t
cross he FIRST QUARTER 2022
STORIES OF GOD’S LOVE IN ACTION
Dear Friends, e ed p e st n g d ee ormin IVING JOY f s n a r t THR
INTO
As you may know, we at Cross International recently celebrated our 20th anniversary. In preparation for this milestone, a real God moment happened to me.
I came across an archival copy of the very first ministry report that was presented to the Cross Board of Directors back in 2001. It was a revelation. The report told us that children were Cross International’s first priority. It went on to explain how impoverished children suffered more than anyone else, trapped in a world without food or clean water, without basic sanitation or the opportunity to be educated. The report gave examples of how Cross was addressing the challenge to bring food, shelter and hope to vulnerable children. Fast forward 20 years to where we are today. Cross International remains committed to serving the world’s most vulnerable children, families and communities by living and sharing God’s unbounding love in tangible, life-saving ways that affect lives for His Kingdom. As this new publication The Cross will show, this underlying goal of transforming the deepest needs of children into thriving joy has helped fuel our response to help children and families in innumerable ways. It guided us in our disaster relief following the Haiti earthquake, in our efforts to bring aid to restavèk children, in our support of vocational training for at-risk Ugandan women. And this is just the beginning of the plan that God has in store for us. My hope and prayer for you is that your partnership with Cross International is deep and satisfying and truly that — a partnership. The Cross is dedicated to you, because without the financial and prayer support of friends like you, none of these powerful stories would be possible. Yours in Christ,
Kelly Miller
TABLE OF CONTENTS STORIES OF GOOD NEWS FOR THE HURTING
4 6
WhatsAppening: Snapshots from the powerful work CI donors are doing around the world.
Earthquake Response in Haiti
10
Celebrating 20 Years of Cross International
12
Partner Highlight: Ambuya Development Center, Malawi
14
Restavèk: Child Slavery in Haiti
WhatsAppening GUATEMALA:
A family stands in front of their brand-new eco stove. Thanks to the love of CI donors, they will no longer have to worry about breathing in dangerous smoke in their home.
NICARAGUA:
Beneficiaries of Cross International’s partner, Amigos for Christ, are thankful for the gift of vitamin fortified rice.
HAITI:
Brand new mattresses were provided to victims of the August earthquake to replace bedding lost or destroyed in the disaster. Thank you for sending the gift of a good night’s sleep!
UGANDA: Women
gather to celebrate the mission and purpose behind the Project Princess Initiative, a Cross International partner in Uganda.
SOUTHHAMPTON, NEW YORK: The 5th annual Cross International golf tournament at the Sebonack Golf Club brought golfers together to support CI programs around the world!
“It looked like a war zone”
Earthquake in Haiti : CROSS SUPPORTERS PROVIDE EMERGENCY RELIEF AND RECOVERY On August 14th, 2021, a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula with devastating consequences. To date, over 2,200 people have been confirmed dead and more than 137,500 homes were damaged or destroyed. Altogether over 800,000 people have been affected. “It looked like a war zone,” Zach Oles, Cross International’s Vice-President of International Programs, stated. “Buildings were reduced to rubble. People were suffering—especially children. They were sleeping in fields. It was devastating.” While the quake was stronger than the one that inflicted catastrophic damage on the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince in 2010, this time the earthquake’s power was focused in a rural area. While this thankfully limited the death toll as compared with the disaster a decade ago, the affected region’s limited infrastructure and resources have made the recovery process exceptionally challenging.
“Cross is deeply rooted in Haiti and we are committed to steadfast support for our partners and our friends and family in Haiti.”
disaster response in Haiti “It’s important to understand that we’ve been in these communities for 20 years,” Oles said. “Cross is deeply rooted in Haiti and we are committed to steadfast support for our partners and our friends and family in Haiti.” Almost as soon as the shaking subsided, Cross began working to bring emergency relief to earthquake victims including food, tarps for shelter, water purifiers, and more. With poor infrastructure, impassible roads, gas shortages, and gang-controlled access points, the challenges of getting relief to those in need were daunting. Even so, Cross International, with support from our generous donors and the help of our partners in Haiti, was able to deliver for many desperate earthquake victims in their hour of need.
Earthquake in Haiti
INITIAL RESPONSE Disaster relief supplies for more than 13,000 people in 15 communities. Supplies include tarps, foam mattresses, blankets, pillows linens, work gloves, face masks, tote bags, plastic dishes, personal care items, cleaning products and children’s sandals. Medical supplies for a medical clinic in Camp-Perrin and for mobile clinics in Lougou, Raymond, L’Aisle, and Musotte. Supplies include antibiotics, wound care kits, IVs and pain relievers. 5,500+ food kits, serving more than 15,000 people in 15 communities. These kits contain locally purchased food products, including pasta, oil and fish. More than 260,000 meals of pre-packaged fortified rice, specially formulated to address malnourishment. These meals will primarily be used in the hot lunch program for the 14 restavèk schools. 32,000 aqua tabs to help chlorinate contaminated water. One tab treats 5 gallons of water. Construction material for the building of 11 temporary school shelters. All temporary shelters were completed in time for school to start on October 4.
Two-Phase Disaster Recovery Plan With many pressing needs in the wake of this devastating earthquake, Cross International’s relief plan is split into two phases. The first was concentrated on providing the essential, life-sustaining relief required in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. “We’ve got to get people out of the rain, get them off the ground, and get the kids back to school,” Oles said.
The second phase will focus on long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. Some of Cross International’s priorities in this phase will include: Rebuilding 11 schools that were damaged or destroyed to be hurricane and earthquake resistant
Reconstructing 156 homes for students enrolled with Cross International’s partner, MEBSH
Establishing 14 water systems in MEBSH communities
Even as the world’s attention quickly moved on from the devastation and loss in Haiti, Cross International’s dedicated supporters have continued showing God’s love in powerful and tangible ways to Haitians facing so much tragedy. “We are gospel driven, kingdom building, and all about bringing glory to God,” Oles affirmed. “We are mandated to love our brothers and sisters and to stand with those in need. That is the foundation of who Cross International is and why we’re focused on working in rural communities who have nowhere else to turn.” —ZACH OLES
Earthquake in Haiti
Celebrating e ed p e st n g dee JOY n i m r o G transf RIVIN
TH INTO
CHECK OUT OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY PHOTO BOOK!
Our Mission We empower the Body of Christ to transform the lives of the poor and their communities, physically and spiritually, for the glory of Jesus Christ.
Our journey began 20 years ago as Cross International was founded by a group of dedicated Christian leaders.
Making a Real Impact Cross International, along with our faithful donors and partners, is committed to reaching vulnerable children and desperate adults with the love of God through life-transforming relief. Our humanitarian programs include clean water, hunger relief, orphan care, education, medical care, and much more.
Our Thriving Kids Initiative supports thoughtful, accountable projects that help children, families, and whole communities.
It’s been two decades since God first called Cross to empower our donors to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a hurting world. As we work alongside our ministry partners and as we build relationships in the name of Jesus, we look forward to all that God will help us accomplish together in the next 20 years.
PARTNER
Highlight
AMBUYA DEVELOPMENT CENTER The Ambuya Development Center (ADC) is Cross International’s trusted longtime partner in Malawi. With the help of Cross and all of our faithful supporters, ADC is serving vulnerable children and struggling families in Malawi for the glory of God. The Ambuya Development Center focuses on several key areas of relief in Malawi. The first is offering nutrition help and encouraging school attendance by providing school lunches for almost 300 orphans and vulnerable children. The second is working to construct safe and secure new homes for families in desperate need. And finally, the last is a microenterprise and business loan program to empower women to provide for their families.
Thriving Kids Initiative
Africa | The Caribbean | Latin America | South America
A three-cord approach The wisest man who ever lived said, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). That’s why at Cross International, we believe that the best way to help children thrive is to take a similar three-cord approach: • Creating stable families • Creating stable communities • Growing a faith life By supporting our Thriving Kids Initiative, you’re not only meeting the most urgent needs — lifesaving nutritious food, clean water, good education, safe shelter, medical care, agribusiness and economic opportunity — you are also sharing the love and care rooted in the truth of Jesus Christ.
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Living as a Restavèk: C H R I S TO P H E R ’ S S TO RY
Life in Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, can be very hard—especially for children. There are many orphans in Haiti, and child trafficking is a tragic reality. Other problems abound as well, including malnutrition, lack of education, limited access to medical care, and much more. But one particular situation that many A child in Haiti who is sold by Haitian children face is, if their parents to work for a host not endemic to Haiti, still so household as a domestic servant common that they have a because the parents lack the special word for it—restavèk.
restavèk
The word restavèk literally means “to stay with” in Creole, but the reality behind the word is far more sinister.
resources required to support the child. The term comes from the French language rester avec, “to stay with.”
The word restavèk refers to a child that lives with a family that is not their own. The child may be an orphan or, more commonly, their parents simply cannot afford to support them. They are sent to live with another family to do household chores in exchange for meals, shelter, and, hopefully, the chance to go to school. Unfortunately, all too often the truth is that restavèk is just another word for child trafficking. NINE-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER* lives as a restavèk, or a child slave, in Haiti. His “host” family consists of a man named Leon*, his wife, and their five children. Christopher works hard helping Leon in the pastures and in the family’s home. When he was caught playing with his friends in the neighborhood, Christopher was badly beaten. Sometimes Leon’s wife claims that Christopher hit one of her children and refuses to feed him. Christopher dreamed of going to school, but Leon cannot pay his school fees. Thankfully, Christopher’s life began to change for the better when a local pastor helped get him enrolled in a
literacy center run by local Cross International partner the Evangelical Baptist Mission of South Haiti. Thanks to the faithfulness of Cross International friends like you, Christopher’s dream of an education is starting to come true. Christopher loves school, he has a good teacher, and he has made friends in class. He also enjoys receiving school lunches and shared with school staff that sometimes the school lunch is his only meal of the day. Even though he has lots of chores to do at Leon’s home, Christopher works hard to make time for his homework, too. Most joyous of all, Christopher has even accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior! Sadly, like so many other victims of child trafficking in Haiti, Christopher’s situation remains difficult. But, with Cross International’s support, school staff are working to provide more food and assistance to him. Christopher even asks that we continue to find ways to help other children who live in situations like his. *Names changed to protect identity.
Reaching Those in Deepest Need Thank you for your ongoing commitment to serve those who are poor and suffering in Jesus’ name. With your help, Cross International will continue empowering local ministries with the help they need to serve those in their communities.
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