Wo r l d V i s i o n Winter 2011 Bounty of Blessing Surprising gifts that multiply ... and bring smiles 1 2 | P r ay i n g T h r o u g h P h o t o s 21 | Raising Kids Who Care wo r l d v i s i o n President Richard E. Stearns Editorial Director Jane Sutton-Redner Managing Editor Diane J. McDougall Senior Editor James Addis Associate Editor Ryan Smith Contributing Editor Jodi Carlson Photo Editor Jon Warren Photo Researcher Abby Metty Production Manager Karen Latta Design & Production Journey Group Inc. World Vision, a free quarterly publication, affirms people responding to God’s call to care for the poor by providing information, inspiration, and opportunities for action, linking them with children and families in nearly 100 countries where World Vision ministers. In an effort to be careful stewards of our resources, this publication costs 57 cents a copy to produce. We welcome your comments or address changes. Contact us at: World Vision magazine, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716. Email us: [email protected]. To request to be taken off our mailing list, email us or call toll-free (877) 596-0290. “It’s a way that, after I’m gone, I can continue to help people. When my mom passed away, I decided to update my will. In addition to remembering my local church and others, I chose to leave a bequest to World Vision. They’ve had meaning to me during my lifetime.” All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. on the web My name is Judy Andrews. www.wvmag.org Use a barcode reader on your smartphone to scan this QR code and find a list of every link in this issue. And I’m investing in a better world for children. www.worldvisionmagazine.org Find the latest stories and photos www.facebook.com/worldvisionmagazine Connect with others who like World Vision Do your current plans reflect the legacy you wish to leave? If you have questions or would like assistance, call 1.888.852.4453. Read more stories like Judy’s at www.worldvision.org/mylegacy. GP113737_0811 © 2011 World Vision, Inc. We’re here to help . . . jon warren/World Vision www.twitter.com/WorldVisionMag Follow us for news from World Vision partners www.wvmag.org Find a list of every link in this issue 888.852.4453 Copyright © 2011 by World Vision, Inc. Winter 2011 On the Cover world vision magazine • Volume 15 • Number 2 Multiplied piglets give Arminda Alegre a reason to smile. content s jo n warren/wo rl d vi s io n jo n warren/Wo rl d Vis io n Departments above A sign outside a school in Kasengombe, Uganda, delivers a simple message: Young or old, rich or poor, we all have something to offer. 04 FROM THE PRESIDENT Divine chain reactions change the world. 05 FRONTLINES Below A groundbreaking wheelchair transforms lives; a Chicago Cubs fan makes amends; and more. Brothers living in Texas are developing a compassionate worldview through sponsorship and their parents' encouragement. 30 INSPIRATION Kids with a can-do attitude. 31 retrospect Laughter is the best medicine in Myanmar. ke vin va ndiver/genes is photos 28 WHERE ARE THEY NOW The principal of a large public school meets her former sponsors. Features 12 More Than Meets the Eye Photography makes poverty personal by bringing us close to human suffering. Let these images guide your prayers for people and communities around the world. 21 Raising Kids Who Care A Texas couple offers seven tips for helping children develop compassion. 21 24 Alive and Multiplied Pigs from World Vision’s Gift Catalog help bring a Bolivian family back from the brink of tragedy. world vision • Page 3 • winter 2011 f r o m t h e p re s i d e n t Spiritual Dominos T by ri ch st earn s wo rl d vi s io n arc hiv e he other evening I was Pastor Kyung-Chik Han (right) helped Bob watching “America’s Got Pierce establish World Vision in Korea. Talent,” a program that showcases just about Sun-chu trusted Christ, and quickly every kind of skill you can another domino fell. point a video camera at. Some time after becoming a Christian, I was struck by a man who called himself Kiel was among the first seven graduates the Kinetic King, the world’s greatest creof Pyongyang Presbyterian Seminary. ator of chain-reaction gadgets. In 1907, Kiel was one of the leaders of Each piece of a Kinetic King contrapthe Pyongyang revival. In January of that tion plays a small part. Its main job is to year, spontaneous prayer and confession “My word that goes out from set off the next link in the chain. Yet, just broke out during regular church meetings. my mouth ... will not return to like dominos, these pieces together set off Thousands of dominos fell. Those days of a spectacular reaction. fervent prayer are now considered the me empty, but will accomplish I believe that this is how God works birth of an independent, self-sustaining what I desire and achieve the in history. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Korean church. purpose for which I sent it.” Christ set up just 12 dominos, mentored When Kiel died in 1935, 5,000 people them, and led them in his way. He empowattended his funeral. He had preached the — i sa i a h 5 5 : 1 1 ered them with the Holy Spirit and then gospel throughout the country and had sent them off to go and do likewise. Two done more than any other person to make thousand years later there are more than 2 billion followers of Christianity a Korean faith through his social work and efforts Christ in the world. That’s a lot of dominos! toward Korean independence. One of his dominos, Pastor We see these divine chain reactions often in the Bible. Ruth Kyung-Chik Han, was closely involved in World Vision’s beginchose to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, after her husband nings in Korea. died. Ruth’s loyalty led her to marry Boaz. Their son, Obed, beThe church in Korea now numbers about 15 million, and it came the grandfather of King David, whose descendant was Jesus. sends more foreign missionaries than any other country outWe see these spiritual dominos at work in church history as side the United States. Millions of dominos continue to fall. well. In the 1880s, Robert Wilder was among the first generaAs Christians, we are all dominos in the chain reaction set tion of American missionary kids. Born in Kolhapur, India, he off by Jesus 2,000 years ago. The amazing thing about domiwas physically weak and fearful of public speaking. Though nos falling is that the chain reaction always starts small—with he earned entry to Princeton, one historian writes that Robert just one, seemingly insignificant domino. “broke down after a short term of service.” Whether you are sponsoring children, filling backpacks for Yet, his childhood had prepared Robert to love missions children in inner-city schools, talking to your own children, or work. During college, he signed a pledge along with friends to praying earnestly for the people and issues become a missionary. While he was too frail to fulfill his pledge, you read about in this magazine, you have Robert encouraged others to take up the task. One domino fell. no idea what how big the impact will be as During a preaching tour that took Robert through Chicago, he God multiplies your faithfulness. ● spoke to an audience at McCormick Theological Seminary that included Samuel Moffett. Samuel also signed Robert’s pledge, KEEP UP and engage WITH and within two years he landed in Korea. Another domino fell. rich stearns at www.facebook.com/ A few years later, Samuel shared the gospel with a man RichardStearns.WVUS. who had become disillusioned with his Taoist practice. Kiel world vision • Page 4 • winter 2011 N ews and notes about the work of world vision around the globe frontlines c o rey s c arrow/wo rl d vi s io n Compiled by James Addis f Desperate Measures Nesifo is starving. Sometimes she cries. Sometimes the 1-year-old simply nestles her head against her mother’s breast, seeking the little comfort she can. Though her condition is extreme, her story is common. After her family’s livestock died, her mother carried her across miles of parched Somali landscape in a bid to find food. They are among millions suffering from hunger in the Horn of Africa, which is experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. World Vision relief operations, which began in late 2010, include emergency feeding of children and delivery of food aid, medicine, and millions of liters of water for people and animals. The operations span Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania and are reaching more than 750,000 people. It is a monumental undertaking, but the plight of Nesifo and millions like her demands nothing less. To help World Vision save lives in the Horn of Africa, see the attached coupon. ● world vision • Page 5 • winter 2011 world watch D e ca d e s o f D i sa ste r It's not all in your head: The number of economically damaging natural disasters is increasing. The incidence of major flooding, in particular, has skyrocketed in recent decades. 385 CHINA annie l o /Wo rl d Vis io n 231 China | Floods Follow Drought 116 19 80 s 19 9 0 s 20 0 0 s china Number of major natural disasters Devastating flooding in Jiangxi Province in July destroyed crops and disrupted the critical rice harvest. Source: Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, January 2010. World Vision distributed 635 metric tons of rice to benefit more than 42,000 people and supplied 112 metric tons of fertilizer to assist with agricultural recovery. The flooding followed the worst drought in 60 years. Many benefiting from the distributions had already faced food shortages for six months. A petrol explosion and resulting firestorm swept through hundreds of tin, scrap-wood, and cardboard shanties in Sinai, one of Nairobi's notorious peoplepacked slums. More than 100 people died in the September accident, and as many were sent to hospitals for burn treatment. Survivors, having lost loved ones, homes, and their few precious belongings, fled to Tom Mboya temporary camp, where World Vision supplied aid and materials including bedding and kitchen items. Mekong Delta | More Than Sex Although human trafficking is strongly associated with the sex trade, a report released by World Vision shows that only one in 10 trafficking victims around the world ends up in prostitution. The report—“10 Things You Need to Know About Labor Trafficking in mekong delta world vision • Page 6 • winter 2011 ki t shangp lia ng/World Visi on kenya | slum fire the Greater Mekong SubRegion”—reveals that most of those trafficked worldwide end up in industries such as fishing, food processing, and domestic service. The report recommends several initiatives in the Mekong Delta, including vocational training and immigration advice. Haiti | Sanitation Scare Torrential rains this summer flooded camps where more than 600,000 people continue to live after the massive earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince in January 2010. World Vision moved quickly to restore adequate sanitation in several camps by installing more mobile latrines and repairing and sanitizing existing latrines. The organization also increased supplies of clean water. The actions were prompted by concern that a lack of clean water and sanitation in the wake of the floods would lead to further outbreaks of cholera. town’s school lunch facility was destroyed by the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck earlier this year. To date, World Vision has helped more than 80,000 people following the quake with basic necessities and meals, as well as school supplies and emotional support for affected children. Generous donors have given more than $57 million to fund the response. World Vision is calling for relief efforts to continue for at least another year. Last year’s floods affected more than 20 million people, destroyed millions of acres of crops, and sent child malnutrition rates soaring. To date, World Vision has reached about 1.5 million people with food aid, clean drinking water, hygiene kits, blankets, and shelter. Japan | School Meals World Vision began providing hot school lunches to children in Minamisanriku in June. The Pakistan | Crisis Continues More than a year after Pakistan suffered its worst flooding in modern history, japan Wo rl d Vis io n s taf f haiti jo n wa r r en / Wo r l d V i si o n f worst for women 1 2 3 4 5 / / / / / Afghanistan D.R. Congo Pakistan India Somalia World Vision is working in each of these countries to alleviate poverty and protect women. Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation, June 2011 kit shangpliang/World Vision Countries where women and girls face the highest risk of rape, child marriage, genital mutilation, stoning, “honor” killings, female infanticide, and/or trafficking. india India | Floods Hurt Severe flooding in July breached embankments, submerged roads and houses, and adversely affected more than 300 villages in Assam. World Vision shipped prepositioned emergency supplies from its warehouse in Guwahati to assist more than 4,000 families affected by the flooding. ● Co l l ins kau mb a/wo rl d vi s io n reinventing the wheelchair Don with Beauty, 4, a Zambian girl born with disabled feet. A groundbreaking innovation brings mobility to thousands. After working for years designing medical equipment, Don Schoendorfer was dissatisfied. The engineer from Irvine, Calif., would labor to come up with something better than his competitors, only to watch them turn around and produce something that topped his product. He felt as if he were on a meaningless treadmill—simply trying to make one company more profitable than another. But then Don learned that an estimated 100 million people in the world are forced to crawl in the dirt for lack of a wheelchair. And world vision • Page 8 • winter 2011 he wondered if this might be his chance to make better use of his talents. “One of the images that I brought back from vacation in Morocco,” he says, “was this woman lying on the ground crawling—using fingernails for traction, clothes ragged and knees bleeding.” Don discovered that the cost of a traditional wheelchair is beyond the means of many in the developing world. Also, those chairs are often unsuitable. So he founded the nonprofit Free Wheelchair Mission to provide robust, low-cost wheelchairs using parts readily available in the developing world, such as bicycle tires. Don’s first design worked well but could not be adjusted for children. He developed a new model in collaboration with Dr. Susan Shore, a professor of physical therapy, and Motivation, an organization helping disabled people achieve mobility. This fully adjustable chair costs about $70—a fraction of the cost of regular wheelchairs. That savings is possible, in part, because the chair does not need to collapse; intended beneficiaries seldom stow their wheelchairs in vehicles. So the chair is cheaper, stronger, and less prone to failure. This year, World Vision began distributing about 6,000 chairs for free in Africa and Central America. Don says the partnership with World Vision is a good one because of the organization’s longterm commitment to the communities it serves. It means there are trained World Vision staff nearby to properly adjust and maintain the chairs. For Don, it was an emotional experience attending the first distributions in Zambia, where many children suffer from cerebral palsy or polio—conditions that can often be prevented with better medical care. Most had to be physically carried off buses to attend the distributions. As they sat in their new wheelchairs, Don says, you could almost see the burden lifted from the shoulders of watching family members. For most beneficiaries, it was the first time in their lives that they had been able to move independently. ● f moving picture Whatever your background, you can change the world. Mei- c hu n jau/ g en esi s p h oto s Take a look at a Nancy Conant painting, and you might find it surprising—given the skillful execution—that she only took up art seriously about three years ago. Moreover, she developed her talent while suffering the effects of multiple sclerosis, a disease that has at times put her in a wheelchair and regularly causes bouts of chronic fatigue. MS forced Nancy, 48, of Grand Prairie, Texas, to give up her job as financial controller of an advertising agency. But she wasn’t about to give up on life. She began painting to satisfy a lifelong ambition to become an artist. A short while later, Nancy happened to join a study group reading The Hole in Our Gospel, written by World Vision U.S. President Rich Stearns. At first, she was overwhelmed by the book’s challenge to Christians to address the plight of the poor—particularly when Rich outlined statistics highlighting world poverty. But Nancy came to the conclusion that everyone is responsible for doing what he or she can. That helped lessen her feelings “of absolute futility” in the face of such tremendous need. Given the state of Nancy’s health, her ability to respond might seem limited. Nancy, however, was inspired by the cover of the Summer 2009 World Vision magazine, featuring 8-year-old Ekidor—a Kenyan girl who struggles every day to get enough you're wanted food to eat. “I could not get that beautiful little face out of my mind,” Nancy says. Like any good artist, she paints the subjects she loves. Nancy titled the work “Haunted by Hunger,” the same headline used on the magazine cover, and is auctioning the work online to raise money for World Vision. “Up until now,” Nancy says, “my part has been sponsoring children. But I had an epiphany and realized that, as an artist, I can do more.” ● women Join a Women of Vision chapter and address the needs of impoverished women and girls. www.worldvision.org/ womenofvision Cindy Kyser, Austin, ark. college students courtesy c indy kyse r Through child sponsorship, I have been connected with families in Southern Africa for several years. Last summer, I visited my sponsored children in Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Lesotho. This journey was a leap of faith—traveling alone more than 8,000 miles from home, with the conviction that meeting in person was important. When I arrived at a school in Zimbabwe, I saw more than 700 children outside. Two small girls came running toward me with big smiles, shouting, “Look, it’s Cindy Kyser!” At that moment, I knew that sponsorship was more than exchanging letters and pictures. It creates unique bonds between people based on love. Everyone I visited shared a meal with me, and one village presented me with a live athletes Discover how your marathon, bike ride, or other athletic event can help the poor. www.teamworldvision.org to make a bid for "Haunted by Hunger," visit www.wvmag.org/painting. Why I Love Being a Child Sponsor music fans Volunteer at a World Vision Artist Associate concert and help sign up new child sponsors. www.wvartists.org chicken as a gesture of friendship. I returned home with a stronger belief in the global neighborhood, and I am forever changed by the experience. ● world vision • Page 9 • winter 2011 Mobilize your generation to seek justice through creative activism. www.worldvisionacts.org Professionals Use your legal, technical, and financial skills to serve the poor. www.worldvision.org/ advisors GOATs get respect s c ott s trazzante/g enes is photo s A Chicago Cubs fan makes amends for a historical snub. M any people remember the infamous day in 1945 when William Sianis brought his pet goat to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs face the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. Although William had box-seat tickets for himself and the goat, the pair was refused admission on the grounds that the goat was smelly. A disgruntled William stood outside the stadium, shouting that the Cubs would never win again—an incident that became known as the Curse of the Billy Goat. Indeed, the Cubs lost against the Tigers and have not won a World Series in 103 years—one of the most notorious losing streaks in American sporting history. Rather than despair over this sorry tale, Jeremy Freeman, an Internet marketing entrepreneur of Chicago, Ill., started the “Reverse the Curse” campaign. The campaign, which launched in April, is designed to supply goats to impoverished families in the developing world and promote a higher regard for the animals. Jeremy set up a website that explains just how transformative it can be to rear goats. They provide nutritious milk and cheese and an alternative source of income through selling surplus goats or goat products. Visitors to the website are invited to world vision • Page 10 • winter 2011 donate money to supply a goat to a family in need through World Vision. Jeremy has also established a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and his campaign has gained scores of enthusiastic supporters and raised more than $3,600. Jeremy laughs when conceding that the curse is not yet reversed: The Cubs are still seeking a World Series title. “But I don't think the campaign can hurt,” he says. “Doing good is always a positive thing.” ● for more information, visit www.wvmag.org/goats. f the story on tour change agent First came Zondervan's book The Story, which reads like a novel and condenses the great events and characters of the Bible into 31 compelling and accessible chapters. Next came “The Story” double album, relating the biblical story in 18 inspirational new songs written by Dove Award-winners Nichole Nordeman and Bernie Herms. Now World Vision is pleased to partner with “The Story Tour”—a stunning multimedia experience featuring top Christian artists, including Steven Curtis Chapman, Newsboys, and Natalie Grant with dynamic speakers Max Lucado and Randy Frazee. Experience “The Story Tour” at a city near you this Christmas. ● Name Scott Utesch Home Weddington, N.C. Occupation Pastor Program Gift Catalog the buzz After reading The Hole in Our Gospel by World Vision U.S. President Rich Stearns, Scott was moved by the needs of the vulnerable in the world. As Scott pondered his response, the Lord kept bringing his BMW motorcycle to mind. He realized that his heart and checkbook were often more engaged in finding accessories for the bike than in meeting the needs of the poor. He sat down with his three children and announced that he planned to sell his bike on eBay to fund a well through World Vision’s Gift Catalog. Afterward, Scott had enough money left over to give each of his children $250 to buy chickens, goats, a donkey, and some sheep from the catalog for impoverished families. ● for concert details, visit www.thestorycd.com. This year, 18-year-old Carter Ullman raised a whopping $30,000 for the World Vision 30 Hour Famine—the fundraiser where young people fast for 30 hours to identify with the hungry. It’s the biggest amount ever raised by a single individual in the event’s 20-year history. But the self-effacing teen, of Lake Wales, Fla., does not have a clear idea of why his fundraising was so successful. “I really did not set out to raise that much,” Carter says. Carter did get one big donation of about $5,000, and a lot of people gave $360— approximately enough to feed a hungry child for a year. But most other donations were far more modest. Altogether, Carter approached around 50 people to sponsor his famine attempt—mostly friends, family, and members of his church. One fundraising technique that Carter believes did help was keeping a record of generous donors from his past World Vision famine experiences. This year, he approached the same donors and discovered they were just as willing to give. Nevertheless, Carter says raising a big sum of money was only a small part of the appeal of the experience. A more important part was going without food for 30 hours. “It’s a way we can put ourselves in the shoes of hungry children,” he says, “and learn about what they have to go through firsthand.” ● courtesy scott u tes ch ab by me tty/worl d vision top fundraiser “ As a dad, it meant a lot to be able to model something different for my kids than just consuming stuff.” —scott utesch find a great gift in World Vision's Gift Catalog. See the insert between pages 16 and 17. world vision • Page 11 • winter 2011 world vision • Page 12 • winter 2011 More Than meets the eye by Rya n S m i t h a n d Diane J. Mcdougall p h o t o s b y j o n w a rr e n the w or l d ’ s poor can s eem face l e s s and faraway, lost in confounding numbers and dry facts. The chronic nature of their suffering, the geographic reach of it, can leave us feeling helpless. But God has named the poor and brought them close. They are our neighbors with a universal ZIP code, and he asks us to love them as we love ourselves. We start, as always, with prayer. For those geographically distant, our thoughtful prayers can bring them closer—to ourselves, and to God. In the next few pages—indeed in every issue— consider praying through the photographs. Take a first glance at the people and circumstances, noting emotions and relationships. Then, look deeper, asking questions, letting your heart be touched and your prayers be amplified. Take heart: With God’s grace, no loving step you take is too small to make a lasting and limitless impact. Also in this issue 21 | Foster compassion in your family. Take some tips from a Texas couple who are teaching their children to care for others. 24 | Discover that gifts can multiply— literally and figuratively—through the story of a pig that changed the future for an entire Bolivian family. w o r l d v i s i o n • P a g e 1 3 • WINTER 2 0 1 1 world vision • Page 13 • winter 2011 world vision • Page 14 • winter 2011 d.r. Congo Mothers, each with a record of her child’s medical history, gather to weigh their young children as part of a community health program in Lume, Democratic Republic of Congo. Low weight is one of the first signs of malnutrition. Hunger is an ongoing challenge in communities disrupted by violence—such as Lume, which for years has been under attack from the Lord’s Resistance Army. According to the World Health Organization, 31 percent of children under age 5 in the DRC are underweight. At First Glance Consider each person in the photo. The mothers might be anxious that their babies’ weights will be low, signaling that they are not healthy. What might the community health worker (in the green shirt) or small boy (at lower left) be feeling? The babies’ clean sock booties and the medical history cards seem to indicate diligent attention to health, despite a precarious community life. What more do these young children need to thrive in Lume? Look Deeper This event is taking place outside, rather than in an indoor clinic. Pray for adequate shelter for the families and protection from violence. Do you remember the emotions of taking your children to the doctor? How might you pray for these women? world vision • Page 15 • winter 2011 thailand Som Muangprom, 14, and her brother, Boy, 10, survey the polluted Khlong Prem Canal that flows sluggishly alongside their home in Bangkok, Thailand. Its waters—once crystal clear and teeming with fish—are an oily black, filled with both industrial and human waste. Each month, a group of young people and World Vision staff travel by motorboat down this smelly waterway to broadcast anti-pollution messages to those living and working on its banks. Som, sponsored by a couple in Canada, is often the voice behind the microphone. World Vision is also pioneering several projects with Som’s family to organically filter the water. At F irst Gla n c e Look at the juxtaposition of the healthy children and the polluted canal. Pray that the trash and waste in the canal do not cause health problems for Som and Boy—and everyone else in the community. Notice the buildings packed one after another alongside the canal. With such density, where would children play? Lo o k D e ep e r With businesses contributing to the pollution, the problem seems too large for local residents to solve, let alone young people. Pray for the resources that Som and Boy need to change their community. What problems in your community need to be addressed? Pray for boldness to speak out and seek a solution. world vision • Page 16 • winter 2011 world vision • Page 17 • winter 2011 world vision • Page 18 • winter 2011 BOLIVIA Asteria helps her daughters—Nathaly, 3 (left), and Aracely, 5—read Easter cards sent to Tiraque, Bolivia, from their sponsors in the United States. The girls love the letters and cards they receive, Asteria says. “[They] just want to play with them and show them to everybody.” Both girls attend the World Vision Early Stimulation Program, a preschool where children eat a nutritious meal and learn to read, write, and count. Asteria was only able to attend school through seventh grade, but she hopes that her daughters will complete their education and become professionals—perhaps doctors. At First Glance Notice the concentration on the girls’ faces. Aracely is just starting school and learning to read. Imagine a loving card from your sponsor being one of your first primers. Pray for Aracely’s continuing education and that of all children in her community. Look Deeper Imagine Asteria’s thoughts as she reads the cards. How would you feel to have a person from across the globe praying for your children? Thank God that these children are sponsored, and pray for your own sponsored child. world vision • Page 19 • winter 2011 the power behind our prayers M ay o ur p ray e rs not stop at these vibrant photos. Each issue of World Vision magazine introduces readers to people in different corners of the world—all of whom are touched by the work of World Vision, all of who need fervent prayer. Each face we gaze at, each smile we encounter, is a person of great value— someone who may also have great needs: for sufficient food, better shelter, and medical services; for educational opportunities, sustainable livelihoods, and spiritual peace. closi ng Prayer God, you say that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16). We do not feel righteous, but we long for powerful prayers for the people we have met on these pages. So forgive us our sins, especially our indifference. Thank you for your great love for us and your desire to work through us to touch others you love in other parts of the world. Amen. ● more ways to pray: » Sign up to receive World Vision’s monthly prayer email at www.worldvision.org/prayerteam. » Prayerfully explore more photos at www.wvmag.org/prayer. world vision • Page 20 • winter 2011 raising kids who care Seven ways to help your children develop compassion. by james addis p h ot o s by K ev i n Va n d i v i e r , Genesis Photos In a country where children are bombarded with advertisements for new toys and tantalizing trinkets, it can be hard for them to ignore their own wants and consider the needs of others—especially others whose worlds are vastly different. It’s a challenge that Carl and Teresa Camera of Austin, Texas, know only too well. But recently their boys, Christopher, 11, and Kevin, 10, have taken steps that demonstrate a broader outlook. Last summer, Christopher volunteered to lead a Vacation Bible School class for younger children at his church. Kevin decided to donate $120 he had saved to help fund a deep-water well in a developing country. With an allowance of only $5 a week, it was for him an enormous sum. 1 Carl and Teresa offer seven tips for helping children capture a bigger vision Make it p ersonal It’s hard to share a vision unless you have first embraced it yourself. Carl became more attuned to the needs of the wider world after he participated in a church mission trip to Guatemala and subsequently shared his experiences with his family. The family decided to sponsor two children in Guatemala. Kevin and Christopher both picked boys about their age—Johnathon Gonzales and Juan Pineda—and soon all four began exchanging cards and drawings. Now Kevin and Christopher mention their Guatemalan friends nearly every day during family prayer times. w wo or rl ld d v v ii s s ii o on n •• P Pa ag ge e 2 2 11 •• w w ii n nt te er r 2 20 0 11 11 2 Pi ct u r e i t In 2006, Carl and Teresa traveled to Guatemala to meet their sponsored children. They would have loved to have taken their boys but felt they were still too young. Nevertheless, the couple returned with powerful stories and photos that they shared with Kevin and Christopher—and they plan to take the boys to Guatemala in the future. Among the strongest impressions: photos of the humble shacks where their sponsored children live, the struggle to get clean water, and the mass graves of those buried by recurring mudslides. Carl and Teresa also regularly talk with their boys about the photographs they see in World Vision magazine. “In a picture,” Teresa explains, “you get a concept of something that you may never have experienced in your entire life.” L ea d by exa m pl e When Carl, a software engineer, got laid off, the family had to stop eating out and even put their home on the market to avoid a potential fore- 3| D is c u ss e t e r n al val u e s A Scripture that Carl and Teresa often share with their children is Matthew 6:19-20: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth … but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” When Kevin donated money for the water well, he smiled and said he was storing up treasures in heaven. Carl regularly reminds his children that earthly treasures have limited value. closure. As it turned out, the family finances recovered. But in the midst of the trial, Carl and Teresa chose to continue sponsoring, both to honor their commitment and to serve as an example to their children. “You think they are not paying attention,” Carl says, “but your children will pick up on what you actually do, compared to what you say you do.” ww oo rl rd l dv ivsi isoi o n n• •P a Pa gg e e2 22 2• •ww i ni n te tr e r2 02 1011 1 7| P r ay wi t hou t c eas i ng Carl and Teresa maintain that even with the best intentions and parenting techniques, it’s no Se ize th e teac h abl e mo me n t 5 While some parental teaching occurs by example, much is also conveyed quite intentionally. Recently, Kevin and Christopher were thrilled to be invited to a friend’s party, where they enjoyed a swimming pool with an exciting water slide. Carl encouraged his boys to take a lesson from the kindness of their friend’s family. “What a blessing they are to share that with us,” he said to them. “And we can be a blessing in the same way to others.’” 6| guarantee that children will take the right path. It has to be a work of God. “[We] pray that God gets ahold of their heart,” Teresa says, “that they give their lives to serve Jesus and live a life pleasing to him.” ● Accent uat e t he p o si t i v e, eliminat e t he ne gat i v e Many voices compete to shape children in our society, so the Cameras actively introduce their children to positive role models. For example, in homeschooling, Teresa uses a curriculum that includes stories about famous missionaries such as Hudson Taylor and Gladys Aylward. At the same time, she and Carl limit the boys’ exposure to television, mainly because of the pervasiveness of ads aimed at children. They are concerned that if their children are consumed by the desire for the latest electronics, more Lego® pieces, or a new scooter, they will find it harder to think of others. Teresa points out, “I am constantly telling my children, ‘OK, so you don’t have all these toys that your friends do, but you can be rich in love.’” w owrol rdl v di v s ii o s ino •n P• a Pgaeg 2e3 2•3 w • iw n itne tr e 2r0 21 10 1 1 A gift of two piglets gave the Alegre family freedom to dream ... and produce even more piglets, like these two. world vision • Page 24 • winter 2011 alive and multiplied Pigs from World Vision’s Gift Catalog help change a family’s future. O by Pat C u r ry photos by jon warren Oscar Alegre had been sick for more than three years with a mysterious illness, and his wife, Elena, was once again driving him to the hospital. Due to severe pain in his left leg, he couldn’t work and thus couldn’t feed his family. World Vision was providing them with food because all four of their sons had World Vision sponsors. Unable to support his wife and sons and thinking that he might never recover, Oscar tried to commit suicide by throwing himself from the moving car. Elena pulled him back into the car and saved his life. Her devotion and words of encouragement gave him the strength to go on. With time, Oscar recovered from what the family now believes was a stroke. But his true recovery began with a most unlikely “prescription”—two piglets provided through the World Vision Gift Catalog. It was a gift that would change the Alegre family’s life forever. Both Oscar, 44, and Elena, 38, are from the impoverished Chapare province of Bolivia. Like many who live there, Oscar worked in the coca fields, growing the plants used to produce cocaine. Neither of them came from stable families, and they married a month world vision • Page 25 • winter 2011 after they started dating. After eight years of marriage, they moved to the village of Viloma and purchased a farm. According to Oscar, “life is easier here than it used to be.” But easier doesn’t mean easy. Bolivia is one of the poorest and least-developed countries in Latin America. Oscar left school after the sixth grade; Elena only went to first grade. Even today, only 50 percent of Bolivian children complete primary school. “[World Vision] gave me two piglets. I made them grow and now i have more.” —Oscar Alegre Viloma lies in the Andean foothills, about 10 miles from Cochabamba, where World Vision first began working in Bolivia. A small rural town with no paved streets, Viloma only occasionally has running water and electricity. World Vision’s work in the community benefited the Alegres first through child sponsorship. But there were more blessings to come. The family was selected to receive two piglets from World Vision. Elena recalls crying when she first saw them, because they were so small. “I cried because I thought they were going to die,” she says. “We just loved them.” With that love—and four animal-care training sessions for Oscar—the piglets not only survived but also thrived and multiplied. “[World Vision] gave me two piglets,” Oscar says. “I made them grow and now I have more.” He has many, many more, in fact. By Christmas 2010, the Alegres’ pair of piglets had grown to a herd of 90. Such is the beauty of a piglet gift. One sow can bear 20 piglets a year. In just six months, the piglets can grow to 200 pounds each and are ready for market. ABOVE: All of the Alegre children help care for the pigs. FACING PAGE: Income from the pigs enabled the family to adopt Arminda. Each piglet costs only 60 Bolivianos, or $8, to raise. The sale price is 700 Bolivianos, or $100 each. The Alegres sold several of their pigs that first year. Initially, the profit went to pay for Oscar’s medical care. Today, they are repaying the family’s loan on the farm. The pigs also gave the family the ability to do something incredible— adopt a little girl. Arminda was about 5 when the Alegre family heard about her. “That little girl was suffering,” Elena says. “Her mother wanted to give her away to anyone. Even though we didn’t have a lot, we decided to adopt her. God will bless you when you take care of the children.” Today, Arminda has a dazzling smile and loves to cuddle baby piglets. All four of her brothers—Jimmy, 19; Jónathan, 17; Dennis, 14; and Brian, 9— are good with the pigs. More importantly, they’re all in school. Several are planning on college; Brian, in particular, wants to be a lawyer. world vision • Page 26 • winter 2011 Several years ago, this would have been unthinkable. “I remember that we suffered a lot,” Jónathan says. “We didn’t have anything to buy food. I used to go to school really worried because I didn’t know if I would be coming back and if my dad was going to be alive.” Now, the children can just focus on their lessons. It’s a true blessing for Elena, who barely attended school and wants so much more for her children. “I want them to learn things that will help them in life,” she says. “I don’t want them to be like me.” Oscar’s dream for his children is to finish school, go to university, “and study whatever they want.” A far cry from when he saw no future for himself or his children and tried to end his life. In receiving two small piglets who grew beyond all expectations, Oscar and his family have also been given freedom to dream. ● Attractive Animals R ai s i n g a n d s e l l i n g livestock is a proven way to create wealth for an impoverished family and improve their diet. Animals are easily the most common gifts purchased from World Vision’s Gift Catalog, listed here in order of popularity: 1 / Goats Provide milk, cheese, yogurt, and fertilizer. 2 / Chickens Provide eggs for a high-protein diet. 3 / Ducks Provide eggs for a high-protein diet. Pat Curry is a journalist and editor based in Augusta, Ga. 4 / Sheep Provide milk, cheese, and wool. 5 / Rabbits Provide high-protein food. 6 / Cows Provide milk, butter, and cheese. 7 / Fish Provide high-protein food. 8 / Pigs Give the gift of an animal to a struggling family today—visit www.worldvisiongifts.org. Provide high-protein food. 9 / Donkeys Serve as transportation to take goods to the market or a sick child to a clinic. 10 / Alpacas Provide high-value wool. See how your Gift Catalog purchase can benefit families across the globe. world vision • Page 27 • winter 2011 hil l ery s mith s hay/g enes is photo s ( 2) where are they now? joyful reunion I A sc hool p r in c ip a l r ec o n n e cts w i t h h e r f o rm e r sp o n s o rs . By James Addis n many ways, Alicia Quimboy is living a Filipino version of the American dream. She is married to a lawyer, is the mother of two lively boys—Jethro, 8, and Jason, 5—and recently became the principal of a large public school. But even as her family life and career blossomed, Alicia nursed one unrealized ambition—to reconnect with her World Vision sponsors, with whom she lost contact 24 years ago and whom she credits with saving her from a life of abject poverty. So Alicia asked her husband, José, to see if he could find her former sponsors online. He did some digging and guessed that Jon and Jeanne Larson might be affiliated with a motorcycle club. Alicia wrote a letter to the club, not really expecting a reply. When the Larsons eventually received the letter, they were overjoyed. Soon, Alicia and Jeanne began exchanging emails almost every day. Without a computer of her own at the time, Alicia fre- quented a local Internet café. The more the women shared about their lives, the more their friendship grew. The Larsons invited the Quimboy family to visit their farm in Westby, Wis., in July. For Alicia, it was a dream come true. During her 14 years as a sponsored child, Alicia had addressed the Larsons as “Dad Jon” and “Mom Jeanne” in her letters. Alicia’s own father had deserted the family when Alicia was 3, leaving Alicia’s mother to provide for eight children on her own. To do so, she worked day and night as a fish vendor and laundry woman in their hometown of Dagupan, Philippines. “My mother tried her best to be a good parent, keeping us all in her loving arms,” Alicia says, “but she could not earn enough money for our daily sustenance.” Alicia and her siblings helped earn money by washing cars, running errands, and shining shoes. Still, Alicia often went world vision • Page 28 • winter 2011 without food and wore dirty, ragged clothes. If things weren’t difficult enough, the family’s home and possessions were destroyed in 1970 when a fire broke out at a nearby market. Ironically, another disaster marked a turning point in Alicia’s fortunes. When a major flood hit Dagupan in 1972, the 7-year-old came to the attention of World Vision, which was delivering aid to floodaffected families. Alicia was enrolled in a World Vision child-sponsorship program. “I received food items and school supplies every month,” she says. “More importantly, I received a Christian education that strengthened my faith in the Lord.” She also got regular mail from the Larsons. “I was so happy to receive letters and greetings, especially encouragements and guidance from them—these simply meant so much to me.” Sponsorship enabled Alicia to attend school, and she made good use of the opportunity. “As a child,” she says, “I always imagined myself being a teacher.” So after graduating from high school and receiving more World Vision help, she went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Alicia served as a classroom teacher for 12 years. Late last year, she was promoted to principal of North Central Elementary School in Dagupan, responsible for 1,200 children and 30 teachers. Alicia says she is eager to ensure that pupils understand the value of education. “This is their sure ticket to improve their lives,” she says, “to survive the claws of poverty.” Meanwhile, Jeanne Larson still has all the letters and pictures Alicia mailed to her. She remembers that the initial decision to sponsor Alicia was a tough one. The invitation had come during a World Vision presentation at a concert. Jeanne was 22, a recent nursing graduate who was earning only about $2.50 an hour. She doubted she could afford the sponsorship (then $12 a month) but concluded that she needed to trust God with it. Today, Jeanne describes renewing her friendship with Alicia as an incredible blessing and a validation of that decision. She says donors sometimes wonder if their money really makes a difference. For Jeanne, there is no doubt that it does. ● “I was so happy to receive letters and greetings, especially encouragements and guidance from them— these simply meant so much to me.” to sponsor a child fill out the form between pages 4 and 5 and send it in the envelope here. Or go to www.worldvision.org/ReadandRespond. world vision • Page 29 • winter 2011 About World Vision W ho W e A r e | World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to helping children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. W hom W e S e r v e | Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve alongside the poor and oppressed—regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity, or gender—as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. W h y W e S e r v e | Our passion is for the world’s poorest children whose suffering breaks the heart of God. To help secure a better future for each child, we focus on lasting, communitybased transformation. We partner with individuals and communities, empowering them to develop sustainable access to clean water, food supplies, health care, education, and economic opportunities. H ow W e S e r v e | Since 1950, World Vision has helped millions of children and families by providing emergency assistance to those affected by natural disasters and civil conflict, developing long-term solutions within communities to alleviate poverty, and advocating for justice on behalf of the poor. You C an H e l p | Partnering with World Vision provides tangible ways to honor God and put faith into action. By working together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families who are struggling to overcome poverty. To find out how you can help, visit www.worldvision.org. ● i n s p i rat i o n Let Justice Roll By m a r k wi lli a m s F abig ail harris /g enes is photo s c o u rtes y pau l bo rthwic k youth ministries at our church. The projor years, when I heard ect quickly gained momentum, especially conversations about when Together We CAN Make a Difference bringing justice to the was featured alongside the World Vision oppressed and suffering Experience exhibit at our church. around the world, I would Over the past two and a half years, visualize government Together We CAN Make a Difference has leaders arguing around a table, or military collected more than 3,000 pounds of cans forces fighting guerilla rebels in the jungle, and raised more than $5,000. Where once or United Nations relief teams distributing we stored the cans in our garage and food to skeletal children with hollow, sunktransported them in the back of a car to en faces. I felt detached from the pain. the recycling plant, we now have to store God changed this picture several years the cans in a horse barn and transport ago for me at my kitchen table. In home each load in a U-Haul truck—all this from school, my wife and children were studythe heartfelt compassion of a few ing a unit on the water cycle and reading elementary-age children. through stories in World Vision magazine. It’s easy to become overwhelmed They were horrified to learn that children by the enormity of a problem and scroll were suffering around the world for lack through our litany of excuses about of clean water. They just couldn’t believe why we really can’t make a difference. that in our world there were children who Thankfully, children don’t view the world couldn’t go to school or play because they “But let justice roll on like in quite the same way. Where we see had to walk miles every day to fetch water children see opportunities from dirty water holes—water that often a river, righteousness like a obstacles, to do something about the pain. I am gave them diseases that could kill them. never-failing stream!” reminded of Mother Teresa’s quote: “We “Let’s build them a water well!” my can do no great things; only small things oldest exclaimed, and the others excitedly — amos 5:24 with great love.” agreed. I carefully explained that water Each time we send in our latest water wells were more expensive than we could well donation, I can’t help but imagine the afford, and that we would have to raise crash of the rapids and the roar of the water as justice rolls on— the money. Undaunted, they decided that they would collect every time children drink from the new well in their village. ● aluminum cans from our friends and neighbors. After some discussion, my children named their little project “Together We CAN Make a Difference.” Mark Williams serves as family ministries lead pastor at Community To get things started, my children made presentations to Church of Hendersonville, Tenn., where he lives with his wife, Kelley, and friends, family, Sunday school classes, mission groups, and the their seven children. world vision • Page 30 • winter 2011 Khaing Min Hto o /Wo rl d Vis io n retrospect mya n mar F e w t h i ngs cheer the soul like hearing the innocent, exuberant laughter of young children. That’s perhaps even more true when the children in question come from tough backgrounds and live in harsh environments. These children are from Hlaing Thar Yar—a slum community on the outskirts of Yangon, an area known for poor water and sanitation, high incidence of tuberculosis and diarrhea, and low-paying jobs. The bright spot in these children’s lives comes through attending a World Vision Early Childhood Care and Development Center, which provides a stimulating environment and allows both their mothers and their fathers to work, if necessary. Children learn hygiene and social skills and gain sufficient elementary education to give them a head start once they begin formal schooling. They also get to have an awful lot of fun. ● world vision • Page 31 • winter 2011 Published by World Vision, Inc. P. O. Box 70172 Tacoma, WA 98481-0172 SHE CRIES OUT FOR HOPE Will you answer? Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID World Vision Hungry. Lonely. Scared. She’s like thousands of children praying for the kind of hope a caring sponsor like you can provide. Is there room in your heart for another? Please go online now and choose a girl or boy who desperately needs your help. And change another life today. If you have questions, comments, or a change of address, you may call toll-free: 888.852.4453 Go to www.worldvision. org/ProvideHope Call 866.852.4453 Or return the coupon. ✁ SPONSOR ANOTHER CHILD NOW □ I want to sponsor a □ girl □ boy □ either □ Charge my $35 monthly gift to: □ VISA □ MasterCard □ AmEx □ Discover Card number □ Mr. □ Mrs. □ Ms. Expiration date First name Address City Phone E-mail Send to: World Vision Child Sponsorship Signature (required) Last name State Zip SOURCE: 1170120 P.O. Box 70050 Tacoma, WA 98481-0050 World Vision will not rent, sell, or share your personal information with third parties.