2 WINTER 2009 6:8

6:8Winter 2009, Vol. 106:8isaquarterlymagazineofFoodfortheHungrythathighlightsstoriesofphysicalandspiritualtransformationthroughthegraceofGodandaffirmstheroleofpartnersandsupportersinmakingadifferenceinthelivesofthepooraroundtheworld.

Platinum Award Winner, MarComm Creative Awards and Award of Distinction, The Communicator Awards PresidentBenjamin K. Homan

VicePresidentMatt Panos

Sr.Director,MinistryPartnersJohn Frick

ExecutiveEditorGreg Forney

ManagingEditorRez Gopez-Sindac

SeniorGraphicDesignerLisa Leff

EditorialResourceHeidi Hatch

ContributingWritersRyan HornKaren Randau Dana Ryan

ContributingPhotographersKristin Kawa Brooks

OnOuRCOVER A MEMBER of a Food for the Hungry learning and savings group in Bangladesh reflects hope and confidence.

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Cover Story

Howdaughters,wivesandmothersinBangladesharecomingoutoftheshadowsintoalifeofdignityandvalue.

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COnTEnTS

5 Editor’s Letter 6 From the President Of Special Days and the Mornings AfterSomberencounterswithHIV/AIDSwhileofferinghopeinthemidstoftragedy.

10 FH News16 One At a Time

A Greater Purpose Amid the Rubble Peruvianmothersexperienceanewlevelofhopeandfaith.

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20 Frontliners Blazing Trails in Chengdu China’scultureteachesthreeAmericancouplesthevalueofrelationshipbuilding.

34 Vision Partners United by RelationshipDeepconnectionbetweenHighPointChurchinWisconsinandLosBotadowintheDominicanRepublicspurtransformation.

Copyright2009byFoodfortheHungry.Allrightsreserved.Reproductionofanypartofthispublicationwithoutwrittenconsentofthepublisherisstrictlyprohibited.

FoodfortheHungrythanksphotographerandadvocateRodneyRasconaforprovidinguswithexcellentphotography.WealsothankO’neilPrintingfortheirsupportinmaintaininggraphicindustrystandardsatreducedcosts,allowingustobefaithfulstewardsofGod’sgiftsandresources.

CharterMember,EvangelicalCouncilforFinancialAccountability;Member,EvangelicalPressAssociation.

4 WINTER 2009 6:8 6:8 WINTER 2009 5

6:8Editor’s LEttEr

GREG FORNEYisexecutiveeditorofFoodfortheHungry’squarterlymagazine,6:8.HeisalsoCreativeServicesdirectoratFoodfortheHungry’su.S.headquarterslocatedinPhoenix.Youcanemailhimatgreg.forney@fh.org.

InAHOuSEHOLDwith two energetic, adventure-seeking boys, the activity of walking is a foreign concept. To my boys, it doesn’t make sense. Why would you walk when you can run? They run to get to first base, to chase a soccer ball or basketball, and to avoid being tagged. They run to their room to show a friend a new toy. They run to hide when they hear the words “chore time.” Running is obviously much quicker than walking.

As I try to keep up with them in the midst of all the running, I am grateful for the times when God reminds me that my children need me to walk with them. If I watch closely, they can get every bit as frustrated with my “running” as I can with theirs. My running looks different from their running. My inattention can run past their words, not hearing them and expecting obedience to my will. I can run past opportunities when they are sharing their heart. I can run past their voice in family decisions.

Walk. I have to remind myself to walk. To respect and value their God-given potential. To slow down enough to see the beauty of it unfold before my eyes. To see their confidence rise up when we work through a problem together. Walking is a loving, patient, and humble activity. It is what Christ did when He left the throne of heaven: to walk among us.

His walk was one of the suffering Servant, emptying Himself in complete submission to the Father. Philippians 2:8 perfectly describes His path:

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”

And while as followers of Christ we often get filled with excitement and fervor to reach the ends of the earth proclaiming His name, God’s Word tells us true transformation

– the kind that takes hold, settles deep and remains – comes from walking.

Walking in obedience as Christ did. Listening intently to His will. Emptying ourselves to serve others.

And so we come to Food for the Hungry’s approach in developing communities – we call them the hard places – around the world. One does not need to look far to see the challenges. No access to clean water. No classrooms or school materials. An insecure food supply. Little or no health care. No hope.

It is easy to see what is not there. It takes walking to see what is there. Beautiful image-bearers. People with ideas and dreams for their villages. God-given potential and abilities. Most of all, God sparking lasting hope and change. That is what Food for the Hungry prays for when we enter into a community and begin to walk with leaders, churches and families. That is something only God can accomplish as we first walk humbly with Him – recognizing our own brokenness – and then walk to serve others.

We are so thankful for your partnership with Food for the Hungry and for joining with us on this journey of walking. My hope and prayer is that this issue of 6:8 provides you a glimpse of God’s powerful work in the hard places through your faithful partnership.

To walk with churches, leaders and families in overcoming all forms of human poverty by living in healthy relationship with God and His creation.

Mission:

6 WINTER 2009 6:8

FROMTHEPRESIDEnT

My experience of World AIDS Day and my own journey with my daughternow juxtapose birth, death, hope and life.

6:8 WINTER 2009 76 WINTER 2009 6:8

December 1 is never an ordinary day in our household. Let me take you back to December 1, 1992. Quite honestly, I was oblivious to the fact that it was then the fourth official celebration of World AIDS Day. My mind was in other places, tracking a major life event. That day began for me and my wife, Annette, with a journey to the hospital and the birth of our first child, an amazingly beautiful daughter.

Sixteen Decembers have come since then – markers of laughter and tears, prayer and celebration, loss and gain. I am now a father of three living children – and of another who did not reach birth. Both of my parents have passed away. Across our now 20 plus years of marriage, Annette’s life defines for me the words “unconditional love” in a way that I never thought possible. The airlines tell me I’ve flown 2 or 3 million miles. I’ve traveled to the four corners of the earth and gradually become a different person. And part of that journey and the cascading transformation has come through somber encounters with HIV/AIDS: holding an AIDS-infected child of the sex trade at a Bangkok orphanage; lifting a collapsed caregiver at an Ethiopian AIDS clinic; laying hands on a pain-stricken woman on the floor of her red-soil hut; praying alongside two preteen brothers shell-shocked by the loss of both parents; encouraging HIV/AIDS workers to feel their own emotional hurts and hearing their release of weeping; and listening to courageous Ugandan youth sing to their villages, “Please hear the cry of HIV/AIDS.”

By Benjamin K. Homan

AN ETHIOPIAN woman living with HIV/AIDS

cluthes her severly malnourished child.

8 WINTER 2009 6:8 6:8 WINTER 2009 9

[ FROM THE PRESIDENT ]

When December began last year with the usual nod to World AIDS Day, the 20th official observance, I looked out my office window as the sun descended. The horizon was drenched with hues of yellow, orange – and, yes, a shade of red that matched the AIDS ribbons. The sky’s ever changing palate and the growing shadows reminded me that the sun had not set on the AIDS crisis. My thoughts turned to crimson sky of a scene in “The Return of the King,” the capstone installment in Tolkien’s trilogy, “The Lord of the Rings.” As a family, we had just viewed the film a few days before and, on the night of World AIDS Day, I reflected on how HIV/AIDS could be likened to the darkness and evil that had fallen over Middle Earth – only worse, since HIV/AIDS is no author’s invention. Still, I stared at a bloody sky with an image running through my mind of Aragorn, Tolkien’s brave ranger and future king. Near the end of the epic, outnumbered and at the enemy’s Black Gate, Aragorn speaks to his small army before an improbable victory:

The AIDS crisis remains a serious and daunting enemy. But, as a Food for the Hungry family, it is good to pause in gratitude before God and offer thanks for how He has raised up an amazing team to respond. One person said recently that our HIV/AIDS staff was “renowned for behavior change” and that they do “the very work of God.” Put another way, our team has taken what is known about human behavior and translated that knowledge into effective strategies that bring sustained and substantive change – for good and for God’s glory. Our HIV/AIDS work takes God’s Word seriously and then rigorously applies His truth to the hard issues of HIV/AIDS. In fact, our Food for the Hungry HIV/AIDS curriculum has proved so relevant that it reaches beyond our programs and is now printed and sold by a major theological printing company in Africa.

Today, the sun will set again after yet another relentless battle with an unwanted disease. And while today has claimed more lives and created new orphans, this day we have also seen lives rescued – one at a time. Tomorrow will mark yet one more morning after World AIDS Day. And it is yet another day to redeem for God’s good purpose.

Regardless of how many days distant we stand from any December 1, no one can remove the hope that emerges when God’s people faithfully and intensely demonstrate His love in the face of enormous challenges. One of our HIV/AIDS volunteers in Kenya reminded us, “The most important thing we offer to the community is not the skills we have, or the interventions we offer, or even money for school fees; the most important thing we offer is hope.”

December 1 is a day that I dearly love. On that day, I received a gift from God, a cherished daughter. In this “sweet sixteen” birthday season for her and in these “mornings after” World AIDS Day, my prayer is that many of us can come alongside her, alongside her generation, and alongside our seasoned workers and volunteers and together blow out the candle on HIV/AIDS. . . forever. 9

It seemed a fitting clarion call for a world hit by HIV/AIDS, for I can hear Jesus, our King of kings, bidding us likewise. As my mind returned from Middle Earth, I saw the sun set that evening and soon headed home for my daughter’s birthday party.

My experience of World AIDS Day is altered and reshaped, even touching my own journey with my daughter. She and I have together sung songs with children in AIDS-affected schools, put our arms around their shoulders and assured them of God’s love. My daughter and I have felt the squeeze of AIDS in a memory of a child’s hand wrapped around our fingers. Our own experience with December 1 now juxtaposes birth, death, hope and life.

Why hope and life? I think about my daughter. She possesses spunk and an optimistic spirit that asks, “What can we do?” Along with her peers, she looks at a world that has always included a pandemic as a call to action.

My daughter also reminds me of some folks that are a good bit older than her, people that exude the grace and kindness of God in the face of challenging tasks. They are gifted leaders who have responded to God’s call to demonstrate His love. As a Food for the Hungry family, we can celebrate that God has appointed many champions among us. Yet today I reflect especially on individuals who buoy us with service in defiance of obstacles such as HIV/AIDS. In our Food for the Hungry family, leading the way to challenge such a disease are people like Tom Davis (director of health programs), Kim Buttonow (HIV/AIDS programs coordinator), Mitzi Hanold (who works on curriculum) and Carolyn Wetzel (who works on HIV/AIDS and other health issues). There are many others as well, including community volunteers like the women of the Isiolo region of Kenya. Ordinary folks, gifted by God, to touch those in need. These people signal God’s care; they shout defiance at the gates of evil – and they give me hope.

When I think of Tom, Kim, Mitzi, Carolyn and our legion of other faithful workers and volunteers, I am brought to the words of the Apostle Paul, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).

“A day may come when the courage of men fails, When we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Man

comes crashing down, But it is not this day! This day we fight!”

UGANDA ETHIOPIA UGANDA

UGANDA UGANDA MOzAMBIqUE

RWANDA UGANDA MOzAMBIqUE

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PROVIDInGEMPLOYMEnTFORBuRunDIAnREFuGEES•6:8SunDAY•CLEAnWATERPROjECTInCHAD

LINE AND REyA enjoy helping their mothers at a Food for the Hungry tree nursery in Burundi.

FOODFORTHEHunGRYnEWS

RUYIGI, Burundi – The return of thousands of Burundian refugees from Tanzania after years of displacement places greater strain on social, economic and infrastructural sectors in the already impoverished nation. Many of these returnees fled in 1993 at the start of the 12-year civil war, while others have been living as refugees since 1972 when a period of massacres forced thousands from their communities. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has reported that nearly 60,000 Burundian refugees from Tanzania have moved back to their native country; another 70,000 are expected to return by the end of the year.

Burundi is one of the poorest nations in the world. Its people rely heavily on agriculture for survival. The reintegration of thousands of returnees presents further complexity as land is scarce, schools are overcrowded, and infrastructure is insufficient to support such an influx in population. In addition, many returnees are finding their homes destroyed

RETURNING BURUNDIAN REFUGEES RECEIVE HELPor sold, resulting in land disputes and increased tension. Food for the Hungry is working in the eastern province of Ruyigi

to support returnees and host communities throughout the transitional phase, and to help mitigate the challenges of reintegration and relocation.

By working to build schools and tree nurseries, Food for the Hungry is providing employment for returnees and their host communities. In addition to employment opportunities, Food for the Hungry is working to reduce the environmental effects of the mass migration through agro-forestry, tree nurseries, agricultural education, school construction, and livestock distribution. Food for the Hungry staff members are also working alongside community members to multiply disease-resistant cassava strains to

provide a more reliable crop for the entire community. (Cheryl Winter, FH/Rwanda & Burundi marketing and

communications officer)

10 FALL 2008 6:8

BURUNDI FACTThe small country of Burundi has a population density of 533 people per square mile.

6:8 SUNDAY A SUCCESS

CALIFORNIA CHURCH ASSISTS CHURCH IN PERU

CHURCH MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER to construct part of a wall. PHOTO By JOHN KLEWER

RockHarbor Church of Costa Mesa, Calif., has raised more than $40,000 for La Perla de Yarina, a community in Peru. The funds were used to construct a building for El Buen Camino Church. The new church building will provide facilities for Sunday school and mid-week classes.

“What a joy it was to take part in the ministry of Food for the Hungry in La Perla,” says Mike Kenyon, outreach pastor at RockHarbor Church. “I was struck by the relationship the local church has with the community. There is a shared desire by all to build up families, invest in the next generation and to address the economic development issues in the city. I was so encouraged by the vision of the local churches to train and equip teachers and pastors to send out across Pucallpa. The local church has a kingdom mindset—a vision that is greater than themselves. How grateful we are at RockHarbor to be partnered in such an important work!”

InOctober,FoodfortheHungry’sAdvocateMinistrysentoutpacketsofresourcestohelplocalchurchesrespondtothecallofMicah6:8.On6:8Sunday,churchesandsmallgroupsfocusedonwhatitmeansto“dojustice,lovemercy,andwalkhumblywithGod”throughinvolvementwithchildsponsorship.Bysponsoringachild,individualsandchurchescanmakealastingdifferenceinthelivesofchildrenandcommunitiesaroundtheworld.Thisyear’s6:8Sundayincludedavarietyofactivities.• TheDVD“OfferingHope”wasshowntoinformparticipantshowsponsorshipmakesatremendousimpactinthelifeofachild.• ChurchleadersendorsedFoodfortheHungryandchildsponsorship.• Childsponsorssharedfromtheirheartsaboutwhytheythinkchildsponsorshipisimportant.• Manychurchessetuptableswithchildsponsorshipmaterialsandtalkedtopeoplewhowereinterestedintheprogram.

The conflict between ethnic groups in western Darfur has spilled into eastern Chad, where local rebel groups are also fighting the Chadian government, leading to the displacement of hundreds of people. Villages have been burned, and people either perishing in the attacks or fleeing to surrounding camps. This, in conjunction with drought, has left many vulnerable.

Food for the Hungry, as part of the Global Relief Alliance, is responding to the conflict in eastern Chad. Food for the Hungry has provided a water engineer who is tasked to find ways to increase people’s access to clean water. One project that enables people to work in exchange for emergency supplies is dam construction. Dams help catch rainwater and improve water supply in arid areas.

BRINGING WATER TO DRY LAND

COMMUNITy members work hard to finish a water project

GLOBAL POVERTY FACTS

“LetthelittlechildrencometoMe,anddonothinderthem,forthekingdomofGodbelongstosuchasthese.–Luke18:16-17

WORDS TO LIVE BY

• Morethan1billionpeopleintheworldliveonlessthan$1perdayaccordingtotheWorldBank.Thesepeopleareconsideredthepoorestofthepoorandlackenoughresourcesforbasicsurvival.

• Approximately853millionmen,womenandchildrenarechronicallyhungryduetoextremepoverty.

Source:TheSkeptic’sGuidetoGlobalPoverty

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GLOBALRELIEFALLIAnCEInDARFuR•kInDERGARTnERRAISESSPOnSORSHIPDOLLARS•2008TELLYAWARDS FOODFORTHEHunGRYnEWS

NEW ROADS WILL HELP thousands of Congolese have access to food, health care and other services.

ROAD REPAIR UNDERWAY IN THE CONGOIn the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), more than 5.4 million people have died from war and war-related causes since 1998. Continuing conflict, poor living conditions, and lack of available food claim up to 45,000 additional lives every month.

North and South Kivu provinces have endured the brunt of the fighting, suffering through surges of conflict which have forced increasing numbers of people to flee their homes. In North Kivu alone there are more than 800,000 displaced people. Minova, an area located on the border of North and South Kivu, is where many of the displaced have fled. One camp for the displaced holds nearly 1,500 families who make their homes out of banana leaves, grass and rock.

To provide assistance to the people of Minova, Food for the Hungry is undertaking a road rehabilitation project, transforming a 17-mile stretch of destroyed road to increase access to fo od. Food for the Hungry will also build latrines in the displaced camp in Minova as well as build a water system, which will provide clean water, improve sanitation and help prevent disease.

LOCATION: Central Africa

POPULATION: 64.7 million

LIFE ExPECTANCy: Men – 45 years, Women – 48 years

FORMER NAME: zaire

MAIN ExPORTS: Diamond, copper, coffee, cobalt

MAJOR RELIGIONS: Christianity, Islam

For the latest updates on Food for the Hungry’s work around the world, visit www.fh.org.

KINDERGARTNER SELLS LEMONADE TO HELP SPONSORED CHILD

InearlyOctober,FoodfortheHungryannouncedthestartofnewworkinHaiti.Incooperationwithseveralnonprofitorganizations,FoodfortheHungrywillassistcommunitiesinHaitithroughhealth,childdevelopmentandchurchstrengtheningprograms.Fifty-fourpercentofHaiti’spopulationlivesonlessthan$1aday.“Haitiisacountryweknowwellasanorganizationandwithwhichwehaveoldandreliablerelations,”saysLuisnoda,FoodfortheHungryLatinAmericaregionaldirectorandinterimHaiticountrydirector.“Wewouldliketohavealong-termanddynamicparticipationinHaiti’sendeavortoovercomeallformsofpoverty.”OperatingfromPortauPrince,FoodfortheHungry’sHaitiofficewillimplementhealthprogramstocombatHIV/AIDSandmaternalandchildmortality.ThechilddevelopmentprograminnearbyDominicanRepublicwillbeexpandedtoincludecommunitiesinHaiti.Thechurchstrengtheningprogramwillprovidetraininginholisticministryandbiblicalworldviewtopastorsandleaders.

LONG-TERM WORK LAUNCHED IN HAITI

When Matt and Becca Sopeland of Payson, Ariz., decided to sponsor a little girl from Mozambique, their own little girl jumped on board. Justina, a 5-year-old Mozambican, just happens to be the same age as the Sopeland’s daughter, Emme.

Emme took an interest in Justina immediately. She asked questions about poverty and about what Justina was doing from day to day in Mozambique. Concerned about her new friend, Emme decided to run a lemonade stand to raise money for Justina to “buy food and clothes.”

When Emme set up her stand, she taped a photo of Justina to the table and told every customer about her friend for whom she was raising money. Emme sold each cup of lemonade for 25 cents and when she ran out of lemonade, she sold cups of warm water. At the end of the day, she had raised $38.

Emme, who goes to a public school, has even organized a group from her class to meet on the playground and pray for Justina at least once a month. One girl followed Emme’s lead and sold crackers at the park and raised $3.

Excited by the success of her lemonade stand, Emme hopes to raise and send money to Justina at least once a month. However, her fundraising ideas extend beyond lemonade. Her latest idea? Selling pies at Sea World.

EMME SOPELAND’S lemonade stand.

Increased violence and food insecurity continue to escalate in the Darfur region. Due to the deterioration of security in Darfur, the World Food Program cut food rations by 50 percent. Amid these challenges, however, the Global Relief Alliance (GRA), of which Food for the Hungry is a member, continues its operation in West Darfur. The GRA was formed in 2004 as a collaborative effort to address the needs of survivors of disasters.

The group also works to help improve disaster preparedness in vulnerable communities.

GRA is comprised of Food for the Hungry, MAP International, Medical Teams International, World Concern, World Relief, and Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.

A yOUNG SUDANESE girl helps pump water from a well. PHOTO COURTESy OF MAP.

DARFUR CONDITIONS WORSEN; RELIEF EFFORTS CONTINUE

GLOBAL UPDATES

FOOD FOR THE HUNGRy STAFF members present at the announcement include: (left to right) Luis Noda, regional director for Latin America; Glenda Herring, grant financial specialist; Dave Evans, vice president for government resources and programs; Marlene Dorismond, health programs director for Haiti; Leonel Meyer, regional finance manager for Latin America; and Gabriele Vincent, transition manager for Haiti.

FACTSOnTHEDRC

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WILLETEnCOuRAGESSPOnSORSHIP•RESPOnDInGTOPERuVIAnEARTHquAkE•FESTIVALSIMPACTCHILDSPOnSORSHIPFOODFORTHEHunGRYnEWS

In August 2007, a powerful earthquake hit southern Peru. Food for the Hungry responded immediately by setting up three communal kitchens that served three meals a day to 2,000 people. Tents and temporary shelter were distributed to victims. To facilitate smoother recovery for affected families, Food for the Hungry also helped with rubble removal, health education, psychosocial care and home reconstruction.

In partnership with Project Concern International and SENCICO (a local government agency that specializes in construction training), Food for the Hungry provided training in reinforced adobe construction to 57 individuals. In May, the Peruvian

HOMES REBUILT FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE IN PERU

A yOUNG PERUVIAN helps in the rebuilding of a damaged home. PHOTO By ELGIN MACMILLANEARTHQUAKE FACTS

government began to provide families who lost their homes in the earthquake with $2,000 vouchers for the purchase of construction materials. The families undergoing Food for the Hungry’s training will be able to use the vouchers to build their homes using the adobe design.

Food for the Hungry has also provided 46 community volunteers with basic hygiene and health prevention training, as well as psychosocial care to more than 400 children affected by the earthquake through educational, sports and art activities. The psychosocial outreach is expected to transition into a long-term child development program.

Date:August15,2007Time:6:34p.m.PerutimeMagnitude:7.9ontheRichterscaleDeath toll:610peopleInjured: 1,042people

Houses destroyed:33,676Epicenter:25mileswest-northwestofChinchaAltaSource:U.S.GeologicalSurvey

SPONSORSHIP BRINGS UNEXPECTED BLESSING

JEREMy, JUSTIN AND JORDAN WILLET are three brothers from Westminster, Maryland, who make up the rock band called Willet. The band partners with Food for the Hungry in making a difference in the lives of the poor around the world.

Last fall, one of Food for the Hungry’s partnering musicians, WILLET, played at the Truth Exposed Festival in Winner, S.D. During their performance, band members took time to share with the audience about child sponsorship, encouraging people to sponsor a child through Food for the Hungry.

Lead vocalist Jeremy Willet asked for interested individuals to raise their hands, after which bass player Jordan Willet handed out child sponsorship packets to them. A man in the crowd stood up and began helping Jordan hand out packets. The man’s wife raised her hand and asked for a girl. In response the man reached into the pile of packets, handed one to his wife and continued moving through the crowd.

Following the show, Jeremy Willet saw the same woman filling out the sponsorship forms. He walked over to her to thank her for sponsoring a child and to find out if she needed any help. As Jeremy approached, he noticed she was crying. “Jeremy,” she said, “I need to tell you a story.”

The woman went on to explain that years ago a doctor told her she would never have children. However this past year, she became pregnant. While still pregnant, she and her husband picked out the name, “Michelle” for their child. Unfortunately, she miscarried and lost the baby.

After listening to the appeal for child sponsorship, the woman decided that if she could not have a child of her own, the least she could do was help another child in need. She raised her hand and received a packet.

“She started crying again as she flipped over the packet of her new sponsored child,” says Jeremy. Then the woman showed Jeremy the reason for her tears. Her child, a girl from Belo, Ethiopia, was named “Michelle.”

Through their concerts, Willet speaks boldly about God’s message of hope and transformation to thousands of music fans who are given the opportunity to sponsor a child and be God’s instruments of change for families and communities in the hard places.

16 WINTER 2009 6:8 6:8 WINTER 2009 17

AGAInST THE BACkDROP OF A TRAGIC EARTHquAkE,TWOPERuVIAnMOTHERSExPERIEnCEAnEWLEVELOFHOPEAnDFAITH.

OnEATATIME

By Ryan Horn

amid the rubble

GREATERa

purpose

CARMEN AND MARISOL found hope in the midst of a tragedy. PHOTOS By ELGIN MACMILLAN AND RyAN HORN.

6:8 WINTER 2009 1716 WINTER 2009 6:8

As I walked through the doorway of a newly built adobe home that stands on the side of rubble-filled dirt roads in Chincha, Peru, I came face to face with two simple women who have experienced radical hope in the midst of a horrible tragedy.

Marisol Ochoa Omeda and Carmen Quispe live in the community of Salto De Liza in Chincha. One evening in August of last year, a big earthquake

rocked this community and killed more than 600 people, mostly churchgoers attending mass when the roof collapsed on them.

Now, this community is home to nearly 90 families. As I surveyed the area, I could see trails of earthquake destruction. For every two or three standing houses, there is a huge pile of rubble that was a home before that fateful night.

But some good things can also come out of tragedy. Marisol, who is now a leader of a group of mothers that was formed as a response to the earthquake, said through an interpreter, “The community was not very organized before the earthquake and most of the people who lived here kept to themselves and worked for the survival of their family.”

Marisol is a single mother who supports a daughter who is also a single mother. She

also takes care of her elderly parents who do not have any type of pension. To make ends meet, Marisol makes tamales, sells fruits harvested from her garden, and does other small jobs.

18 WINTER 2009 6:8

[ ONE AT A TIME ]

Marisol is one of the leaders of the ongoing soup kitchen project. She helps plan and serve the meals and oversee the daily operation. This new role has helped her realize that she can reach out to her neighbors and encourage other families to work together. And by helping meet the pressing needs of the people in her community, her dream to rebuild her damaged house also came to pass. Food for the Hungry and Project Concern International built Marisol’s model home of reinforced adobe in cooperation with the Canadian embassy in Peru. Marisol helped build her home as part of the construction crew.

Marisol is also involved in the psychosocial support initiative that Food for the Hungry put into place to help children and families who may have been traumatized by the earthquake and may need counseling, prayer and compassionate care.

SPIRITuALAWAkEnInGFor Carmen, the “blessings” of the earthquake go beyond any physical benefits. She said she knew that Food for the Hungry was not only concerned about delivering physical help to communities, but also offering opportunities for spiritual growth. Carmen said this has impacted her so much in learning about faith.

“I grew up hearing about God, and I believed it, but then when the earthquake hit, I found myself asking where God was then,” she explained. But since the earthquake, Carmen said she has been learning a lot about God and how to put her faith into practice.

“The Lord has really softened my heart,” Carmen added. And she believes that her husband, who is the president of the community, has also come to embrace the love of God. As a result, their relationship as husband and wife has become stronger. Carmen also admitted that she has learned to forgive and accept forgiveness from God and from others.

Her trust in God is also fortified, Carmen said. Carmen and her husband had just finished building their house when the earthquake struck. However, Carmen said that her hope became stronger after losing her home because she saw the love and compassion of the Food for the Hungry staff and other community leaders.

And this renewed spirit of unity, camaraderie and care is what this community needs to rise above the rubble of life and into a stronger future.

Ryan Horn, Food for the Hungry project coordinator, visited Peru with media specialist Elgin MacMillan to gather videos and media resources. Lauren Woodside, a Hunger Corps with Food for the Hungry, helped conduct the interviews for this story. 9

When the earthquake struck, Marisol was having dinner with her family. She said that when things around the house started to shake, she thought that it was just a small tremor. Her mother, however, started running to the door with one of the grandchildren, and fell in the doorway, blocking the rest of the family from getting out of the house. Thus, they all got stuck in the living room! The walls started falling down and one of the main support beams from the roof fell at an angle onto the kitchen refrigerator. That made a small space for the family to huddle into to keep safe until the earthquake stopped. When they finally came out of the house, they saw that many of their neighbors were walking out of their homes into the streets very dazed and confused.

“But in the midst of the tragedy of the earthquake, the community has pulled together and really benefited from the work that Food for the Hungry has provided,” Marisol said. “The community is much more unified and beginning to address issues that face families and their children.”

COMMunITYInITIATIVESMarisol was referring to the mother-leader initiative and the psychosocial support to earthquake victims – two programs that were established to help address various needs.

The mother-leader project was birthed as a result of the community members’ efforts to pull resources together in order to help neighbors in need.

When the tremors died down, the community CARMEN SAyS GOD has softened her heart, and her faith is stronger. stood still. The markets were

closed down and there was nothing to buy. The needs were overwhelming. But several families gathered their resources together and started cooking in a “common pot” soup kitchen to feed those who had no access to food. Three days later, Food for the Hungry’s relief unit arrived to assess the situation and determine the best way to help the victims.

This marked the beginning of the mother-leader program that would eventually be put into place. Food for the Hungry helped provide organization, management and training to the 32 mothers who stepped up to the plate and volunteered at the kitchen.

FOOD FOR THE HUNGRy staff Ryan Horn interviews people affected by the earthquake.

ACOMMunITYRISESABOVETHERuBBLE

18 WINTER 2009 6:8

FAMILIES are shaken by the calamity but express confidence that a better future awaits them.

MARISOL, one of the leaders of the soup kitchen project, helps

oversee the daily operation.

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FROnTLInERS

By Karen Randau

CHInA’SCuLTuRETEACHESTHREEAMERICAnCOuPLESTHEVALuEOFRELATIOnSHIPBuILDInG.

BLAZInGTRAILSin

DuRInG THE OPEnInG CEREMOnY of the 2008 Summer Olympics in August at Beijing National Stadium, China showcased its culture and inventions that have helped define modern life. It was a $100-million extravaganza that lasted four spellbinding hours, featuring 2,008 drummers artfully wielding lighted drumsticks against a backdrop of a large LED paper scroll and under a trail of 29 footprint-shaped fireworks (one for each year of the Olympics) marching along Beijing’s central city into the stadium.

Yet as the pageantry progressed, another aspect of China’s culture stood hidden from television cameras – the people of Chengdu, 932 miles southwest of Beijing, were quietly recovering from May’s 7.9 magnitude earthquake that killed at least 69,000 of their friends and neighbors. Millions are still recovering.

Helping them is a team of three American couples who arrived in Chengdu in early 2006 with the goal of developing long-term Food for the Hungry programs to enable communities to move beyond meeting their basic needs and reach their God-given potential. The team consists of team leader Adam Henry and his wife Stephanie, Jim and Rachel Hicks, and Jared and Allison Utterback.

EARTHquAkERELIEFBefore the earthquake, the team had worked for two years to learn the language and culture so they could develop strong relationships with people, faith-based organizations

and the government. They were in the beginning stages of a relationship with an educational and training organization, Hua Mei International (HMI), which proved fruitful in the earthquake’s aftermath. HMI invited Food for the Hungry into the hardest-hit earthquake areas.

“The quake lasted for three minutes,” says Adam. “I thought we were under attack. Steph screamed, ‘It’s an earthquake’ and ran to get our baby. She thought we would die and wanted Wyatt to feel peaceful, so she sang ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’ until the shaking stopped.”

Within 18 hours, Food for the Hungry and HMI took water, food and temporary shelter to Dujiangyan (32 miles from the epicenter). Food for the Hungry joined other HMI teams to serve the communities of Jiangyou, Deyang, and Shifang. Their goal was to empower churches and their local governments in the name of our Savior, Jesus.They provided financial assistance, food, water, shelter, emergency supplies, medicine and medical supplies. They also provided on-the-job training for pastors and their volunteers in the immediate quake aftermath and then organized a two-day training workshop for 65 pastors and lay people.

A delegation from Food for the Hungry U.S. and the City of Phoenix (Chengdu’s sister city) came to Chengdu to strengthen relationships and offer condolences to local leaders. Food for the Hungry and HMI are committed to Sichuan for the long-term and will continue to provide winter clothing and rebuild churches and health clinics.

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22 WINTER 2009 6:8 6:8 WINTER 2009 23

[ FRONTLINERS ]

“We were operating in a traditional relief setting the first two weeks after the quake,” says Jared. “We operated with chaos, uncertainty and planning one day at a time. Most survivors simply walked away with their lives. As we move into the recovery and development phase, we plan to help build a community clinic next to a local church. Hundreds of churches were damaged, and our Chinese partners plan to rebuild several that were destroyed.”

DIVInEORCHESTRATIOnThe team firmly believes God orchestrated every aspect of their team and the work they have accomplished.

God began preparing Adam to serve in Chengdu when he was a teenager. At 16, he was one of 32 teens who served in Kenya to build a library for a secondary school in an impoverished, rural community. The teens lived in used tents, washed their clothes by hand, cooked over a fire, and worked rough calluses onto their hands. Adam came home transformed from a typical teenager who cared more about what his friends thought of him than what God wanted from him – and he was committed to holistic ministry.

When his Christian university visited the Food for the Hungry offices, Adam briefly prayed as the van turned into the parking lot, “Lord, show me what you want me to learn.” And He did!

Adam started work for Food for the Hungry in 1999, coordinating short-term teams to Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. He married his university sweetheart, and together they traveled to

FOOD FOR THE HUNGRy STAFF and ministry partners distribute supplies to a community hard-hit by the earthquake through their partnership with Hua Mei International.

“WEOPERATEDWITHCHAOS,unCERTAInTYAnDPLAnnInGOnEDAYATATIME.MOST

SuRVIVORSSIMPLYWALkEDAWAYWITHTHEIRLIVES.”

–jAREDuTTERBACkFOODFORTHEHunGRY,CHEnGDu

the City of Phoenix, had a master’s degree in administration, and was looking for a field in Latin America in which to serve.

“The Chengdu government had asked us to include a liaison between our team, Food for the Hungry, the Chengdu government, and the City of Phoenix,” says Adam. “Jim couldn’t contain his excitement as I shared what we were going to do in Chengdu! It was as if the liaison position was not only meant for him, but God had purposely trained Jim to serve in that specific position.”

Things slowed significantly as soon as this team from the “get it now” generation began learning the difficult language and complex culture.

“We compared our pre-China life to driving on a nicely paved highway and our life in China to blazing a trail in the wilderness,” says Jim. “We didn’t come here with policies or systems in place. We daily count on help from above and consult the wisdom of other trailblazers. Though daunting at times, it’s exciting to be using the gifts God has given us to help blaze the trail here in Chengdu.”

IT’SALLABOuTRELATIOnSHIPSDuring the two years prior to the earthquake, the team worked to develop health programs, initiated relationships with local government, and researched community development work in Chengdu. Speaking the Mandarin language is essential for the relationships to be successful.

“I used to feel proud for being able to speak Spanish,” says Jim. “Mandarin is much more difficult!”

Chengdu in 2005 to assess if local officials were open to Food for the Hungry staff serving and living there.

“We traveled with representatives of the City of Phoenix to share with the municipal government and two universities the idea of Food for the Hungry’s Go ED. educational program,”

says Adam. Go ED. is a study-abroad program where students have opportunities to see firsthand global issues such as hunger, poverty and inequality. The program challenges student’s assumptions and their worldview as they engage with history, culture and economics through lectures, field trips and practicum.

“Both universities

invited us to host our program, and the government asked us to help alleviate poverty,” says Adam. “During the last night of our trip, Steph and I whispered to each other, ‘Let’s join this team and move to China.’”

Back in Phoenix, Adam and Food for the Hungry began recruiting team members – but it seemed like God already had prepared and recruited the entire team. Jared and Allison Utterback committed immediately as Allison was familiar with the work of Food for the Hungry after being an employee for more than three years. They had already been learning about Food for the Hungry work with orphanages in Xiamen, China. They were anxious to implement a similar program in Chengdu.

A few months later, Adam met with Jim Hicks and his wife, Rachel. Jim is fluent in Spanish, had been working for

6:8 WINTER 2009 2322 WINTER 2009 6:8

Jim and Rachel are working to get the Go ED. program registered. When that happens, the team can begin hiring staff for Go ED. Jim works well with government officials and has cut through the hard-to-penetrate Chinese culture to represent Food for the Hungry with confidence and skill.

God had prepared the Utterbacks to work with orphans. They are working to implement a program in rural communities hours away from Chengdu. Jared and Allison have developed strong relationships with an orphanage – the result of their commitment to learning how to do it in a way that has succeeded in other parts of China.

“They are a sacrificial family,” says Adam. “They have told me that the sacrifices don’t matter. What they read in the Bible tells them to work with orphans. That effort is in good hands.”

FORSuCHATIMEASTHISBecause of the growing importance of this area of the world, the work of Food for the Hungry today will have a long-lasting impact on a local, regional and even global level. China’s rapid modernization and development, immense population, and growing political and economic power have positioned it as a future world superpower.

Yet, there is a growing gap between the rich and poor, along with an increasing rate of HIV/AIDS infection, a large and impoverished migrant worker population, and high suicide rates. Traditional Chinese values of family and loyalty, which have held China together

ADAM AND STEPHANIE HENRY: Adam has worked for Food for the Hungry for nine years in various management positions and serves as the team leader for the Chengdu initiative. Adam’s background in administration, developing programs, and master’s degree in educational leadership (M.Ed.) positions him to lead the team in Chengdu. Stephanie is a registered nurse and takes care of the couple’s first child, Wyatt. In early 2009, the Henrys will return to Arizona after three years of service and new leadership will strategically be in place for continued work in Sichuan province.

JARED AND ALLISON UTTERBACK: Jared has five years of teaching experience, and Allison facilitated short-term teams with Food for the Hungry for three years. These experiences, along with extensive field training, have equipped the Utterbacks to lead

for centuries, are under assault by the lure of materialism and capitalism.

The Henrys will return to America in 2009, the end of their three-year term. “We’re humbled that God chose to use our giftings for this season in China,” says Adam. “We see that the team is in a good spot. The right people and systems are in place to enable the Chengdu program to move well beyond where it is now. China will always be in our hearts.”

As the Henrys prepare to leave China, they laugh at what they knew but thought applied only to others. People often go thinking they’re going to transform the communities to which God is sending them. No matter what they accomplish while on assignment, their experience turns out to be a training ground for how God will use them for the rest of their lives.

“We dined out with a Chinese couple recently,” says Adam. “They’re about to have a baby. Most Chinese parents work, so grandparents raise the children. Our friends said that our team’s example prompted them to raise their own child. It was as if the Father was saying, ‘Here’s the one reason you came to China.’ We were here ‘for such a time as this,’ doing what needed to be done to get the program started. It’s time to turn it over to someone who can grow it to meet the increasing needs of this important nation. We understand family and relationships more deeply because of this experience. We want to work with international students when we return to Phoenix.” 9

the Chengdu orphanage outreach. Their desire is to be a voice for the voiceless. They have one child and one on the way.

JIM AND RACHEL HICKS: Before coming to China, Jim worked in the Neighborhood Services Department at the City of Phoenix, while Rachel served as an English teacher at a Phoenix inner-city high school. While studying abroad in college, Jim met a worker in Colombia whose main responsibilities included reaching out to the Colombian government and being a liaison between his organization and the government. This inspired Jim to obtain a master’s degree in

public administration and more recently was working with government relations. They are now focusing their efforts on potentially becoming involved with church development work outside of Chengdu through our partner, Hua Mei International. The Hicks have two children.

JIM HICKS AND ADAM HENRy in front of Chengdu University in China.

FROM LEFT: Adam and Stephanie Henry, Jim and Rachel Hicks, and Jared and Allison Utterback.

24 WINTER 2009 6:8

WORTH

COVERSTORY

ofHow daughters, wives and mothers in

Bangladesh are coming out of the shadows into a life of dignity and value.

THROUGH THE WORK OF FOOD FOR THE HUNGRy, many Bangladeshi women learn new livelihood skills

and develop their potential as productive citizens.

Donned in a muted-orange sari that covers her head and cascades down her feet, Jomela Khatum appears rather ordinary and, quite frankly, invisible in the company of more brightly draped Bangladeshi women. But take a closer look and there is no mistaking that Jomela wears something out of the norm: self-confidence.

Jomela leads a group of women in Maligram, a community in the small town of Khoksa, 125 miles from the capital city of Dhaka. Under the mentorship of Food for the Hungry, the group meets every week to save together small amounts of money and to equip themselves with practical knowledge about staying healthy, legal issues, livelihood skills and income-generating activities, and stewardship.

Jomela is the group’s law leader, trained to educate other women on matters that pertain to their legal rights. The group could not have found a more suitable person for the job. Jomela knows the pain of many wives, mothers and daughters who suffer abuse and exploitation in a male-dominated society that treats women as second-class citizens.

Just more than a year ago, Jomela saved her daughter, Shimuli, from abuse and possible death at the hands of a husband who repeatedly beat her up even when she was pregnant. By explaining to her daughter’s husband and his family the legal consequences of such maltreatment, the husband changed his behavior toward

By Rez Gopez Sindac Photos by Kristin Kawa Brooks

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26 WINTER 2009 6:8 6:8 WINTER 2009 27

[ WOMEN OF WORTH ]

Shimuli and a court case was prevented. But Jomela wanted to see a deeper change, so she encouraged the couple to work toward marital harmony and reconciliation.

“Going to court is expensive and it doesn’t reconcile marriages,” Jomela says. She adds that today, her daughter and son-in-law no longer argue over petty things.

Jomela did not solve her daughter’s problem by herself. From the start, she had the support of her group and Food for the Hungry workers – known in the communities they serve as “animators” or “one who brings life” – who patiently

worked with the law leaders in the community and mediated between Shimuli and her husband’s family.

“If I wasn’t a part of this group, I would not have known what to do,” Jomela says. “Now, I can help other women in similar situations.”

Widow starts a businessStill in Khoksa district but in another village called Komlapur, a widow finds hope in the midst of another painful situation.

Joyanti Rami lost her husband in a freak accident. Left with a 10-year-old son and no livelihood skills, Joyanti

AS PARTICIPANTS OF A SAVINGS AND LEARNING GROUP, these women are learning to tap into other sources of income, work together to improve their community, and discover their value as individuals made in the image of God.

turned to her savings group, of which she had been a member for more than five years, for help. She had taken a loan before to help her husband start a shoe-making business. But now, she needed to find an income of her own so she could support her son.

The members of her group immediately came to her rescue. They gave her 750 taka ($11) as a gift and taught her how to weave baskets. Using a portion of her savings, Joyanti bought some materials and started her own basketry business. Now she’s no longer worried about her son not finishing school.

6:8 WINTER 2009 2726 WINTER 2009 6:8

“If I had not been a member of the group, I don’t know what would have happened to me and my son,” she says.

Women learn to read and writeWhile Food for the Hungry-Bangladesh works mainly with Muslims, a few Hindu communities come to experience tangible expressions of God’s love through Food for the Hungry’s education outreach.

In a Horijon colony in Bogra district, a group of women celebrate their victory over illiteracy. These women belong to a Hindu caste so low they are called “untouchables.” Members of this community perform low-paying jobs as sweepers, mortuary attendants

and sewage cleaners, and often suffer discrimination. Their children are often insulted and devalued in government-run schools and subsequently drop out of education. As a result, very few people in this community can read and write.

But illiteracy is no longer a dreaded enemy for a growing number of Hindu women and their children in the Horijon community. Food for the Hungry runs a preschool for young boys and girls to help them build self-esteem and equip them for entry to government school. Food for the Hungry also provides two hours a day of adult literacy class to women, usually lasting for eight months.

Most of these women are learning to read and write for the very first time.

And they find that with education comes freedom and empowerment. They can now help their children with homework. They can now read sign boards and sign their names on important documents. They can now manage their own savings book. They now have confidence to dream big for their children. They exclaim, “We were blind, but now we can see!”

Values that promote changeThese women are just a few examples of how the wind of change is blowing in many poor communities in various districts in Bangladesh. Food for the Hungry has been working among the poor in Bangladesh for more than 30

28 WINTER 2009 6:8 6:8 WINTER 2009 29

years, helping men, women and children rise above poverty and build a more hopeful future for the next generations.

The Family and Community Transformation program is the cornerstone of Food for the Hungry’s ministry in this predominantly Muslim nation. Its goal is to help individuals discover and develop their potential to become productive and empowered members of their society. Key to the realization of this vision is the people’s openness to receive and embrace biblical values and apply them to everyday life.

So how does this program work? In every village where Food for the Hungry serves, people are invited and then coached to form and manage their own savings and learning groups. In keeping with the Islamic tradition of sex segregation in most social settings, women form their own groups and men do the same. Each group usually has 10 to15 members. Food for the Hungry animators, who are native Bangladeshis, supervise these groups and train those who have leadership abilities to take on important roles such as secretaries, treasurers, law leaders, and health leaders.

Hundreds of savings and learning groups formed through Food for the Hungry are active in Bangladesh. Each group meets once a week. The order of the meeting may vary from group to group, but the first part of the meeting is usually devoted to learning. Each month, the learning topic is a biblical principle and how to apply it. Food for the Hungry has developed specific lessons that bring into light general values such as: listening and speaking to God, care for the whole person, serving attitude toward others, unity and diversity, integrity and transparency, and acting justly.

For example, to explain what integrity means, a Food for the Hungry staff or animator may use a Bible story about Zaccheus, a tax collector who extorted money from his own countrymen. But when he experienced the forgiveness of Jesus, he not only repented of his sin but promised to give half of his possession to the poor and pay back the people he had cheated four times as much.

After the reading of the story, the animator gives group members enough

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[ WOMEN OF WORTH ]

THIS WOMAN displays inner joy and self-confidence.

28 WINTER 2009 6:8

time to ask questions and discuss the lesson’s practical applications. A silent prayer may follow.

Aside from sharing truths from the Bible, animators also educate members of the group on issues concerning health, nutrition and law. In these meetings, women learn, for example, why they should take care of themselves during pregnancy or why early marriage is not good for their daughters. They also become aware of what the law says about

dowry, divorce and domestic violence. Moreover, there are literacy classes for those who want to learn how to read, write and understand numbers.

Investing in a sustainable futureThe second part of the meeting deals with the business of saving and investing. The poor in Bangladesh live a very fragile existence. A single calamity or a crisis such as an illness or death in the family can easily wipe out everything. To recover from such heavy blow, they would need a cushion to fall back on. That’s why Food for the Hungry helps community members organize savings and learning groups – so they can be empowered to overcome economic setbacks and be equipped to create sustainable livelihoods. In the process, they learn to be good stewards of their time and money.

So every week, each group member brings a specified amount of money – usually 10 taka – to the meeting and designates it as savings. From the accumulated savings, members can take loans for a number of reasons, among them: to start a small business, build a house, buy a piece of land, or pay wedding expenses.

Its goal is to help individuals discover

and develop their potential to become

productive and empowered members

of their society.

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By Mizanur Rahman,FoodfortheHungry-BangladeshFCTcoordinator

I Believe in Holistic DevelopmentWhy microloans alone often don’t bring transformation

Iamtheoldestsonofmyparentsandhadlotsofresponsibilityformyfiveyoungerbrothersandsistersbecausemyfatherwasoftenunemployed.Itwasearly1989andIhadjustgraduatedfromcollege.Forthefirstfewmonthsof1989,Itookajobinaschoolasatemporaryteacher,butthisdidnothelpbecausethegovernment’sprocedureforpayingsalariestookalongtime.Ilefttheschoolandjoinedamicrocreditnongovernmentorganizationasafieldofficer.Mydutywastocollectloanrepaymentsfromthosewhohadtakenloans.AsacollectorIwasrequiredtomeetcertainloanrecoverytargetseverymonth.ButIoftenfailedtoreachmytargetsbecauseIwouldnotbehaverudelyandaggressivelywithpooroldwomen.Asaresult,mysalarywasoftencutandmysupervisorwouldshamemeinfrontofothers.Thiscausedmemuchpain.Also,thesupportstaffwereoftenbeatenbythedirector.IlookedforawaytoescapeasIfeltitwasimpossibleformetosurvivethere.ThenIheardaboutavacancyforachilddevelopmentprogram(CDP)workerwithFoodfortheHungry/Bangladesh.Iwasinvitedforaninterviewandgotthejob.Inlate1989,IstartedtoworkinthevillageofTrishalinthedistrictofMymensingh.Thebehaviorofmysupervisorandtheworkenvironmentimpactedme.Ienjoyedspendingtimewiththechildrenandtheirfamilies,andIfeltthatIwascontributingsomethingtotheirwell-being.Myworkgavemesatisfaction.Iwasabletosupportmyfamilyfinancially.Icarriedoutallmydutieswithsincerityanddedicationtothesatisfactionofmysupervisor.In1991,Iwaspromotedtoteammanagerandpostedinkhoksa.Thekhoksaprojectgaveloanstoparticipantsforvariousincome-generatingpurposessuchasagriculture,livestock,smallbusinessandvanpurchase.(Avanisacyclecartusedfortransportingpeopleandgoods.)Myjobwastosupervisethestaffandmanagetheloanprogram.unlikeothernGOs,thestaffatFoodfortheHungrywerenotforcedtocollectmoney.Butafewyearsaftertheprogramwaslaunched,itnearlycollapsedfromlackofloanrepayments.AstheteammanagerIwasunderpressuretocollecttheloanmoney.Again,Istruggledtobalancetheorganization’sexpectationononehandandwhatIpersonallyfeltwasgooddevelopmentontheother.

From Loan Program to Holistic DevelopmentDuringthistimeasanorganizationwerealizedthatourloanprogramsdidnotalignwithourvision.Loansdonotcreatesustainability;theycreatedependence.Peopleoftenlieaboutwhattheywantloansforandusethemoneyunwisely.Soinearly2000weintroducedtheFamilyandCommunityTransformation(FCT)programinkhoksa.Iamfortunatetohavebeenawitnessofitstransitionfromaloanprogramtoaholisticdevelopment.Iobservedhowourrelationshipswithparticipantschanged.WhenIwasstillwithanothernGOasaloancollector,wewereneverwelcomedbytheparticipantstotheirhouses;instead,theywouldlietousandtrytohidefromus.IntheFCTgroups,however,participantsareaccountabletoeachothertorepayloanstothegroup’ssavingfund,andtheydon’tlie.FCTgivesusrespectfulrelationshipswithparticipantsbasedonhonoranddignity.Butthetransitionwasdifficult.Whenwestoppedgivingloans,peoplegotangryandtookloansfromothernGOs.Also,theywouldn’trepaytheiroutstandingloanswithus.Wetoldthemthatwewantedtohaveequalityinourrelationshipswiththem.Weexplainedthatgivingandreceivingloanscreatesinequality.Ourstaffperseveredgentlyandwithrespect,andsoonFCTgroupswereformedandmembersstartedsaving.In2003westartedteachingvaluesinformallyintheFCTgroups.Asaresult,theparticipants’attitudesandtheirwayofthinkinggraduallychanged.Theintroductionin2002ofFoodfortheHungryvaluestoourstaffandlatertoFCTparticipantsisaremarkableachievementofourorganization.ThesevalueshelpturnourlivesintoGod’swaybylivingwithintegrity;increasingourservingattitude,andactingjustly.Thetransformationthatishappeninginourstaffmembers’attitudesandbehaviorandalsoinFCTgroupsisGod’swork.Sometimesoutsidepeoplemisunderstandus.TheythinkweareonlyreadingtheBiblebecauseweareFoodfortheHungrystaff.Butwehavemanytestimoniesofstaffprayingregularlyandenthusiastically,believinghonestlythattheyarecreatedwithGod’scharacteristicsandthattheycandevelopthesecharacteristicsbyobeyingHiscommands.IwanttogiveanexampleofhowtheseBible-basedvaluesimpactourparticipants’lives.Canyouimaginehowanilliteratevillagehousewifecanleadprayerinagroupmeetingwithforeignvisitors?ThisissosignificantbecauseMuslimsbelievethattheycanprayonlyfivetimesduringthedaywhentheyarecleanandrituallypure.ButwetaughtthemthatwecanpraytoGodatanytime,anywhere,andinanycircumstances.IaskthatyouprayforourFCTprogramandforallthestaffworkinghere.Prayforourcountryaswell.PleasepraytoothatGodwouldgivememorewisdomandguidancesothatIcanleadtheFCTprogrambetter.9

Mizanur Rahman

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[ WOMEN OF WORTH ]

Sorab and Hacina, married for 12 years, are now also business partners because of their involvement in a Food for the Hungry savings and learning group. Two years ago, Hacina took a loan from her group to buy a sewing machine after attending a trade class organized by Food for the Hungry. Since then she has been making clothes for children, which Sorab sells at the central market. They make at least 2,000 taka ($30) each month in profits. It is not common in Muslim culture for a husband and wife to work together in this way. But often when an individual joins a savings and learning group, their beliefs and perspectives gradually come to align with biblical truths, and their life can change dramatically. In addition, the marriage class that Food for the Hungry provides for married couples helps heal, restore and rejuvenate many unhealthy relationships.

As a group, members can also borrow money and use it to invest in an income-generating activity. Cattle fattening is a profitable small-scale livelihood option among the rural poor in Bangladesh. In the village of Mirzapur, a group of 12 women earned 7,000 taka ($102) from the sale of just one cow – the highest profit they’ve generated in eight years. This group started with just 5 taka in savings. Now, they take care of as

many as six cows, sell them during Eid ul Azaha, a four-day public holiday in Muslim countries, and divide the earnings among themselves.

Inspired by other groups that have made a successful transition, this group in Mirzapur has been working on becoming a registered community-based organization (CBO), which is an independent legal entity that has the capacity to facilitate and deliver a myriad of services to the community. This may include: road repair, health and nutrition promotion, medical assistance, water and sanitation development, education services, and caring for the environment. To evolve into a CBO, a savings and learning group joins with similar groups to form a village organization. Several village organizations can then join together to form a CBO independent of Food for the Hungry.

In the end, community development becomes the work of local citizens like Jomela, Joyanti, and the husband-and-wife tandem of Sorab and Hacina. Ordinary people like them, guided by God’s principles and empowered to serve their own people using the resources available to them, can effect true transformation of hearts and minds for generations to come.

EqUIPPED AND EMPOWERED to serve God and others.

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or those of us who claim to know Jesus, caring for the poor is an activity of paramount importance which cannot be neglected (1 John 3:17; James 1:26-27). Jesus himself demonstrated great concern for the poor throughout his teaching and personal ministry (Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:33-34), and God calls his

whole host of conditions that made her situation truly dire. In accordance with the desperateness of her situation, both the Old and the New Testaments recognize the plight of the widow and give emphatic instruction for her care (Exodus 22:22-24; 1 Timothy 5:3-16; James 1:27).

The book of Ruth is set in an era when the judges ruled over Israel, a time when each person was “doing what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25, ESV). His culture’s dearth of morality made Boaz’s generosity toward the poor all the more striking. Though Boaz’s neighbors may have participated in the lawless behavior that characterized Israel under the judges, ignoring many of the laws for the provision of the poor, Boaz chose to follow the law faithfully and to show even greater generosity than it required (Ruth 2:3, 8-17). Even more striking than Boaz’s obedience to the law was his willingness to go beyond giving his material possessions. By taking Ruth to be his wife, he provided her with security and social standing, two primary needs and causes of her poverty that she otherwise was helpless to remedy. Although his marriage to Ruth brought Boaz significant risk and cost, he enthusiastically looked to provide security for Ruth and Naomi without regard to the cost.

Boaz provides Christians with an example of generosity to the poor without hesitation or regard to the cost. Especially for western Christians, it is very important to realize that being generous might cost us in non-financial ways. In many circumstances, it is easiest to write a check, but God is calling us to do this and more. Boaz provided for Naomi and Ruth’s non-financial social and relational needs, which were just as great as their financial needs, and these had both financial and non-financial costs. When we are

presented with opportunities to help the poor, do we shy away or only provide if it comes at an acceptable monetary cost?

When the poor need homes, friendship and security within a community, are we ready to help them in those areas and

others as well? The challenge Boaz’s story gives us is that following God’s commands to provide for the poor is not optional, and we cannot meet God’s demands by providing a safe minimum or limiting our giving to kinds that are convenient for us. We must give sacrificially of ourselves for others’ sakes, especially the poor, trusting that God will be faithful to provide for our own needs as we provide for the needs of others (2 Corinthians 8:13-15).

Related Passages: Exodus 3:7-9; Leviticus 19:10; 23:22;Deuteronomy 8:17-20; job 31:16-28; Psalm 14:6; 82:1-8;103:6; 140:12; 146:5-9; Ezekiel 18:5-9; Matthew 19:16-30;Luke 12:33, 47-48; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; james 1:27; 5:1-6;1john3:16-18.

ReprintedwithpermissionfromGenerousGiving(www.generousgiving.org).

You probably have heard the term “legacy giving” or “leave a legacy.” Leaving money to a charity through your willas an outright gift is the most common form oflegacy giving; however, there are many waysto start your legacy.

Learn More: If you don’t have a will or you are unsure how to make a provision to Food for the Hungry, we would like to send you a copy of the “Plan & Prosper Resource CD.” Written by a leading estate attorney, this CD addresses the most commonly asked questions about wills, charitable life income plans, retirement planning and much more.

Ending Physical & Spiritual Hungers: Through the generosity of partners like you, Food for the Hungry can continue to bring real hope and transformation to millions of people for many years to come.

To receive the Plan & Prosper Resource CD, call (800) 248-6437 ext. 1103, or write to:

ATTN: Wayne Reinauer/Sean Mills1224 E. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85034

WayneReinauer,DirectorofStewardshipGiftsSeanMills,PlannedGivingCoordinator

By Ryan Casselberry(with assistance from Generous Giving staff)

redeemed people to model their lives after Jesus’ example. Our responsibility to l-ove the poor is not new—there are many commands in the Old Testament requiring compassion and care for the poor, and judgments on those that fail to do so (e.g. Exodus 22:21-27; Isaiah 3:14-15).

In the book of Ruth we find in the generous man Boaz an incredible example of how God intended his people to care for the poor, exemplified by the widows Ruth and Naomi. Although the whole book is saturated with instances of mutual generosity between Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, it is Boaz who has the clearest opportunity to meet—or neglect—the needs of others.

While we rightly recognize Boaz as an example of a generous giver, we must not lose sight of Ruth as a classic example of poverty. If we are to observe carefully God’s stern commands to care for the poor, we must know who they are. Ruth’s circumstances as a widow effectively describe the position of the poor: without long-term security, without a home, without ability to provide for day-to-day needs, and without a firm place in the community. Ruth’s condition of poverty was not just a matter of

running low on money, but

it was a

Retirement Benefits: Retirement plans have gained importance as a primary source of income during the retirement years, making them a good consideration for charitable giving, especially when the potential tax consequences are considered.

Real Estate: Investment property, homes and other land assets can be used as a gift, maximizing your legacy impact andminimizing taxes.

Other Investments: Insurance policies, stocks, trusts and other investments can also be used in your legacy plans.

34 WINTER 2009 6:8 6:8 WINTER 2009 35

VISIOnPARTnERS

REACHInGOuTTO a community of people who speak a different language and live a different way of life can be intimidating. It may even seem impossible. Yet the members of High Point Church (High Point) in Madison, Wis., have learned that language and cultural barriers can be overcome when God unites people through relationship.

In early 2000, Vonda Shaw was approached by her missions director with a request: Could she organize a short-term mission trip for the church? Shaw said yes. Then she researched various organizations, finally choosing Food for the Hungry because of its holistic approach to ministry. In September that year, a team from High Point traveled to Los Botados in the Dominican Republic and built latrines in the community. A second team followed in 2001.

“It was after our trip in 2001 that we began to think more deeply about a long-term connection,” says Shaw. “The impact of taking a team yearly can be much more profound if you can bring that back to a congregation and begin to help them connect with that community year after year…it just seemed like the right thing to do.”

Long-term PartnershipIn 2002, High Point committed to a 10-year partnership with Los Botados through Food for the Hungry’s C2C (Community to Community) initiative. Three High Point members, Vonda Shaw, Rick Zynda and Jenny Boese, traveled with Food for the Hungry staff members to Los Botados to meet with community leaders. “We sat on the porch of a store there,” Shaw recalls, “and we asked, ‘What are your needs for this community?’”

The first need mentioned by the community leaders was access to education. The children of Los Botados had to cross a busy street to get to school, putting them in great danger every day. A High Point team began classroom construction in 2003 and finished the project the following year. The next priority was a school kitchen, which was built in 2005 and now provides hot meals to 700-800 students every day.

Subsequent High Point teams helped drill water wells, conducted medical clinics, gave HIV/AIDS training, built a community center, and organized an annual community baseball game. Year after year, teams returned to Los Botados resulting in deep bonds, especially between sponsors and their sponsored children. For many, the relationships have been life-changing.

Rick Zynda, High Point elder and chair of the missions committee, and his wife, Casey, sponsor three children in

Los Botados. “They actually become a part of your family,” says Rick. In fact during the last trip, the grandmother and primary caretaker of the Zynda’s sponsored child, Ana, died from a heart attack. The Zyndas visited the family and when Ana entered the room, “she ran across the room and gave me the biggest hug you can imagine,” says Rick, “it just hit me right in the stomach.”

Establishing Deep ConnectionsCarol Boe, a High Point church member, sponsors children in Los Botados and has learned how important the sponsor relationship is to the children. “I’ve sponsored kids before,” says Boe, “but I never understood how important it was until I went to the Dominican Republic. And not so much financially…but the relationship part.” Boe learned from her first sponsored child, Yadira. “At different points Yadira has said things like, ‘Now I know how much you love me because you sent me a letter,’” says Boe.

But the relationships don’t stop with the team members. The reach of High Point’s partnership extends to the whole church and even the community. How has this been accomplished?

“What we’ve tried to do with our partnership,” says Shaw, “is find ways for people who will never walk the streets of Los Botados to feel like they are connected and are making a difference in the lives of people who live in the Dominican Republic.”

Fundraising events provide ways for people to connect by donating supplies and finances for projects that interest them. Shaw estimates that $80,000 to $90,000 has been raised for the work in Los Botados. Zynda believes people are more willing to give because of the established relationship. “They know we’re hauling it there ourselves,” he says, “and they know it’s going to get there.”

Passionate about the partnership, team members hold an annual event at High Point to talk about their experiences in Los Botados and to promote child sponsorship. They have also shared with coworkers, family members and neighbors. As a result, between 160 to 170 children are sponsored by church and non-church members, and each year the sponsors

hear stories from team members who visit their sponsored children.

Through Thick and ThinThe depth of relationship has been evident in the face of difficulties. Three years ago, 2,000 to 2,500 people attended High Point each week. Now, there are only about 300 to 400 on a Sunday morning. “It’s been a challenge,” Shaw admits. But even though people have left High Point, they continue to sponsor their children in Los Botados. “They believe in the partnership,” says Shaw, “and the work that’s being done in that community.”

In an ironic twist, La Senda, the church in Los Botados that High Point has worked with since the beginning, recently began to experience difficulties. Due to the tension, the latest High Point team worked in a different area of Los Botados. However, team members visited with La Senda church members for a time of fellowship, and Shaw spent one-on-one time with various community members who “were really hurting.” Although most of the High Point team members cannot speak Spanish they were able to minister to one another. “You don’t have to say a whole lot,” says Shaw, “You can see it on faces and you just know. You just know that they’re praying for us and we’re praying for them.”

High Point members know that God works, even in the midst of difficult situations. After all, they have watched the transformation of Los Botados. “When I first went to the Dominican Republic,” says Zynda, “I didn’t really see much hope for a lot of growth.” But because of a commitment to relationship, Los Botados has children with career goals for the future, a new generation of community leaders, improved sanitation, clean water, and increased education. “I didn’t realize that there could be as much done within the community,” says Zynda.

Both communities have undergone transformation. The people of Los Botados, especially the children, have a vision for their lives and for their community. As for High Point, the church has developed a missional mindset resulting in the creation of several local and national outreach ministries.

“I’ve become much more aware of worldwide needs,” says Zynda, “and that you can make a difference in people’s lives if you just step out of the world that you’ve been in and get involved.”

(To find out how your church can get involved in a C2C relationship with a developing community, contact Cheryl Johnson at: advocates@ fh.org or call at 480-609-7706.) 9

By Dana Ryan

United by RelationshipDeep connection between High Point Church in Wisconsin and Los Botados in the Dominican Republic spurs transformation.

6:8 WINTER 2009 3534 WINTER 2009 6:8

WOMEN FROM LOS BOTADOS stand in front of a newly built kitchen.

FROM TOP: FOOD FOR THE HUNGRy staff member Martires Olivero is supported by High Point as an overseas missionary. With him in the picture are his family and Vonda Shaw, a member of High Point Church.

HIGH POINT has helped build and fund hundreds of outdoor latrines like this.

CAROL BOE (right) spends time with her sponsored

child, yadira.

DOING…LOVING…WALKINGwww.fh.org