Yesterday I was reading my mom's book to her (Kisses from Katie). It's about a girl who moves to Uganda to work in an orphanage and because of her passion for Jesus and love for these kids, starts her own ministry to feed and educate hundreds, plus adopt 13 of her own. It's really quite incredible.
My mom just finished reading it, but I asked her if I could read her the chapter I was on and she happily agreed - she really loves this book. Here's an exerpt:
"Amazima, in Luganda, means 'the truth.' 'You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.'...
Today, about a year after naming this ministry Amazima, I stand in awe of the truth with which God has presented me. In Uganda, I strive to teach my children and all children in our program and in our villages "the truth" of Christ. I know I cannot walk into a village and tell a child that Jesus loves her. She cannot comprehend that because, chances are, she has never been loved. I have to feed her, clothe her, care for her, and love her unconditionally as I tell her that I love her. Once she can understand and see my love, I can begin to tell her about a Savior who loves her even more. That is the truth for these children - that they are loved, that they are valuable, that they will not be left as orphans but that they have a plan and a hope for the future. What a beautiful truth.....And the truth is that these are only the children I know, in a very small fraction of a very small country. The truth is that there are children like this all over the world, sick, starving, dying, unloved, uncared for.
The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2.3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children. And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians.
The truth is that if only 8 percent of the Christians wold care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left.
This is the truth. I have the freedom to believe it. The freedom, the opportunity to do something about it. The truth is that He loves these children just as much as He loves me and now that I know, I am responsible."
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Repost: Best ways to give to poor
The following post by Bruce Wydick (Economics Prof at USF) is from World Bank's blog, but the article was originally written in Christianity Today. The question is basically, what is the most cost-effective way to positively impact the poor? Professionals rate these activities in order or most to least effective:
Only Fair Trade requires something of the poor. Ok, you think, that is ridiculous, we are to help the poor, not the other way around! The thing that Fair Trade has the power to do is EMPOWER the poor in a way that other interventions don't.
PAC, the organization I interned with in Nicaragua takes it a step further than Fair Trade. They build strong relationships with their farmers, and provide consistently higher prices through a simplified supply chain, good marketing, and higher quality coffee. They invite farmers to improve the quality and quantity of their product, and gives them access to tools (microfinance, technical assistance, etc.) to make it possible.
Poverty is complex, and PAC has found a multifacted approach that has measurable results.
And now, a picture so that people at least read a few words of the blog :)
- Provide clean water
- De-worming treatments
- Bed nets
- Child sponsorship
- Efficient stoves
- Micro finance
- Reparative surgeries
- Farm animal donation
- Libraries
- Fair Trade Coffee
- Laptops for kids....the list goes on
Only Fair Trade requires something of the poor. Ok, you think, that is ridiculous, we are to help the poor, not the other way around! The thing that Fair Trade has the power to do is EMPOWER the poor in a way that other interventions don't.
PAC, the organization I interned with in Nicaragua takes it a step further than Fair Trade. They build strong relationships with their farmers, and provide consistently higher prices through a simplified supply chain, good marketing, and higher quality coffee. They invite farmers to improve the quality and quantity of their product, and gives them access to tools (microfinance, technical assistance, etc.) to make it possible.
Poverty is complex, and PAC has found a multifacted approach that has measurable results.
And now, a picture so that people at least read a few words of the blog :)
Hugo and I checking out a huge selection of cheeses in Toulouse, France. I wish Newton had specialty cheese like this...I've heard rumors that a local dairyman Jason might start up - if he makes artisan swiss cheese, I will buy it!
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