Helping Oppressed People Everywhere

THE PURPOSE OF HELPING OPPRESSED PEOPLE EVERYWHERE IS TO REACH OUT TO DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHEREVER THEY ARE AND SHOW GENUINE LOVE AND CARE BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL NEEDS AND SUSTAINABLE INTERVENTIONS.

IN APRIL, HOPE TRAVELED TO LADYSMITH, SOUTH AFRICA TO SURVEY GARDEN LOCATIONS AND PRE-PURCHASE SUPPLIES FOR THE SUMMER SUSTAINABLE GARDEN MISSION. WE RETURNED IN JULY WITH HOPES LARGEST-EVER MISSION TEAM, 22 AMERICANS AND 10 SOUTH AFRICANS, WHO CONSTRUCTED, FENCED, AND PLANTED 6 FAMILY GARDENS AND ALSO REPLANTED THE LARGE COMMUNITY GARDEN ORIGINALLY INSTALLED BY HOPES 2022 MISSION TEAM. WE ALSO DELIVERED GROCERIES AND HOUSEHOLD NECESSITIES TO FOOD-INSECURE FAMILIES AND SHARED THE GOSPEL AND PRAYED WITH EACH OF THEM. OUR TEAM OF AMERICANS IN BRIGHT BLUE HOODIES CREATED QUITE A STIR WHEREVER WE WENT, AND TEAM MEMBERS EVEN USED GOSPEL BEAD BRACELETS TO SHARE CHRIST WITH A CURIOUS CASHIER AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE WHO INQUIRED ABOUT OUR PURCHASING 6 CARTLOADS OF GROCERIES. OVER 7,000 SEEDLINGS AND MANY SEEDS WERE PLANTED, BOTH IN THE SOIL AND IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE SERVED.

HOPE CONTINUES TO WORK THROUGH OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATION IN ROMANIA, PROJECT RUTH, TO PROVIDE ONGOING CRITICAL SERVICES TO ROMA AND UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE FERENTERI DISTRICT OF BUCHAREST. UNLIKE HOPES MORE PROJECT-BASED INITIATIVES, PROJECT RUTH IS PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE LEAST OF THESE ON A CONTINUING AND YEARLONG BASIS WITH PROGRAMS FOCUSING ON POSITIVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR MARGINALIZED AND AT-RISK CHILDREN, HEALTH AND HYGIENE, CHILDHOOD NUTRITION AND FOOD SECURITY FOR FAMILIES, SOCIAL SERVICES ASSISTANCE, AND CHILD AND FAMILY ADVOCACY. THE NUTRITION PROGRAM PROVIDED 18,093 HOT MEALS TO STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA AND HOT TAKEAWAY MEALS TO 28 FOOD-INSECURE FAMILIES EVERY DAY OVER THE SUMMER BREAK.

WE BEGAN 2023 WITH A HUGE FAITH ENDEAVOR OF RAISING THE FUNDS TO PROVIDE A TRUCKLOAD OF 1,250 CARE BOXES TO UKRAINIAN FAMILIES IN THE WAR-TORN ODESSA REGION. RAISING $55,000 ON SHORT ORDER SO EARLY IN THE YEAR WAS A DAUNTING TASK, BUT GOD PROVIDED BOTH THE FUNDING AND THE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO TRAVEL TO BUCHAREST AND PERSONALLY PACK AND LOAD THE BOXES ONTO A TRUCK BOUND FOR ODESSA. DURING ONE WEEK IN MARCH, OUR TEAM PACKED 1800 BOXES TOTALING 31.5 TONS OF FOOD! THAT?S 151,200 MEALS?ENOUGH TO FEED 7,200 PEOPLE FOR AT LEAST A WEEK! NOW ALL GLORY TO GOD, WHO IS ABLE, THROUGH HIS MIGHTY POWER AT WORK WITHIN US, TO ACCOMPLISH INFINITELY MORE THAN WE MIGHT ASK OR THINK, (EPHESIANS 3:20, NLT).