t
cross he SECOND QUARTER 2022
STORIES OF GOD’S LOVE IN ACTION
A Call to Prayer
Around the world, millions of people still live in extreme poverty. For them, every day is a struggle for survival. Join Cross International as we lift the poor and needy up in prayer. Pray for their physical and spiritual needs to be met and for new opportunities to help them break free from generational cycles of poverty.
OUR MISSION Cross International reaches those in deepest need around the world, helping them thrive. We empower the Body of Christ to transform the poor and their communities, physically and spiritually, for the glory of Jesus Christ.
I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. PSALM 140:12
TABLE OF CONTENTS STORIES OF GOOD NEWS FOR THE HURTING
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WhatsAppening: Snapshots from the powerful work CI donors are doing around the world.
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War in Ukraine: A Humanitarian Response
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Two Wells in Toirac: A community transformed in Haiti
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Partner Highlight: MEBSH Schools, Haiti
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Nursed Back to Health in Guatemala
WhatsAppening
GUATEMALA: At Hope of Life in Guatemala, the El Milagro program is transforming lives by helping families help themselves. Here the Vasquez, Rivera and Ramirez families have just moved into their newlyconstructed homes, which are storm- and weather-resistant. HAITI: These beautiful works of art were created by students from Haiti’s Divine Shelter Schools. These kids enjoy daily meals and a quality, Christian education thanks to the generosity of Cross supporters.
MALAWI: Thanks to the
partnership between Cross International and CURE, people suffering from disabilities are able to receive the reconstructive and orthopedic surgeries they need.
NICARAGUA: Amigos for Christ health workers (far left and far right) regularly meet with Nicaraguan families who live in remote villages. These home visits are crucial for ensuring that proper nourishment, hygiene and sanitation practices are being followed. Testing is also performed to ensure that the family is parasite free. FLORIDA:
Cross staff gather together for some fun and fellowship at CI headquarters in Florida.
WORLDWIDE: On January 28th, 2022, Cross International staff, partners, and supporters joined together to pray for each other, the ministry, and the people we serve.
War in inUkraine Ukraine War A HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE A HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE Russia Invades After months of military buildup along the border, in late February of 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his forces into Ukraine. The invasion, which was to bring the country of Ukraine under Russian control, is causing a major humanitarian crisis in Eastern Europe.
Humanitarian Crisis While the Ukrainian military continues to make a valiant stand, the constant violence and bombardment have sent millions of Ukrainians fleeing from their homes. Mothers and children seeking refuge while husbands and fathers stay to fight. “Our husbands stayed behind to defend the country,” Natalia, a Ukrainian wife and mother, told us. “It was very difficult to say goodbye.” The elderly and disabled are also undertaking this hard and dangerous migration. These Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees journey from their homes with only what they can carry on their backs.
Ukrainian refugee families are grateful for the help and support they’ve received from partners like you.
Cross International Responds to War in Ukraine In the weeks after Russia launched its offensive, Cross connected with a local partner with over 30 years of experience working in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Together, and with the help of a network of local churches and ministries, we are focusing on providing emergency relief for Ukrainian IDPs and refugees. This relief includes family survival packs with food and essential hygiene items as well as mattresses and bedding. Cross is also working with those on the ground to convert homes and other buildings into temporary shelters for traveling refugees and IDPs. As Russian forces continue to push into Ukraine from the east, our relief efforts are focused primarily on Western Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania where Ukrainians displaced from the eastern parts of the country are fleeing. Right now, our support is reaching thousands of displaced Ukrainians. These include many children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. “The future is very uncertain,” Natalia said. “But we are grateful for the way we have been taken care of.”
Caring for Victims of Trauma Sadly, with the levels of violence and destruction being inflicted on Ukraine, the Ukrainian people are being subjected to devastating physical and psychological trauma. Many Ukrainians are in dire need of trauma counseling and therapy. Cross International is working with our local partners to ensure that as many children and adults as possible have access to the care they need.
Please continue to pray for peace and for all those in harm’s way. And please consider supporting Cross International as we work to meet the needs of those affected by this terrible war.
The Future of the Conflict in Ukraine While it’s impossible to know what the future holds for the RussoUkrainian War, the unfortunate reality is that, right now, there’s no end in sight. It’s very likely that this will drag on for many months, or even years. Should Russian forces capture the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, Cross International’s local partners expect to see an even greater influx of refugees into Moldova. But this is just one of many possibilities. In all likelihood, the stream of Ukrainians fleeing for their lives will only increase in the coming months, and the humanitarian crisis will continue to worsen.
Two Wells for Toirac
A community transformed in Haiti
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n rural Haiti, lack of clean water is a persistent problem. The World Bank estimates that less than half of Haitians living in rural areas have access to water. The village of Toirac was a prime example. The two main water sources were about two and a half miles away from the school making it very difficult for the children to get the water they needed to drink. Making matters worse, the distance also made it hard for cooks at the school to prepare their school lunches. Then, in 2016, Cross International, in partnership with The Mission Evangelique Baptiste du Sud d’Haiti (MEBSH), constructed a new school and handpump well to serve the children of Toirac. The new well made such a difference for the community that Cross and MEBSH decided to dig another well for families on the other side of the village. Together, the two wells dramatically improved the quality of life not only for the people of Toirac, but for families living in seven surrounding communities as well. Today, the people of Toirac and the seven other communities are deeply thankful for the kindness and help of Cross donors like you. Thank you for giving the gift of water twice.
PARTNER
Highlight
MEBSH SCHOOLS, HAITI
The Mission Evangelique Baptiste du Sud d’Haiti (MEBSH) began as a group of Haitian churches with a heart to reach out to restavek children in Haiti. (Restavek is a term for children whose parents send them to live and work as “domestic servants” for a host family. In reality, however, these children are little better than child slaves, often suffering abuse and lacking opportunity.) With support from Cross International, MEBSH has expanded to a network of 14 schools across Haiti’s southern peninsula. These schools provide free, Christian education five days a week that caters to the needs of restavek children who otherwise would be unlikely to attend school. In addition to a receiving an education, students at MEBSH schools also receive free hot lunches to improve their nutrition.
Thanks to your support, the partnership between Cross
International and MEBSH will continue to give disadvantaged Haitian children the opportunity to receive a quality education and the hope of a better future.
MEBSH students receive fabric for new school uniforms and some money to go buy new shoes.
Urgent:
Summer Survival Food Campaign
Summer can be a desperate time for children living in poverty. Without the regular meals they get at school, these kids struggle to get even one meal each day or receive the nutrition they need. With your generous support, Cross International will be able to expand our school feeding programs to make sure these precious children get the food they need during the summer months.
June 15 – Sept 15 Thanks to a matching gift from a generous donor, every gift to Cross International’s CHILD FEEDING AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS will be matched up to $150,000!
If God has called you to lift children up so they can thrive, please give now and feed twice as many hungry children this summer!
GIVE NOW
to Double Your Impact
BEFORE
a Baby Vila m | 4 lb s. Guatemal
Nursed Back to Health in Guatemala A Malnourished Infant from a Poor Guatemalan Family Little Vilma weighed just 4 pounds. At 22 days old, she was already dangerously underweight and suffering from severe malnourishment. Her family is from the small village of El Barrial where they live in a dilapidated adobe hut with a tin roof and dirt floor. They have no electricity and no running water. In fact, the only water source the family has is a small stream a 40-minute walk from their home. Nutrition Help in Guatemala Cross International friends sent a nutritional rescue team from Hope of Life, a Cross International partner in Guatemala, to help baby Vilma. When the team arrived, they realized just how fragile she was. They took Vilma back to the Nutrition Recovery Center where the little girl was nursed back to health by the nutrition plan they put in place. Vilma began to recover and thrive. In less than two months baby Vilma had gained enough weight to return home to her family.
Nutrition Education for Mom Vilma’s mother received help too. Thanks to Cross International and Hope of Life, she received education on how to provide little Vilma with the nutrition she needs to grow healthy and strong. She will also be taking Vilma to all of her follow-up appointments so that Hope of Life can continue to monitor Vilma’s health. Cross International supporters also gave Vilma’s mom nutrients and formulas that will help her continue to feed Vilma all that she needs. Vilma’s parents see the care they received from Cross International and Hope of Life as their own little miracle. They are so thankful to God and to Cross International supporters like YOU for helping bring healing to their daughter.
See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
MATTHEW 18:10
AFTER
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 partnering with and empowering local ministries with the help they need to serve those in need in their communities.
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