DART Newsletter

At the core of what is important to me—and what has motivated me since I joined Samaritan's Purse in 2008—is Gospel proclamation: the words that underlie the deeds as we "go and do likewise" (Luke 10:37). We miss something vital if we don't bring both of these to our work every day. However, our work is ultimately a vehicle to provide access for people to hear the Gospel and this has great personal application. We can never go deep enough, personally or organizationally, in understanding what God has done for us through His Son and by His Spirit.

When I worked in Liberia, a friend and co-worker gave me a copy of “All of Grace” by Charles Spurgeon. My friend lived a hard life, yet his love for the Gospel overflowed. I finally read Spurgeon's book a month ago, and it convicted me of my tendency to treat the Gospel like something elementary—something I had moved beyond—in favor of deeper spiritual lessons. But the Gospel is not elementary; it is, as Tim Keller put it, "the A to Z of Christianity. We never get beyond the Gospel to something more advanced. It is not the minimum required doctrine necessary to enter the kingdom, but the way we make all progress in the kingdom…The main problem, then, in the Christian life is that we have not thought out the deep implications of the Gospel."

So, what are those deep implications of the Gospel? The book of Romans is where I go to explore them, and I encourage you to do the same. A few reflections. Before coming to Christ, I did not honor God or give Him thanks. I exchanged His glory for idols and stored up wrath for myself. But in Christ, God passed over my sins. While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. I am justified freely by His grace; my lawless deeds are forgiven, and I now stand in grace. I have been set free from sin and death, and I live under grace, no longer under the law. Through faith, I have peace with God and a righteousness that is not my own. Now, how should I live? By faith. I am to offer my whole self to God, rejoice in hope, endure tribulation, love others, use my gifts, and cast off the works of darkness. I am no longer my own. I am a slave to God, and I believe nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate me from the love of Christ.

Thank you for all the work you do day in and day out, often in difficult and demanding circumstances. Remember all that God has done for you in Christ, and I hope that you never get beyond the Gospel as you grow deeper in the Lord.

In Christ,

Aaron Ashoff, DART Deputy Director

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Mid-Year Snapshot

Since the beginning of the year, DART has successfully completed four deployments, deploying over 750 DART staff and engaging 118 first-time deployers. The current global DART roster stands at 2,993 members. The following graph displays the international composition of our roster. We give thanks for all that God has already accomplished through these efforts and look ahead with expectation and readiness for what the rest of the year may bring.

DART Roster Numbers

	Total
USA	2,134
Canada	451
UK	152
Australia	119
Germany	70
Total	2,926

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Myanmar Response Closeout

The Emergency Field Hospital in Myanmar was officially handed over to the Ministry of Health on May 7th. Over the duration of the response, 5,812 patients were treated, 332 surgeries performed, 5,000 Non-Food Item kits distributed, and 225,107 liters of water produced.

Nick Bechert, Team Lead of the Myanmar Response, shares, “Since departing Myanmar, a helpful resource for processing my deployment has been a book of stories of local Christians compiled by former Samaritan's Purse International Field Staff. The book is called 'Desert River: Stories of Pain and Provision in Myanmar.' It draws on the theme of Isaiah 43, where God's mercy is provided in barren places.

'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'

"More than any other location I have served in the past 15 years, the compassionate care and love of Jesus the DART brought to Myanmar were received with awe and recognized as different. In the midst of years of armed conflict and the aftermath of the earthquake, the refreshing love brought by the DART was noticed and even went 'viral' on local social media platforms. Record numbers of people unfamiliar with Jesus arrived at our emergency room to receive treatment and hope.

"As I was leaving the DART, multiple Christians and church leaders in unexpected places pulled me aside to share how encouraging and refreshing our work was to the local Church as well. Please join me in faithfully praying for them. In the face of great danger, the Church in Myanmar has been on a marathon, continuing to trust God with their futures and lives, while sacrificially loving their neighbors. Even in the face of persecution, violence, and rebuilding their meeting places and homes, the Church will continue to make Jesus known in Myanmar. They will continue bringing Jesus, the Living Water, to a nation of thirsty people, many of whom have just had their first refreshing taste.”

Thank you to all who gave availability and served on the response!

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Preparedness

Samaritan's Purse is dedicated to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all who travel, work, and serve on behalf of the ministry—often in challenging and complex environments. View a list of essential vaccination and advisable vaccinations for deployment with Samaritan's Purse. Please keep your vaccination records updated and on file to submit as needed and/or requested.

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Upcoming Trainings

• Food Program Manager: July 28-31, Blowing Rock, North Carolina
• Shelter: August 19-22, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
• WASH: August 25-28, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

If you were hired for one of these roles or have the preferred skills/experience listed, express interest in attending here!