News | YWAM-Mercy

The Forgotten Killer

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:00:00 -0500

Poor water, sanitation and hygiene is the world's forgotten issue. It is the second biggest killer of children, taking the lives of 5,000 across the globe each day. At any given time, almost half the populations of the developing world suffer from diseases associated with inadequate water and sanitation. One in every two girls who drop out of primary school in Africa do so because they must walk long distances to collect drinking water or because the school has no toilet. Across the world, a lack of sanitation leaves girls vulnerable to attack, sexual assault and HIV transmission. It is predicted that the UN will miss by decades its 2015 target to halve the proportion of people without access to these basic necessities. [TEARFUND]

Tagged: children, sanitation, hygiene

Christian Aid goodwill ambassador 'humbled' by award

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:02:00 -0500

Summary:
The Rev Canon Gideon B Byamugisha says he is overwhelmed, excited and humbled to have been named as this year's recipient of the prestigious Niwano Peace Prize - the Nobel Peace Prize of the faith community.

Click here to read the full article: Christian Aid goodwill ambassador humbled by award

Source: Christian Today

Tagged: aid, prize, award

Training - Addictive behavior and Impact upon Development Stages

admin — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:03:00 -0500

Developmental Cycles / Stages

Birth - One Year Bonging Stage (The Power of Being)

Developmental Tasks:
*To form a strong bond with another human being.
*To be taken care of.
*To build the foundations of a self, an identity.
*To accept touch.
*To accept nurture.
*To be sensual.

The self is formed by reflection off another human being. One can't develop self alone. The baby can establish a basic sense of trust in self and others, a sense that the world is a safe place. From the bonded position the infant can proceed with the task of separating, individuating and becoming an independent and autonomous person.

Core Questions:
Can I be safe? This is a trust issue.
Can I be me ? This is an identity issue.
Can I be accepted? This is an attachment issue.

Needs:
1) to be provided with a calm, predictable, consistent and loving environment.
2) eye contact
3) meaningful, loving touch
4) verbal communication with loving intonation and playful intonation

Affirmations for being:
*I'm glad you're here.
*Your needs are OK with me.
*I'm glad you're a boy or a girl.
*You don't have to hurry.
*I like to hold you.
* You can have all your feelings.
*I love you and care for you willingly.

IMPACT OF ADDICTION or being reared in a dysfunctional family
*Alcoholism causes personality changes which result in parents not being predictable.
*Infants have difficulty being calm and anticipating their needs will be met.
*Unpredictable responses to needs: a loving response / no response / an angry, rejecting response, or worse.
*Infant has a defense against pain if negative responses, may learn to split off awareness of needs and feelings, stop taking initiative to meet his needs, wait passively for any caretaking . Later on this becomes "Don't feel" "Don't be selfish"
*Difficulty trusting
*May later not believe the world is a safe place or that relationships can be reliable. Predictability is not rigidity.

Predictability for infants means that when they cry, they will be comforted.

Consistency is also not rigidity. Consistency means that there are limits that nurturing falls within and that it always falls within these limits.

Calm is not the absence of stimulation. Calm is stimulation which the child can absorb, stimulation that does not overpower the child and frighten him or her.

*Conrad Lorenz - Nobel prize for research on bonding - with geese
*Tom Brewster - Bonding and the Missionary Task

Nine To 18 Months The Power Of Doing

Developmental Tasks:
*To explore the environment without having to think about it.
*Develop sensory awareness by doing.
*Continues forming secure attachments with parents.
*Gets help in times of stress.
*Develops initiative.

Read On...

Source: http://www.darvsmith.com/dox/developmentalissues.html

Tagged: Developmental, Issues

"Crawl Across The Floor!"

admin — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:01:00 -0500

by John Bills

I was led down a rugged pathway by our friend Ana and her outreach team in Ethiopia.

It was hot and I was tired by the time we were ushered into a small 8’ by 8’ room where we were greeted by two men. One of these men was paralyzed from the waist down as a result of AIDS. The other was a young man who was blind in one eye because of a cyst that had developed also from having AIDS. The younger man was caring for the other man any way he could. We listened to their painful story of rejection and suffering. Recently the older one had been hospitalized, and his sister had found out he had AIDS. Consequently she rejected him and he was told never to contact her again.

This man had invited his priest on three different occasions to come and pray with him, each time an excuse had been made. He told us that all he wanted was someone to pray for him. Upon hearing this, the Spirit of God spoke to me and said that I was to pray over his life.

As I began to stand and walk over to him, I felt impressed instead, to crawl across the floor. It didn’t make much sense to me, but I know it is better to obey than not. So, on my hands and knees, I crawled across the filthy floor to where he was lying in his bed. When I reached him, I laid my hands on him and began to pray. During that prayer, he welled up with tears and began to say, “I am a broken man, I am a broken man.” And with this, he turned his head to the wall. I then held him in my arms and gently comforted him saying that Jesus came to heal the broken hearted and bind up all of their wounds.

By then I needed to go outside for a good cry. My translator came out to explain to me why the man was weeping so much. This man had not been shown any form of acceptance by anyone other than his one friend. The man said that although his priest had not come and pray for him, God had sent someone from as far away as America to love him and pray for him. I was also told that culturally, to crawl on the floor, to someone standing or seated is showing tremendous respect and honor to them. I then understood why God had impressed upon me to crawl to this man. God will go to great depths to reveal His heart for those who are broken.

Tagged: Ethiopia, Africa, AIDS

Connecting for the Commission

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:45:00 -0500

Over 600 YWAMers recently participated in the Call 2 All event in Hong Kong. YWAM’s Mercy Ministries Director, Steve Goode, was there and he shares this report. For more information about Call 2 All please visit : www.call2all.org - Editor

On the first morning, I went early to the hall in the Asian Expo centre, 10 minutes from the new Hong Kong airport, to see where we were meeting. The hall was set up with four huge screens and hundreds of round tables. Over 3000 participants from 100 countries were attending during the day, and the evening meetings swelled to over 5000 participants. There was a section that was already filled with people so I walked over there. It was the Chinese delegation already reading their material in Mandarin, some were praying and I was overwhelmed.

I went from table to table welcoming them to Call2All and saying thank you for coming. I could not hold back the tears as I shook hands with the next generation of missionaries! They came from the poor places of Inner Mongolia. They came from the boomtowns of the coastlands and they had one thing in common…they were hungry to be met by God. They were the first to arrive and the last to leave in the evening. They wanted to be prayed for and they were so ready to pray for others.

The day before at the Global Day of Prayer, participants honored the 9 generations of the missionary family of Hudson Taylor for his impact in China. Repentance was a theme throughout the Congress – Hong Kong Chinese and asking forgiveness of their mainland Chinese family, British business people repenting to the Chinese for the Opium Wars and unrighteous trade.

One of the main things that I was doing behind the scenes was helping to launch the Global Compassion Network as well as connecting with the Call 2 All Business Network. The Global Compassion executive team met daily – a group that represent hundreds of organizations serving God amongst the poor. Connecting with people, organizations, missions and businesses was indeed fruitful and will continue with new e-forums and groups that are preparing implementation plans toward fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.

Another implication for YWAM is related to our work in opposing human trafficking and slavery issues. Several YWAM leaders from Mercy Ministries, the DTS Center, Nations2Nations, and Media Village met with David Batstone of Not For Sale (check out www.notforsalecampaign.org www.free2work.org and www.slaverymap.org ) to see how we as a Mission could have better impact with this critical global issue.

This was a historic gathering – God is indeed up to something in our midst that will help YWAM play our part in fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandment in this generation.

Tagged: Call2All

ECHO Agricultural Conference

toggle — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:02:00 -0600

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:

Three mornings of plenary sessions featuring knowledgeable and experienced speakers. Slated speakers include Dr. Norman Uphoff (researcher and advocate of SRI rice production worldwide), Salinee Tavarana (director of the Border Green Energy Teamthat provides hands-on appropriate technology training and financial support to village innovators in ethnic minority areas on both sides of the Thai/Burma border) as well as Jon Jandai and Peggy Reents (founders of Pun Pun, organic farm, seed-saving operation, and sustainable living and learning center known especially for its promotion of earthen houses).
Dozens of afternoon and evening workshops and discussion groups led by regional agricultural development workers and experts (possibly including you).
A day of post-conference tours (September 25) to notable venues which offer excellent examples of sustainable agriculture, appropriate technology and outreach to the poor.
Members of the ECHO team based in Ft. Myers, Florida, including Stan Doerr (President/CEO of ECHO), Beth Doerr (Intern Manager/ Agricultural Consultant who brings expertise related to the Moringa tree and Appropriate Technologies), Dr. Tim Motis(Director of ECHO’s Agricultural Resources Department and Seed Bank Director) and others. Excellent and affordable conference-related accommodation and meals at Chiang Mai’s Empress Hotel http://www.empresshotels.com/empress_hotel.html
A resource fair featuring displays and booths by various development organizations and businesses.
Unlimited networking opportunities with fellow conference participants and resource persons. Additional information, including on-line registration and payment, will be made available via the ECHO website (www.echonet.org) by early 2009.

For more information please contact Rick Burnette at rburnette@echonet.org. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the conference!

Tagged: agricultural, conference

YWAM Child Protection Policy revised

admin — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:00:00 -0500

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.

Tagged: policy

Pastor Roc serving those with HIV and AIDS

admin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:03:00 -0500

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.

I found out later that Pastor ROC and his wife have a small congregation that are not able to help very much financially for them to pastor the church, so both he and his wife have to work in the fields to get enough money to feed their children. He turned over his hands to show me the blisters and calluses that have been produced by years of hard work. Even through this hardship, he remains faithful to God and serves with a compassionate heart, those in the villages around his church.

He volunteers at this AIDS clinic we visited to pray with the staff and patients.

As we arrived at the clinic, I was immediately brought before the staff to hear their stories and pray for them. I then was taken out into the bush to visit a couple of families that are suffering from the results of AIDS. I cannot begin to describe to you what if felt like to sit on the dirty floor of one of the homes to pray with a mother dying from AIDS. She is carrying for a daughter and her six children, both widows whose husbands died from AIDS. This amazing mother has a faith in Jesus and a hope that overshadows the hopelessness that many would feel in this kind of circumstance. As I sat next to her on the floor, I wrapped her in my arms and began to bring a word of love and comfort to her from a loving heavenly Father. It is these kinds of moments, that you forget the surroundings of smells, heat and flies and experience the presence of God in your midst.

When I finished praying for her, Pastor ROC said that he felt such a deep presence of God in the room as if God was there physically touching each of us. Each in the room testified of the same thing. Out in the bush, in homes like the one I visited is the working power of God moving from household to household. When scripture says that God is near to the brokenhearted, that word has become alive to many. I feel humbled to experience it.

Tagged: HIV, AIDS

St. Ameria Orphanage - Aids, Poverty and providing hope

admin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:02:00 -0500

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.

They have put a nice seating area outside under a new roof to greet guests. The girl’s dorm is complete where they are housing 27 girls. They have bunks three high, two girls to each bed or mattress. The new boys dorm is partially constructed.

Doreen

Doreen is 12 years old and has been at St. Ameria for 4 years. She loss both parents to AIDS. She has HIV as a result. She had two brothers and two sisters who all died from AIDS when she was very young. Doreen was staying with a guardian when Edith found her and brought her to the orphanage. She was very ill at the time and was in the hospital for an extended time in order for her to be treated for the AIDS virus. Doreen wants to be a doctor when she grows up. Because of the faith in Jesus that all of the staff have shown her, Doreen has hope and trust in a loving Father to care for her in every way. Edith, like many of her staff, are orphans themselves, so they know what life is like having no parents and some having died from AIDS.

Tagged: orphanage

"Come to the Mortuary and bring a Casket with you"

admin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:14:00 -0500

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. Mabel had put aside for weeks, some of Melissa’s favorite foods. They don’t have a lot, so Mabel had to work for weeks to be able to keep that special food for this special event. When I asked them what they were going to do on her birthday, they said “nothing”.

I suggested that they make that day a day of celebrating her life. So, upon my advice, they brought the family together with a few friends, cooked up Melissa’s favorite food including a birthday cake and each one shared a warm memory of their lives connected with Melissa. There were tears but also laughter. They entered that day in uncertainly and finished with a healing touch on their hearts. Melissa was a prayer warrior even at the age of nine. She was always praying for the other children at the boarding school.

One Muslim father said that his daughter was deeply impacted by Melissa’s faith in Jesus and her ability to show so much compassion and depth of prayer. Her death has truly produced life in many. I personally came out of this time with them being emotionally and physically shaken by what I experienced. To show empathy for others does come with a price. But it is a price worth paying in order for Jesus to be glorified in the lives of those who are hurting.

Tagged: Uganda