Hope Notes Issue 21

Map: Global Hot Spots PAGE 18

Travel Diary of a Child Sponsor PAGE 21

Idioms from Around the World!

PAGE 12

ISSUE 21

STORIES OF HOPE FROM AROUND THE WORLD

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e grown..

they'v See how

a p H p e y Life h T PAGE: 3

FHCANADA.ORG

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Leading the Happy Life

Map: Global Hot Spots

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

Serving up Smiles

Raising the Roof on Poverty

Worlds Collide

From the Horse's Mouth

Recipe! Haitian Pumpkin Soup

Learning from Neighbours

Pigs Pack a Punch!

Sending Rain to a World on Fire

Gift Guide Sneak Peek

Sasiga, Ethiopia graduates from poverty PAGE 3

Ancient brew brings neighbours together PAGE 8

Stattonrock builds new future for Acul PAGE 10

Idioms from around the world PAGE 12

Cambodia and the Philippines partner up PAGE 14

FH Canada renews relief efforts PAGE 15

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FH's emergency relief plan PAGE 18

Soup for Kids success in Burundi PAGE 20

Matt & Jean meet at last PAGE 21

From Chef Remy’s kitchen to your’s PAGE 22

Gift Guide Pigs go bananas PAGE 23

Can you guess the new Gift Guide item? PAGE 24

FROM THE EDITOR FH Canada is celebrating with yet another jubilant community as they graduate from poverty. Sasiga, Ethiopia is bursting with innovative, grassroots leaders who are confidently taking their community to the next level of sustainability. I was thrilled to visit Sasiga with my family this spring as they celebrated graduation.

What an exciting time! I hope you will be as inspired as I was as you read their stories of hard work and hope.

It’s partnerships here in Canada that make success in places like Ethiopia possible. Your generosity, your staying power, and your prayers empower those in the hard places. And it’s our joy at FH Canada to connect like minded people, churches, and businesses in collaborations that inspire and add value to life at home and abroad.

I’m keenly aware that amidst the success stories in our world there are also many sorrow stories. That’s one reason that FH Canada is taking bold steps to align even more closely with our FH Global family to add horsepower to the FH response to global crises. Through greater collaboration with like-minded partners, we are inviting you to help bring relief and hope to those suffering from war, drought, famine, and fear.

I am so grateful for your companionship as we walk the journey to end poverty together.

Sincerely,

ISSUE 21 Fall 2017 Food for the Hungry (FH) Canada’s seasonal publication, celebrating stories of hope from partnered communities around the world.

Content and editorial contributions from: Daniel Ashenafi, Eryn Austin Bergen, Lindsay Brucks, Paola Cardona, Calvaire Remy, Matthew Chaffee, Dan and Randi Dueck, Matthew Ellingson, Robyn Ferreira, Linly Gula, Consolate Hakizimana, Natalia Jidovanu Darren Kanwischer, Karen Koster, Wendy Lees, Kebede Lule, Helen Manson, Moses Mwalye, Catherine Moyer, Trisha Okenge, Kari Petzold, Mark Petzold, Michael Prins, Saint-Cyr Ronald, Abera Shagrdi, Daniel White, Lauren Woodside, and other valued FH staff and friends.

Food for the Hungry (FH) Canada is a Christian, non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating sustainable, community development in order to bring about long-term change for those stuck in poverty.

Through project development, Child Sponsorship, and emergency relief, FH Canada strives to relieve all forms of poverty — physical, spiritual, social, and personal.

Our Purpose: To end poverty, one community at a time.

Our Promise: To graduate communities from poverty in 10 years.

80.7% Building Sustainable Communities 14.4% Invested to generate income 4.9% Administration & running costs

As a Certified Member of the Canadian Council for Christian Charities, FH Canada meets the stringent standards set by the CCCC for accountability and organizational integrity.

CHARITABLE REGISTRATION NUMBER: 132152893RR0001

FH CANADA 1 - 31741 Peardonville Road, Abbotsford, BC V2T 1L2 Mark Petzold Director of Communications, FH Canada

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T 604.853.4262 TF 1.800.667.0605 F 604.853.4332 info@fhcanada.org www.fhcanada.org blog.fhcanada.org

ISSUE 21

These two siblings starred in our Sasiga Lowlands Graduation Newsletter!

They've grown a lot—and so has their community!

Leading the HAPPY life BY: ERYN AUSTIN BERGEN

In 2004, the Sasiga Lowlands communities began a development journey that touched the hearts of thousands of Canadians.

For 12 years, partners all across the country walked with the families and children of Sasiga—businesses like Fifth Avenue Club in Calgary and churches like Lambrick Park in Victoria, BC; hundreds of Child Sponsors and Gift Guide donors; thousands of Run for Water enthusiasts and other generous Canadians.

FHCANADA.ORG

This year, the Lowlands communities reached their development goals and completed their FH programing—they graduated!

Without personally visiting Sasiga, it’s hard to imagine the scale of transformation that’s taken place. But by zeroing in on a few individuals, like Letera Degu, we hope you can begin to trace a picture of the all-encompassing transformation that donors like you sparked in these nine kebeles.

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SASIGA LOWLANDS GRADUATES! Graduation marks a pivotal moment in a community’s development journey. It’s the moment when they say farewell to FH and assume full responsibility for their future transformation—socially, economically, spiritually, relationally.

What signposts let them know they’re ready?

Here are just a few examples of the kind of progress that say their future is bright.

BEFORE & AFTER 78% said poverty was the

93% of families prioritize

#1 reason for not sending their kids to school.

sending both sons and daughters to school.

97% cited soil erosion on

95% of farmers have

their land and spoke of its negative effect on their crops.

diverse crops, higher yields, compost, or irrigate.

93% of families did not

crop production (coffee, vegetables, fruit).

eat fruit and vegetables regularly.

84% did not have cash credit.

50% depended on food

99% engage in cash

86% of homes are making more money annually than before their partnership with FH.

relief distribution to meet their needs.

76% say daily food

96% used unprotected

97% have access to clean

water sources.

water daily.

Farmers did not raise livestock due to costs and inability to treat diseases.

Goats and cattle are common sources of milk, draft power, fertilizer, and income.

consumption has increased.

SASIGA LOWLANDS SNAPSHOT STATISTICS KEBELES (villages): 9 LOCATION: 328 kms west of Addis Abada POPULATION: 40,947 SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN: 9,083 MAJOR ETHNIC GROUPS: Oromo, Amhara, Guraghe, Gumuz, Tigre INCOME: 90% agriculture, 8% wage, 2% non-farm activities

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Letera Degu brandishing two ripe papayas.

SOMETIMES YOU MEET A PERSON WHO SURPRISES you. Someone who has real vision for the future, an ambition to make each day count, a hunger to change the world. Letera Degu is one of those people. From all appearances, he’s just your average farmer with a big family. But as you listen to his story it quickly becomes apparent that he’s anything but average.

Letera is a man on a mission. He’s an innovator, a risk taker, a true leader.

Twelve years ago, Letera and his family, like many families in the rural farming community of Sasiga, were only eating one or two meals a day. His wife spent hours every week combing the brush for miles in search of firewood. His children laboured to collect water from contaminated sources, and often missed school.

Letera's own land was decimated by termites; he worked as a day labourer on a large state farm. Unfortunately, a day labourer’s wage wasn’t actually enough to live on; Letera’s family was stuck between a rock and a hard place with little hope of change on the horizon.

But Letera is no average man; he was always on the lookout for a new opportunity.

But Letera is no average man; he was always on the lookout for a new opportunity.

In 2004 FH Ethiopia began a relationship with the communities of the Sasiga Lowlands. Letera was first in line to join every program he could. As a farmer he was most interested in agricultural training. He and other farmers took workshops on biointensive farming, agricultural diversification, compost preparation, postharvest storage, resource management, and environmental protection. Along with these trainings, FH provided durable seeds, new technology, and new farm tools to give the eager trainees a boost as they headed back to the fields to try out their new techniques.

ISSUE 21

FH staff hold up a gift during the community's graduation ceremony.

Letera set out with determination. He started a tree nursery with the idea of developing a mini-forest. In doing so, he could rehabilitate infertile land, and have a renewable source of fuel and construction materials. He was the first person in his community to plant seedlings on his own land. Always looking for ways to expand his success to others, Letera donated many of his seedlings to a local elementary school in Milki Gudina. The school yard was tranformed from a bare wasteland into a shaded oasis.

At that time much of the soil in Sasiga was barren, largely due to a massive termite infestation. Armed with new techniques to

The children of Sasiga are flourishing!

SPONSORSHIP

Letera donated many of his seedlings to a local elementary school.

FOOD & FARMING

FHCANADA.ORG

MINI-FORESTS Mini-forests are an ecologically brilliant way to rehabilitate desolate land. An enclosure is built to protect a plot of land from foraging animals and sections of the land are designated for crops, forage, fruit trees, and multipurpose trees. Once the land is protected from animal and human contact, it naturally regenerates! Local grasses begin to grow and seeds of indigenous trees, long dormant in the soil, begin to germinate.

New seedlings and crops are planted and organic compost is applied. Termite infestations are brought under control. The soil naturally renews itself and is once again ready to support the crops farmers rely on.

New classrooms and newly equipped teachers are raising the level of education in Sasiga.

Mulata's Rise to the Top Mulata was born in Belo, Sasiga to parents who couldn’t afford to feed him sufficiently, let alone send him to school. They were struggling for survival. In the midst of these daunting circumstances, Mulata was chosen by his community for Child Sponsorship with FH. His family gained access to FH workshops that equipped them with new knowledge to improve their farm, their primary livelihood. As a sponsored child, Mulata’s school fees, learning materials, and school uniform were provided by his sponsor, enabling him to go to school. Finally having the chance to be in the classroom, Mulata studied hard and made quick progress. This year Mulata soared to the top of his class, scoring an overall average of 91.4 percent.

Thanks to Child Sponsorship, his life and the life of his family is steadily improving.

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battle these devastating pests, Letera attacked the problem from a new angle by using tree planting, watershed management, and rich compost. He changed the actual ecology of the land and got the termites under control, opening up acres of arable farmland ripe for the planting.

Some of the trees Letera planted in his mini-forest were fruit trees that produced huge bunches of bananas, papayas, avocados, and pineapples. He branched out into vegetable farming, cultivating tomatoes, beetroots, carrots, onions, and more. His kids could finally eat their fruits and veggies! Not only that, Letera was growing enough to regularly sell bundles of fresh produce in the local market, making money to purchase other food items his family needed.

HEALTH

Cattle are playing an important role in poverty alleviation in Sasiga.

But Letera wasn’t satisfied with just subsisting. He’s an ambitious man who had caught a vision. He became the first farmer in his village to grow coffee. Then he added sugarcane and ground nuts—all cash crops he had never grown before. His income exploded, and the financial management training he’d received from FH helped him make the most of it. He began earning a yearly average of 30,000 Birr ($1,610 CAD) from coffee, vegetables, and fruit; and 20,000 Birr ($1,073 CAD) from ground nuts—a total sum of 50,000 Birr ($2,683 CAD) every year.

And none of that includes his livestock. “I've been practicing livestock production for some time now. Currently, I have oxen for draft power and fattening, milking cows, heifers, and calves.

Before working with FH, it was impossible for me to have livestock due to the poverty I was in and due to widespread animal diseases. The diseases have now been controled and reduced as a result of FH intervention, and many of us have begun keeping our own animals.”

Martha and her fuel-efficient stove.

Martha's Healthy Home “I used to have a miserable life without the ability to feed my family properly. My children were often sick from dirty water and poor hygiene.

Through FH trainings, I learned about environmental and personal hygiene, new cooking techniques, better eating habits, Martha's new water pump. and how to make a fuel-efficient stove, which I fashioned from local materials. I use this stove exclusively for all our cooking so that I need less firewood.

My home is now smoke free and much healthier for myself and my children. Through FH, I learned how to cook a variety of crops so my family can eat more nutritiously. My children are also more healthy now because we have our own clean water source—our very own well that FH taught me how to construct. The well helps with sanitation and generates income—I sell water to the community. I also installed a latrine. It would not have been possible to achieve any of these results in my family’s health without the support of FH and their donors.” - Martha Shemsu lives with her family in Lalisa Bareda, Sasiga.

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The impact of this wild success on Letera’s family has been the heart of his motivation. Instead of feeling hungry every day, Letera’s five children are now food secure—they eat a balanced diet and have enough to fill their little tummies. They’re well dressed and all attend school. Letera can go to sleep at night with a smile on his face knowing the most precious thing in his life, his children, have what they need to thrive.

Letera can go to sleep at night with a smile on his face knowing the most precious thing in his life, his children, have what they need to thrive.

In addition to agricultural training, Letera and his wife attended workshops on family planning, sanitation and hygiene, potable water management, fuel efficient stove construction, and household management—all of which helped them raise their quality of life and gain more control over their health and future.

While Letera is happy with the exciting results of all his hard work, he’s not content with simply a new status quo. He’s still dreaming of bigger things, of a future where everyone in his community, not just himself, experiences dramatic transformation. Letera plans

ISSUE 21

MAKING A LIVING to expand his business, both in livestock and crop production, so that he can support others as well as his family. He intends to promote organic agriculture and environmental rehabilitation to transform agriculture in Sasiga. To accomplish this, he’ll need to access larger outside markets, so he’s saving up to buy a vehicle to transport goods to market, as well as a tractor to begin the transition from hand farming to mechanised farming. Letera has a vision. And his dream is to share it.

Letera has a vision.

And his dream is to share it.

As a “model farmer” Letera already hosts farmers from other kebeles who come to observe his techniques in order to implement them at home. Letera is now teaching the principles of biointensive farming that changed his own fields from barren to fertile, sharing his experiences and supporting fellow farmers with good seed and sound technical advice.

“Many farmers want to develop themselves socially and economically; this can only be achieved through practical training and mindset transformation. They also have to continue to learn from others who have been transformed, like us, if they want to change their family, their community, and then the world.”

“And then the world.” That says it all. Letera Degu is a man of vision, a man with his eye on not just his community, but on the whole world. He may come from an average, rural farming community in eastern Ethiopia, but Letera Degu is anything but average. So look out world, he’s a man on a mission, and he’s out to change everything.

Power couple, Legesse & Zeneba, learned how to build a well by hand on their own land!

Mohammad's fruit trees are growing strong.

Mohammad's Happy Life “By using the seeds and tools provided by FH, and all the techniques I learned, I have grown my farm. I am earning 30,000 Birr ($1,610 CAD) per year from the sale of vegetables. With the income from my vegetable sales, I fatten two oxen every year which each sell for 12,000–15,000 Birr ($644–$805 CAD). I also have eight oxen for farming and seven dairy cows for milking. My family drinks the milk, and every week my wife sells five kilos of butter in the market. We have earned enough income to change the roof on our house from grass to corrugate. The burden of work has decreased for my family and our health has improved; my children are growing stronger.

Thanks to God, now I am leading a happy life! I have promoted my family from food insecure to secure. I no longer work as a day labourer, but rather lead a sustainable, selfsufficient life.” Mohammad lives in Belo, Sasiga with his wife and five children.

CHECK OUT SASIGA'S GRAD VIDEO! fhcanada.org/sasiga FHCANADA.ORG

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Ethi o pi a n Coffee Ceremony

Ancient brew brings neighbours together BY: MICHAEL PRINS KEBEDE LULE

YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT OUR LAST ISSUE OF HOPE Notes began with an interview with the Waktola family of Sasiga, Ethiopia. They enthusiastically told us that having coffee with friends and neighbours was the number one thing they did for fun.

So we decided to dig a little deeper into where that comes from.

prepare it any number of ways — from the precisely titrated pourover at the local hipster coffee bar to the classic double-double at Tim Hortons. But if you’re looking for arguably the purest way to prepare coffee, let’s go back to its source: Ethiopia.

We quickly discovered the origins of coffee are varied, but it may very well have been discovered in Ethiopia.

Coffee and Ethiopia go together. It is one of Ethiopia’s largest exports, and is part of daily life in a way much more raw and beautiful than the convenience-driven hustle of Canadian life.

One legend claims a goat herder noticed the energizing effects a coffee plant’s red berries had on his animals. So, he took the fruit to a local monastery. At first, the monks disapproved of the berries and their effect, and threw them into a fire, only to find the aroma of burning beans quite enticing. They soon employed the roasted beans in their “tea” to stay alert during prayer.

The Ethiopian coffee ceremony is an important cultural ritual that has been passed down for generations. Practically, the ceremony involves preparing the beans to bring out their best flavours.

Philosophically, the ceremony teaches patience, and places importance on being with your neighbours and enjoying a warm beverage together to start or end a day of busyness and toil.

There isn’t a lot of historical data to back this story up. Other legends claim it was a traveling religious leader who came upon energetic little birds eating from a coffee berry bush. Another claims an exiled healer boiled the berries in desperation for a meal. And yet another claims tribes would chew the berries for nutrition and the habit spread with the slave trade.

Ethiopian men and women do not rush “coffee time”; rather it is at the heart of their community. In many villages, families gather daily around a communal fire to prepare coffee and talk farming, share hardships, discuss faith, laugh, and pass on their family history.

Whatever the case, coffee is around to stay. Some sources estimate farmers in East Africa were roasting cups of joe as early as 575 A.D. Today, we need our coffee. Canada frequently scores in the top 10 for greatest consumption per capita in the world. And we

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ISSUE 21

A Step-by-Step Guide to the Best Coffee of Your Life.

STEP 1: Choose your coffee beans.

STEP 2: Roast beans over a fire.

STEP 3: Grind beans with a mukecha

STEP 4: Add grounds to Jabena full

& zenezena (mortar & pestle).

of hot water—steep for 10 minutes.

STEP 5: Add sugar, honey, cloves,

The easiest way, of course, would simply be to visit Ethiopia, but if you want to make it yourself...

cardamom, salt, or butter to taste.

Enjoy!

TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME FH has partnered with ADVISORS With Purpose so that you can access the free and confidential expertise of their Estate specialists. A free consultation with an Estate specialist will help you learn how your Will can continue the good work you’re already doing. Whether on the phone or in person, they’re there to listen to your needs and offer solid steps toward crafting a legacy of stewardship to ensure your generosity will continue to transform communities for generations to come.

FHCANADA.ORG

Call or email today to talk with an Estate Specialist: 1.866.336.3315 | plan@advisorswithpurpose.ca Talking with ADVISORS With Purpose will help you discover how easy—and important—it is to have a current Will, and how to include Food for the Hungry’s transformative work in it. *This service is complimentary and completely confidential.

There is no obligation and no one will try to sell you anything.

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Stattonrock Is Raising The Roof On Partnership BY: MICHAEL PRINS

All the details came together for Come As You Are: foot-stomping bluegrass music, scrumptious desserts, and a live auction in support of children in Acul, Guatemala.

STATTONROCK CONSTRUCTION BUILDS REALLY NICE houses. But in the past year, they’ve done a lot more than raise roofs.

Dan and Miranda (Randi) Dueck own and operate Stattonrock from their acreage in Abbotsford, BC. It’s been their life for the past 11 years, and they’re proud of their team and the projects they’ve completed—custom homes, kitchen upgrades, barns, to name a few. They’ve even won some awards. But it wasn’t until recently that they found true satisfaction in their work.

Through Eric and Doug Toews of Alderidge Construction, the Duecks were introduced to the impoverished community of Acul, Guatemala. The two families have a long history together and sometimes share projects. In spring of 2016, one co-project had to be delayed a week at Alderidge’s request. Why? A trip with Food for the Hungry to Guatemala. Dan reminisces with a chuckle, “Doug talked a lot about that trip! The whole thing

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piqued our interest. We were feeling unsettled and wanted to do more with our business.”

As a result of that relationship, Dan and Randi are now helping build an end to poverty in Acul through a partnership with Food for the Hungry.

In spring 2016, Dan traveled with a FH team to Guatemala. For 11 days they visited mothers in their homes, walked with farmers through their crops, toured community projects with village leaders, and played with children who flocked to get a better look, and feel, at Dan’s beard. “The kids had to touch it. Some hung on my beard so much I could taste the grape popsicle on their fingers!” But he didn’t mind—getting close enough ‘to taste it’ was why Dan went in the first place. “It was good to see—I mean, to really see. I wanted to understand what FH does so when someone at home asks I can rattle off what and how we do it.”

ISSUE 21

In June 2017, Stattonrock and Alderidge held a local fundraising party in support of Acul. The event, Come As You Are, turned out to be a knee-slapping hootenanny as Christian music sensation Tim and the Glory Boys had the crowd stomping along to their bluegrass-inspired music. Local comedian Cliff Prang emceed the event and “had us laughing so hard my face hurt!” exclaimed one attendee. Refreshments were served and party-goers filled the rustically decorated community space, eagerly making their bids in the silent auction.

The auction item "Say Goodbye To The Beard" had the crowd truly hooting. Dan was flabbergasted by the response. “We started the night at $2,500 for my beard and it kept going up to almost $9,000! Just to shave my beard...though, I have had it for nine years!” Needless to say, the beard came off that night to ruckus applause.

Dan Dueck’s chin hadn’t seen the light of day for nearly a decade. But it was worth it.

In total, Come As You Are raised over $22,000 for family-oriented projects in Acul, Guatemala. Dan remembers Michel, one of the men he met on his 2016 visit, who he hopes will benefit from the fundraising done that night.

Dan visited Michel in a small hut where he cares for his aging mother. In the centre of the hut a fire was burning, the makings of a rudimentary kitchen. The home had no windows, no chimney, no vents. Smoke permeated the air. Dan was told Michel had been living there for about 26 years. “That’s ‘stuck,’” recalls Dan. “Michel can’t just ‘make more money’ to get away; the means aren’t there. I started to ‘get’ FH’s ‘from stuck to thriving’ model.

With a little help, there are ways to break that cycle of poverty.”

Dan (left), his dad (right), colleagues from Alderidge Construction, and FH staff traveled to Guatemala for a first-hand experience.

“It’s never been about the money,” Randi adds. “Yes, we made a commitment to raise $30,000 for Acul this year, but that’s never been as important as building relationship with our friends in Guatemala, and in raising awareness and understanding for people here in Canada.”

"If I don’t keep the wheels turning in Abbotsford, I can’t do my part for those leaders and families in Acul. We are part of creating something bigger.”

With that determination, Dan looks forward to many more trips and years of partnership with Acul. “God wants us to do this partnership thing for the next 10 years. And I want to bring that commitment home for my wife, family, employees, our suppliers, other businesses—you name it. This is what makes our business worth it.” *Stattonrock Construction and Alderidge Construction would like to extend special thanks to High Street Shopping Centre (highstreetfv.com) for donating event space, Tim Neufeld & The Glory Boys for their live performance (timneufeldmusic.com), realtors Stan Wiebe (stantherealtor.com) and Paul Wiebe (paulwiebe.com) for their gifts to the auction, and to Cliff Prang (CliffPrang.com) for his talents as a funny guy.

The trip led to a lightbulb moment for Dan, “I got home and only wanted to be back in Guatemala. But then I realized that good business decisions here could help people there. If I don’t keep the wheels turning in Abbotsford, I can’t do my part for those leaders and families in Acul. We are part of creating something bigger.”

With that in mind, Stattonrock intends to make Come As You Are an annual community tradition. For the Duecks, the biggest takeaway from the event was not the $22,000 raised. Dan recalls, “We were so pleasantly surprised by who came—the friends, colleagues, other businesses that came out—many of whom are not really connected to this kind of outreach work. They just wanted to support or sponsor a child, and were having a great time doing it! It got me so fired up!”

FHCANADA.ORG

The kids in Acul gave their honoured guests a warm "hasta luego!"

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'

s e s r o H e h t From Mouth!

BY: MICHAEL PRINS CATHERINE MOYER

MB

ODIA - K

E HM

CA

Sometimes you need just the right expression to ‘hit the nail on the head’. Check out these local idioms from FH-partnered communities — ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’! While they don’t come from your ‘neck of the woods’, you might just find they are your ‘cup of tea’.

R

ool, h c s e h t Plant in society.” fruit inith a good educatiuonnit.yS,oy,oifu rts w e comm It all sta nefit th e b to nt ol. you wa in scho invest to d e e n

MER

The cake is than the pa not bigger n.”

This phrase is u sed within the context of the fam ildren not ily to disresp ect their p arents.

to teach ch

A - AF O PI A HI

OROMO

The egg goes on foo over a period of tim t e.”

N

st at. ings ju Some th st to accept th e b are; it’s

M ORO O

ever n l l i w y Cla .” be iron are what they

IA - AF A

- KH

ET

OP HI

N

ET

CAMBODI

A

With time, even an egg will hatch , or at least reveal its legs an d get moving. Wi th time, you too will reach yo ur goal.

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ISSUE 21

ATEMA GU L

A

- SPANISH

thout i w k a e They spn the tongue!” hairs o have no fear of saying just ds. people eir hea Some s into th p o p r e whatev

HA

ITI - CR

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E

H

E OL

The way is not th the cat walks the rat.”e way it holds

CR E O TI L AI

People’s behavio urs cha You ma nge in d y have ifferent to adju situatio st your ns. expecta tions.

DA - LUG AN

U IS

a ared! well. B things unprep to go When lf e e u s r n u ti o dy l con may fin all wil , or you e c n e d pru

UG

may t f o o r g n “A leakiny weather, bu fool sun fool the raiynto.”assume cannot re going well, it’sutedason’t abandon

The shor where th t person touch es eir heigh t stops.”

Um, ob viously?

This imp in life lies eve and jus ryone h t beca certain as their use som privileg own fort eone e e, you s une lse has hould n receive ot expe d a ct or de sire the same.

FHCANADA.ORG

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L ANDA UG

The bles not makesing of a dog do potato vi a goat ignore es the nes.”

An enc ourage ment fo means r peop and no le to w t stretc It is als ork wit h beyo o advic hin the n d what th e to no ir cannot ey can t crave have, b afford. for wha ut rathe t you re r to cho alistica ose con lly tentmen t.

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Learning from Neighbours BY: LINLY GULA The United Nations defines South-South cooperation as a broad framework for collaboration among countries of the south in the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, or technical domains, involving the sharing of knowledge, skills, expertise, and resources.* In short, SouthSouth cooperation happens when developing countries look to one another for meaningful answers instead of turning to the West for Western answers. This year, FH Cambodia demonstrated real leadership in this area when they reached out to a church in the Philippines for expertise, advice, and resources on developing their own AWANA** kids’ club program. Linly Gula, FH Cambodia Country Director, reports.

Linly Gula Country Director, FH Cambodia

real stories of children, families, and churches being transformed, the Filipino team faithfully encourages our local leaders with the great possibilities of ministry in Cambodia. They are also very honest. They share their successes as well as the challenges of working among children.

They are also very honest.

They share their successes as well as the challenges of working among children.

AWANA training with Filipino partners.

IN MARCH 2016, I TOOK A TRIP TO CANADA TO VISIT OUR FH partners. One meeting was with Jon Imbeau, the AWANA Canada National Director. When I mentioned wanting more support in launching the AWANA program in some of our villages, he told me about Kraig Akut, the AWANA trainer based in Southern Philippines. Through this connection, FH Cambodia formed a relationship with Soli Deo Gloria Church (SDG) in Davao, Philippines. My friend’s sister actually attends that church and is very active in leading their AWANA ministry. A partnership evolved organically from there as the SDG team enthusiastically shared their ministry experiences with us.

Networking and connecting with groups and individuals who have solid, hands-on experience in a specific initiative, like AWANA, is integral to our learning process. Cambodians learn more by doing than reading. Storytelling and sharing practical experiences is very important. The workshops led by the Filipino team modeled the practical steps of implementation and physically involved the pastors and volunteers in each demonstration. Kids from local churches joined the adult trainees in playing AWANA games while the Filipino instructors coached the participants and gave real-time feedback.

Through our new partnership with Soli Deo Gloria, we continue to learn creative ways to engage local church leaders. By sharing

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So much potential can be uncovered if more connections like this can be made. The mentoring components from both AWANA Cambodia and Soli Deo Gloria are complementary — the material translated in Khmer guides the flow of the process and the practical experiences of the SDG team show us what it could really look like.

With the help of our new friends in the Philippines, we continue working to contextualize the AWANA approach to fit into the specific culture and gospel readiness of our northern Cambodian communities. This week (March 2017) FH engaged 30 participants in AWANA leaders’ training; some are former Khmer Rouge soldiers turned pastors—we are humbled by this open door to walk with these leaders even closer! We hope to roll out AWANA among our 68 partnered villages and 22 partnered churches. With this initiative we will be touching the lives of approximately 11,000 children. *http://ssc.undp.org/content/ssc/about/what_is_ssc.html **AWANA is an international, biblically based children’s club.

Game demonstrations with local kids.

Sending Rain BY: ERYN AUSTIN BERGEN

TO A WORLD ON FIRE

The U.N. estimates over 60 million people are on the move right now—the greatest human migration since World War II and the largest human crisis in recorded history.

The world is on fire.

IN 2011, SYRIA BURST INTO FLAMES AS A CIVIL WAR

Our generation has never seen human suffering on this scale before. Alone, it can feel totally futile to hurl our individual cups of water on this roaring wildfire. But together, we can be the rainstorm that quenches the flames; we can be the firebreak that says, “Thus far have you devoured, no further will you burn.”

ripped through the country tearing apart families, communities, and cities. The war has continued raging for the last six years with no end in sight. Over 220,000 people have been killed, most are civilian casualties—men, women, children—this war does not discriminate. More than 50 percent of the population has been internally displaced, with 4.8 million people fleeing as refugees.

Two and a half million of those refugees are under the age of 18; this unbridled violence has put Syria’s children at extreme risk.

Our generation has never seen human suffering on this scale before.

On July 9, 2011 the nation of South Sudan was formed in the hopes that a new political configuration could bring peace and stability to a people long plagued by persecution and insecurity. But just a short year and a half later, the South Sudanese’s fragile hopes crumbled as their leaders drew new battle lines, igniting yet another civil conflict that spread like wildfire across the region and sparked ethnically-motivated killings, torture, rape, and destruction. More than 200,000 civilians have sought refuge at U.N. peacekeeping bases inside the country, while a continuous stream of refugees floods into neighbouring countries—1.2 million and counting.

In addition to, and often as a result of, human conflict, climate change is wreaking havoc on regions already at risk. Drought persists in South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Uganda, and famine threatens to consume Nigeria, Yemen, and large regions of East Africa. 20 million people face starvation. Malnutrition and disease are legion.

FHCANADA.ORG

Food for the Hungry was created as one man’s courageous cry in the night that poverty and hunger would not take one more life. Larry Ward founded FH as a crisis response agent to bring food and medical relief to the most desperate—the orphan, the starving, the destitute, the refugee. Through those faithful acts of humanitarian compassion, FH formed lasting relationships with communities struck down by poverty. Those relationships grew and blossomed into sustainable, development journeys that have moved hundreds of communities “from stuck to thriving.”

Seventeen years ago, FH seized upon a unique opportunity to align those communities’ medical needs with Canada’s nationwide medical equipment upgrade. The FH International Medical Equipment Distribution (IMED) program was launched in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and subsequently received millions of dollars worth of “outdated” but functional medical equipment.

Under the steady hand and daring leadership of Lindsay Brucks, together with a team of dedicated staff and hundreds of selfless

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Lindsay Brucks, Director of Global Commodities

Matt Ellingson, Director of Relief & Partnerships

“...we want to engage the world of relief with a mind toward long term development strategies.” volunteers, IMED refurbished, packed, and shipped equipment and supplies to communities in desperate need. Over the course of 17 years, IMED has shipped 344 containers of life-saving resources to thousands of communities at an estimated value of over 51 million dollars. IMED’s immeasurable global impact has rescued tens of thousands from suffering, and even death, improving the daily lives of mothers, fathers, children, and medical practitioners.

In recent years, however, the stream of medical equipment flowing from Canadian hospitals has slowed significantly; shipping presents new challenges, and natural and man-made disasters are reshaping the immediate needs of those trapped in poverty.

Lindsay explains, "The world is changing rapidly and even more in the last five years. We at FH need to align

A South Sudanese mother and child seek refuge and treatment at a clinic in northern Uganda.

with the realities and change to serve the most vulnerable families in a way that maximizes our effectiveness, our resources, and in the process help more of those we are called to serve."

As crisis after crisis burns out of control, the FH Global network is experiencing a renewal of its foundational calling. FH Canada's former President, Bernie Willock, explains, “In light of the unparalleled suffering we see today, we want to engage the world of relief with a mind toward long term development strategies.” Lindsay Brucks, with his years of experience and vast network of global contacts, is uniquely positioned to lead FH Canada’s response in a way that will strengthen, not compromise, their commitment to ending poverty.

Lindsay has been charged with scaling down medical equipment distribution, wrapping up the Saskatoon warehouse, and spearheading FH Canada’s response to our world’s most burning needs. As the Canadian representative on FH Global’s Relief and Humanitarian Affairs (RHA) team, Lindsay will split his time between sourcing medicine, food, and equipment for FH communities as needed, and bringing his expertise to bear on FH’s response to crises like the East African famine and the growing refugee population in countries like Uganda and Iraq.

Lindsay's approach to his new role is collaborative and focused, “We want to join forces and use our funding resources even better through global partnerships, increased mobility, and better efficiencies."

Lindsay will work closely with Matt Ellingson, the new Director of Relief and Partnerships for FH Global’s RHA team. Matt has 20 years’ experience working on the front lines with major international aid organizations. Having served FH from 20052007 as Director of Relief, Matt is “humbled and grateful” to be back at the helm coordinating FH Global’s unique response at this critical moment in history. “When an opportunity arose for me to link my passions back with a group of people who I really love to be counted among I jumped at the chance.”

When compared to industry giants like the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

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IMED

(UNHCR), Food for the Hungry can seem like a small fish swimming in a very big ocean. According to Matt, however, the reality is quite different. In recent months, he has witnessed God granting FH a seat at the table of some of the most influential meetings to determine the direction of aid for millions of people, including the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, Turkey, and the World Food Program Annual Partnership Consultation in Rome and Geneva.

As a leaner organization with minimal overhead, FH has the flexibility and agility to respond quickly and efficiently whenever disaster strikes. Unlike many large charities, FH can ensure that every dollar sacrificially donated by compassionate Canadians is stretched for maximum impact.

To that end, Matt’s goal is to position the RHA team for immediate response, whether the crisis touches one of their development communities or not. The question for Matt is not, “Will FH respond?” but “How will FH respond?”

The question for Matt is not, “Will FH respond?” but “How will FH respond?”

With “boots on the ground”, shipments of emergency aid, or funds directed to partners active in the region. The RHA team will assess the situation, determine the appropriate action, and execute a rapid response strategy.

Lindsay is quick to point out that many of FH’s current development work is a direct result of responding to urgent crises—the 1980s famine in Ethiopia, the 1976 Guatemala earthquake, the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. As those communities stabilized, development programming was the natural next step resulting in resilient communities that are now better prepared to withstand the shocks of natural and human-provoked disasters.

FH relief efforts continue in Uganda refugee camps.

FHCANADA.ORG

Our world is on fire, and according to the experts, development simply is not possible until the flames are brought under control. Lindsay reminds us, “Because of famine, disasters, and war, more and more refugees are roaming the earth who require the most basic of items such as food, shelter, and water.” As Food for the Hungry Canada celebrates 17 years of incredible impact through the unique work of IMED, they're shifting into alignment with the FH Global alliance. They look forward to contributing to the Relief and Humanitarian Assistance team with thought leadership, industry expertise, funding, and human resources.

With hope and determination, FH Canada is preparing for a future of faithfully responding to the resounding echo of Larry Ward’s call to end poverty, injustice, and human suffering.

Support relief efforts: FHCANADA.ORG/EMERGENCIES This Syrian refugee family fled over the mountains to a camp in Lebanon.

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Food for the Hungry's GLOBAL HOT SPOTS Ethiopia

Drought & Famine

South Sudan Drought & Conflict Relief

Somalia

Drought & Famine (Al Shabab)

Uganda

Refugee Crisis (South Sudan)

Kenya

Drought & Famine

Burundi

Drought & Famine (Political Conflict)

Venezuela

Economic Food Crisis

DRC

Drought & Famine

Nigeria

Refugee Crisis (Boko Haram)

Peru

Natural Disaster (El Niño Flooding)

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What does response MAP look like?

The RHA team will assess the situation, determine the appropriate action, and execute a rapid response strategy.

1. "Boots on the ground�

If a crisis requires man-power or people with specialized skills, FH is poised and ready to send people as needed.

2. Shipments of emergency aid FH is no stranger to shipping food aid and medical aid around the world.

3. Funds directed to partners active in the region Is another organization already on the ground or better equipped to provide what is needed?

FH will direct funds straight to them so that those affected by a crisis get help fast.

Lebanon

Refugee Crisis (ISIS)

Syria

Refugee Crisis (ISIS)

Iraq

Refugee Crisis (ISIS)

Yemen

Drought & Famine, Cholera (Political Conflict)

FHCANADA.ORG

Bangladesh

Natural Disaster (Cyclone Mora)

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Serving Up Smiles A Soup for Kids Update

MY NAME IS CONSOLATE AND I’M A 27 YEAR OLD farmer who likes to laugh. I am married to Gerard, and together, we have one daughter and two sons — Chanelle is eight, Claude is six, and Manasseh is just two. We live in Jene community in Burundi.

My responsibilities as a Burundian woman and farmer are many. I am always busy working on our land and making sure I am planting different types of food for my household. After working in the fields, I start gathering firewood, fetching water, and cooking dinner. Then I feed my family and bathe my young children. For fun, I enjoy visiting my relatives and neighbours to chat and share drinks together. I also like to go to pray with other community members in community prayer meetings.

...we used to just prepare and eat what we can access in our community. We were not eating enough.

Our life before receiving the dehydrated soup was quite different because we didn’t have any idea about the soup; we used to just prepare and eat what we can access in our community. We were

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BY: CONSOLATE HAKIZIMANA

not eating enough. When the vegetable soup was introduced in our community, we liked it and wished to have it in plenty.

The content of the vegetable soup amazed us since it contains

I can see that my children are more healthy than they used to be, and they don’t fall sick as they used to, either. many varieties of vegetables and nutrients. FH explained to us its benefits. After consuming it, we found it so delicious - my kids liked it so much!

Considering its health benefits, I can say that my life and that of my household has improved because of eating this tasty and delicious food. I can see that my children are more healthy than they used to be, and they don’t fall sick as they used to, either.

My dream is to know how to make dehydrated soup myself one day using local food so that I can have it available in my household all the time.

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Worlds Collide Matt & Jean Meet at Last

Matt Chaffee with his wife and four sons.

MATT CHAFFEE, TOGETHER WITH his wife and children, have been Child Sponsors since 2014. They support two young Haitian boys, Dominique and Jean, and their families. The Chaffee’s church, St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Edmonton, AB, is partnered with Cachiman, Haiti, to walk with families as they work to achieve sustainability. Matt traveled with a team from St. John’s to Cachiman this past April to deepen that friendship.

Q. What helped you decide to sponsor a child?

About five years ago, my wife and I first approached our (then) six year-old about saving money to sponsor a child. His initial response was, “maybe we should spend the money on a bouncy castle instead.” After our collective blood pressure recovered, we were able to have a frank discussion with

FHCANADA.ORG

BY: MICHAEL PRINS

him about what “needs” and poverty were. Armed with this new information, he was able to understand that plights worse than bouncy castle access existed, and even decided to fundraise for our first sponsored child on his own, via a bake sale.

Q. Meeting sponsored children and their families is a big part of any team trip. What was your initial reaction?

Many members of our team were quite excited to meet their sponsored child. Personally, I hadn’t really taken time to consider the “what now” aspect of meeting our sponsored child: we’ve travelled here — what now? That being said, when we were finally able to develop a rapport with the kids in Cachiman, show them pictures of our families, and play soccer with them, it was a very fun part of the journey.

Q. What was that time visiting Jean like?

We climbed down the dirt road into the tiny village of Cachiman; it was raining steadily, and we were led by our guide to the front porch of a small 10x10 foot hut. I remember Jean was tiny for a seven year old (smaller than my own five year old). He was

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Q. What has been the most meaningful part of sponsoring Jean and Dominique?

For us, the most meaningful part of sponsorship has been watching my sons relate to our sponsored children. It’s very easy to lose our perspective on how our brothers and sisters outside Canada struggle. We feel that sponsorship has given us some meaningful dialogue with our children about poverty, giving, and walking through life in community with others.

Jean is a little kid with a big smile.

dressed in this ill-fitting plaid shirt and old blue jeans that were too short. Most of the conversation happened in Creole via our translator. I showed him a picture of my family, as well as postcards of the Alberta prairies. He was interested but nervous as he took the pictures.

We’re designed to help each other, and sponsoring a child does help. There’s a line in a song by Brooke Fraser: “Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.” To be there for someone in a helping capacity: that’s our calling.

It was a lot of pressure for the little guy, to be sitting in a chair meeting these strangers, and he was reticent to speak, at first.

Eventually he let it drop that he knew how to ride a motorcycle.

He thought it was funny that my own boys would be jealous of his ability to ride, and he warmed up after that.

Once we went out to the field with the other village kids to play soccer, he was a whole new kid. He was running, laughing, and doing his best to dominate his visitors.

"It’s very easy to lose our perspective on how our brothers and sisters outside Canada struggle."

The team from St. John the Evengelist join Cachiman residents to erect a keyhole garden.

Haitian Pumpkin Soup Chef Remy prepares this classic, hearty soup anytime visitors come to town. Teams visiting recently on behalf of FH Canada came home raving about this dish!

In Haiti, this soup is often made with yams, plantains, malanga root, or whatever other fresh vegetables may be coming from their farm plots or kitchen gardens.

INGREDIENTS: 2 lbs beef (on the bone) 1 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp kosher salt 1 tsp thyme 3 tbsp lime juice 1 shallot (diced) 3 scallions (diced) 3 cloves garlic (crushed) 1 tbsp parsley (chopped) 2 tbsp olive oil

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12 cups beef stock 2 lbs pumpkin* 1 lb cabbage 3 carrots 3 celery stalks 2 leeks 2 turnips 2-3 potatoes 1 cup vermicelli

INSTRUCTIONS: Chop up beef, leaving some on the bone, and marinate overnight in pepper, salt, thyme, lime juice, and diced garlic, shallot, scallions, and parsley. In a large pot, combine marinated beef, including bones, with olive oil and 2 cups water. Simmer for 30 mins. Do not let run dry.

In another pot, combine pumpkin with 6 cups water. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until pumpkin is tender, then blend into a puree.

To the large pot of beef, add the chopped vegetables and stock. Bring to a simmer and add the pureed pumpkin. Simmer for 30 mins, then add the vermicelli and simmer until noodles are cooked. Add salt to taste.

Serves 8-10. *may substitute with canned pumpkin if out of season

ISSUE 21

See your GIFT GUIDE impact!

Rosette in her banana grove.

Pigs Pack a Punch!

Busekera, Rwanda

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Most importantly, her family can finally get enough to eat.

And it's all thanks to one stinky Gift Guide pig.

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makes GIFT GUIDE PIG

ORGANIC FERTILIZER

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ORGANIC FERTILIZER MAKE CROP YIELDS GO BANANAS - THAT MEANS MONEY IN THE PIGGY BANK!

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Rosette can’t believe how much money she makes now.

Soon, her plants were producing banana bunches regularly weighing 90kgs! Rosette can sell that size bunch for 10,000 RWFs ($15.79 CAD).

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But last year, someone gave Rosette a Gift Guide pig. She was thrilled! Rosette paid close attention to all the training that came with this new investment—how to feed, house, and care for her pig so it would stay healthy and strong. She also learned how to incorporate the pig poo into compost to produce rich, organic fertilizer. Rosette began to apply the pig-powered fertilizer to her banana plantation, and it didn’t take long for the soil to respond.

secondary school. She can also pay the annual medical insurance for the entire family (that’s eight people!). Most importantly, her family can finally get enough to eat.

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makes now. Just a short while ago, she was struggling to provide for her six children and aging husband. Her main source of income is from banana sales, but the modest plantation she’s been farming for years wasn’t producing enough for her family to live on. Rosette regularly harvested banana bunches weighing about 10kgs which sell in the local market for around 1,000 RWFs ($1.58 CAD). This meagre income just isn’t enough to feed six children, send them to school, pay their medical bills - the list goes on.

How

ROSETTE CAN’T BELIEVE HOW MUCH MONEY SHE

That is a thousand percent increase in production and income!

With this money, Rosette is solving her family’s problems. She can now afford to pay the fees for her two oldest children to attend

FHCANADA.ORG

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Guess who's coming to the...

GG AD

GIFTS FOR CHANGE

G IFT G UIDE Find out Fall 2017...

FHCANADA.ORG/GIFTS

1 - 31741 Peardonville Road, Abbotsford, BC V2T 1L2 1.800.667.0605 info@fhcanada.org fhcanada.org @fhcanada facebook.com/foodforthehungrycanada

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blog.fhcanada.org @fhcanada

ISSUE 21