On Our Cover Students from Meulaboh Public Junior High School are among the many beneficiaries of Food for the Hungry’s development work in the region.
6:8 May 2006, Issue 1 Check out daily news and features at www.fh.org. President Benjamin K. Homan Vice President Matt Panos Executive Editor Greg Forney Managing Editor Rez Gopez-Sindac Graphic Designer Lisa Leff Sr. Director, Ministry Partners John Frick
We welcome comments and feedback. E-mail us at: 6-8magazine@fh.org.
Food for the Hungry
Or send them to: Food for the Hungry 6:8 Magazine 1224 E. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85034
God called and we responded until physical and spiritual hungers ended worldwide.
Phone: 480-998-3100 (Toll free) 800-2-HUNGERS
Food for the Hungry thanks photographer and advocate Rodney Rascona for providing us with photographic excellence. We also thank O’Neill Printing for their support in maintaining graphic industry standards at reduced costs, allowing us to be faithful stewards of God’s gifts and resources. Food for the Hungry is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). Copryright 2006 by Food for the Hungry. All rights reserved. 6:8 is published quarterly by Food for the Hungry, Inc. Reproduction of any part of this publication without written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited.
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Vision
Mission To walk with churches, leaders and families in overcoming all forms of human poverty by living in healthy relationship with God and His creation. Motivated by Christ’s love, we achieve our mission using a three-dimensional approach: • Speaking out to all people and nations about God’s call to end physical and spiritual hungers. • Sending people to share God’s love. • Serving the transformation of communities.
Scriptural Basis “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8
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editor’s letter
Welcome to 6:8! This publication has been in the hearts and minds of many at Food for the Hungry for quite some time. It is exciting to see it come to fruition, so let me introduce you to some of the people who made it happen. I want to acknowledge Food for the Hungry President Ben Homan who, along with senior executives Matt Panos and John Frick, envisioned a publication that would communicate the transforming work of Food for the Hungry around the world.The hard work and dedication of our editorial and design staff, as well as the kind support and encouragement of our various ministries and departments, also made this project a reality. It is truly our hope that this magazine would be a blessing to all of you – our donors, advocates, volunteers and field staff who make our work possible. 6:8 was created with you in mind. It is a platform with which we affirm your call to care for the poor and make a real difference in their lives. You might have wondered, “Why 6:8?” Why would anyone name a magazine with two numbers separated by a colon? It was intentional. 6:8 serves to remind us of Micah 6:8 – that our vision to end physical and spiritual hungers worldwide is grounded in God’s call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.” The “doing, loving, walking” ministry of Food for the Hungry is carried out in impoverished communities around the world – areas we call the hard places. Food for the Hungry accomplishes this through Vision of a Community.You will see VOC referenced a number of times in this issue and the ones to come. It is not just a statement we put on the walls of our offices. It is a life we live out – through God’s power and grace – in the hard places. Places like Meulaboh, Indonesia, which is the feature story in this issue. Our work in Meulaboh is a great picture of what VOC looks like. It involves working with churches, leaders and families.
Food for the Hungry, in partnership with the City of Phoenix, works with local community leaders to rebuild Meulaboh, Indonesia, a community devastated by the December 2004 tsunami. The partnership, “Rising to Help,” connects Meulaboh leaders with the City of Phoenix, individuals and organizations that are passionate about making a difference. It’s amazing that even young school children catch the vision and run with it. Food for the Hungry works with churches.We are privileged to partner with Kentucky-based Southeast Christian Church and Southland Christian Church, as well as many other American churches, in bringing hope and light to Meulaboh citizens. Food for the Hungry walks alongside families. In Meulaboh, we see life and laughter coming back, and we continue to witness stories of hope as families help one another stand on their feet again. We know that Meulaboh and many other impoverished communities around the world will not be restored overnight. That’s why we commit to walk with churches, leaders and families long-term. And as we continue to remain faithful to God’s call, we will see leaders empowered to solve problems, churches equipped to reach out, and families prepared to meet one another’s physical and spiritual needs. These bring about long-lasting change. Thank you for your support and for responding to the vision of Food for the Hungry. It is my deepest desire that 6:8 becomes an encouragement and inspiration to you as you “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.” Blessings,
Greg Forney Executive Editor
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inside 6:8 Volume 1 | Spring 2006
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Editor’s Letter From the President A Case for Micah 6:8 FH News One at a Time Sen Pan’s Harvest One man’s story of physical and spiritual transformation – from utter hopelessness to fullness of life.
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COVER STORY
Meulaboh on their Minds How God, through Food for the Hungry, pulled together people of incredible faith and courage to help a nation in its darkest hour of need.
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Frontliners Builder by Design An architect by training, Dominican Republic Country Director Luis Sena uses his conceptual and practical skills to help rebuild broken hopes and shattered lives in the communities he serves. Vision Partners Riding for Ethiopia Haunted by images of African children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, cyclist Tom Rand braces for what could be the best ride of his life. Ministry Highlights Teams Ministry in Full Throttle Staff members from Latin America, Asia and Africa come to Phoenix for a week of training, strategic planning and relationship building.
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from the president Food for the Hungry’s ministry philosophy, founded on the authority of Scripture, is an optimistic one that responds to needs around the world in obedience to God. We believe that change can happen and that people and societies can experience transformation. And so we prayerfully and hopefully walk with churches, leaders and families in overcoming all forms of human poverty by living in healthy relationship with God and His creation. And we do it in the toughest of places. Places like Meulaboh and Darfur and Northern Uganda. And, by His grace, we are making a difference there. Christians historically have answered the call to go to the hard places. Even from the very beginning of the Church, God’s followers were charged with a mission to go to the outermost regions of the world (Acts 1:8). The early disciples gave up their lives, forsaking all to follow Him as He led them down dark and difficult roads. As God’s people, we have seen His faithfulness to never leave or forsake us in such rocky terrain. And the result is that the knowledge of God has spread to the ends of the earth. God’s hand and His work continue on the move. His kingdom still advances. Unstopped by empires such as Rome and the Third Reich, unbroken by the opposition of Stalin and Pol Pot, uninterrupted by persecution and plagues, unchecked by
borders, ignorance or even heresy, God has steadily, relentlessly moved forward. God, as revealed in the Old and New Testaments, is unimpeded. Boundaries disintegrate in the face of His will and the sheer force of His message.Walls tumble. Great walls are scaled. Barriers come down. We live in extraordinary times. The knowledge of who Jesus is shines on every continent. His Name has been shouted to the North and the South, sung to the East and the West. Yet this is no time to hesitate or relent. The time for transformation is now. The task can seem overwhelming, but the transformation can start… one person…one village…and one community at a time. Even as Food for the Hungry began with the hope of helping one starving person at a time, we still believe that worldwide transformation can be ignited from the transformed lives of the “the least of these.” Can that really happen? Can regular folks really change the world? The answer to that question is an emphatic “Yes” if it is by and through the power of God. After all, it has happened before.
THE TASK CAN SEEM OVERWHELMING, BUT TRANSFORMATION CAN START…ONE PERSON… ONE VILLAGE…AND ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME.
Ben Homan President and Chief Executive Officer
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Will the Lord’s people focus love, attention and concern on the poor? Will those who follow God appear uncaring and aloof to the powerless, orphans and widows? Will the actions of God’s people reflect the Lord’s own heart for the oppressed and hurting? These age-old questions emerge in the “courtrooms” of many hearts around the world. These questions also appear in the “courtroom” of Scripture. The Book of Micah opens in such a court scene. Even though God pronounces a guilty verdict against His people for the neglect of those in need, the “sentence” in Micah 6:8 is an amazing, stunning call from God! “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
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The words that precede this climatic verse focus on how God’s people offer themselves totally in worship. Yet the resounding call of God in worship is not to the mechanics of sacrificing, singing or going through religious motions. Instead, true worship shows itself in relationship to people in need and to our heart of response. Micah 6:8 is not an optional program for Christians. All at once it is a call, a “life-sentence” and a mandate from God.
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This is why Food for the Hungry seeks to answer God’s call in our ministries around the world by… Doing justice, Loving mercy, and Walking humbly with God.
Doing. Loving. Walking.
Jesus opened His earthly ministry with these words (quoted from Isaiah): “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel
to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to set at liberty those who are oppressed…” (Luke 4:18 NKJ) Yes, even as Jesus knew that empty religious traditions and mere words would not signal His truth claims, He did not isolate Himself from people in need when He walked our dusty roads. He healed the sick; He fed the hungry; He wept – and He railed against so-called religious
[ A Case for micah 6:8 ]
FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY SEEKS TO ANSWER GOD’S CALL IN OUR MINISTRIES AROUND THE WORLD BY…
DOING JUSTICE, LOVING MERCY, AND WALKING HUMBLY WITH GOD.
authorities who emphasized rote worship while ignoring justice and mercy. Jesus called such leaders “snakes,” “vipers” and “hypocrites” (Matthew 23). Instead, Jesus passionately wanted people to see the very heart of God – and so we see a Savior of action, compassion and deep relationships with others. It is how Jesus trumpeted His own identity as God Himself, a perfect
rendering of Micah’s words, “to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him.” This is why Food for the Hungry – motivated by Jesus’ love and instructed by His manner – seeks to walk with churches, leaders and families in helping them overcome all forms of human poverty by living in healthy relationship with God and His creation. God has raised up Food for the Hungry for such a time as this – to call the followers of Jesus into action in caring for the poor of the world with His magnificent and irresistible love. To do this in a way that truly disperses God’s glory and grace, we pose to you these simple questions: Will you accept the sentencing of God’s court? Will you do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God? 9
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FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY News
Responding to Drought Crisis in Africa The drought situation affecting more than 11 million people in Africa has caused enormous loss of livestock and crops, leading to loss of livelihoods and increase in malnutrition rates in many areas. Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia are critically at risk, but Rwanda, Burundi, Nigeria, Niger, DRC and Uganda face great challenges as well.
Hardest Hit by Drought
Approximately 7 million of the 11 million people affected by the drought conditions are farmers and herders residing within the Horn of Africa. Those most affected by prolonged drought conditions are located in parts of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti. With all or most of their livestock gone, individuals are left helpless.
Kenya
Food for the Hungry responded to the growing crisis in Kenya by providing supplemental feeding to malnourished children in communities around Marsabit. Food for the Hungry is providing clean water to households and schools and implementing a food-for-work* program in the communities.
Food for the Hungry implements programs that meet the immediate and long-term needs of those devastated by drought.
Ethiopia
A number of schools in South Ethiopia, specifically in the Teltele district of Borana zone, had to close their feeding programs because they had no water to prepare food.  Food for the Hungry responded by delivering water to schools, allowing eight schools to resume their feeding programs and many children to return to school.  This emergency response has benefited more than 1,500 school-age children, as well as their families, who now worry less about how to feed their children during this difficult time. * FOR DESCRIPTIONS OF FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY PROGRAMS, SEE PAGE 15
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Training on Best Approaches to HIV/AIDS Problem
New Programs Accelerate Economic Rehabilitaon in Indonesia
The Food for the Hungry Indonesia team continues its inspiring service to the communities of Meulaboh, C a l a n g and smaller villages up the western coast. Education, rehabilitation and agriculture programs empower individuals and communities to reach their full potential. Living conditions improve, relationships are strengthened and health is being restored. (See cover story on page 18 for an up-close look at our work in
Radio Contest Raises Funds to Build Classrooms Through the “Children Under the Trees” project, Food for the Hungry, in partnership with Christian radio station K-LOVE, raised more than $270,000 to be used for building 33 classrooms in Rwanda. Thousands of children in Rwanda hold classes under the trees, with no water, desks, toilets and school supplies. Christian artists Phillips, Craig and Dean and Scott Krippayne played key roles in this collaborative effort. On the heels of Children under the Trees came “Where in the Kingdom with Mike Novak,” an annual contest by K-LOVE and Food for the Hungry. Aired from March 20-24, the contest prize was an all-expense paid trip to China and Bangladesh. The winner – Carol Hedrick from Rome, New York – and a family member will travel to these countries with K-LOVE’s Mike Novak.
Food for the Hungry child development program managers from five African countries attended an intensive eight-day training that addressed issues critical to the program’s effectiveness. Part of the training focused on examining the needs of HIV/AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children and finding better solutions to their needs. The training was held from March 29 to April 6 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Churches Adopt Communities in Ethiopia and Indonesia
Two churches have recently adopted communities* in developing countries and started relationships that bring hope and transformation to both the
impoverished communities and U.S. churches. Heartland Community Church in Kansas City adopted communities in Zeway (Ethiopia) and Meulaboh
(Indonesia). Cochranton Community Church in Cochranton, Pennsylvania, adopted a community in Zeway.
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Philippines
Disaster Relief Efforts in Full Swing Pakistan
PHOTO: RAY BUCHANAN
Food for the Hungry, along with Pakistani friends and partners, provided blankets and jackets to Pakistani children and adults to keep them warm and protected from the harsh winter conditions. Food for the Hungry also distributed warm blankets, plastic tarps, hygiene kits, clothing, and school kits to 80 small displacement camps, benefiting nearly 10,000 people in the rugged Muzaffarabad area. “We remain committed to the service of the thousands of people who currently reside in spontaneous tent villages and who are under-supported and thus at risk of perishing due to recent harsh winter conditions and lack of supplies,� says Matt Ellingson, director of relief.
After a mountain in Southern Leyte, Philippines, collapsed on February 20, 2006 and buried an entire village, Food for the Hungry has been working diligently amid chaotic conditions to help those who were directly and indirectly affected by the landslide. Hundreds of people were evacuated from their villages as a precaution, increasing the number of internally displaced people to be sheltered and cared for, according to Sara Sywulka, Food for the Hungry development relief coordinator. During the first week of March, Food for the Hungry distributed emergency supplies such as hygiene items (bath and laundry soap, toothpaste and toothbrush) and household supplies (sugar, milk, pail and thermos) to hundreds of people forced to live in evacuation centers.
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FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY News FH Gears Up for Alive Festival
Golf Drive Tees Off at Ancala Country Club Food for the Hungry’s 5th Annual Golf Marathon takes to the fairways at Ancala Country Club on May 1, where more than 25 golfers will play 100 holes of golf. Underwritten by Pro-Sweep and Baillie Lumber, the golf tournament hopes to raise $500,000 to help bring transformation to suffering communities in Africa and Latin America.
On the Horizon
Advocates Head Off to Bolivia A group of Food for the Hungry advocates* from the U.S. will be in Bolivia from August 10-20 to build latrines in the community of Torotoro (Potosi) as well as help teach and assist with Vacation Bible School classes.Torotoro is Bolivia’s smallest national park. Some of the poorest communities in Bolivia are located in the Torotoro area. Food for the Hungry advocates have more than doubled in number – from 50 in the fall of 2004 to more than 120 today. The advocates range in age from late teens to early 70s.
This year, funds raised through the Gof Marathon will help to end hunger.…one community at a time. This is so simple, but so urgent. 24,000 people – most of them children – die needlesly every day from hunger-related causes.
Food for the Hungry is a sponsor of Alive Festival, a four-day outdoor Christian music celebration to be held at Clay’s Park Resort, just outside of Canal Fulton, Ohio, from June 21-24. During the fourday festival, more than 100,000 attendees will hear about the ministries of Food for the Hungry and have opportunities to sponsor children in developing communities.
FH Goes to Lifelight Music Festival
Food for the Hungry is a sponsor of the 2006 LifeLight Music Festival scheduled from September 2-4 at the Wild Water West Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Last year, 275,000 attended the event, setting a record for LifeLight. Food for the Hungry hopes to speak to the hearts of thousands of people about how they can make a difference in the lives of needy children through sponsorship.
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FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY News
Christian Artist Partners with Food for the Hungry
Hip-hop artist Grits joins a growing list of Food for the HungryChristian artist partners who are making a difference in the lives of the poor. Grits was recently voted “Favorite Group” by Contemporary Christian Magazine (CCM) readers.
ADAM AND STEPHANIE HENRY WITH A CHINESE FRIEND.
Food for the Hungry Team Jumpstarts Student Program in China
Four out of the nine-member Go ED-China team has left the United States to spearhead the development of a new student ministry in Chengdu, the fourth most populous city in China. The team will spend the next three years learning the Chinese language and culture and setting up the Go-ED program. Adam Henry, program director of the Chengdu project, says, “The goal of the program is to bring American college students to Chengdu and encourage them to gain a heart for China and an understanding of the poverty issues around the world.” Adam adds, “We believe that God has given China plentiful resources and the capabilities to take care of their own poor. And we want to be a part of that.”
Christian College Honors Ben Homan
Student Ministries Kicks Off in Fall 2006
In December 2005, Food for the Hungry President Ben Homan received an honorary doctorate of BAGHDAD Christian ministries from Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, for his work in reaching out to impoverished communities around the world.
Go-ED*, the overseas academic program of Food for the Hungry, kicks off in the fall with 18 students from six different schools in the U.S. going to Africa for one semester of study. Also to be launched in the fall this year is a Campus Ministry* team at Arizona State University. This team will seek to meet physical and spiritual needs on the college campus. Meanwhile, 14 Internship* applicants have accepted summer positions in Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and overseas. The Student Ministries* of Food for the Hungry is a launching pad for a new generation of leaders to respond to the call to end physical and spiritual hungers worldwide.
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INDONESIA
CONGO
In his leadership role at Food for the Hungry, Homan has led assessment teams to Baghdad, Afghanistan, tsunami-ravaged Indonesia, Sudan’s Darfur region, and other devastated zones of the world.
Advocates
GLOSSARY OF TERMS Hunger Corps
Student Ministries
Hunger Corps is the long-term missionary arm of Food for the Hungry. Hunger Corps missionaries work closely with churches, leaders and families in impoverished communities. Currently, there are more than 80 missionaries serving in 17 countries, with an additional 33 missionaries going to the field this year.
The student ministries of Food for the Hungry are a launching pad for a new generation of leaders passionately advocating for the poor. It consists of the following: 1. Campus Ministry: This ministry seeks to meet physical and spiritual needs on college campuses and mobilize students, faculty and administration to be agents of transformation within their own communities and around the world.
Vision of a Community (VOC)
The Vision of a Community is how Food for the Hungry carries out its calling to end physical and spiritual hungers worldwide. VOC is the benchmark for what Food for the Hungry hopes to accomplish – by God’s power and grace – which is to enable people in impoverished communities to experience real transformation. The Vision of a Community happens when: • Churches are increasingly reaching out to their communities. • Leaders are increasingly solving problems in their communities. • Family members are increasingly meeting one another’s needs.
This ministry recruits, equips and mobilizes highimpact volunteers from all walks of life to join the fight against all forms of human poverty. There are more than 120 Food for the Hungry Advocates across the United States, from Maine to Texas to California (see page 35.)
Adopt a Community (AAC)
AAC is a Food for the Hungry program that connects churches in America to developing communities overseas. This long-term relationship includes prayer, education, shortterm team visits, child sponsorships and ongoing communication, allowing a church to cultivate an in-depth, transforming relationship with its adopted community.
2. Go-ED: Go-ED is the accredited study-abroad program of Food for the Hungry. Through the semester-long study, college students receive in-class and in-field training (while receiving college credit), exposing them to developing countries and equipping them for future leadership roles. 3. Internship Program: This program offers opportunities for college students to learn more about the vision and mission of Food for the Hungry and its daily operations in Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and overseas.
Food for Work/Cash for Work In some areas of the world, Food for the Hungry implements emergency programs that address a community’s immediate needs following a major disaster or calamity. The food-for-work program gives local residents an opportunity to contribute their labor hours in exchange for food while helping rebuild their community’s infrastructure. The cash-for-work program, on the other hand, employs skilled laborers to help with the rehabilitation projects, providing them a vital source of income and helping stimulate the local economy.
to learn more about our programs, visit www.fh.org
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one at a time
Sen Pan’s Harvest
One man’s story of physical and spiritual transformation – from utter hopelessness to fullness of life.
Sen Pan* is a husband, father and one of many farmers in a small and struggling village in Cambodia. He and his wife, Chan Mei, and their four young children live in a 5-meter by 6-meter house (less than 100 square feet) with a tile roof and walls made of coconut leaves. Before Food for the Hungry came to this impoverished area, Sen Pan was like any other farmer in the village – struggling to grow crops in a rapidly depleting soil and caught in a cycle of hopelessness. Although other small businesses operate in the village, most households depend on rice farming for survival. During the 16
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planting season, which is once a year, Sen Pan and the other farmers kept busy, but despite their hard work, their farms yielded less and less produce. They used traditional farming techniques, passed on by their parents and ancestors.They also tried chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase their agriculture production. But because they had no experience or training using modern agricultural techniques, they tended to misuse them. Soon, food shortage became rampant in the village, leaving many children and families at risk. The problems in the village, however, were not all agricultural:
a much deeper spiritual bankruptcy existed. Because many of the farmers grew only rice, they had time on their hands during the off season – time they spent gambling, betting on cockfights, playing volleyball for money or just loitering around. Sen Pan was no different – he filled his days with wasted activities instead of finding ways to meet the needs of his family. Why would these farmers waste precious time while their families went to bed hungry? The answer: fatalism. Most of the villagers are Buddhists who believe that they can do nothing to improve their lives. They consider poverty a curse from their ancestors’ spirits. Thus, when they encounter a problem, they do not try to solve it; instead, they accept it as their destiny or attempt to appease the spirits. Sen Pan, for instance, would continually offer sacrifices to the spirits for forgiveness. In his mind, he was at their mercy.
three-year period. In addition, he and the other farmers learned to raise healthy chickens and pigs and grow more vegetables, providing their families additional sources of income.
A Leader is Born
Sen Pan is now a leader in his community, promoting effective farming methods and profitable livelihood opportunities. The program made a difference in his life, and he is determined to share his knowledge with anyone who is willing to listen. “I will try my best to share these experiences and knowledge with other people in the community,” he says excitedly. More than a model farmer, Sen Pan is now a light in his troubled community. It’s amazing how simple gestures of love can turn one person’s life around. That’s exactly how Food for the Hungry brought positive change to Sen Pan and his family. He noticed something different about Food for the Hungry staff members. He saw how they equally treated everyone in the community with love, respect and kindness. When one of the staff members intervened to help Sen Pan and his family, a seed was planted that would eventually yield an eternal harvest.Today, he and his family are part of a church that is steadily penetrating the hard walls of hopelessness. Sen Pan joins countless men and women all over the world whose lives were changed by God through Food for the Hungry. Every day he appreciates his newfound joy, growing hope and the promise of a better future for his family. 9 Editor’s Note: Names have been changed to protect the family.
Why would these farmers waste precious time while their families went to bed hungry?
Light Shines Through the Darkness
God used Food for the Hungry to bring hope to this small Cambodian Village. Because of God’s love, Sen Pan’s life took a complete turnaround. Hope started to shine its light on Sen Pan’s life when he participated in the “Model Farmers” agricultural project that Food for the Hungry started. As a participant, he was responsible for learning, sharing and demonstrating the project’s ideas and techniques to other farmers in the village and neighboring towns. The training was extensive, requiring each participating farmer to learn advanced agricultural techniques as well as sound practices in rice and vegetable production, agriculture diversification, pest management, and animal healthcare. Moreover, they attended leadership training and workshops on biblical principles for agricultural development. The experience opened Sen Pan’s eyes to the reality of hope and the fullness of life. As a result of putting into practice what he has learned, Sen Pan and his family saw significant increases in his agricultural production – from 1,920 kg to 2,400 kg over a
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cover story
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How God, through Food for the Hungry, pulled together people of incredible faith and courage to help a nation in its darkest hour of need. By Rez Gopez-Sindac
The December 2004 South Asia tsunami entered history with a fury never before known to man, leaving in its wake an entire region in ruins. But as the rest of the world watched in fear and disbelief, Food for the Hungry was discreetly making its way into the communities hardest hit by the killer waves, bringing hope to thousands of survivors who had nearly nothing else to cling to. Calamities come to kill and destroy. They show no respect to even the most fortified nations. But they have a way of bringing out real heroes. This tsunami was no different. Against a backdrop of massive destruction emerged real stories of real people who, armed with faith and a deep sense of responsibility, stepped up to the plate, forged ahead through every imaginable obstacle, and made a difference in the lives of many. These are their stories.
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[ meulaboh on their minds ]
A
s the special assistant to the president of Food for the Hungry, Pete Howard has traveled extensively across continents and has seen the faces of war, poverty and hopelessness more times than he wants to remember. But nothing prepared him for the tsunami aftermath that greeted him when he landed in Indonesia a few days after the December 26, 2004 disaster. “I did not really have any framework to understand the devastation of human lives and the sheer number of broken hearts that I would run into,” says Pete. “People would sit and stare, and you knew they were trying to understand their loss.” Early last year, Pete volunteered to join an assessment team that went to Meulaboh, a city in Indonesia that lost one-third of its population to the tsunami and which Food for the Hungry and the City of Phoenix had identified as the focus of their support. At the time of the disaster, Pete had been looking forward to going to China to lead a new program targeting college students. He decided, however, that he had some time – two weeks or so – to help with the initial groundwork in Meulaboh. But two weeks turned to two months, then six. Today, more than a year later, Pete remains passionately involved in the rehabilitation work in Meulaboh and, in fact, has taken on greater responsibility as Food for the Hungry country director for Indonesia. Recalling his first day in Meulaboh, Pete says, “As soon as we had arrived in Indonesia, Heidi and I started hitting the ground setting up programs. And my heart started to break for the people of Meulaboh.” Heidi Kredit, just like Pete, felt a burden to help in the relief and rebuilding project. Having served in Peru as a Hunger Corps missionary* for three years, and with some experience in assessment and evaluation work, Heidi, a social work graduate of Arizona State University, knew she could bring some skills to the table. It was the technical side of the work, however, that proved challenging. “I had never done any relief work before. I didn’t know a lot about infrastructure development and networking. The learning curve was extremely steep.” Heidi says it was prayer – lots of prayer – that kept her and Pete going especially during the early stages of the mission. Pete agrees, “Chaos was everywhere, we didn’t know how to start and where to start. The need is so great, and in many ways we are so weak. And yet that’s a great opportunity because it forces us to be on our knees.” No doubt, Pete points out, the success of the work in Indonesia came as a result of answers to prayers – “not
“PEOPLE WOULD SIT AND STARE, AND YOU KNEW THEY WERE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THEIR LOSS.’’
A tsunami survivor wipes away tears of sorrow. For months following the December 2004 tsunami in South Asia, grief and hopelessness filled the hearts of thousands of people in Indonesia.
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HEIDI KREDIT (LEFT) AND EVA MAHNIZAR, WIFE OF THE MAYOR OF MEULABOH, SHARE A LIGHT MOMENT.
just our prayers as a team, but of many people all over the world.”
Forging Strategic Partnerships Success means different things to different people. Food for the Hungry measures success by the longterm impact of a program on a community and, ultimately, the kingdom of God. Success, in the eyes of the organization, is when community transformation is birthed out, developed and effectively implemented through strategic partnerships. Such partnerships exist between Food for the Hungry and churches, families and community leaders, even city governments. In fact, the economic recovery programs that have been carried out in Meulaboh came about because Food for the Hungry and the City of Phoenix have joined hands to adopt Meulaboh. This joint undertaking, called “Rising to Help,” is a long-term commitment to rebuild Meulaboh and bring back a sense of hope and progress to the communities devastated by the tsunami. PETE HOWARD PONDERS THE FUTURE OF A COMMUNITY REDUCED TO RUBBLE.
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“…ONE CAN LOOK BACK AND REALIZE THAT GOD MUST HAVE ORCHESTRATED THE BUILDING OF RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PEOPLE WHO HAD WILLING HEARTS AND INFLUENCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF BLESSING INDONESIA…’’ In a news conference announcing the partnership, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon challenged the residents and businessmen of the city to give and get involved.This initiative was unprecedented in that while Food for the Hungry has partnerships around the world, this is the first time a U.S. city has mobilized its citizens to connect more directly with a relief and development effort. As part of the Rising to Help partnership, Phoenix Councilwoman Peggy Bilsten has been to Indonesia thrice – to comfort the tsunami survivors and, as part of the assessment team, to meet with Meulaboh city officials and discuss with them programs and strategies for sustainable development. She met with education officials and spoke to a group of a few hundred women who lost their husbands and now faced the challenge of raising their families by themselves. Now many months into the partnership, one can look back and realize that God must have orchestrated the building of relationships among people who had willing hearts and influence PHOENIX COUNCILWOMAN PEGGY BILSTEN (front row, center) is a source of inspiration and strength for many women and children in Meulaboh.
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[ meulaboh on their minds ]
for the purpose of blessing Indonesia in what would become its darkest hour of need. Pete Newell has worked for Food for the Hungry for five years; three of those years as a Hunger Corps missionary in Bolivia. When the tsunami hit, Pete’s job was Phoenix partnership coordinator, responsible for helping Food for the Hungry identify its role in the community. “Our Vision of a Community motivates us to respond internationally, but we also need to think of our own backyard,” he says. And what it entails, he continues, is working with churches, nonprofit organizations and the leadership of Phoenix, sharing resources and making a difference in the community. In carrying out this role, Pete was able to develop relationships with some key people in the City of Phoenix. Mike Frisbie, a civil engineer and transportation manager, is one of them. Mike, who also is the state coordinator for the National Day of Prayer, has good relationships with the
city council members. When the tsunami happened, Peggy asked Mike how they might respond. Mike suggested she get in touch with Phoenix-based Food for the Hungry. Immediately, Peggy contacted Pete and requested a meeting with Food for the Hungry President Ben Homan to discuss what might be the appropriate course of action. BEN HOMAN and Phoenix Councilwoman Peggy Bilsten survey the damage caused by the tsunami.
Ben Homan, president of Food for the Hungry (center), speaks to John Hook of Fox 10 News about the organization’s ongoing effort to rebuild Meulaboh in partnership with the City of Phoenix. The joint initiative, called “Phoenix Rising to Help,” has raised more than $350,000 to help rehabilitate communities devastated by the December tsunami. At left is Teuku Ahmad Dadek, the “camat” (mayor) of Meulaboh. On the invitation of Food for the Hungry, he came to Phoenix early this year to personally thank the supporters of the partnership.
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MEREDITH LEWIS (LEFT), a teacher and ESL specialist with the Alhambra Elementary School District in Phoenix, helps young Indonesian students learn the English language. Looking on is Bethany Free, Food for the Hungry’s Education Coordinator in Meulaboh.
“That started the relationship, and God has blessed it beyond what we could even imagine,” Pete says. The Phoenix Rising partnership has since expanded to include the leadership of Meulaboh, several Christian churches and various relief agencies. On their second trip to Indonesia, nearly two months after the tsunami tragedy, Dave Evans (Vice President, Government and GIK Resources) and Pete Howard – and this time with Heidi Kredit – met with the “camat” or mayor of Meulaboh to deliver a letter describing the Phoenix Rising partnership’s plan of action to come alongside and partner with Meulaboh in their rebuilding efforts. “The camat was very excited to hear of Phoenix’s interest in Meulaboh and spent most of the afternoon detailing the needs of his city,” Pete says. “We were able to connect with him and the facilitators from other non-government organizations and resolve how to best implement the livelihood restoration plan.” Seeing the massive devastation for the first time, Heidi says it left her in utter shock. “I had an expectation that I would grieve with the people; that I would be sad; that I would cry. However, for the first four months, none of that happened.” But Heidi says she felt protected in that way. “If I had those emotions, which were all natural to feel, I would have been on a roller coaster ride and could not have functioned effectively.” A year later, as Heidi prepared to leave Meulaboh to assume a new role at Food for the Hungry, she says she felt the emotions coming all at once as she said goodbye to the local staff whose stories of faith and courage were like wells from which she drew inspiration and strength that carried her through many months
of hard work. “I am thankful that I got to become a part of God’s work in Meulaboh, and I am forever changed because of it,” Heidi says. “God does the impossible, and today whenever I get afraid that something is not going to happen, I think of those initial days in Indonesia.”
Rising Out of the Rubble It has been more than a year since those early days. As the people of Meulaboh earnestly work together to get back on their feet again, some of their questions still beg for answers. But they have moved on, Pete notes, thanks in large part to the outpouring of love from all over the world. Pete says throughout the city, he sees a future and a hope.“The streets are bustling, many businesses are very active and buildings are going up.” Clearly, the impact of Food for the Hungry on Meulaboh and its surrounding towns is significant. And this impact, Pete points out, has a ripple effect.” Pete explains, “You help one family restart their small business, and soon they hire people to work for them. Now they have money to rebuild their homes and send their kids to school.You then start to impact the education system, housing, the business community. This is what we are about – giving people hope and building relationships, and in the process pointing them to their Creator.” Pete is quick to admit, however, that in some places this process will take years. “But if people see Christians living out their faith, it will open doors for friendships, which can lead to
“I AM THANKFUL THAT I GOT TO BECOME A PART OF GOD’S WORK IN MEULABOH, AND I AM FOREVER CHANGED BECAUSE OF IT.’’
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opportunities to share God’s love to others.” It’s important, too, Pete maintains, that Food for the Hungry continues to pursue excellence in all it does. “When people hear about us, we want them to see that we have the best programs and that our people know how to contextualize the ministry.” Excellent development programs implemented by people who know how to love others will help break down stereotypes, Pete says. He makes his case by citing studies done before and after the tsunami. Before the disaster, Pete says the approval rate of Westerners was at 16 percent; post tsunami, the number jumped to 60 percent. Interestingly, the mayor of Meulaboh, on a recent groundbreaking visit to Food for the Hungry headquarters, appeared convinced that, indeed, some perceptions about Americans have changed.“Before, I had a misunderstanding of America as not very religious,” he said. “I thought everybody was individualistic. No, it’s not true.” Pete believes that 20 years from now, many Christians will look back to 2005 as the year when the seed of God’s love and compassion was planted in tsunami-stricken areas. In the meantime, Pete keeps casting Food for the Hungry’s Vision of a Community (VOC) to the Indonesian staff. “What’s heaviest on my mind is how to encourage, strengthen and give them purpose so they can be excited about the vision and carry it out among themselves.”
Pete says he has learned that the work in Meulaboh is beyond what humans can do, which, he adds, is a good place to be at because “it forces us to depend on God.” Still, Pete believes that a person’s can-do attitude makes the difference between mediocrity and excellence. The Food for the Hungry Indonesian staff, Pete says, is a team of optimistic people.“I know that God is empowering them to bring leadership and hope to their country.” Pete hopes that it happens soon, as he still longs to go to China. Unless, of course, God again directs otherwise. 9
Emi and Her Easter Miracle
When the tsunami hit on December 26, 2004, Emi, a young Indonesian woman, ran as fast as she could from the killer waves, but to no avail. The waves engulfed her and swept her out to sea where she spent three days and nights clinging to a log. But then out of nowhere, hope suddenly appeared in the form of rescuers. What a marvelous picture of the Easter story! Today, Emi serves with Food for the Hungry by teaching English to Meulaboh children. She sees her story of survival as an opportunity to serve others in her community.
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“I would do it again’’
By Shane Essert
Hello to all! My name is Shane Essert. I am 13 years old and attend Phoenix Christian Grade School (PCGS) in Phoenix, Arizona. Helping with the tsunami relief and development project has really changed my life and perspective about what it means to have nothing. When I heard about what happened to many villages in Indonesia that were damaged by the December 2004 tsunami, I was shocked and I felt the need to help. But how? I am just a kid. The THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD SHANE ESSERT WITH PHOENIX CITY answer to my question came when Councilwoman COUNCILWOMAN PEGGY BILSTEN. Peggy Bilsten came to our school and offered to do a presentation about the disaster in Meulaboh. I later found out that Meulaboh is a city in Indonesia that lost one-third of its population to the tsunami. At the end of her slide show and speech, a representative from each grade, including myself, came up and handed her an envelope full of money, which each of our respective classes had collected. Schools around the Valley raised more than $50,000 to help the tsunami survivors, and Phoenix Christian Grade School is proud to be one of them. A few months later, we got a phone call from Councilwoman Bilsten informing us that the mayor of Meulaboh was coming to Phoenix for a luncheon, and Councilwoman Bilsten asked me if I wanted to go. Of course I wanted to go, but there was a problem – I would have to miss school! I mean, what kind of student would want to miss school, right!? The next thing I knew I was at the luncheon, and let me tell you I was amazed. It was so wonderful to see the way God was working through all these people to make this huge relief and rehabilitation project possible. When the “camat” (or mayor) of Meulaboh got up to tell us what he and his people had lost, I felt so much sorrow for him I could not explain it. After the luncheon, I got to meet him and his wife. They were very nice people, and I love them so much. I gave them some gifts from my school. One of which was a T-shirt, which was perfect because the airline had misplaced his luggage on the way here. So he wore the T-shirt for three days! Later that week I went to a dinner at Councilwoman Bilsten’s house together with many people who were involved in the tsunami relief project. I met a lot of amazing people, including John Frick * and other staff of Food for the Hungry. (By the way, Indonesian food is great! But stay away from salsa, unless you want to try something really, really HOT.) The City of Phoenix has adopted Meulaboh as its sister city for the next 10 years. So if you would like to support this partnership, you have a really great opportunity to do so. Phoenix is committed to help rebuild this beautiful city that was ruined by the tsunami. Remember, anything will help. I love being a part of something like this. I am so happy to meet the mayor of Meulaboh, our government officials and community leaders. It is amazing to see how God works through people to help those in need. This was such a great experience for me, and if I could, I would do it again. * Editors Note: John Frick is Senior Director of Ministry Partners at Food for the Hungry and has been instrumental in the development of the “Rising to Help” partnership.
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[ meulaboh on their minds ]
“FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY has connected the communities of Phoenix and Meulaboh in a way that not only promotes a good working partnership but also produces a long-lasting friendship,” says former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, seen here with Councilwoman Peggy Bilsten and Food for the Hungry’s John Frick.
Kentucky Churches Join Food for the Hungry to Rebuild Meulaboh In partnership with Food for the Hungry, leaders and volunteers at Kentucky-based Southeast Christian Church (Louisville) and Southland Christian Church (Lexington) traveled to Meulaboh, Indonesia, to assess the work of Food for the Hungry in the tsunami-ravaged community. Members of the group spent five days in Meulaboh where they witnessed hope and resolve coming back even to those who lost everything. Ron Barnes, missions minister at Southeast Christian Church, says Food for the Hungry’s involvement exceeded his expectations. “I was really impressed that their team is fully immersed in the Indonesian culture,” he says. “They are quickly learning the language and building relationships in the community.” Barnes adds that when leaders of Food for the Hungry arrived in Meulaboh, they asked its local government officials how they could help. “That’s huge,” Barnes says. “Some relief organizations move in and tell how they are going to help. This organization asks, ‘How can we serve you?’ That approach builds trust from the beginning.” Joining Barnes on the trip to Meulaboh were Southeast Christian Church volunteers Jack Webster and Chris Birke. The Southland Christian Church team includes missions pastor Mark Perraut and volunteers Myron Williams and Larry Piercy. Editor’s Note: Excerpted from an article by Chris Birke, which appeared in The Southeast Outlook, a weekly newspaper of Southeast Christian Church.
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frontliners
Builder by Design
An architect by training, Country Director Luis Sena uses his conceptual and practical skills to help rebuild broken hopes and shattered lives in the communities he serves.
By Rez Gopez-Sindac Luis Sena was a new believer in Christ and a young architect focusing on urban design when he decided to join Food for the Hungry and use his building and design skills to help the poor communities in the Dominican Republic. Starting as a part-time staff in 1982, Luis’ first assignment was to help a team from Ohio build a school for impoverished children in the community of Villa Pinales, Constanza. The school also served as a feeding center for severely malnourished children. The experience opened Luis’ eyes to the widespread ramifications of poverty and gave him a burden to get to the root of the problem. His passion to serve the poor became so evident that he soon became a full-time employee at Food for the Hungry and in 1986, after serving in various capacities, assumed the position of country director.
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No Small Miracles
Through the years, Luis says he has witnessed significant breakthroughs in the organization’s efforts to combat poverty and share God’s unfailing love to a broken world. “I have seen children who were severely malnourished when we started working with them, and today they are productive adults with beautiful families,” Luis says. “It’s encouraging to know that the Lord allowed us to preserve their lives.” Another source of joy for Luis and his staff is the strong sense of community involvement that now exists in places where Food for the Hungry serves. Luis says that on many occasions he has seen people in the communities organize themselves and take actions in solving problems that had been bothering the community for many years. “When we started, the people were
Featured Frontliner:
Luis Sena, Country Director, Dominican Republic
PHOTO: ELGIN MACMILLAN
not capable of pulling together to achieve a goal, but today they look at challenges and find ways to overcome them.” But perhaps a more dramatic success, Luis points out, is the reduction of infant deaths caused by diarrhea in places where Food for the Hungry serves. “Before our involvement, children frequently suffered and eventually died from drinking contaminated water. Their parents simply did not know how to handle the situation.” Thanks to the child survival program of Food for the Hungry, Luis says mothers have learned not only how to treat diarrhea, but to prevent it. “As a result, deaths related to diarrhea have been significantly reduced in our communities,” he adds. Luis emphasizes that at the core of all these developments is the Vision of a Community, which he believes is unique
As a result of Food for the Hungry’s development programs in the Dominican Republic, children are getting good education, deaths caused by diarrhea have been significantly reduced, and communities are pulling together to solve their problems.
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to Food for the Hungry. Personally, he says, the organization’s holistic approach to ministry has revolutionized his understanding of the plight of the poor from a biblical perspective. “And I take that idea wherever I go,” he says.
Dealing with Challenges
Working in impoverished areas, with limited resources, presents daily challenges for Luis and staff. As an architect, he understands buildings don’t go up overnight. In the same way, he reminds himself that communities are not transformed in a day. “A main challenge of the ministry is balancing realities and expectations,” Luis says. “Our systems of management have characteristics that are not totally aligned with the pace of life in the community.” Luis says communities are not bound to fiscal years, budgets, evaluations and reports. “Things get done when the people can do them. If they are planting crops or in the harvest season, they don’t want to do anything else.”
Country Facts Population 9,183,984 (2006 est.) Language Spanish Religion: 95% Roman Catholic People Living with HIV/AIDS 88,000 (2003 est.) Life Expectancy 67.63
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Climate Tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall Environmental Issues Water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damaging coral reefs; deforestation Source: CIA World Fact Book
[ frontliners ]
“A MAIN CHALLENGE OF THE MINISTRY IS BALANCING REALITIES AND EXPECTATIONS.”
Luis also faces the problem of finding appropr iate people who will passionately implement the vision of Food for the Hungry. “Our success in the communities is in direct proportion to the quality of staff that
interacts with the people. Thus, training of staff is critical.” Despite the challenges, Luis believes that the Vision of a Community will become more pronounced in every area of Food for the Hungry’s ministry in the Dominican Republic. For him, it means that the local churches will be more involved in reaching out to their communities and exercising love and mercy to the needy with their own resources. And, Luis says, he hopes to see more and more children continuing their educations and their parents supporting them and giving them expressions of affection that will strengthen their sense of value.
ministry leadership with clear focus and quiet confidence. He says his involvement in church as a co-pastor and his love of reading, especially on the subject of God’s Kingdom, allow for healthy diversions from routine work. And playing a mean game of table tennis twice a week certainly helps recharge his batteries as well. If he were not working for Food for the Hungry, Luis says he probably would be designing resorts, hotels and bridges and, he jokes that maybe, just maybe, making a little bit more money. He feels great, though, that in his role as a country director God gives him opportunities to use all his gifts – architectural and spiritual – to help rebuild shattered lives and broken dreams. 9
Looking Ahead
Credit it to experience – lots of it – Luis navigates the often rough waters of
Building Hope in the Dominican Republic Currently, Food for the Hungry serves in four regions in the Dominican Republic, namely the province of Elias Pina on the border with Haiti; the mountain region in Constanza; Los Alcarrizos, an area outside the capital city of Santo Domingo; and the Monte Plata province. Food for the Hungry is in all these regions, implementing the child development program with approximately 2,100 sponsored children.
News and Updates To learn more about how Food for the Hungry is ministering to churches, leaders and families, visit our web site at www.fh.org.
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VISION PARTNERS
HAUNTED BY IMAGES OF AFRICAN CHILDREN ORPHANED BY HIV/AIDS, CYCLIST TOM RAND BRACES FOR WHAT COULD BE THE BEST RIDE OF HIS LIFE.
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M
any of us ask the question, “How can I help?” But only few stop to seriously consider the answer to that question. Tom Rand, a teacher at Presbyterian Day School in Memphis, Tennessee, couldn’t easily dismiss the troubling question in his mind. He had to do something. Tom describes the moment where the reality of that conviction started to set in for him in a life-transforming short-term mission trip to Ethiopia. “I visited an orphanage of about 400 children under age 12, all of whom have HIV/AIDS. I asked the question, ‘What happens to the kids once they reach 12?’ I was stunned when they told me that most of the kids are dead by the age of 12. Those two hours in that orphanage were the most difficult hours in my weeklong trip to Ethiopia.” Tom has taken two ATHLETE AND ADVOCATE TOM RAND. trips to Ethiopia in the last two years. Yet the question remains: “How can I help? It has challenged him. It has caused him to seek God for wisdom and direction. And through that time of contemplation, Tom, an avid biker and sportsman, realized the answer was not so far out of reach. It actually dawned on him in June 2005, when he went on a trip with a good friend. “On the way home he dropped me off in Knoxville and I decided to ride my bike back to Memphis, which was a 400-mile, four-day journey. I had a blast on that trip, and it sparked the idea to ride across the United States.”
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W
the Hunger Ride materializes on May 27 as Tom Rand pedals his way across the United States – from Charleston, South Carolina to Seaside, Oregon – coverING 3,500 miles in 50 days. We had a chance to speak with Tom and understand the passion that led him to start out on this journey. hy Hunger Ride?
I love adventure, and I am deeply burdened for the people of Ethiopia. I want to channel the energy – my passion for biking – for the benefit of people who are in desperate need. I think the Hunger Ride has the potential to rally people to bring about change in Ethiopia.
What is your greatest hope?
My greatest hope is that individuals, churches, organizations and businesses would gain a greater understanding and awareness of the problem of HIV/AIDS and poverty in Africa. My prayer is that hearts would be broken over their tremendous physical and spiritual needs. I want to rally many people to get involved.
What’s fun about riding across America?
Growing up, we never flew anywhere on our family vacations. Instead, we drove along the highways of America in our Dodge Caravan listening to old Neil Diamond songs. It was fantastic traveling state by state across the US. I can’t wait to travel across some of those same states on a bicycle.
Won’t you get tired of riding your bike?
I’d be very naïve if I answered “no” to this question. I imagine there will be days when I’m sore and when, quite frankly, I want nothing to do with my bicycle. But, I know how God has wired me. I enjoy endurance sports, I love big challenges, and I work best when I have a goal in mind. So there’s this side of me that says “bring it on.” Strangely enough, I am actually looking forward to the days when I’m tired, dirty, sore, sleep-deprived, and my face and arms are sunburned. That’s part of the adventure of this whole thing.
Conclusion
The children in Zeway live in a world unfamiliar with Tom’s students in Memphis. While the boys and girls in his class enjoy many fine things in life, the children in Zeway do not even know what it’s like to study in a real classroom. They have no desks, chairs, books, crayons and many other school supplies. Food, water and medical care are all in short supply. Sadder still, many of these children are HIV/AIDS orphans. Tom, however, decided that he can do something about it. And he is determined to make a difference.
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[ VISION PARTNERS ]
THROUGH SPONSORSHIP, THE CHILDREN IN ethiopia WILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF LIVING A LIFE OF HOPE, DIGNITY AND SIGNIFICANCE.
The goal of the Hunger Ride is to raise $100,000 and solicit sponsors for up to 250 children. The money will be used to complete a school in Zeway and provide the children with much needed food and school supplies. Through sponsorship, the children in Ethiopia will have a much better chance of living a life of hope, dignity and significance.
What is a Food for the Hungry Advocate?
Tom Rand is one of more than 120 Food for the Hungry advocates around the United States. FH advocates are people from all walks of life who take time in their everyday schedules to mobilize others in their sphere of influence to join the fight against world poverty. Their lives impact people every day, right where they live and work. How do they do this? In many numbers of ways, but following are some examples: • Ministry Advocates speak four times a year in local churches, small groups and organizations. • Display Advocates strategically place six to ten child sponsorship displays and posters in local churches, bookstores and business establishments. • Church Advocates serve as liaisons, linking churches with impoverished communities overseas. • Christian School Advocates educate students and faculty in Christian schools and help them find ways to get involved. • Student Advocates are youth who educate their peers at schools or churches. For more information on how to become an FH advocate, go to www.fh.org or e-mail volunteers@ fh.org
Cities and Dates Charleston, SC Greenville, SC Chattanooga, TN Memphis, TN Springfield, MO Kansas City, MO Topeka, KS Manhattan KS Colby, KS Denver, CO Boulder, CO Estes Park, CO Steamboat Springs, ID Rock Springs, Id Pocatello, ID Boise, ID Redmond, ID Portland, OR Seaside, OR
May 27 (Start) May 29-31 May 31-June 1 June 3-5 June 8-10 June 11-13 June 12-14 June 13-15 June 17-19 June 23-25 June 25-27 June 26-28 June 28-30 June 29-July 1 July 3-5 July 7-9 July 11-13 July 13--15 July 16-17
finish
8
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“My greatest fear is living a self-consumed life, being a person that cares more about himself than about the needs of other people. In planning for the Hunger Ride, I’ve had to stop and ask myself the deeper question: “Am I a person who truly cares about the needs of other people day in and day out?” –Tom Rand Food for the Hungry advocate
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ministry highlights FROM LEFT: KELLY SHONDELMYER, ALISA SCHMITZ, JOSH KIENZLE, RYAN BROWN, MELISSA BOST, CHERYL JOHNSON
SHORT-TERM TEAM MINISTRY IN FULL THROTTLE
Team coordinators from Latin America, Asia and Africa come to Phoenix for a week of training, strategic planning and relationship building. By Rez Gopez-Sindac
It was almost midnight, but the crowds at
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport showed no signs of thinning out. Oblivious to the hustle and bustle around them, Chris and Kelly Shondelmyer stood anxiously near the arrival gate, holding up a big balloon and waiving a placard that read, “ B i e nve n i d o a Arizona, Christian!” (Welcome to Arizona, Christian!) Christian Zavaleta works for Food for the Hungry as a team coordinator in his native Bolivia. He traveled roughly 15 hours from his hometown of Cochabamba to attend a five-day Team Coordinators’ Conference that Food for the Hungry organizes every three years. As he wriggled his way out of the security checkpoint, Kelly spotted him. “We could see Christian from probably about 50 feet away,” recalls Kelly, a Short-term Team Ministry representative. “He had this big smile on his face, and he kept taking pictures.” This scene was repeated many times during the week as team coordinators flew in from around the
world. Food for the Hungry’s Teams Department pulled out all the stops to make sure the conference went off without a hitch and that the eight participants who came all the way from Latin America, Asia and Africa returned to their respective countries more inspired and better equipped to do their jobs. Team coordinators are front-line soldiers of Food for the Hungry’s Short-term Team Ministry, working directly with churches, leaders and families in some of the world’s poorest communities. Their responsibilities include: • Coordinating with churches and community leaders and supporting them in meeting community-wide challenges. • Receiving and hosting Food for the Hungry long-term Hunger Corp missionaries, helping them transition and develop meaningful relationships with people in the communities. • Coordinating all the activities to ensure that incoming teams are safe and healthy and have everything they need for the two weeks they are in the community. “There’s a lot on their plates. That’s why we always look for ways to equip and empower them,” Kelly says. In addition to motivating and training team coordinators, the conference also served another purpose – as a time for coordinators to refresh and recharge. And, as the succeeding pages show, it gave them time to share their stories of faith and victory and reflect on what lies ahead as they continue their journey with God. 9
TEAM COORDINATORS ARE FRONT-LINE SOLDIERS WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH CHURCHES, LEADERS AND FAMILIES
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What is Shortterm Team Ministry? The Short-term Team ministry of Food for the Hungry sends volunteers who are willing to offer their time and skills to serve some of the most impoverished communities overseas. The Team ministry workß alongside Food for the Hungry’s long-term Hunger Corps missionaries, team coordinators, national staff and local community members in a variety of service opportunities, including construction, water and agricultural projects, VBS, leadership training and even medical and health projects. The Short-term Team ministry will send more than 55 teams and 700 people in 2006. Their lives will be blessed as they reach out to help the less fortunate.
“I started having a heart for the ministry when I was in college, but being the
oldest child I felt responsible to help my parents send my younger siblings to school. So I asked God to give me two years to work for a secular organization so I could make enough money to support my family. I promised God that after two years of secular work I would commit myself to full-time ministry. My degree was in food technology, so I applied at a food company and was immediately hired. Eighteen months into my job, I received an offer from one of the biggest food manufacturing companies in the country. They offered me a higher position, a bigger paycheck and excellent benefits. But when they told me I would have to work on Sundays, I turned the offer down. It was a difficult decision, but I knew it was the right thing to do. So I started looking for another job. That next job was with Food for the Hungry – and it came to me exactly two years from when I made my promise to God. I work in a community in Los Baños where we support, educate and share the love of God with 150 children and their parents. I love sitting down with a child and just listening to her as she shares her cares and dreams. Many times I find that the way to a parent’s heart is through their child. Change does not come easy, and there have been times of frustration, but I’ve seen more hope than despair. I’ve seen lives that were transformed.We have a former sponsored child who is now a teacher. Some are responsible parents and active in the community. Some are involved in church. Some have become better neighbors. My life has been changed, too. I have learned that I am more important to God than the things that I do for Him. He put me in this ministry not because I had something to offer, but because I had so much to gain. And because I have seen a lot of suffering, I have become more grateful for what I have. And the things that I used to take for granted, I now cherish with all my heart.” 9
“...I KNEW IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.’’
6:8 PHOTOS: ELGIN MACMILLAN
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As a team coordinator, I was
responsible for providing leadership and logistics for the teams. It’s a lot of work, but all of that pays off when you meet the faces at the airport. One of the things I really enjoyed about my job was spending time with the people in the community. I saw myself as a bridge, as one who stood in the “cultural gap” to help two different cultures work together. Language is the first tool for doing that. In my experience, you don’t really learn a language in the classroom. What you need to do is immerse yourself in that culture and take risks. My term in Peru ended last fall, but I’m looking forward to going back to
Peru and staying there for another two or three years. I feel that I just got my feet wet, and Food for the Hungry is in my blood now. I’m praying about what’s next for me as an advocate for the poor.Will I be doing teams again? Will it be in a different country? I’m not sure. What I know is once you recognize the desires that God puts in your heart, you will be able to live that out in so many different ways wherever you may be.” 9
My parents were missionaries
from when I was 2 years old until I was 15. I grew up in Ghana, Kenya and the Ivory Coast. I was 16 or 17 when I became serious about my faith and developed an interest for missions. I specifically wanted to get involved with caring for missionaries who are on the field and making sure they know how to deal with the challenges of their calling
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[ ministry highlights ]
I was born in 1973 in Rwanda’s northwestern province of
Gisenyi. In 1994, when I was 21 and a student at the National University of Rwanda in Butare, the horrible genocide took place. My family left the country and after many days of running and hiding, we crossed the border into Goma, a large city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Not long after we got settled, a cholera outbreak erupted and thousands of refugees died. We ended up living in one of the camps for two years, only to be disrupted by invading rebel forces who were out to overthrow former DR Congo President Mobutu Sésé Seko. We had no choice but to run to the forest. For three months, we wandered in the woods, with no food and only rain water to drink. Finally, we returned in a healthy way. My work as a team to Rwanda in 1996. coordinator has changed me in many However, another ways. I realized that ministry and insurgency broke Vision of a Community can be lived out.Thousands were out anywhere – in Peru as a team killed – including coordinator or in the United States my parents. They working for the post office. Wherever were killed, along you are, you can – and you should – with other family live out Vision of a Community.” 9 members, neighbors and friends while
having a morning devotional inside our house. My four siblings and I survived the massacre. I have asked God many times why He didn’t allow me to die. I should have been killed during the genocide. I should have died of cholera in the camp. I should have been devoured by a wild animal in the forest. I should have been massacred with my parents and relatives. I thought it was unfair that He saved my life. In 2004, I was offered a position at Food for the Hungry. In my previous job at another relief agency, I had always felt that although we were responding to needs, we were missing something. I felt that we were not addressing the whole scope of the problem. In working with the teams, I have experienced a big difference at Food for the Hungry. I see how they work with churches, families and community leaders. I see how they develop programs that ensure long-term sustainability. My dream for Rwanda is that this broken country would be healed and reconciled with God.We have to work hard for unity. We have to fight poverty and make a step forward for the future of our children. We have to promote holistic growth. I thank God that through Food for the Hungry we are touching so many lives. Perhaps that’s the reason I am still alive.9
“I have asked god many times why he didn’t allow me to die.’’
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“I am a systems analyst and my
wife used to work for a power company. Financially, we were doing well in Bolivia, but we didn’t want to raise our children in our country because there was so much corruption and social unrest. So in 2001 we left Bolivia and tried our destiny in America. However, after the September 11 attacks, things became very difficult for us, so against our will, we packed our bags and headed back home. I couldn’t understand why the Lord was sending us back to Bolivia. I thought it was His will that we moved to America. I did not want to go back to my country because unemployment was very high and I was afraid that I might never find a good job again. But one month after we came back, I found a position at Food for the Hungry. It was as if the job was waiting for me. Up until that time I had no hope for my country. Right there and then, I realized why God brought me back to Bolivia. He wanted me to make a difference right in my own land! As a team coordinator, I am involved in planning and coordinating the program logistics for the teams. Before a team arrives, I visit the communities to prepare them for their involvement in the project. I usually ask them why they think missionaries from America come to Bolivia. Often the answer I get is, “Maybe they have money and they don’t know how to spend it.” I tell them if a person has money, there are many fun ways they can spend it, and coming to a place in the middle of nowhere is not one of them. You see, many villagers don’t understand why someone they don’t even know would come to serve them. For me, this is an excellent opportunity to share with them God’s unconditional love and His plan of salvation.” 9
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SARAH
APIO UGANDA
be emotionally strong for them. I didn’t know if I had the strength to walk alongside those who struggle daily with real pain. Could I look in the eyes of a dying person and tell them a loving God was waiting for them on the other side? Even today I still fear. Another thing we fear is the Lord’s Resistance Army, a rebel group that abducts children to make them soldiers. They fear no one. They respect no one. Just recently they ambushed a public vehicle and killed seven people. News like that bothers me. Each time I go to Camp Omoro to visit the patients, I wonder if I will get there alive. I work with Stella, a nurse. She goes to the camp twice a week. She, too, is scared. But does she want to quit? No! Will we give in to fear? No way! What will happen to the people in the camps if everybody stops going to see them because they’re scared?” 9
“WE TELL THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO THE END OF LIFE THAT IF THEY GIVE THEIR HEARTS TO GOD, A GLORIOUS LIFE WILL BE WAITING FOR THEM IN HEAVEN.’’
“I oversee the Bringing Hope project in Uganda, which is a privately funded program for people affected by HIV and AIDS. We come alongside HIV/AIDS orphans and those affected by HIV/AIDS to help them see that God still loves them. We tell those who have come to the end of life that if they give their hearts to God, a glorious life will be waiting for them in heaven. When I joined Food for the Hungry, I had fears about working with HIV/AIDS patients. I didn’t know if I could
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“I grew up in a Christian family and went to
church regularly with my mother and grandmother. But I did not really know what it meant – I was just there. There was a time in my life when I was heading in the wrong direction and losing my balance. Before it became too late, I quit what I was doing and decided to give my life back to God. Working for Food for the Hungry has significantly changed my life because I see the impact of what we do on the lives of those we serve. People respond to love.When a team serves with humility and genuine care, the whole community takes notice and people respond positively. When a team represents God and our organization in an excellent manner, it becomes easier for me to do my job and build lasting relationships with the people in the community. My dream is for Guatemala to find peace. I pray that violence would stop and the people would have a passion for education. Our Vision of a Community will help pave the way toward the realization of that dream. Our Vision of a Community has introduced me to a new way of thinking. Because of it I have more love for my community. I love what I do at Food for the Hungry. It’s not an easy job, but I wouldn’t give it up for anything.” 9
EDGAR
AGUILAR GUATEMALA “Many years ago, a coworker at Food for the Hungry showed me just by living out his faith how to be in harmony with God, how to be right with Him. His example had a tremendous impact on my own life that I decided to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. That was a big change for me. Now I spend a lot of time talking to the people in the communities where we serve, trying to help them with their daily struggles and answer their questions about life and God. It takes time to see significant change, but I’ve seen enough positive improvements in the lives of our people that I am persuaded God has His hands upon our ministry. My dream is to see the Vision of a Community become an integral part of everything we are – whether we’re on the field, in the community, in the marketplace or with our families. I want to see more churches get excited about reaching out to their communities and ministering to their people on a much deeper level. Churches need to be a light to their communities.” 9
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Forever Changed
How one man’s short-term mission experience with Food for the Hungry made him realize the difference his giving makes in the lives of many. By Carlos Lizardi Four-and-a-half hours. That’s how long it took us to get to the town of Elias Pina near the border of Haiti from Santo Domingo, the capital of Dominican Republic. But the drive was an experience in itself. The valleys, mountain ranges, ocean views and agricultural fields were so beautiful – and strikingly diametrical to the one constant scenery on this trip: poverty. We stayed in Food for the Hungry’s regional office in Elias Piña. This house was more than adequate for the eight-member team from the Indianapolis East 91st St. Christian Church. I will never forget the “bucket showers” we had and the cold showers when water was available. We worked in the community called El Carrizal. This village borders Haiti and, thus, there are still remnants of voodoo and “Santeria” beliefs. Some people still believe that when a child has diarrhea it is because a witch is eating the child from the inside. Eventually the child dies, but we know it’s not from a “witch,” but from dehydration. Thanks to the health and education programs of Food for the Hungry, proponents of this wrong belief have significantly gone down in number. There is no water or electricity in more than half of the community. Most of the people walk for 30 minutes or more to get to the nearest source of water. The water comes from the
mountain, and it drips slowly into a hole in the ground. Residents rush to get there before sunrise, wait in line and hope that there is enough water when it comes their turn. There are 210 houses in El Carrizal.Thanks to Food for the Hungry and our church’s participation in this project, 132 houses now have latrines.This basic sanitation measure has drastically reduced the onslaught of diseases in the area, but the problem will not go away completely until the remaining 78 households have their own latrines. Prior to the trip, my wife Christine and I decided to sponsor a child from the
“some people still believe that when a child has diarrhea it is because a witch is eating the child from the inside.’’
CARLOS LIZARDI WITH HIS 9-YEAR-OLD SPONSORED CHILD, BLADIMIR.
LOCAL WORKERS BUILD A LATRINE FOR A FAMILY IN THE COMMUNITY.
Dominican Republic. While I was there, I had the opportunity to meet him. His name is Bladimir. He is a good-looking, healthy, 9year-old boy. His favorite sport is baseball and his favorite player is Sammy Sosa. It was a joy spending time with him – it added fervor to our prayers that our small contribution will give him a fighting chance to make it in life. We built a latrine for the church and helped pave the church ground with concrete. It was hard work! We also helped with Vacation Bible School (VBS) and visited some families in the community. The VBS was a great success. At one time we had more than 125 kids! We read Bible stories, we colored books, and led craft activities and other games. I will forever cherish the relationships that God allowed me to experience with the children, families, Food for the Hungry staff and our Indy team. The sense of community was inspiring – something that I now try to live out wherever I go. The food was great. The weather was very pleasant. Best of all, I realized that my small gift does make a difference. Families have latrines. Diseases have been reduced. Voodoo is gone. Children reach their dreams. And I am forever changed. 9
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www.fh.org DOING…LOVING…WALKING