his left hand—his thumb and pinky. I could tell that the stubs of the other three fingers were scarred, but I put the glove on and counted out five fingers.

The smile that lit his face was the greatest comfort to me. In that moment, I didn’t feel sick or filthy. I understood right then that when we belong to God, we are clothed in dignity regardless of our external appearance and surroundings. I needed that little boy as much as he needed me then. Later, I learned from orphanage workers that this 4-year-old boy, Joram, had been abandoned by his grandparents and left in the garage of the orphanage along with his two sisters. The children’s parents had died of AIDS. When Joram was 2 his grandparents took him to a witch doctor to cure him of his muteness. He had never uttered a word and they thought he was possessed by some demon. The witch doctor promised a cure but needed three of his fingers for the remedy. When the grandparents saw that he wasn’t cured, they placed all the children in the orphanage. It grieves me to know that he suffered that kind of needless pain, but I know that he is created in the image of our heavenly Father and is loved. I know that I will never see a pair of gloves without thinking of this little guy ever again.]]> I loathe getting sick in public. It just feels undignified, and it was magnified by the fact that I was in Africa. We were two hours from our hotel, in one of the most remote locations with no toilet or clean water. Then I slipped and fell in the mud while wearing a white skirt. I wanted God to open a hole right then so I could sink in. But then I started praying. Not only for healing, but that God would change my attitude. This trip wasn’t about me. These kids and their families lived in these surroundings every day, and I didn’t want any self-pity on my part to detract from their beautiful experience of receiving shoeboxes. We headed to our next distribution, and I felt well enough to hand out the gifts. I noticed one little boy who had taken the lid off his shoebox but hadn’t touched anything. He seemed oddly removed from the whole thing, so I carefully showed him each item. Nothing sparked his interest until I got to a pair of little black gloves. He put up his right hand, so I put the glove on. Then he showed me his other hand. That’s when I noticed that he only had two fingers on his left hand—his thumb and pinky. I could tell that the stubs of the other three fingers were scarred, but I put the glove on and counted out five fingers.

The smile that lit his face was the greatest comfort to me. In that moment, I didn’t feel sick or filthy. I understood right then that when we belong to God, we are clothed in dignity regardless of our external appearance and surroundings. I needed that little boy as much as he needed me then. Later, I learned from orphanage workers that this 4-year-old boy, Joram, had been abandoned by his grandparents and left in the garage of the orphanage along with his two sisters. The children’s parents had died of AIDS. When Joram was 2 his grandparents took him to a witch doctor to cure him of his muteness. He had never uttered a word and they thought he was possessed by some demon. The witch doctor promised a cure but needed three of his fingers for the remedy. When the grandparents saw that he wasn’t cured, they placed all the children in the orphanage. It grieves me to know that he suffered that kind of needless pain, but I know that he is created in the image of our heavenly Father and is loved. I know that I will never see a pair of gloves without thinking of this little guy ever again.]]> http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/clothed-in-dignity/feed/ 0 Riding Across the Heart of North Carolina http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/riding-across-the-heart-of-north-carolina/ http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/riding-across-the-heart-of-north-carolina/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 19:00:57 +0000 Simon Gonzalez http://staging.samaritanspurse.org/?post_type=sp-articles&p=16976 He started with a small goal. When Kenyan missionaries spoke to his Sunday school class, he found out that they often ride their bikes for 30 or more miles to accomplish everyday tasks. He decided he wanted to ride his bike 30 miles across Forsyth County, where he lives, to raise money for the missionaries. “At the time, I was only 5,” C.J. said. “I could barely ride my bike across the driveway because I didn’t have that much practice.” When he announced his plans, his parents initially tried to discourage him because he was so young. He wouldn’t relent, so they took him to a bike shop to find out if his goal was even possible for someone his age. The shop owners tried to discourage him as well, but after C.J. continued to persist they agreed to help him design a safe ride across the county. “He really feels like this is what God wants him to do,” Katie said. “It’s been difficult to make it happen because somebody has to ride with him everywhere, but it’s been worth it for sure.” After C.J. rode across the county in four hours, including a break to speak at a local radio station, he was ready to accomplish his next goal. He decided to ride from Winston-Salem to Charlotte to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. The ride was more difficult, but he was still able to accomplish his goal. He was ready to move on to bigger things.

Last year, C.J. decided to get involved with Samaritan’s Purse. He wanted to ride 315 miles down the coast of North Carolina to raise money for clean water projects. After several days of riding, he made it to the South Carolina border. The accomplishment gave him more confidence. He began plotting his next ride. “He gets on YouTube or on the Internet and searches different charities and watches their videos,” Katie said. “He prays about it, and he decides what he wants to ride for.” This time, C.J. stumbled onto the Children’s Heart Project portion of the Samaritan's Purse website. The project brings children with heart problems from developing countries to North America for surgery. He was immediately drawn to the children in the videos who had no hope of life without heart surgery. “If I had a heart defect, and I live in America, they’d just fix it like that and insurance would cover it,” he said. “Our family would be fine. But [these children] have to live with it. If Samaritan’s Purse didn’t fix it, they would only have a couple of years left in their life.” With that in mind, C.J. decided to ride more than 360 miles from the Tennessee border to the coast of North Carolina. He and his mother planned a 15-day trip, and he set a goal to raise $8,800 to bring four children to North America for life-saving heart surgery. “Since I was riding for Children’s Heart Project, I wanted to ride across the heart of North Carolina,” he said.

C.J. will ride every portion of the route, including steep uphill sections in the mountains and long, hot stretches of flat road toward the coast. He will end at Emerald Isle after stops along the way at several churches and at Samaritan’s Purse headquarters. “I’m going to absolutely dip my front wheel in the ocean in the Outerbanks,” he said. He began his third day of riding on Wednesday, May 15, at Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone. When he left, a large group of employees gathered outside to watch him spin off. Currently, C.J. has raised enough money to bring one child to North America for surgery. He will be riding for 11 more days, and he hopes to complete his goal of bringing four children to North America. To support C.J., visit his fundraising page.. ]]> He started with a small goal. When Kenyan missionaries spoke to his Sunday school class, he found out that they often ride their bikes for 30 or more miles to accomplish everyday tasks. He decided he wanted to ride his bike 30 miles across Forsyth County, where he lives, to raise money for the missionaries. “At the time, I was only 5,” C.J. said. “I could barely ride my bike across the driveway because I didn’t have that much practice.” When he announced his plans, his parents initially tried to discourage him because he was so young. He wouldn’t relent, so they took him to a bike shop to find out if his goal was even possible for someone his age. The shop owners tried to discourage him as well, but after C.J. continued to persist they agreed to help him design a safe ride across the county. “He really feels like this is what God wants him to do,” Katie said. “It’s been difficult to make it happen because somebody has to ride with him everywhere, but it’s been worth it for sure.” After C.J. rode across the county in four hours, including a break to speak at a local radio station, he was ready to accomplish his next goal. He decided to ride from Winston-Salem to Charlotte to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. The ride was more difficult, but he was still able to accomplish his goal. He was ready to move on to bigger things.

They included Johnny and Mary Ann. We removed all of their belongings and gutted the house to the studs so an engineer could assess the walls and foundation to see if it could be salvaged. “They really work hard,” Mary Ann said. “They do a good job. It’s a big job. I didn’t even know something like this existed.” Most of all, as the volunteers prayed with the family and presented a Bible, they showed that God cares and provided hope. “It is definitely a big help,” said Johnny Jr. “We’ll rebuild and get back on our feet.” The West response was unique. In a typical disaster situation, we patch damaged roofs, remove downed trees, and clean out flooded houses. In West, many of the homes received significant damage and were uninhabitable. “We quickly realized this was going to be different,” said Todd Taylor, program manager in West. “We truly felt the Lord leading us to primarily help the victims pack up their homes. Boxes, bubble wrap, and tape were the tools God called us to use on this one. Our teams were able to serve 42 homes, but it was so much more. The people of West noticed the love and care our volunteers put into each task and were so thankful for the help.” Earlene Pospisil, an 84-year-old widow, was thankful as she watched some of the 131 volunteers who worked with us in West pack up her belongings. They carefully wrapped fragile items in blue plastic and boxed them up. “It’s just been a blessing,” she said. “It means everything. I didn’t know anything like this existed. Jesus said love. That’s what you’re doing.”

Miss Earlene has lived in her house since 1952. The blast blew out the windows, collapsed the ceiling in places, and cracked the walls. “It took a major jolt,” she said. “They didn’t condemn it, but it’s too expensive to fix it up. I raised my kids here, and my grandbaby. It wasn’t just a house. It was a home. I’ve pretty much told myself I’m not going to be able to come back. It hurts.” The pain was eased by the caring Christians who came to help. “Ya’ll are God sent,” Miss Earlene said. “Bless every one of you. It just goes to show there are good people. God sends His people. It’s wonderful that you travel this far. I appreciate you so much. I didn’t realize there was a group like you.” Lester and Freddie Boortz were also faced with an uncertain future when the blast damaged the house they’ve lived in for over 30 years. He is 81, and she’s 79. They don’t know if they’ll be able to make repairs. “My preference would be to stay here, since we’ve been here this long,” Lester said. “But I have to think what’s best for the kids, whether to put the money into the house or not.” A few groups offered to help, but Freddie wasn’t sure who she could trust. “We turned down five or six people who have come by,” Freddie said. “When Samaritan's Purse came we let them in and talked to them. We felt comfortable.”

Samaritan's Purse volunteers removed furniture and mattresses that were ruined after being saturated by glass. They packed up the Boortz’s belongings, including some things that were unexpectedly precious. Freddie didn’t want to part with the rocks at the base of an artificial tree. “When your kids give you rocks, they’re important to you,” she said. Lester and Freddie have nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. There have been many Thanksgivings, Christmases, and birthday celebrations in the house. There might not be any more. One of the granddaughters is a senior at Texas A&M. She wanted to take a day off school so she could take one last photo of Nanny and Popa in their old house. The thought hurt, but as Freddie watched the volunteers in the bright orange T-shirts she found strength.

“I’m a strong South Texas girl,” she said. “Yes, I love this house. I have a lot of great memories here. But I can go on with my life. Our lives have changed. But we have God, we have our children, and we have each other. We can go on.” In zone 3, the area closest to the blast, Diane was also dealing with the pain of losing a house. It was her Mom and Dad’s home since it was built in 1967. She’s lived there since 1990. “It has sentimental value,” she said. “You can’t put a price on that. This is the house everybody came to. The grandkids called it their playhouse. This was the happy house.” She was down the street when the plant blew. “They told me to go home and close the doors and windows because of the chemicals. I said Houston, we have a problem. I have no door and no windows,” she said.

The force of the explosion damaged walls, the roof, and possibly the foundation. The house was declared yellow, meaning the family was allowed in to remove belongs but it was unsafe to occupy. It might be salvageable, but Diane has her doubts. She and her husband, Jack, are used to working hard. She and her daughters, Debbie and Amy, worked alongside Samaritan's Purse volunteers, helping pack boxes and taking items either to a trailer, storage area, or to the curb to be hauled away. They are also used to helping others. Jack works with paralyzed veterans, pulling his boat around the country to take them fishing. In the immediate aftermath of the blast Diane went to the high school football stadium, where people were gathering, to see if she could do anything to help. On this day, the helpers were being helped by volunteers who made sure their needs were being met, and who took the time to talk and pray with them.

The volunteers, who came from near and far to show the love of Christ to people reeling from the explosion, were following the instructions given in orientation at the beginning of the day. “The priority is not the work,” said Becky Sander, a team leader from New Mexico. “The priority is the homeowner. Put down the tool and listen to their story. I am always stunned by the amount of work God does through His people.” God worked through Samaritan's Purse volunteers to help dozens of people in West. “Once it happens you’re shook inside,” said Jackie Arias, one of those homeowners. “But we’re good. We’re blessed. I saw a bumper sticker that said our ground was shaken, but our faith was not. We were shaken, but we’re still here.” ]]> http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/the-strength-to-go-on/feed/ 0 Responding to Texas Tornadoes http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/texas-tornado-response/ http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/texas-tornado-response/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 15:22:30 +0000 Chelsea Pardue http://staging.samaritanspurse.org/?post_type=sp-articles&p=16913 a fertilizer plant exploded in West, a little over 80 miles from Granbury. Please pray for Texas residents, local officials, and Samaritan’s Purse staff as we begin the early stages of this disaster response. ]]> a fertilizer plant exploded in West, a little over 80 miles from Granbury. Please pray for Texas residents, local officials, and Samaritan’s Purse staff as we begin the early stages of this disaster response. ]]> http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/texas-tornado-response/feed/ 0 A Hand of Protection http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/a-hand-of-protection/ http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/a-hand-of-protection/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 09:00:09 +0000 Simon Gonzalez http://staging.samaritanspurse.org/?post_type=sp-articles&p=16887 Moments later, the plant exploded. Jack was thrown about 10 feet across the yard, but was unharmed. Meanwhile, the window near where he had been sitting imploded, sending shards of glass flying into his chair. “If he was in the house, he would’ve been seriously injured because the glass just went everywhere,” said Lola, Jack’s wife. A cool story, definitely. But was it a miracle, or a coincidence? And if it was just a coincidence, how do you explain what happened to Brian and Misty, a young couple living virtually in the shadow of the plant? Brian felt a little guilty because he and Misty hadn’t spent much time together the previous weekend. He proposed a rare Wednesday date night. Misty had coupons for a restaurant in nearby Waco, so plans were made. They still had to make arrangements for their 1-year-old daughter. Keeping the baby’s routine is important, so grandma always came to their house to babysit. But on this night, for reasons they can’t explain, they took her to grandma’s. A neighbor up the street told them what happened when the plant exploded. The blast hit the house, causing it to combust and collapse. No one would have had time to get out. When you cover a Samaritan's Purse disaster response, you expect to hear one or two tales like this. But this one was different. In West, virtually everyone seemed to have a similar story. Diane was sitting in a recliner when she heard emergency vehicles go by. She stepped outside and saw the smoke and decided to get closer. She was below a raised railroad crossing and behind an ambulance when the plant blew. She was knocked to her knees, but the force of the explosion went over her. “The ambulance saved my life,” she said. Meanwhile, the front door that she had locked and deadbolted was blown off the hinges and onto the recliner where she had been sitting.

Miss Earlene Pospisil, an 84-year-old widow, was moving toward her back porch after leaving the utility room. “It sounded like a bomb,” she said. “Then things started flying. The door came flying in. If it had hit me, it would have killed me. Everything in the utility room fell down. I would have got some licks on the head.” Flor Fuentes was tired and thought about reading in bed. Instead, she decided to spend the evening in the living room with her son. Her other children were at youth group at the church down the street. She suffered a minor injury when a photo frame fell off the wall. But in her bedroom, the ceiling collapsed onto the bed. In the next room, where the other kids would have been on any other night, glass from the windows facing the plant was embedded in the opposite wall. “At that moment, I thought God was here,” she said. Make no mistake, what happened in West was tragic. Fourteen people were killed, most of them first-responders trying to extinguish the flames. Jack and Lola and Brian and Misty lost their houses. Miss Earlene and Flor face an uncertain future, not knowing if they’ll be able to return home. But it could have been—should have been—much worse. “I know the hand of God kept us safe,” Lola said.

The stories, and reactions like Lois’, were repeated over and over. God was in control of everything, and He was glorified as time and again people thanked Him for being spared. “Everybody we stopped to pray with understands God has stood in the gap for them,” said Jim Ault, a Samaritan's Purse volunteer. “They get it.” Our volunteers reinforced the message by carefully packing away belongings, removing trash, debris, and glass-saturated furniture from houses, taking time to pray and talk with homeowners, and presenting them with Bibles. Miss Earlene understood. “He’s not through with me,” she said. “He’s got something else for me to do. God is good.”]]> Moments later, the plant exploded. Jack was thrown about 10 feet across the yard, but was unharmed. Meanwhile, the window near where he had been sitting imploded, sending shards of glass flying into his chair. “If he was in the house, he would’ve been seriously injured because the glass just went everywhere,” said Lola, Jack’s wife. A cool story, definitely. But was it a miracle, or a coincidence? And if it was just a coincidence, how do you explain what happened to Brian and Misty, a young couple living virtually in the shadow of the plant? Brian felt a little guilty because he and Misty hadn’t spent much time together the previous weekend. He proposed a rare Wednesday date night. Misty had coupons for a restaurant in nearby Waco, so plans were made. They still had to make arrangements for their 1-year-old daughter. Keeping the baby’s routine is important, so grandma always came to their house to babysit. But on this night, for reasons they can’t explain, they took her to grandma’s. A neighbor up the street told them what happened when the plant exploded. The blast hit the house, causing it to combust and collapse. No one would have had time to get out. When you cover a Samaritan's Purse disaster response, you expect to hear one or two tales like this. But this one was different. In West, virtually everyone seemed to have a similar story. Diane was sitting in a recliner when she heard emergency vehicles go by. She stepped outside and saw the smoke and decided to get closer. She was below a raised railroad crossing and behind an ambulance when the plant blew. She was knocked to her knees, but the force of the explosion went over her. “The ambulance saved my life,” she said. Meanwhile, the front door that she had locked and deadbolted was blown off the hinges and onto the recliner where she had been sitting.

The reality is that Makera Moussa has a substantial water shortage. People have to travel at least three kilometers through neighboring villages to reach the closest well. “It is very difficult at the well because there is always a multitude of women and lots of animals waiting to get water,” said a young girl named Mariama. “At home, my mother is always unhappy with me because I often don’t have enough time to pound the millet that she expects me to. Sometimes she thinks that I am just playing at the well, but in reality, I just have to wait a long time for my turn.” Answer to a Problem Makera Moussa was recently chosen as one of eight beneficiary villages for a new integrated community project. As one of our teams approached the community to perform a preliminary assessment, a friendly gentleman greeted them. “We have heard about you!” he said. “We know who you are and have seen the good that you have done in certain villages around here. Please, because of God, come and do the same good work in our village too!”

They became incredibly excited when they heard their village was chosen as a recipient of the clean water programs. BE PART OF THE SOLUTION: This year, a group of Team Samaritan’s Purse runners competed in the Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon to raise $20,000 to support clean water projects in Niger. Learn how you can use an athletic event to raise money for Samaritan’s Purse by joining Team Samaritan's Purse. Jafarou says he dreams of the day “when the sun will rise with people from neighboring villages coming to Makera Moussa in search of water.” Fortunately, his dream will soon become a reality through the integrated community project as we rehabilitate a water source closer to the village. In addition to providing a water source, the project also includes nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, agriculture, and income-generating activities. When he learned about the upcoming project in his village, Jafarou could not hide his joy. “Al hamdou lilla,” he exclaimed, which means, “Praise to God.” ]]> Because of insufficient and unpredictable rains, Jafarou has not been able to fulfill his dream. Farmers in his small village of Makera Moussa, Niger, have been harvesting fewer and fewer crops each year, making it impossible to sustain their families for months and forcing them to look for other sources of income. Jafarou resorted to starting a small business in order to provide for the needs of his wife and four young children. “My dream was to raise livestock on a large scale, but unfortunately I am left with only a meager number of animals,” he said. “I was obligated to abandon this dream because it was no longer easy for me to find adequate water for the animals.”

They became incredibly excited when they heard their village was chosen as a recipient of the clean water programs. BE PART OF THE SOLUTION: This year, a group of Team Samaritan’s Purse runners competed in the Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon to raise $20,000 to support clean water projects in Niger. Learn how you can use an athletic event to raise money for Samaritan’s Purse by joining Team Samaritan's Purse. Jafarou says he dreams of the day “when the sun will rise with people from neighboring villages coming to Makera Moussa in search of water.” Fortunately, his dream will soon become a reality through the integrated community project as we rehabilitate a water source closer to the village. In addition to providing a water source, the project also includes nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, agriculture, and income-generating activities. When he learned about the upcoming project in his village, Jafarou could not hide his joy. “Al hamdou lilla,” he exclaimed, which means, “Praise to God.” ]]> http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/in-search-of-dreams/feed/ 0 Better Days Are Coming http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/better-days-are-coming/ http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/better-days-are-coming/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 09:00:31 +0000 mdecarion http://staging.samaritanspurse.org/?post_type=sp-articles&p=16733 It was then that I noticed tears streaming down her face. I got extremely concerned. Before I could even utter a word, she reached for my hand and shook it with vigor. “My son, may God richly bless you," she said to me. "The work you are doing here is simply out of this world. You are surely a blessing from above. I was just thinking about the suffering we have faced in the past due to lack of water, it is nothing to smile about.” It is then that I realized she was shedding tears of joy. “Wild fruits have started growing,” she said. “This is a sign of a severe drought in the coming season.” People here said they have been getting water from traditional scoop holes. “We have had to share this stagnant water from surface water pools with domestic animals such as dogs,” said Kioko, a young man who lives here.

Five villages, which comprise over 3,000 households, depend on this single borehole. Considering that almost the entire population here lives below the poverty line on less than a dollar a day, the rehabilitation of the Kamutei borehole is such a relief for these people. As I turned to make my way back, a group of women waiting in line to fetch the water asked me how the sun can lift water from such a deep borehole, 132 meters below. They were amazed by the fact that water is being pumped and it is coming out without the use of a generator. They went on to ask how this could be; how it runs all day without even using a single coin. I took one look at them all and could tell they were eager to learn how the solar pump works. I decided to spare a few minutes of my time to educate these interesting people. As we sat, one woman broke into a song in praise of Samaritan’s Purse.

“God loves you, the people of Kitui, and that is why He has blessed you with this amazing gift,” I said. Then I asked them to pray for Samaritan’s Purse’s work all over the world so that we can continue to reach out to people in need. I reminded them that there is great hope in the Lord. As long as we serve almighty God, better days are coming. Today is only the beginning!]]> http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/better-days-are-coming/feed/ 0 Making Clean Hands and Pure Hearts http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/making-clean-hands-and-pure-hearts/ http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/making-clean-hands-and-pure-hearts/#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 09:00:07 +0000 mdecarion http://staging.samaritanspurse.org/?post_type=sp-articles&p=16681 During the lessons, we shared Bible verses to contribute to the discussion on characteristics of good leaders. As these classes were being taught, the leaders were encouraged and wanted to become better. Cambodia lacks good leaders and is plagued with corruption, swindling, and selfishness. During the Khmer Rouge genocide, anyone that had higher education or was a religious leader was murdered. Today, the nation is still rife with greed, bribery, and extortion. The problems are deep, including lack of human resources, infrastructure, and low funding for schools. The children are the ones suffering the most. The lack of clean water and sanitation leads to diarrheal disease rates of up to 30 percent in some schools. Dealing with these challenges is not only a matter of increasing knowledge. As we train leaders, they are inspired to change in both their hearts and minds. We could see during the week that confidence was increasing as each member practiced what was taught in the presentation. Also, the issue of the cultural barrier to communication that exists between people of different classes was addressed. Overall, the leaders have some new tools to use in solving problems with their schools, and the students we are serving will certainly benefit. We have already seen many of the school leaders taking an active role in improving their facilities. One school where we constructed a water tank and handwashing station used their own community funds to connect the water tank to the toilets. This is the kind of change that can leave a lasting impact on a community. One of the participants in the training was a woman named Lieng La, the leader of the education district in Malai. She stood up at the end of the lessons and shared her thoughts. She was impressed that the self-evaluations showed 85 percent of participants had a high increase in their knowledge level. Also, she was thankful to Samaritan’s Purse for making this opportunity available. She said she is now more hopeful because these leaders have the tools to develop their schools.]]> During the lessons, we shared Bible verses to contribute to the discussion on characteristics of good leaders. As these classes were being taught, the leaders were encouraged and wanted to become better. Cambodia lacks good leaders and is plagued with corruption, swindling, and selfishness. During the Khmer Rouge genocide, anyone that had higher education or was a religious leader was murdered. Today, the nation is still rife with greed, bribery, and extortion. The problems are deep, including lack of human resources, infrastructure, and low funding for schools. The children are the ones suffering the most. The lack of clean water and sanitation leads to diarrheal disease rates of up to 30 percent in some schools. Dealing with these challenges is not only a matter of increasing knowledge. As we train leaders, they are inspired to change in both their hearts and minds. We could see during the week that confidence was increasing as each member practiced what was taught in the presentation. Also, the issue of the cultural barrier to communication that exists between people of different classes was addressed. Overall, the leaders have some new tools to use in solving problems with their schools, and the students we are serving will certainly benefit. We have already seen many of the school leaders taking an active role in improving their facilities. One school where we constructed a water tank and handwashing station used their own community funds to connect the water tank to the toilets. This is the kind of change that can leave a lasting impact on a community. One of the participants in the training was a woman named Lieng La, the leader of the education district in Malai. She stood up at the end of the lessons and shared her thoughts. She was impressed that the self-evaluations showed 85 percent of participants had a high increase in their knowledge level. Also, she was thankful to Samaritan’s Purse for making this opportunity available. She said she is now more hopeful because these leaders have the tools to develop their schools.]]> http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/making-clean-hands-and-pure-hearts/feed/ 0 Building a Road to God http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/building-a-road-to-god/ http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/building-a-road-to-god/#comments Wed, 08 May 2013 09:00:29 +0000 mdecarion http://staging.samaritanspurse.org/?post_type=sp-articles&p=16637 By Nicole Higgins, serving with her husband Robert in Haiti Trou Chou Chou is a mountain community in Haiti, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, Port-au-Prince. Samaritan’s Purse has a maternal child health clinic in the heart of this area. Before the demolition and reconstruction team recently fixed the road leading to the clinic, it took at least an hour to reach it. Most vehicles could not drive up, but now, you can get to the facility in 20 minutes. We spent eight weeks transforming this small, rutted path into a road that can be easily accessed. That amount of time allowed the Samaritan’s Purse staff to develop relationships in the community and opened the door to share the Gospel with them. Community members often gathered around as our staff shared the Word of God. When we asked who wanted prayer, more than a hundred people raised their hands. They asked for deliverance from any spiritual darkness in the community. Then the demolition and reconstruction and ministry teams met with the community leaders to plan a road dedication. On the day of the ceremony, our staff arrived to a crowded road. The community had come family by family; some walked a couple of miles to attend the event.

The community leaders thanked Samaritan’s Purse for all their hard work, including starting the maternal child health clinic, rebuilding the road, distributing shoe boxes through Operation Christmas Child, teaching local children about God with The Greatest Journey, and spreading the Gospel. The members of the community echoed the leaders’ praises of gratitude. Francois, a member of the demolition and reconstruction team, spoke on behalf of the group. He said, “If I were a Haitian, I would ask myself, ‘Why did those white people come here to do work for us from a place that was so far away?’” Francois then explained why Samaritan’s Purse worked so hard for this community. “Samaritan’s Purse did not come to just build a road,” he said. “Anyone with the right machines could have done the work. Along with the ministry team, the demolition and reconstruction staff had the road dedication to tell the community that no one can build. Even if you try the best you can, even if you sacrifice your life, there is no one that can build the road; only Jesus builds it for us.” Afterwards, Francois reflected on the importance of the work we accomplished, as well as the dedication ceremony. “I remembered what I was thinking about when I was working,” he said. “When they die, they will have nothing to do with this road. But we have given them something bigger .It is a relationship with Jesus.” That evening, the ministry team showed several short films about Jesus. For some people, this was the first time they had ever seen a movie. To hear about Christ in their language was such a blessing to them. Please pray that the people of Trou Chou Chou will continue to grow in their understanding of the Gospel.]]> By Nicole Higgins, serving with her husband Robert in Haiti Trou Chou Chou is a mountain community in Haiti, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, Port-au-Prince. Samaritan’s Purse has a maternal child health clinic in the heart of this area. Before the demolition and reconstruction team recently fixed the road leading to the clinic, it took at least an hour to reach it. Most vehicles could not drive up, but now, you can get to the facility in 20 minutes. We spent eight weeks transforming this small, rutted path into a road that can be easily accessed. That amount of time allowed the Samaritan’s Purse staff to develop relationships in the community and opened the door to share the Gospel with them. Community members often gathered around as our staff shared the Word of God. When we asked who wanted prayer, more than a hundred people raised their hands. They asked for deliverance from any spiritual darkness in the community. Then the demolition and reconstruction and ministry teams met with the community leaders to plan a road dedication. On the day of the ceremony, our staff arrived to a crowded road. The community had come family by family; some walked a couple of miles to attend the event.