Food Needed

The below email came to us yesterday from International Teams. As we ate our dinner of leftovers from our abundance of food from the evening before, we were reminded of the fact that we are given much so we can give much. I know I have mentioned this stat before...but lets not let these children below become part of it...26,000 children EACH day die due to malnutrition or preventable disease. 
Jake and Jennifer from the below article are from our hometown of Hudsonville and are members of my parents and siblings church. 

Food Needed for Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi

Posted on March 6, 2012 by ITeams

Photos of from Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Used with permission.

Jake and Jennifer Tornga are working in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi. The World Food Program and Malawi Red Cross has cut the monthly ration of maize given to refugees in half, from 14 kg to 7 kg per person.

The Torngas’ team leader, Innocent Magambi, who is himself a former refugee who lived at Dzaleka, knows firsthand that 14 kg per person is not enough to live on for one month. Cutting that amount in half presents an extremely difficult situation for these refugees.

Although food provision is not normally an area of focus for the team in Malawi, Jake Tornga says, “This is a very serious crisis and we are looking at ways we can help.”

Making a donation to provide access to food can help save lives and alleviate some of the extra measure of suffering these refugees are experiencing. Please consider enabling the team in Malawi to help those in need by making a donation.

16,000 refugees and asylum seekers live at Dzaleka refugee camp, Malawi, Africa, and the World Food Program has been providing a basic food package to these refugees since the 1990s. However due to the increasing numbers of refugees in the region, the global financial crisis, and this being a long-standing refugee camp which no longer attracts much press coverage, food stock has almost run out. The basic food package was already not nutritionally complete, and since the beginning of March 2012, refugees have only been receiving 50% of the normal package.

We are raising money towards covering the shortfall of corn received by refugees between now and the end of 2012. Corn is the staple food of this region, and the most important food need at this time. $10 will cover the corn shortfall for 1 person for 1 month. $80 will cover the corn shortfall for 1 person for the rest of the year. The overall financial shortfall facing the WFP for 2012 is more than $1.8 million.

When such a crisis hits a refugee camp like Dzaleka, prostitution increases, child labor increases as children are taken out of school, and the medically fragile (HIV positive, disabled, elderly, nursing mothers) are at risk of rapid deterioration in their health.

Please stand with us as we seek to meet this immediate need. Visit our online giving form for this ALERT.  

Millions of hits...a boy named Francis

Francis is a friend of mine.  Francis was abducted by gunpoint in the gardens near his family's home.  Francis was forced into the army of Joseph Kony.  On our vision trip we were able to sit down and listen to this young man share about the abduction of himself and many others in his village. We heard him tell us about being tied by rope, one child tied to another as they trampled through Ugandan terrain and through rivers, not being allowed to look at the face of Joseph Kony.  How he was forced to kill.  The things this boy had to endure and see were unimaginable and sorrowful.

Francis led a heroic escape from the hands of the LRA. (lords resistence army)  He helped several others escape including his buddy sitting next to him in the picture.  He found his way back to his village.  But now what?  He was tramatized to the extreme...Enter the love and transforming power of Jesus Christ.  Francis went through a process guided by counselors to show him how much His Father in Heaven loved Him and had the power to renew his mind, his soul, and his spirit.  The nightly nightmares have been taken away, joy has been restored.  Hope has been given graciously poured out on Francis.

The beautiful young lady in this picture is another one of the LRA's former child soldiers.  Francis explained to me that she is his bride.  And I have a secret to share.  They are expecting their first child. I was told to keep that a secret from members of his village, so if you find yourself in Uganda please don't tell!  Praise God!!  

It is customary and cultural in Uganda for boys and guys to hold hands with their friends.  I was a little wary of this custom, however when Francis grabbed my hand and walked me out to the gardens to see the place where he was taken I felt privileged to have this amazing young man consider me a friend.

So, as you watch the videos and the news reports of the terrible things going on in our world today pray.  Pray for Francis, pray for the people who are suffering at the hands of these cruel people.  Pray for those who are sharing of themselves to help share Christ's love.  Pray for Joseph Kony and others like him that desperately need a Savior.

I've been asked why would I take our family to Uganda.  It is for Francis and many others like him.  The question isn't why would I?  The true question is why wouldn't I?

Chris

Uganda. Where should I begin. This trip was a vision trip in hopes to confirm our call to serve in this country. We flew into Entebbe and were greeted by the two of the team members, Tim and Steve. We were very happy to see them. After getting our luggage we headed to the vehicle. Outside we were greeted with the darkness of night and several military looking men with guns. We drove to our guest house and spent our first night sleeping under the mosquito nets. The next day we drove the 7 hours along bumpy African roads to reach our destination Soroti.

Soroti is home to the Soroti Rock. If you aren't familiar with it I would suggest you google it. It is exactly that, a huge rock in the center of the town that takes quite a lot of work to hike to the top of. The views from the top are amazing. From day one we began meeting people from Uganda that all had such amazing stories of transformation. I hope their stories will inspire you and motivate you to step out of your comfort and step into a world of unknown...a place where God is at work!

                                            "Angelina"

A woman of extraordinary courage and faith. Angelina is blind. Chicken pox took her sight at the age of five, but it didn't take her spirit. It only made her more of who she was created to be. The blind have been a marginalized people in Uganda. They were categorized as worthless to society, destitute and destined for a life of begging. Angelina doesn't believe this, she never has. She knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that her creator made her for a purpose. She was made in the image of God. It is her mission to see that any person who is blind in Soroti is given the skills necessary to keep them from having to beg to survive. They are taught to read Braille. They are taught skills like knitting and gardening. In fact they have even been shown how to plant orange groves utilizing strings with measured knots for planting. Her wisdom was extraordinary. On the way to visit a blind man in the village that was now able to support his family with the sale of oranges from his trees she reminded us how important following up is. She said, "We must train, but then we have to follow up. Following up is so important." How often we begin the work, but then fail to follow through and follow up. She couldn't see us, but we sure could see the love of Christ in her. We are thankful to have met Angelina.

The Shine in Africa blog was created to bring awareness to the needs of orphans and the oppressed in Africa. It began as a way to do something with the new found knowledge we gained in adopting our four year old daughter from Ethiopia. We had no idea where it would go. We never imagined it would consist of us going back to serve in Africa. Our eyes were opened to what true poverty looks like. We were changed forever. Tomorrow we board a plane heading for Soroti, Uganda. Shine in Africa will take on a whole new meaning for our family and the Shine family. This is a a two week vision trip to confirm our plans to join a ministry team in Soroti called Team Beyond for a two year commitment. We believe all people, not just a select few, deserve access to food, forgiveness and freedom. We want to help the people of Uganda gain access to these three things. As we explore how we can use our gifts and talents, it is our prayer that we can Shine the Light of Jesus brightly in Soroti. In the coming days we hope to share with you the sights and stories of this adventure.

Blessings,
Chris Fisher

Help Orphans

A family friendly Nite to Benefit Yezelalem Minch in Ethiopia! Come to Strikers in Jenison On October 13 from 5:30- 8:30 for a fun nite of go-carts, mini-golf, batting cages, raffles, and ice-cream. The event is FREE! All donations go toward 'Land for Opportunity' fundraising effort. Please see futurehopecompaign.org for more information on the fundraising efforts.



Chris and Michelle Fisher (owners of SHINE) will be heading to Uganda on November 6 through November 18. We will be posting about our trip on our blog (see Fisher Family Blog on the side bar and click to follow our journey!

Praise From Yezelalem Minch!

A Harvest of Blessing Dear friends, As you may know, Yezelalem Minch uses a community-based approach to intervene in the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children. But with special consideration for orphans who have no extended family or guardian to raise them in the community, Yezelalem Minch has also been able to support 42 children in home group settings. Supporting orphans in institutional care can be particularly challenging — not just in the material provision of what they need, but because of the emotional changes experienced during childhood development. Yezelalem Minch is very concerned for children as they grow both physically and emotionally. Orphans who have no one around are more vulnerable to emotional problems because of this lack of someone to watch over them as a parent. We seek to integrate children in permanent families, locally or internationally, with adoption being a last resort option. At times we were worried about our home group children's futures, because some were beyond the adoptable age or sick with a chronic disease. However, because of the full dedication of many godly families, 38 of our home group children have been adopted into international families. We became very emotional recently after a teleconference with these adopted children and the organizers of a Yezelalem Minch family reunion in New Mexico - as a result of hearing their passion for the remaining orphans in Ethiopia and also seeing pictures from the event. It is just like a dream for us to see these things taking place that we didn't expect to be. The event was more than just fun or a mere gathering; it was important and profound and reminds us of David's expression of wonder about his life: "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O LORD God." - 1 Chron. 17:16-17 We are also so blessed to see the growth of our community children: one recently graduating from Addis Ababa University, another from a technical college, and three more who will soon receive their diplomas. In the coming year, six more children will be starting university and college studies. It has been a wonderful time for Yezelalem Minch to see fruit after an investment of many years.

In the last month: Regular activities included providing school fees, medical support, grain distribution and psychosocial support. Peer educator and community volunteer trainings were performed. Shoes and casual clothing distribution to 500 out of 1,200 registered children. New project site office set up properly. Thanks and praises: The Yezelalem Minch family reunion time in New Mexico went well. God heard our prayers on the safety of our orphans, and all registered kids are doing well. The Future Hope Campaign still keeps working, and God is moving with their dedication and hard work. We thank God for our sponsors and families who are dedicated to the work of Yezelalem Minch. Please pray: For challenges related to inconsistent government policies, rent costs, and economic inflation. For land needed for organizational buildings. For the continued efforts of the Future Hope Campaign and God's blessing. For registered children to be reached spiritually in addition to their basic needs. Future Hope Campaign Join with other friends and supporters of Yezelalem Minch in the USA as part of a grassroots movement to increase awareness and support for Yezelalem Minch. Currently, we are working to raise funds to purchase and develop property for Yezelalem Minch. So far, $60,000 of our $160,000 goal has been raised! We still need additional people to volunteer by coordinating local events in their own states, or by simply helping to spread the word. Visit Future Hope Campaign to learn more, connect with others, and get involved. If you aren't already receiving Future Hope updates, please sign up for emails on the home page! Make a Donation Gifts towards the "Land for Opportunity" campaign can now be made online using PayPal, as well as by check/mail. All donations are tax-deductible through HIM. Click here to donate or learn more.

Sponsor a Child Child sponsorship is not only critical to the continued growth and success of Yezelalem Minch, but it also helps an individual child to know that someone cares. In the USA, contact HIM to learn about sponsoring a child at Yezelalem Minch. You may also reach sponsorship staff by phone at (828) 277-3812, or by simply replying to this email. Blue Nile Coffee A blessing in more ways than one, Ethiopian Coffee from Blue Nile Traders is purchased from a Yezelalem Minch widows' Self Help Group at a fair trade price. Yet unlike a fair trade distributor, 100% of the profits are sent back to help support the Yezelalem Minch weekly feeding program. Visit Blue Nile and order your bunna today! Traveling to Ethiopia? Postage to and from Africa can be expensive, and sometimes we're in need of a courier. If you're traveling to Addis Ababa in the near future and might be willing to carry something with you for Yezelalem Minch (for sponsorship or ministry purposes only!), please let us know. Reply to this email or call us at: (828) 277-3812.