Worldwide Activity Report -- July 1996
FAR027 -- GP
July 1996, by The Family, Zurich, Switzerland

Every day, in nearly 70 countries spanning six continents, full-time Family volunteers work to bring hope, happiness and God's Love to others. Following are some highlights of their recent activities and experiences, as reported by Family missionaries.

A new lease on life
From Mary Dear, India:
         "We have a life-and-death situation on our hands, and need your help!" A welfare officer from the local police station quickly explained the problem over the phone. One of their former constables had deserted his young wife, Rubina, and their newborn twins, who had been born seven weeks prematurely. She was penniless and alone with the babies in their crude hutment in one of the city's worst slums. We went at once to meet Rubina and see what we could do to help her.
         The twins needed special care, but the hospital where they had been born was seriously overcrowded and could not keep them. "Take them home and try to keep them very warm," was the only advice the doctors could give.
         We shopped for their most urgent needs -- vitamins, milk powder, fruit, and cleaning supplies -- then contacted one of our sponsors to discuss more long-term help. Through his generous donation, we were able to move Rubina and the babies out of the slum to a one-room apartment with electricity, and buy mattresses, mosquito netting and other basic needs for the babies. Then I spent a few days with Rubina, helping her to get set up in her new place and teaching her some of the fundamentals of newborn care.
         We also helped arrange several job offers for Rubina so she can begin to support her little family once the babies are old enough to be left part time in someone else's care. In the meantime, we will continue to help her financially.
         "My life was turning out so bad that I lost faith in all my own gods -- or in any god -- but your kindness has given me hope," Rubina told us. Then she prayed with us to the God of love and received His greatest gift, Jesus. She is so thankful for her new life!

Love's reward
From Sophie (19 years old), Slovakia:
         Imagine our surprise when we went to collect some donated goods from one of our sponsors and found that it included chopsticks -- lots of them! What in the world could we do with so many chopsticks? Then someone had an idea: Cook a Chinese meal for the orphans we visit weekly!
         We gathered all the needed ingredients, borrowed some Chinese background music tapes from a restaurant, and set off for a whole day at the orphanage. While our chef, David, and a crew of Family and orphanage teens cooked this special meal, others of us organized games and activities for the children.
         This was the first time that many of the orphans had eaten anything out of the ordinary -- and certainly the first time they had eaten a Chinese meal! Everyone gallantly persevered with the chopsticks, amid much laughter. The main courses were followed by an especially delicious dessert. Many said it was the best meal they had ever eaten. "It was more than a meal," one said. "It was an experience which we will never forget!" When it was time to leave, it was all we could do to disentangle ourselves from their many hugs.
         That day also gave us lots to think about. Our visits help the orphans feel that someone outside the institution's walls cares for them. They know that we love them, enjoy being with them, and are happy to share our lives with them. Little by little, they are learning that Someone up there really does have a special love for each of them and accepts them just as they are.
         Still, our visits are not always easy. Sometimes the teenagers are so rowdy or emotional that they try our patience to the limit. They all come from very troubled backgrounds, and it can be hard to get through to them. However, each time we've been tempted to give up, one of them will tell us, "I don't know what I'd do if you didn't come, I couldn't go on!" or, "Please don't ever leave us, we need you!"
         Well, that special day was like the payoff! It was great to see them all so happy, and we knew that we had all experienced a special joy together that none of us will soon forget!

Tomorrow's civic leaders in the making
From Faith, Thailand:
         Over a period of a few weeks, we performed several concerts and conducted a three-day camp for the 200 students of one of Bangkok's most prestigious girls' schools. The programs were designed to help inspire the girls to become good role models for their peers and active citizens, concerned about those who are less fortunate than themselves.
         "My students all come from very well-to-do families," the director told us. "Their parents see to it that they have every material need in life, and we can give them an excellent education, but you have helped make their lives complete. You have taught them to have a heart for the underprivileged."

A touch from Heaven
From Trudy, USA:
         A series of recent illnesses and medical problems made me acutely aware of the loneliness and discouragement that most invalids and shut-ins have to cope with. I had the support of a loving family and friends, but so many others have no one to help them through their most trying times!
         Since my recovery, I've been spending about one day each week visiting hospitals and nursing homes. I go room to room, usually accompanied by 17-year-old Joanie. We visit with individuals or small groups, and on a typical day we read to, sing to, comfort and pray with between 30 and 50 people.
         Most of the patients we visit are elderly, but we also find many younger people in these institutions. John, for example, is 30 years old. He is married, has two daughters, and led a normal life until he broke his neck in a diving accident. Now he is completely paralyzed and unable to speak. As I held his head in my arms and prayed for him, his tears flowed. We meet so many people like John who need a touch of Heaven's love!

Give your burdens to the Lord
From Dust, Romania:
         While out jogging, I came across an old man standing by the side of the road with a large bundle of sticks. He looked very tired, so I stopped to ask if he needed help. He accepted gratefully. He had gathered the sticks for firewood, he explained, as I took one end of the bundle.
         A few minutes later the old man was out of breath again and had to stop. He said he was recovering from a recent operation, and was still weak. I offered to carry the bundle by myself, and as we walked I talked with him about Jesus, the One who can carry all f our burdens and is always there to offer a helping hand. When we arrived at his house, the old man prayed with me to receive Jesus. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden," Jesus said, "and you will find rest" (Matthew 11:28,29).

Menders of hearts
From Chris, Russia:
         Since last autumn we have been helping to feed, clothe and encourage the many homeless families who live in and around Moscow's four largest train stations. On one of our first visits we met a family from Ukraine, Igor, and Katya and their four children, who have since become especially dear to us. During that first meeting we took time to listen to their sad story, and sympathized with them as they explained about the government's inability to do anything to help them and the thousands of other families like them throughout this country. All six of them prayed with us to receive Jesus as their Savior, and we gave them some of our literature and took a photograph of their family. When we returned a few days later, they and all the other homeless families had been expelled from the station. No one could tell us where Igor, Katya and their children had gone.
         Sx months later Nadia met them again at another train station. "We have been looking everywhere for The Family," Igor and Katya told her. "Several days ago we prayed that we would find you, and here you are!"
         Then they told her of the difficulties and heartbreak they had gone through since our previous meeting. After being forced from the train station, they took their family to a small village where they found some work and were able to stay in a small wooden house. A couple of months later their thirteen-year-old adopted son accidentally set the house on fire. Their youngest son, age five, died in the blaze. What few belongings they had were all burned -- everything, that is, except their children's Bible and the posters that we had given them, which they cherished as a source of comfort.
         "I know that God let the fire happen for some purpose," Igor said bravely, "but it's difficult to understand that purpose now. Thank God that He helped us find you, as we have no one else to turn to. We knew you would understand and help."
         The next day we brought them some food and the family picture we had taken. Katya couldn't stop weeping as she looked at the little one who died in the fire. They thanked us again and again for the photo the only one they have of their whole family. That photo will also help them find their thirteen-year-old son. Blaming himself for the death of his brother, he had run away.
         Through this and other experiences with the homeless, the Lord is teaching us to be menders of hearts and givers of comfort, and to weep with those who weep -- the bereaved and broken in spirit who need our help. It makes us all the more thankful for the wonderful lives Jesus has blessed us with, especially for our faith and knowledge of His living Word and loving ways which we can now share with others.

For more information:
         Visit The Family at our Internet Web site: http://www.thefamily.org/family
         E-mail: family@thefamily.org


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