Charities We Support

We believe that in order to live a fulfilled and happy life, we must learn to give back and help those who need a hand. 

 There are three organizations that have touched my heart in a very real way, and it is a privileged to be able to contribute in a small way, and hopefully make someones life better because of it.  I would urge you to check out these organizations for yourself, and should you feel led, remember them in your thoughts and prayers and consider providing monetary support as well.  

In the recent death of my precious son, I have been privileged to give to these organizations in his honor and memory.  Joshua’s greatest joys in life were his family and being able to help someone in need.  It is in this spirit of giving that I urge others to reach out with love to those in need. 

Safe Harbor International Philippines

This is a residential Care Center for children in the Philippines that is a ministry through Lighthouse Baptist Church in Festus, MO.  I grew up with John and Kim  and attended school and church with them as I was growing up.  It is wonderful to see what God is doing through them and their ministry in the Philippines.  I have borrowed a post from Kim’s blog to give you an idea of the type of situations they face as they try to help orphaned and neglected children find a home and come to know that God loves them.

No Thanks, I’d Rather Starve

My heart is still heavy this morning for two boys I met in town yesterday. Brian (who claims to be 12, but looks and acts more like he’s only about 8!) approached me begging on the main street downtown. This is a common, daily occurrence; and something you generally learn to ignore. Now, for those of you who have never experienced that, lest you think I’m being hard, I should explain that many of these children are working for someone. They do NOT receive the money they collect, but a small meal or a few pesos for their work. A few pesos is usually just enough for them to buy “glue” to sniff, which keeps them high enough to not face their reality.

This time was different for me. Brian was very dirty, his clothes were torn, he had no shoes on his feet. When I asked him where his mother was, he indicated she was in another province. I bought him a hot dog and used a local man to learn more about him. He has been sleeping in an abandoned building in town with some other boys, and is truly homeless and neglected. I asked if he would like to have a bed, good food, and go to school. As we spoke, his companion (a boy truly of 12 or 13) joined us. To my surprise, he asked me if I was Mrs. Piet and if I were talking about S.H.I.P. Foundation. I said “yes, how do you know about us?” It seems he is friends of another young man whom we tried to help, but who also preferred street life and ran away from our facility. (come to find out, he has a reputation for this in town, and even has a family in town, but wants the freedom of the streets)

Jericho (the older boy) convinced Brian that he should go with us to S.H.I.P., so both boys accompanied me on the rest of my errands. We bought Brian some flip-flops, then headed to S.H.I.P. where our social worker interviewed them both. They had some food, a shower, got a set of clean clothes, and were all smiles within the hour.

Upon interviewing them, we found out that Jericho has a grandmother nearby, and that Brian misses his mom. So Jovi (our social worker) planned to accompany them both to their respective homes. Since Brian’s home is about 1 1/2 hours away, they proceeded to the bus station. On the way, he told Jovi how his dad is an alcoholic and that the last time he ran away his mother beat him so bad that his back hurt for several weeks. Jovi’s plan was to make an assessment of the parents when they reached Brian’s home before leaving him there. Once they got to town, Brian told Jovi that he needed to get a few things from his “quarters”, so he went in and Jovi waited outside the building. After he didn’t return for several minutes, she went in and asked around, only to find out that he had slipped out a small opening in the back of the building.

We were so sad that for whatever reason, he chose not to let us help him. Some of these kids have been through so much, and have even dealt with the system so much that they trust no one. Maybe he lied about his family’s whereabouts, maybe he’s scared to go home, maybe he just doesn’t want to be told what to do. The truth is, some of them would rather have the freedom of street life, than to be disciplined…even if that means living without food and love.

Deep in my soul I know there has to be a way to reach these boys before it’s too late. Your prayers keep us going, keep us focused, supply our needs and bring us wisdom. I will look for Brian every time I go to town, and I will try to convince him to give us a chance to show him true love.

I John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

 

HEIFER INTERNATIONAL

www.heifer.org

Our History 

A Four-Footed Attack Against Hunger

 

Dan West, Founder

A Midwestern farmer named Dan West was ladling out rations of milk to hungry children during the Spanish Civil War when it hit him.

“These children don’t need a cup, they need a cow.”

West, who was serving as a Church of the Brethren relief worker, was forced to decide who would receive the limited rations and who wouldn’t – literally, who would live and who would die. This kind of aid, he knew, would never be enough.

So West returned home to form Heifers for Relief, dedicated to ending hunger permanently by providing families with livestock and training so that they “could be spared the indignity of depending on others to feed their children.”

In 1944, the first shipment of 17 heifers left York, Pennsylvania, for Puerto Rico, going to families whose malnourished children had never even tasted milk. Learn about the cowboys who brought cows and kids together.

 

Dan West’s idea has now changed the lives over 8.5 million people

Why heifers? These are young cows that haven’t yet given birth – making them perfect not only for supplying a continued source of milk, but also for supplying a continued source of support. That’s because each family receiving a heifer agrees to “pass on the gift” and donate the female offspring to another family, so that the gift of food is never-ending.

This simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief caught on and has continued for over 60 years. Since 1944, Heifer has helped 8.5 million people in more than 125 countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Ayla Zanoni is a beautiful, courageous three year old  that has Juvenile Diabetes. 

 

 

You can help fight juvenile diabetes by supporting research to  find a cure by donating the the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Please read this heartfelt letter from Ayla’s family and watch the video at the end:

Dante and I are writing this on behalf of Ayla,

Ayla was diagnosed with type 1 ( juvenile ) diabetes on January 30th,2008 at the tender age of 19 months. She will be insulin dependent for the rest of her life. So far, in her 3 short years of life she has been subjected to 4,360 finger and toe pricks and been on the receiving end of 3,150 injections of insulin. We are looking into an insulin pump for her, which would mean less injections and better control, but I guess the “selfish” part of me just wanted to see my baby girl enjoy one more summer at the beach , without visible tubing. It’s easier to pretend everything is okay when she looks just like any other kid, isn’t it? We plan to start pump classes this Fall. Ayla is so full of Life, and such a character! I can’t tell you how many times I have cried alone at night, wondering why this would ever happen to such a great little soul.
We have spent the last year and a half just trying to cope and survive this. Ayla had 2 very serious hypoglycemic seizures that shook me to my very core. Both happened while everyone was asleep, and the last was almost a year ago, but only 6 days after the birth of our youngest daughter. That is when I stopped sleeping for more than 2 hours at a time. I remember holding her as she seized, Dante on the phone with a 911 operator, and begging God for her life and the seizure to stop. Thank God, it did. It has taken a toll. I feel ALL the kids have been robbed of a part of their childhoods. Seeing my other children crying hysterically as their little sister is rushed away, dying in an ambulance. A part of their innocence and belief that Mom and Dad can make everything better is gone. I started eating to try to dull the pain and fill my aching heart up somehow, and gained a lot of weight. Dante started smoking again. Ayla can’t have a simple overnight at Grandma’s house, because Grandma and Grandpa are afraid to take care of her without us.
We chose to lay it all out for you, and not sugar coat anything. We need you to understand why we need a cure for diabetes NOW. We can’t wait. Ayla can’t wait.
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the number 1 funder of juvenile diabetes research. One of their largest fund raising events is the “ Walk to cure Diabetes”. This year we have formed a team called Hope for Ayla. This years walk will be held on Saturday September 13th, 2009 in Portland ME.www.walk.jdrf.org our team name is “Hope for Ayla”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kI1JFUV1OY

If you are interested there are 3 ways you can help us to provide Hope for Ayla.
• You can join our team, Hope for Ayla, which consists of family and friends and collect pledges and walk with us.
• Send a donation and contact your friends and family to send a donation as well. Contact us and we will send you a pledge form. You can also forward this letter to as many people as you like.
• You can send a tax deductible donation in ANY amount made payable to JDRF. We will deliver any donations, in Ayla’s name, the morning of the walk. You can also make a donation online

Thank You for helping us meet and hopefully exceed our family goal of raising $1000 for diabetes research. Hope to see you at the Walk!

Regardless of whether you are able to  make a financial contribution, I would ask that you keep Ayla and her family in your thoughts and prayers.  When making contributions, please make them in support of Ayla Zanoni.

You can get updates on Ayla and her family by following their blog.

http://oldesowfarm.blogspot.com/

Thank you,

Tammy

August 14, 2009 Article on Ayla in the Bangor Daily News

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/116034.html

Samartin’s Purse~Operation Christmas Child

The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) gives a clear picture of God’s desire for us to help those in desperate need wherever we find them. After describing how the Samaritan rescued a hurting man whom others had passed by, Jesus told His hearers, “Go and do likewise.”

For over 35 years, Samaritan’s Purse has done our utmost to follow Christ’s command by going to the aid of the world’s poor, sick, and suffering. We are an effective means of reaching hurting people in countries around the world with food, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ. This, in turn, earns us a hearing for the Gospel, the Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Our emergency relief programs provide desperately needed assistance to victims of natural disaster, war, disease, and famine. As we offer food, water, and temporary shelter, we meet critical needs and give people a chance to rebuild their lives.

Our community development and vocational programs in impoverished villages and neighborhoods help people break the cycle of poverty and give them hope for a better tomorrow.

We impact the lives of vulnerable children through educational, feeding, clothing, and shelter programs that let them know they are not forgotten.

We provide first-class treatment in the Name of the Great Physician through our medical projects, as well as supplying mission hospitals with much needed equipment and supplies.

As our teams work in crisis areas of the world, people often ask, “Why did you come?” The answer is always the same: “We have come to help you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Our ministry is all about Jesus—first, last, and always. As the Apostle Paul said, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5, NIV).

MISSION STATEMENT
Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid17736666001?bclid=36000809001&bctid=35998723001