Worldwide Activity Report -- November 1996
FAR032 - GP

November 1996, by The Family, Zurich, Switzerland

         Every day, in over 70 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.

Hospital visitation: No end to the need!
From Emanuel and Joy, Venezuela
         Patients and their relatives, doctors and nurses - all are very thankful for Tamar, Heidi, and Clara's help. The girls offer counseling, comfort and prayer at two hospitals here.
         It all started when the son of one of our friends was hit by a stray bullet. Such accidents are becoming increasingly common in poor neighborhoods here, where rival gangs clash over turf and the lucrative drug trade. The boy was in serious condition, so Tamar, Heidi and Clara took turns visiting him to talk with him and pray for his healing. They soon found that others in the hospital, including other gunshot victims, craved the same attention, prayer and comfort.
         "When you took time to talk with me, I found peace for the first time since being here," one young patient commented.
         The mother of another wounded teenager said, "The literature you have given us is exactly what we need in these difficult times. While we are here attending to our wounded loved ones, we worry about the rest of our families who are back home where shootings continue to take place. Your publications give us the assurance that God is going to take care of them, too."
         The hospital they were visiting is struggling financially, as most of its patients come from low-income families. The fact that in many cases neither the patients nor the hospital can afford the necessary medical supplies makes healing even more difficult and prolonged. As a stopgap solution, we have been asking the owners of drugstores to donate certain items needed by the patients. Several have been very sympathetic and helpful. Often the patients and their families are so grateful, they can hardly believe we took the time to help them.
         Tamar, Heidi and Clara also went to a children's hospital to pray for a four-year-old with cancer. The boy's parents had already lost one child to cancer and were now distraught to see it happening again. They very much appreciated our prayers and words of comfort. Other parents overheard the girls' prayers and asked them to pray for their sick children too.
         The article from the Family-produced Treasures book entitled "Why Does God Allow Sin and Suffering?" has been a great help to many. One doctor watched from a distance as Clara counseled some parents, then talked with her. "Maybe you only came to comfort these children and their parents, but please don't forget that we doctors also need encouragement," he said. Then, pointing to a copy of the article she had just given him, he added. "And we also need the answer to this question. We see suffering and pain every day. We want to help and heal each of these children, but we know that is humanly impossible. We need faith." When Clara prayed with him to receive the Lord and for divine help in his difficult and trying job, he was very grateful.

Bosnia: The pain remains
From John, Croatia
         Picture yourself surrounded by the wreckage of war, in a place where memorials to man's inhumanity to fellowman are as common as street signs, where suffering is etched on people's faces, where the sound of bullets and exploding artillery shells still echo in their minds, where despair is the order of the day. That is what four other Family members and I found during a recent visit to Mostar, Bosnia's second largest city.
         The ethnic groups that make up Mostar's population once lived in relative peace and harmony. That turned into a hell on earth during the war in Bosnia. Today Mostar is a divided city: Catholic Croatians live on one side of the river that runs through the city, Muslim Bosnians on the other. Many couples from mixed marriages separated during the war, and ongoing tension and animosity force most other Croat-Muslim couples to live apart. Cross a bridge, and you find yourself in a different country with a different currency, a different police force and a very different version of recent history.
         Everyone we've met has been personally affected by the war. Most have lost at least one relative, have one who was maimed, or were wounded themselves. Many people are still so bitter and full of hatred that it's difficult for them to receive God's love - the one thing that can heal their broken hearts and wounded spirits.
         Physical conditions are also very difficult. One family of 10 whom we visited shares a single room with no running water.
         We met a number of young people who want to do something constructive with their lives, but don't know where to start or whom to turn to for help. We organized a meeting for them, at which we related some of our personal experiences in an effort to inspire them to help find positive solutions to the problems they, their city and their country face. They appreciated our counsel and want to take up the challenge.
         Our hearts were deeply touched for the people of Mostar, and we want to continue to do all we can to help relieve their pain.

Nigeria: Much to be done, and few to do it!
From Aaron, Elizabeth and Josh, Nigeria
         What a busy month we had! It began with a week-long trip into the bush, helping to distribute medical aid to villagers. During the project, we worked side-by-side with volunteer doctors who treated about 2,500 patients for free, including performing several major operations. We helped run the pharmacy, and provided spiritual support to the patients. In the course of the week, we distributed over 4,000 pieces of gospel literature.
         Our next project was in the capital, Abuja, where our children's singing team performed at several primary and secondary schools. Over 2,500 students prayed with them and received Jesus as their Savior.
         Some of us also traveled to two southern cities, where the Family's The Lion, the Dragon and the Beast CD -- a collection of Bible Scriptures on the Endtime set to music -- was broadcast on the radio to a combined audience of over half a million people.
         We also continued our work at the Daughters of Abraham Foundation, a rehabilitation center for former prostitutes in the capital.

Beach party for handicapped children
From Matt and Rose, USA
         The children from our Family community were invited to perform for a Boy Scout beach outing involving 700 handicapped children from 23 different schools.
         The kids danced and clapped along during our musical show, and were enthralled by the puppet show which was put on by our crew of seven- to seventeen-year-olds. The chairwoman of the event was overcome with emotion as she thanked us for our contribution. "I can't tell you how thrilled I was to see the children's reaction to your show! I've never seen them so happy!" she said.

A rehab program built on love
From Joanna, Indonesia
         Once a week we teach English at a rehabilitation center for troubled youth here in Jakarta. The kids are all from upper-class families, but each has been involved in drugs, alcohol abuse, gambling or crime. The director has said that she considers our program a Godsend, and sometimes refers the delinquents' parents to us for counseling, rather than to the center's staff psychologists and psychiatrists.
         After one of us firmly corrected one boy for disrupting a class, he told us later that at that moment he understood that we really cared about him. From that point on, his attitude changed and we became close friends. He was released from the center not long ago, and returned to his hometown to resume his studies. He phoned long distance to say that everything was going well. His parents have since become close friends of ours as well.
         Another boy who had been in prison for robbery and is now in detention for alcohol abuse is scheduled for release soon. His parents have asked us to continue to counsel him after he leaves the center. The director remarked that in the 22 years she has worked there, this is the first request they have had of that nature.
         Other parents have been moved to tears that we've taken the time to befriend and help their children. We're happy to be able to be of service, and to share the love that God has given us.

Changed! -- And helping to change others!
From Tabitha, Norway
         I recently received an unexpected phone call from Arne, a man whom my husband Chris and I had helped several years ago. His first phone call back then had come as an even bigger surprise; he was on the verge of suicide, and had a gun to his head as he poured out his troubles and deepest fears to me, a total stranger! Stunned and very much put on the spot, I sent up a silent prayer, asking the Lord to help me convey His love to Arne and answer his questions wisely. The Lord answered, as Arne prayed with me over the phone to receive Jesus, and for a new start in life. Chris and I met with Arne a number of times after that phone call in order to offer counsel and support. As Arne came to know and love the Lord more, his outlook on life started to change -- and so did he. After a time, we moved and unfortunately lost contact with him.
         omehow he located us again, and when he phoned us recently, we had a long and warm conversation. He explained that his whole life was better and brighter. He had found a job and gotten married, and had been sharing the literature we gave him with his friends and relatives.
         "Knowing what a mess I used to be, they are eager to find out what brought about the change," he told us. He thanked us again for our help and asked if we could please send him some more Family posters, as there were others that he wanted to give them to. Four or five of his friends had already "learned to know God through them," as he expressed it.
         We're thrilled at the change in Arne, and thrilled that he's now helping to "change the world" by sharing the love he's found with others!

         The Family is a non-profit, volunteer organization. Each of the activities you have just read about were 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:

For more information:
         Visit The Family at our Internet Web site: http://www.thefamily.org/family
         E-mail: family@thefamily.org


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