Advent Conspiracy

Hi everyone,

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow!!

I want to pass along this really challenging video. It points out how relatively easy it would be to provide clean water across the globe. But beyond that it does a really great job of highlighting the meaning of Christmas in, I think, a really new way.

Enjoy! Be challenged! And be thankful always!!




Ben

School in Petionville update

Here are a few headlines and updates on the collapsed school in Haiti. You can click on the title to go to the articles:

Death toll passes 90 in Haiti school collapse

Police detain owner of collapsed Haiti school

Hunger isn't History

The world produces more food than ever. So why do nearly a billion people still not have enough to eat?
I just finished reading this article from Christianity Today on issues related to world hunger. It reveals some of the underlying challenges that exist. Haiti of course is mentioned, but the article is really a good overview for anyone interested in a quick primer on the issue.

For the article you can click HERE

School collapse in PAP, Haiti

A sad thing occurred today: a two story school building collapsed with about 700 students and teachers inside. There are a number of places you can find more information, but here is one:

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hwMKYRmoabrdGe_xG8dFvzLw9khQ

The school is located in Petionville which is where I stay when I go down to PAP. St Joseph's School for Boys is in Petionville.

Also, very sadly and maddeningly, two of the hospitals in PAP (including the General Hospital) are currently closed due to strikes.

Ben

Here is a video from CNN on the event. Some really hard-to-see scenes:

Nelson's meds

We have a donor for Nelson's meds!! 

As you look over the "Special Giving" section of the website you'll see that a number of the needs have been covered, and these needs have ONLY been made known since July 2008!!!

These include
1.  Funds to allow Alfred's four children to continue to attend school since he is now disabled after suffering severe burns to his arms and legs.
2.  Enough money to help the village of Toma Elli build 40 school benches.  No more sitting on the ground!!!
3.  The cost of Nelson's daily antibiotics has been covered.
4.  Funds to build about 3 cisterns in Pestel using Dr. John Leininger's system (see previous blogs).

This is wonderful and remarkable. 

We also recently received word that our church will be collecting certain donations for Haiti this Christmas.  What a blessing and an encouragement, both to us and to those who will receive all of these gifts. 

I wish you could be there when they hear how God is answering their prayers through "the good people back in the United States."  I remember specifically telling one of the villages that I was certain that God would move in people's hearts in the US.  This statement, I recall, came from a conviction that God is very active in working out His good plan for the people of Pestel.  I believe it will become a beacon of hope built on faith, not by Man's hands and efforts. 

Men can do some impressive things (as they have done and will continue to do in Haiti).  But God can do immeasurably more than we can ever ask or imagine.  I'll invest in God's kingdom!

Ben   

PS You can go to Pestel, btw....just let us know if you are interested  :)  Next trip is going to be late Feb or early March.  At this point I envision that the trip will probably include some of the following (though nothing has been firmed up):
Help construct and set-up the plastic cisterns
Data collection (video, photo, GPS data, health data such as malnutrition)
Health eduction (on basics such as hygiene, recognizing dehydration in a child)

Medication news for Haiti

Hi All,

As many of you know I have been working with an orphanage in PAP, Haiti called Wings of Hope.

You can find more information about the orphanage (which is part of Hearts with Haiti orphanages).

http://sites.google.com/a/fabfamily.org/haiti-medical/Home/who-were-working-with 

Through a really neat collaboration with folks in Canada, we have been able to obtain a year's supply of free meds for the residents of Wings of Hope!!  This includes a number of anti-seizure medications as well as antibiotics.  In short, two guys who work for a pharmaceutical company in Canada proposed to their board that a donation of meds be made to Wings of Hope.  We then drafted a list of meds with quantities, and the request went through!!  

Perhaps God will continue to use this relationship to further benefit the kids and people of Haiti.  It would be great if their hearts would be moved to extend this opportunity to the people of Pestel, for example.

Second point is a special giving option:   you will recall that Nelson stayed at our house last year (March 2007) and had a valve replaced.  He lives in Pestel.  He will continue to take amoxicillin for the rest of his life.  As such, there is an opportunity for someone (or a group, for example) to purchase the medications he needs.  I would plan to purchase the meds (or try to get the meds purchased in Haiti--preferable) for him on an annual basis.  

If this is something you would be interested in participating in please let me know.  You can participate in part or in full (and just let me know whether you would anticipate this being a one-time gift or an annual recurring gift).  The cost?  Probably something like $120-$150 or so per year.  Might be able to get this cheaper in Haiti, though.

I'll plan to post further information on the "Special Giving" section of my website. 

Thanks!!

Ben