- 8 November 2008
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The 2nd ECHO Agricultural Conference will be held at the Empress Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand fromSeptember 21-25, 2009. Geared towards enabling persons serving Asia’s poor to network solutions related to alleviating hunger and poverty, this ECHO conference will offer:
The YWAM Child Protection Policy guidelines have been revised. The most current copy of the YWAM Child Protection Policy can be found in the YWAM Mercy documents section.
Reported by John Bills
While in Jinja, I was invited to visit an AIDS clinic out in a remote village. I was greeted by Pastor ROC a Ugandan with a huge heart for those suffering from AIDS. We traveled a very long distance packed beyond description in a public transport mini van. Just when you thought there was certainly no more room for another person, the driver would stop and pick up three more. We had a wonderful time of sharing together of the goodness of God in our lives in spite of the crowded conditions.
He motioned for the driver to stop along the road as Pastor ROC wanted me to greet his wife. So, the driver stopped and Pastor ROC motioned for a women working in a near by field to come over to the van. Over to the van came his wife, aged from the sun, dirty and sweaty from working in the hot sun. She greeted me with the biggest smile and said what an honor to meet me.
Continue reading Pastor Roc serving those with HIV and AIDS...
From John and Jill Bills report June 2008 Uganda –
St. Ameria Orphanage
John Mark, a Ugandan who is a student in the YWAM DTS I taught in for that week, escorted me to the St. Ameria orphanage. John Mark has a remarkable story. Both of his parents died from AIDS and he was left at the age of 13 to care for two brothers and a sister. As a young adult now, he has worked hard to care for his siblings to give them food, clothing and an education. He now works in another orphanage of 200 orphans. He wants them to receive what he did. He is a young man who displays a humility and dependency on Jesus in every area of his life and those he cares for.
As I walked onto the property of the St. Ameria orphanage, I was greeted with squeals of excitement, not only from the children, but also the staff. Edith especially came running up to me yelling and laughing as she gave me the biggest hug. It was one of those emotional moments where tears are way out of control.
I stood in amazement of all of the construction work that they have done on the orphanage since I was there last year. I have had the privilege of seeing money raised for the much needed building additions for the children in this orphanage. Edith was so proud to show me the work that has been done on the orphanage. They took me from room to room to show me the new improvements. What I saw was amazing.
Continue reading St. Ameria Orphanage - Aids, Poverty and providing hope...
A report from John Bills on their time in Uganda after the fire that killed 18 young girls at a Boarding school.
“Come to the mortuary and bring a casket with you.”
These were the only words that Dickson and Mabel heard from the mortuary to confirm the fate of their daughter Melissa. Melissa, nine years old, along with 18 other young girls, died in a horrible fire at their boarding school. The reason of the fire was due to some arsonist with unknown motives.
Dickson and Mabel are YWAMers and Melissa was their only biological daughter. They have an adopted daughter around the same age as Melissa. I sat with Dickson and Mabel under a tree as they went through every detail of what happened to their beloved daughter. As with any trauma, there are always the questions and doubts. It was such an honor to be allowed into their suffering to bring comfort and prayer. They had just buried their daughter a few days prior and now they were faced with her upcoming birthday.
Continue reading "Come to the Mortuary and bring a Casket with you"...
YWAM Cambodia is having an impact upon mothers and children in one of the poorest northeast regions. Just a few years ago the province of Stung Treng, Cambodia had a high mortality rate for children under five years of age from six preventable diseases. Also deaths from pre/post natal care was high.
While attending a Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) training session in Stung Treng in 2007 – the TBA’s from 40 villages were asked, “How many mothers or babies died in their villages in the first six months of 2007” ? After animated discussion, they reported, “None! “
Steve Goode
See the website of UNICEF -
http://www.unicef.org/evaldatabase/files/Cambodia_2003_012_TBA_Programme.pdf
The following work continues and the province of Stung Treng has one of the lowest rates of malaria in 2008 due to YWAM’s work in the province.
From the website CAMBODIA DAILY– www.cambodia.net/malaria/gains
Behind the dry technical name vector control lies the most potent weapon in Cambodia’s medical arsenal against malaria the distribution of free mosquito nets in areas where the disease is most prevalent. Started in 1992, the net distribution program is the brainchild of the Cambodia National Malaria Center (CNM), supported by the World Health Organization and an array of NGOs which operate in remote areas of the country where the incidence of the disease is highest.
The Cambodia Daily, for its part, has launched its own campaign to collect donations and distribute nets to areas where they are most badly needed. Last week, The Daily delivered 380 nets‹worth a total of $1,900 to Kompong Speu province.
Continue reading Making net gains against malaria spread...
The ywam-memorial.org site is ready for you to visit, register, create memorial pages, make comments and upload pictures about those who have died while serving God through YWAM. We hope that it will be very user-friendly.
I have been deeply moved by what people have already been saying. I think that you will be touched as well as we see how God has impacted people’s lives in our midst over the last 48 years. Please feel free to share this site with your various networks, forums and friends of YWAM.
There is also a resource page where people can find help about the process of grieving, bereavement and much more. This is a sacred place where we can honor, remember and give thanks to God for those who have died while serving in YWAM. This site is also a place to take some time to reflect upon how our family and friends have touched our lives, been models for us and to share some thoughts.
A big thanks to Adrian Young who has helped technically put this site together and to many of you who have already sent pictures and made comments about your friends. Now this site is open for all of YWAM and our friends to be involved.
Also, you have asked how you can contribute financially to this ongoing site development and there is information on the site. We welcome your first visit and ongoing visits to this ywam-memorial site and look forward to your reflections and comments.
May God be honored above all.
Steve Goode
