JOURNEYS // impacting the globe
Trash into Treasure
Ree Soria displays Christ’s love to scavengers at the one-time trash dump Smokey Mountain in the Philippines
Ree Soria, media marketing manager for True Love Waits Philippines together with her team director, team mates and some missionary friends took a venture into the remnants of a trash dump in Manila that goes by the name Smokey Mountain. While there, she conversed with a man whose life mission is to scavenge for recyclable trash. He was a man without hope, but Ree was able to speak to his heart to allow Him to see that Jesus Christ provides hope even in the worst situations—and leads to a pathway of everlasting life.
Giving Burundi a Healthy Chance
Cameron Calabrese shares how God is moving in Burundi to alleviate the harshest health ills
In one of the poorest countries in the world, a health revival is taking place, where the population now has a better chance at fighting the intestinal parasites caused from its drinking water. Cameron Calabrese shares his journey into how the Lord has raised up leaders in order to put on an all-encompassing national health event in Burundi.
From Song to Action
Singer-songwriter uses voice for children in the poorest areas of the world
It started with Ethiopia - 1000 children in need of a voice. Then, Mozambique -another 1500 children in need of help. Then, in August of 2009, God placed the band in Haiti to adopt a community of 400 additional children. On January 12th, 2010, the Haiti earthquake changed everything. Suddenly the community of 400 children quickly became 3,000. Jeremy Willet, along with brothers in the band Willet, travel the world full-time to find sponsors for children living in complete poverty. Jeremy shares his passion with JTJ, explaining that they won’t quit until all the children have sponsors.
Broken by War, Restored by Love
Richard C. Shermer, along with Today’s Children, Africa’s Future, journeys to give new hope to Uganda’s children
Rebels from the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have destroyed much of northern Uganda in what has been a 22-year civil war with government forces. They have destroyed villages and abducted children, turning them in to fighters. What they could not do was kill hope, and organizations like Today’s Children, Africa’s Future (TCAF) are working to give children there a renewed chance at life. Richard C. Shermer, founder and executive director of TCAF, shares his journey of how he was brought into fabric of the hurt there and what the Lord inspired him to do about it.
So Hungry, So Thirsty
Ryan Horn, of Food for the Hungry, recounts seeing hunger and thirst up close in Haiti
Even though the scene was filled with destroyed homes and dreams, Ryan Horn found people living on hope. So many just wanted a drop to drink, he describes and why it is so vital that we don't turn our minds our hearts away from Haiti.
Catching a Glimpse of a Bright Future
Bill Glass, Haiti Outreach Ministries president, journeys to Haiti to capture a sense of the rebuilding process
Bill Glass, Haiti Outreach Ministries president, shares his insights on what he saw during a trip to Haiti to access how the people of Haiti and how his staff part of the organization will move forward. He was impressed by the optimism and the hard work taking place there.
Answering the Call
Twenty-four-year-old graphic designer leaves everything behind in America to commit to seeing Haiti rebuild
After growing and deepening his relationship with the Lord throughout 2009, Stephen Byxbe knew he was being called to serve the most hungry in some other country. He wasn’t exactly sure until the earthquake in Haiti struck—and then He knew. Byxbe shares his journey of just arriving to Haiti and his initial observations of the hurt and hope.
Giving her heart to orphaned boys in Peru
Erika James shares her journey how God linked her heart with the Lima, Peru-based Santa Maria’s Boys Home
Erika James meshes motherly, sisterly and godly to 120 poor Peruvian boys who live in a Lima orphanage. Here, she shares her journey of following God’s call to “do more,” which originally took her to Peru. Once there, He led her to Santa Maria’s Boys Home and instantly linked her heart to the kids there. Just completing her 7th journey there in early February, Erika gives her account of following in faith and reflecting His love.
Heart for Haiti Remains in Haiti
Samaritan's Purse Bolivia Director Shares an Account on the Efforts in Haiti.
Daniel Zeidan, director of the Samaritan's Purse office in Bolivia, spent three weeks in Haiti helping deliver relief supplies to earthquake survivors. He reflected on his time in the country after returning to La Paz. Though he is off Haitian land, he explains that his mind and his heart are still there.
Mission - Giving Aid
Serving with the U.S. Navy Haiti humanitarian response, Adam Cole reflects on the hurt and the healing that he experienced there
Journey the Journey executive director and editor-in-chief, Adam Cole, in his other capacity as naval officer, has been humanitarian efforts in Haiti aboard the cruiser USS Normandy. After a month as part of the efforts, he and his ship were sent back to Norfolk to return to training and preparing for an upcoming deployment. Here he reflects on the multitude of feelings and emotions that came with being so close to the hurt and stepping into that hurt to help.
God Makes a Way
The Samaritan’s Purse team in Haiti feels God’s hand as overwhelming challenges are overcome
David Torres is the leader of the Samaritan's Purse disaster relief team that deployed within hours of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. This is his story and testimony of the hope and help in Haiti, all made possible by God.
Food for the Hungry - On the Ground in Haiti
Personnel and Supplies Fully Engaged to Fight Disaster
Everybody has a story who is on the ground in Haiti's capital and the surrounding area; it's a story of hope for some and one of pain and suffering for others. Nevertheless, it's a story of survival.
Ti Chape
As posted on Compassion's Blogsite: http://blog.compassion.com/child-survival-ti-chape/
After passing by a hazy eastern tip of Cuba, our American Airlines flight banked steeply to the right and within minutes we were passing over the northern peninsula of Haiti, so recognizable due to the heavily rutted landscape.
Calm among Chaos - a Personal Journey from a Red Cross Volunteer in Haiti
Blog Posted January 18, 2010 by Wendy Harman, American Red Cross
After a tiring day of travel from Santo Domingo, I arrived at the American Red Cross office. The structure is visibly unstable but the open air office is a buzz with activity. All salvageable furniture is on the lawn, the front gates are open, and the street is orderly. It's friendly, full of humanity. Red Cross flags hang on the walls.
Workplace Mission Field - Engaging with Business Leaders in Uganda
Dr. Bob Reccord, minister and founder of Total Impact Life Ministries, a ministry that seeks to inspire men and woman to reach their full potential in life and relationship with God, traveled with his wife Cheryl to Uganda for a very intentional mission trip. The two combined to share the message of the Gospel to business leaders there and how it relates to being stewards of His truth in the workplace. Many were touched and many walked away with hearts more committed to living out His principles and the Great Commission.
A Greater Purpose Amid the Rubble
Against the backdrop of a tragic earthquake, two Peruvian mothers experience a new level of hope and faith.
Ryan Horn, a project coordinator for the hunger relief organization Food for the Hungry, visited Peru with media specialist Elgin MacMillan to gather videos and media resources. They trekked over an area that was hit hard by an earthquake but was able to rebound due to the help of Food for the Hungry. Horn tells the story of those the individuals that have rebuilt their lives and grown in God through the process. Lauren Woodside, a Hunger Corps with Food for the Hungry, helped conduct the interviews for this story.
Caring for Africa’s Orphans
How God moved Jo Anne Byrum to Zambia to oversee the building and facilitation of orphanages there.
After short term mission trips to Zambia in 1998 and then again a year later, the Lord spoke to Jo Anne Byrum very clearly about what he had for her - take care of the children there. She ended up planting herself in Zambia shortly thereafter and is now the director of House of Faith, which builds and facilitates orphanages to give Zambian orphans a better life.