The Devastation Happening in the Horn of Africa

This is a post that I put on our other blog over at  http://thirtythrupoverty.blogspot.com/   I am posting this URGENT need here as well in hopes that more people might see it. *** It appears that the text below is being cut off because of the layout of the other blog.  Please click on the link above for full post.  Thank you!

So far this blog has been used to raise awareness of the extreme poverty around the world.  As we continue to bring awareness we would also like to provide you with ways that you can make a difference in helping the millions of people who are living in extreme poverty today.

The news clips that are coming from the devastation that is happening in the Horn of Africa is overwhelming and heartbreaking. The sheer number of people that are being affected is staggering.  To think that 30,000 children have already died in the last 3 months alone in mind blowing.  I agree with the reporter in the above new clip that the headlines of every newspaper and every news clip should speak of the 600,000 children who are on the brink of starvation every single day until there is action to help these children.  To think that over 12 million people are starving is hard to even comprehend, yet it is true and it is happening RIGHT NOW!

Living in the Western world we are so far removed from situations like this.  It is only when I view these news clips as though it were ME walking those long dusty roads in the heat of the day with no food or water.  It is when I picture myself carrying my dying child while my other children struggle to walk out of sheer weakness from lack of food and water.  It is when I put myself in the place of the mother who has to decide which child to continue this long journey with and what child to leave behind.  It is when I put myself in the place of the mother who has to walk away from their child who just died, knowing there is NOTHING I can do, but continue on in hopes of getting help for my children that survive the journey.  When I put myself, my children and my family into the equation that is when stories like these really pierce my heart.  It takes an intangible situation and makes it personal! Every one of these people have a name, they belong to a family, etc. If I were in this situation I would hope that somebody would help me.

Stories like these are too much to take. It seems so unfair, so unjust, as Bono says "It is shocking.  It is disgusting!"  As my heart crumbles and the tears fall it is then that I cry out to God and ask what can I do to help?  How can I put action behind the compassion or emotions that I am having?  How can I make a difference?

There are several things that I and you can do to help.

1. Pray for the people of Africa.  The unimaginable grief that so many people are feeling right now must be crushing.  Pray that God would comfort them.  Pray that people would step up and help in any way possible to make this insanity stop!

2.  At the bottom of this post there is a link to a  petition you can sign to call on governments to save the lives of millions in the Horn of Africa.

3.  Make a donation.  Though there are many organizations out there, we as a family have supported Medical Teams International (MTI) for many years.  We can personally testify that they are a top-notch ministry.  You can check out their rating on Charity Navigators by following this link http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4070

Right now MTI has medical volunteers and staff hard at work to help those affected by this famine.  In a letter I recently received from them they stated that "A generous donor just offered to match all gifts for our east Africa famine relief effort-up to a total of $90,000.  With your help, we could quickly send $180,000 in emergency relief to people suffering from the famine - helping more than 36,000 people in the next three months."

An example of how far your American dollar will go in Africa it is stated that

"For $5 you can provide the medicines and care needed by one person.  $30 will help us care for a family. $90 will help three families. $150 will help five families."

The above figures are "because our volunteers contribute their time.  The medicines and supplies come from hospitals, clinics and generous companies here at home.  On  the field, we work with trusted local partners who know the needs and the best way to respond."

Please check out Medical Teams International's website at http://www.medicalteams.org/sf/Home.aspx for ways that you can get involved and make a difference.

http://act.one.org/sign/horn_of_africa_us/?source=horn_of_africafb