Worldwide Activity Report -- September 1997
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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.

Aid to North Korea's starving millions
From Tim and Daniel, Korea
         As the United Nations continued to call world attention to the famine conditions in North Korea, the first two-ton shipment of food aid from The Family in South Korea was delivered to some of the hardest-hit villages. Bernie, a Western friend of The Family who had been granted special access to the stricken area by North Korean officials, added our contribution to a large aid shipment he had amassed, then chartered a ship to get it there, and personally delivered it to villages suffering acute shortages.
         Once that shipment was underway, we sent out an appeal to The Family worldwide, as well as to our many friends here in Korea and abroad. As a result, we recently sent off a second shipment of 13 tons of rice -- enough to feed 500 adults and 1000 children for one month!
         In addition, Tim and Marina, a Family couple in Japan, collected four tons of packaged foods for the famine victims, which Bernie also helped arrange delivery of.
         We are now redoubling our efforts, as the latest predictions from international aid agencies are that millions will starve within the next few months unless adequate aid is provided. Please help if you can!

Elderly and disabled get a lift
From Ken, England
         About a year ago we embarked on a joint project with one of our friends and supporters to acquire a minibus to take the elderly and disabled people of our town on outings.
         Proceeds from the National Lottery are used to fund charitable causes, so we decided to file an application for a grant. After considerable effort and seemingly endless paperwork, we were told that our chances of getting such a grant would be like winning the lottery itself. The board receives that many applications! Down but not out, we called on all the Family communities in and around London to pray with us that the grant would come through.
         Just before last Christmas we received word that the project would receive a grant of 60,000 (about $100,000) to help it get off the ground. There was still considerable legal work to be done, however, as we needed to form a registered charity in order to qualify. Several months later, our application was accepted. We now have a charity committee made up of Family members and several other local residents, including a policeman who was wounded and disabled on duty, who is our honorary president.
         In June we received delivery of a brand new minibus, specially fitted out to meet the needs of the disabled. The lady mayor of our town attended the key ceremony. We have since hired a driver and coordinator to run the minibus service.
         We're so glad we persevered, as many elderly and disabled people's horizons have now been broadened and brightened!

The Family Singers assist Red Cross fund-raiser
From Miguel and Cindy, USA
         The Alexandria Waterfront Festival is the largest Red Cross fund-raiser in the nation, and one of the largest in the world. This year an estimated 80,000 people attended the two-day event. Our group of singers, dancers and musicians, named "The Family Singers," were invited to perform three shows in the Waterfront Festival Family Pavilion. We also had our own booth to distribute Family-produced children's videos, and some of our young members sculpted hats and animals from balloons.
         Here are excerpts of a letter we later received from the coordinator of the event:

Dear Cindy, Miguel, and the talent of The Family Singers,
         Thank you for your support of the 1997 Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival. The Family Singers' vivacity and sponsorship of the Waterfront Festival Family Pavilion was spectacular! The educational presentation display, musical talent, balloon sculpting abilities, and overall terrific talent of The Family Singers was a dynamite addition to the Waterfront Festival Family Pavilion.
         I sincerely appreciated all of your extra help bringing this event together, and the flexibility, professionalism, and friendliness of everyone with The Family Singers. I look forward to working with you again in the future and on the 1998 Waterfront Festival Family Pavilion.
-- Brenda Olcott
Family Pavilion Coordinator
Alexandria Red Cross

Texas tornado relief
From Tito, USA
         Members from The Family's communities in Austin and Corpus Christi served as volunteers at the Red Cross relief center in Jarrell, Texas, after a tornado killed 32 people there. The Family team took food, supplies and a message of comfort to the tornado survivors.

A homegrown cure for urban ills
From David, Bethel and Lynn, Bolivia
         Since May we have been involved in a rural educational project for indigenous peoples, which is being sponsored by German special interest groups. By providing quality education and job opportunities in rural areas, the program aims to help reverse numerous social problems that have been heightened by the mass migration of poorly educated, unskilled rural people to the cities.
         When the project organizers wanted to open a kindergarten to provide early learning opportunities to four- and five-year-olds, they asked us to help by giving training seminars to their teachers and foreign volunteers who will be coming to help for three- to six-month periods. Specifically they want us to train the teachers and caretakers to help the children develop socially and emotionally. They also asked us to recommend people to administer the project.
         If this pilot program achieves its goals, similar projects will be implemented in other rural communities throughout Bolivia.

Love your neighbor
From Eli and Tirzah, Japan
         For some time now, our children have done weekly cleanup projects at a nearby retirement home. The staff appreciates the help, and the elderly residents are cheered by the sight of the kids happily working away to make the seniors' surroundings more pleasant for them. The children also show a personal interest in the residents, and offer words of love and encouragement.
         Recently, after weeding our own yard, the children offered to weed and clean the yard of our neighbors, the local legal affairs bureau. The officials were both thankful and amazed that our kids would be so helpful.
         Now the children's goal is to find more neighbors, especially old people who are living alone and need a helping hand. They'll use some of their after-school hours for cleanup projects.
         The physical help is appreciated, of course, but most of all the children's initiatives to share God's love in word and deed touch hearts and inspire others to reach out and "love their neighbors."

Dead-end youth have a turnaround
From Andrew, Italy
         One day a co-worker and I were in a hurry to get somewhere when we came upon a girl kneeling on the sidewalk with a sign that read, "I'm hungry!" I gave her a pocketful of change and a Gospel tract, and we went our way.
         Half a block away, I felt a strong urge to go back and talk to her. I explained that to my co-worker, and we changed our plans. We invited the girl to a simple meal, and asked her about herself. She was sleeping at a dilapidated former school outside of town with some other homeless, jobless young people.
         A few days later we went out to see the place, and found it full of counterculture young people from different parts of the world. Their living conditions were bad, to say the least -- no electricity, no heating, no water. Begging and busking brought in enough that they could eat, but they were starving spiritually and emotionally. "People just drop money into my hand, when what I really need is love!" one of them said.
         We have visited them a few more times, and each time we answer their questions about God and faith, and challenge them to do something more with their lives. Since our first visit, three of them have returned to their homes to do just that.

Weekly miracles
From John Meek, Croatia
         We continue to make weekly visits to a camp for Bosnian refugees. Each time we distribute donated food, clothing or toys which we and other Family communities in Europe have collected on their behalf. Last week we took ice cream for everyone, which the kids especially enjoyed. Some said that it had been five years since they'd eaten ice cream.
         They are very appreciative of the things we bring them -- and they certainly need the help -- but many have commented that we don't need to bring them something every time we visit. Just the fact that we keep returning to offer friendship and hope is enough, they say.
         The payoff for us is seeing God work in their lives. When we first met one man, for example, he was suffering from serious depression. He cried for twenty minutes as he poured out his problems. We prayed for him on the spot, and told him that we were sure God had solutions which would change his life. A month later we could hardly recognize him. He had regained the joy of life and had an optimistic attitude. His eyes were bright and happy.
         Week after week we see miracle after miracle, as others are wonderfully changed by God's love!

         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:



Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family