The Cross - Stories of God's Love in Action - First Quarter 2023

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STORIES OF GOD’S LOVE IN ACTION

2023
FIRST QUARTER

GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

DAY OF PRAYER

Every year, Cross International staff, partners, and supporters gather for a day of prayer. Together we lift up the needs of the poor, our international ministry partners, and each other as we dedicate the new year to continuing the work of the Kingdom.

We invite you to join us on January 27, 2023.

Learn more and send in your prayer requests at:

Crossinternational.org/day-of-prayer

REJOICE ALWAYS, pray continually,
JANUARY 27

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WhatsAppening: Snapshots from the powerful work CI donors are doing around the world.

Baby

Pursuing

STORIES OF GOOD NEWS FOR THE HURTING
in the Balance How your support helped rescue a little girl in Guatemala
for Joy Supporting
with Disabilities 4 10 12 6 14
Her Dreams A young mom continues her education in Ecuador Partner Highlight: Kachere Development Program, Zambia A Place
a Home for Children

WhatsAppening

MALAWI:

A boy focuses in on his school work at the Ambuya Development Center, Cross International’s partner in Malawi.

ZAMBIA: Beneficiaries from the Kachere Development Program, Cross’ partner in Zambia, work in their cabbage garden as part of a CI agriculture project.

MICHIGAN: A worker repairs siding on a tornadodamaged home thanks to a Cross International tornado relief campaign.

ECUADOR: Children take a break to play soccer at the Moses Project, a Cross International partner serving street kids in Ecuador.

HAITI: Elrood Liberius, Cross International’s Haiti Country Director, helps cook lunch for children participating in a CI summer feeding program.

GUATEMALA: Little Irene, 10 months old, receives medical treatment from Hope of Life, Cross’ local partner in her area.

Baby

in the Balance

HOW YOUR SUPPORT HELPED RESCUE

A LITTLE GIRL IN GUATEMALA

The red and white vehicle bounces up a narrow, deeply rutted dirt road in the remote highlands of Guatemala. Across the twin doors at the rear the word “AMBULANCIA” is spelled out in large block letters. Along the way it passes through some small villages, but for the most part this mountainous region is lush, green, and very rural.

After over an hour navigating the heavyrain scarred roads, the ambulance finally arrives at its destination—Yeimi’s house.

At two months old, little Yeimi weighs less than seven pounds, more than 3 pounds below the average weight of baby girls her age. She is at risk of suffering from malnutrition, which could have life-long consequences. The ambulance, dispatched from Cross International’s local partner, Hope of Life, is carrying a nurse who’s here to evaluate little Yeimi and determine the best way to help her and her family.

The nurse, Hosmary, meets Yeimi’s mother, 18-yearold Mayra, and gently picks up Yeimi, checking her over. The examination reveals that Yeimi is suffering from a cleft palate that makes it very difficult for her to breastfeed.

Thankfully, Yeimi seems to be otherwise healthy and should make a swift recovery

Hosmary examins

Yeimi and rides in the back of the Hope of Life ambulance with her mother.

Zach Oles, Cross International’s VP of International Programs, holds Yeimi in his arms.

once she gets the nutrition she needs.

Staff from Cross International and Hope of Life help carry little Yeimi to the ambulance, and of course Mayra comes too. After a long and bouncy ride the ambulance delivered Yeimi and her mama to the Hope of Life hospital. There she underwent a more thorough evaluation by a doctor and an action plan was developed to ensure that this precious little girl can grow up healthy and strong.

In the coming weeks and months medical staff will closely monitor Yeimi’s progress as she is provided the nutritional support she needs as well as surgery to correct her cleft palate.

Additionally, her mama Mayra will receive training, education, and resources to ensure that she is fully equipped to care for her baby daughter in the months and years ahead.

Thank You

for being a part of baby Yeimi’s story. You may not have been riding in that ambulance with her, but it’s only because of the faithfulness and generosity of Cross supporters like you that her medical rescue was made possible!

Pursuing her Dreams

A YOUNG MOM CONTINUES HER EDUCATION IN ECUADOR

Getting a quality education can be a challenge for many young people in the developing world. For 18-year-old Katya from Riobamba, Ecuador, becoming a mother made that challenge all the more daunting. Newly married and with a baby on the way, Katya and her husband moved to the city of Sangolqui in search of work. In Ecuador, and in many

developing countries, it’s all too common for young people like Katya and her husband to leave school early in order to find whatever work they can, foregoing the long-term benefits of completing their studies.

With the urgent needs of supporting her family and taking care of her

son, Katya wasn’t sure how she would be able to continue her education and pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Then she and her husband found Cross International partner, New World Christian School. Thanks to the school’s unique schedule, Katya is able to care for her baby during the day and attend classes at night. Katya’s husband is also a student at New World Christian School and is able to continue his education while working to support their family. New World Christian School was founded specifically to ensure that students like Katya and her husband don’t have to drop out of school just to make ends meet.

In addition to strong

Thanks to Cross International’s faithful supporters, Katya can continue her studies.

academics, the school focuses on the Gospel and Biblical studies. And, with support from Cross International, New World Christian School holds weekly church services and offers Christian counsel to their students.

Thanks to Cross International and New World Christian School, Katya will soon finish her degree and she looks forward to becoming a nurse one day. Without the kindness and compassion of generous Cross supporters like you, the future would not be nearly so bright for Katya and her young family.

Thank you for making it possible for them to receive a quality, Christian education in Ecuador.

Students and faculty from New World Christian School.

PARTNER Highlight

KACHERE DEVELOPMENT

The Kachere Development Program (KDP) is the official development wing of the Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia.

KDP’s mission is to bring long-term transformation in their local communities affected by underdevelopment, disease, and poverty with an emphasis on Christian faiths working together to serve those in need.

Cross International’s partnership with KDP began in 2016 with the Water is Life project, which constructed two community wells and provided hygiene training for the local population.

The following year our partnership expanded,

PROGRAM, ZAMBIA

building 17 additional wells, supporting more hygiene training, and providing Bibles in the local language.

In the years since, Cross International’s partnership with KDP has continued to grow. In addition to the Water is Life project, KDP and Cross now work together on microenterprise and agriculture programs that are focused on helping women break free from the cycle of poverty.

Together, Cross International and the Kachere Development Program will continue working to bring humanitarian development and the hope of Jesus Christ to the people of Zambia.

Cross the World

When you join Cross International as a monthly donor, you provide struggling children and families with what they need—food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, medicine for the sick, and so much more, all in Jesus’ name!

Your monthly gift will provide critical care and ongoing support all year long!

Crossinternational.org/givemonthly JOIN Cross the World TODAY!
A
PARTNER!
BECOME

A Place for Joy

SUPPORTING A HOME FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

The joy on Christian’s face is contagious. His smile lights up the room, drawing everyone to him.

Though unable to speak and confined to his bed, Christian still radiates peace and happiness because, in spite of his circumstances, he knows that he’s loved.

Hogar gives children like Christian a place where they can be loved, cared for, and have their needs met.

Six-year-old Christian is one of many disabled children living at Hogar Padre Vito Guarato, a home to care for, and protect, children with disabilities who have been abandoned by their families in El Salvador.

Founded in 1987, Hogar gives children like Christian a place where they can be loved, cared for, and have their needs met. These children are truly those that Jesus called “the least of these.”

The staff at Hogar spend their

time caring for Christian and the other children with love and kindness, tending to their every need. As wonderful as it is to be able to love and serve the precious children of Hogar, the practical challenge is immense. With limited resources, Hogar must provide meals for over 100 children every day, 365 days a year. This is where your support of Cross International is touching lives like Christian’s. Through CI’s Gift in Kind program, we are able to provide donated food to Hogar through our local partner, the Friendly Hand Foundation.

Thanks to this important program, Christian and the other children at Hogar are getting the food they need and the staff can focus on showing them God’s love every day.

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 to serve those in need in their communities.

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