Worldwide Activity Report -- March 1997
FAR038 - GP

Copyright 1997 by The Family

         Every day, in nearly 80 countries spanning the globe, 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 the Family members involved.

Youth reaching youth
From Justin, Ike, Jasper and Rachel, USA
         When we and some friends -- all Family members in our late teens and early twenties -- came to Augusta, Georgia, to open a Family community, we especially wanted to do something to help other youth. Before long we met James, a pastor who works in several juvenile detention centers. He was impressed to see so many young people doing full-time volunteer work together. Immediately he asked us to help in the counseling programs at the detention centers.
         The first center we visited was for boys between the ages of 13 and 17. We put on a show with songs and a few skits, which the guys just loved. Then we spent time getting to know each of them personally, answering their many questions and providing a listening ear. It was rare, they said, that they found anyone willing to listen to what they were going through. Many of them really want to change and turn their lives around.
         One boy, a 13-year-old Latino, had only been in the States for a few weeks before he got into trouble. One of the guards asked if we spoke any Spanish, since this boy didn't speak a word of English. The boy was so touched when several of us sang for him and talked with him in Spanish. It was the first time since he'd been there that anyone had been able to communicate with him in his language.
         We have visited that center three times now, and each time has brought us closer to the boys. Sometimes they break down and cry when we explain God's unconditional love for them or express faith in them, and they always beg us to return.
         We also correspond by mail with these boys, and include Bible-based Family literature with our replies to help answer their many questions.
         "I thank God every day that there are people like you to bring His message to people like me who are going through hard times," one boy wrote.

Happy to be helping other kids
From Heidi, age 12, South Africa
         Hi, my name is Heidi. I really enjoy being part of my parents' volunteer work in children's homes. For a long time I had wanted to work with other kids and learn how to help them with their problems. When we came to Africa, I got my chance to do just that.
         These homes take in abused and abandoned children. Every week we do a sort of Sunday school program in three homes, using stories, songs and games. The kids really appreciate what we teach them, and take in all the lessons.
         When we first started visiting one home, a little three-year-old boy named Christian was very shy and would hardly talk to us or anybody else. But after a few weeks he started coming out of his shell. Now he is one of the more outgoing kids there, and really likes to have us around.
         I really am thankful that Jesus is giving us the chance to reach these kids' hearts and minds, and I am so glad that I can be a part of it!

Little lives transformed
From Mariana and Emanuel, Ecuador
         Three months ago we traveled to Sacha, a city in the Ecuadorian jungle, to distribute our educational audio-visual materials. There we met, among others, a couple who were immediately drawn to our videos for children. We couldn't help noticing, however, that their kids were unruly and unloving. They fought over absolutely anything and everything, including our videos, and managed to break two of the virtually unbreakable plastic video boxes in the ensuing struggle!
         Recently we made another trip to this same city, and called upon this family.
         "The Treasure Attic people are here!" the mother shouted out as we arrived.
         Then the "little angels" appeared -- only this time they really acted like angels! We were so surprised! We have witnessed the good effects of our videos countless times and received many, many responses from thankful parents and teachers, but none of that prepared us for the dramatic change we saw in those children!
         "They used to spent the whole day in front of the TV," their mother told us, "and many of the programs they watched weren't suitable for kids. But since they have had your videos, they don't want to watch anything else. I can't find any other explanation for the sudden change in their attitudes and behavior, and I can't thank you enough!" she exclaimed.

Helping neighbors in need
From Jonathan and Celeste, USA
         Nearly every day in every major city, fires, explosions and other "small" disasters occur. Seattle has its share. Reports of these mishaps seldom make national or international news, but they throw people's lives into turmoil and sometimes change them forever.
         To help meet the need for able and ready relief workers and counselors, seven members of our Family community have completed the Red Cross basic training course and are now members of Seattle's Disaster Action Team (DAT).
         We never know what sort of emergency we will be called upon to help with. Several months ago, for example, three of us managed a shelter at Snoqualamie Pass, just east of Seattle, where the threat of avalanches closed the pass and stranded nearly 100 motorists for two days. Local families offered rooms in their homes to some of the travelers, but everyone opted to stay at the DAT shelter, saying they really appreciated the care our volunteers provided and the camaraderie they inspired.
         Another month we spent two nights managing a DAT shelter for the victims of an apartment fire, and also helped find housing for a family that lost their home in another fire. We are on call one week every month, but can put in extra duty when needed since we are a fairly large team.

Love's healing balm
From Nina, Thailand
         During a recent trip to a small, remote province, we visited a government hospital to encourage the patients and staff. It seemed a very normal thing to us, as nearly every day we conduct similar programs in hospitals and other institutions in and around Bangkok, but it meant quite a lot to everyone at this hospital. It was the first time anybody from outside their little town had taken time to do something like that for them.
         We sang meaningful songs to lift the patients' spirits and inspire them to keep fighting against their sicknesses, then spoke with them individually. Many of them were so desperate for someone they could reach out to that they burst into tears when they realized we were there just for them. The nurses were also impressed when they saw us being warm and giving reassuring touches to the patients -- a squeeze of the hand, or a pat on the shoulder -- and said that they needed to make time in their busy routines to take such a personal interest in those they care for.
         God sees who is in need of a special little drop of love and encouragement, and He shows us, too, whenever we ask Him to. This visit only took a few hours of our time, but meant so much to so many!

UN peacekeeper praises the Family's Bosnia relief work
From Enoch, Lily and Jenny, Slovenia
         In the course of our relief work in Bosnia's Bihac area, we have performed for and gotten to know many IFOR (NATO) troops and IPTF (UN police) personnel. After our shows, we spend time encouraging and counseling the soldiers on a personal level, as many are full of questions about life as a result of what they have witnessed during their stay in Bosnia. Brad, an American IPTF officer, has taken a particular interest in our work and has helped by booking shows for us in various towns and IFOR bases in Bosnia. He has also helped arrange IPTF escorts when we travel between Muslim and Serb areas.
         During his recent leave, Brad and one of his colleagues spent three days with us at our home in Ljubljana, Slovenia. We also visited him at his place in Bosnia. Following are excerpts of a letter we received from Brad after those visits:
         I just returned to my house and it seemed so empty. You brought so much happiness and sunshine into it, and now it's gone -- from the house, that is, not from my heart. What I received from you will remain in my heart until the very end. Thank you again, each and every one, for sharing with me the greatest gift of all -- God's love.
         I recently saw one of the [IPTF] people I arrived in the country with, and it was disturbing to hear from him how many of the others [we came with] had given up the ship and gone home. Had it not been for your support and my secondary mission of helping your work, I might have done the same. Knowing that I'll see all of you every now and then means a lot to me, and helps to beat back the pervading feeling of hopelessness in Bosnia.
         I truly admire the work you do, and the effort each of you puts into helping others in your own special way. What a different world this would be if each person could do for one day what you are doing every day!

         The Family is a non-profit, volunteer organization. Each of the activities you have just read about was made possible through donations from businesses, associations and concerned individuals. If you would like more information about The Family, or if you would like to help sponsor Family volunteers or projects, please contact us at one of the addresses below:

Web: http://www.thefamily.org/family
E-mail: family@thefamily.org



Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family