Our trip to Delmas, South Africa was a beautiful whirlwind. There is nothing like joining in the redemptive work of God in the world, whether close to home or far away.
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Our church community will be partnering with Amor Ministries this summer to build a home in South Africa for a family in need. As I learn more about South Africa, I see a story that is both broken and beautiful.
The oppressive apartheid regime ended in 1994, and yet economic and social problems continue to linger today. One third of the population lives on less than two dollars a day. Almost ten million people live in poverty housing, crowded into townships in shacks made of whatever people can piece together — cardboard, scrap wood and corrugated iron.
Our church has partnered with Amor over the last couple of years in building homes in Mexico. We appreciate the heart of service behind their ministry — Amor works with local pastors to listen to the needs of their communities and to find ways to bring long-lasting hope and transformation.
I designed a graphic below to give supporters a quick glance at our South Africa trip. I deeply appreciate your prayer for our team.
On the way to gather with our church this morning, I heard a great story on the radio about WE CARE Solar (Women’s Emergency Communication And Reliable Electricity). Their motto is, “Saving mothers’ lives with solar-powered light and communication.”
WE CARE was founded by Dr. Laura Stachel, an obstetrician, and her husband Hal Aronson, a solar power engineer. Maternal mortality accounts for half a million deaths worldwide each year, of which 99% occurs in underdeveloped countries. Proper medical/surgical care is greatly impeded by a lack of reliable electricity to power lighting, equipment and communications.
Dr. Stachel and her husband developed a “solar suitcase” that can provide much-needed electrical power to fulfill their mission, which is to promote “safe motherhood and reduce maternal mortality in developing regions by providing health workers with reliable lighting, mobile communication, and blood bank refrigeration using solar electricity.”
The “solar suitcase” powers two overhead LED lighting, charges walkie-talkies and cell phones, and includes LED headlamps that come with their own rechargeable batteries. The first deployment of these systems occurred in June 2009. Now these systems have been introduced in nine countries. Most recently, we were asked to send solar suitcases to Haiti, where they are being used by medical relief teams and maternity clinics.
A donation to WE CARE could make a fantastic Mother’s Day gift this year!
One of the things our family enjoys about the free Booksneeze review program is the occasional DVD that comes along. My daughter has enjoyed Gigi videos in the past, so she was really excited to watch this one, Gigi’s Big Break.
Here is my daughter’s review, in her own words:
I discovered the work of Plant With Purpose (formerly known as Floresta) through The Ecclesia Collective here in San Diego. I was hooked by the question on the flier advertising a seminar they were leading: What is the connection between deforestation and poverty? For me, the question went a step further: What does any of this have to do with loving & serving people, and participating in the mission of God in the world?
Tending to Eden: Environmental Stewardship for God’s People by Scott Sabin, executive director of Plant With Purpose, addresses these questions in a way environmental-laypeople like myself can understand and relate to. Eden is filled with engaging stories from Plant With Purpose’s work around the world, and from Scott’s own experience. I was happy to receive a review copy of Eden as part of the Plant With Purpose blog tour, which includes many thoughtful perspectives from across the blogosphere.
headsparks* 