Tuesday, September 1, 2009

September's Focus: Three Angels Children's Relief

This month, we've chosen to support an organization dedicated to serving the children of Haiti.  Megan, the sister (who has an awesome blog about her experiences) of one of my best friends from college, works with Three Angels Children's Relief.  Their website has lots of information about their programs, as well as the challenges the agency faces.  Here is some of the most troubling and startling information I gleaned from their site:

As many of you know, Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world-actually the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere- and the average Haitian lives on less than one dollar a day.  More than half of the population lacks access to clean water or sanitation.  Fifty percent of Haitians are undernourished; twelve percent of children die before their first birthday and a full third of all children do not make it to their fifth birthday. Only one in every ten thousand Haitians has access to a physician, and one report even determined Haiti as the worst place in the entire world to live.

It is the lives of Haiti's most impoverished children that Three Angels Children's Relief strives to impact.  Currently, they have three distinct programs: the Angel House Orphanage, the Three Angels Christian Academy, and Halos Medical Mission.  Obviously, there is great need for all of these programs.  The agency does allow teams from the States (and presumably other countries) to help through short-term mission trips; you can donate monetarily or in-kind items.  Their website has a list of their current needs for each of the three programs.

Even though the people of Haiti struggle with poverty and sickness, they are still a beautiful people, loved by our God who is so full of grace.  The Lord still has a mighty plan for these precious souls; we cannot write them off as 'just another poor country' or 'just another orphanage'. No, these children are His beloved.  Please pray for this program, for the volunteers and staff involved, for the children participating in the programs, and for the nation of Haiti.  I am reminded of a verse from a popular worship song:

"Distant shores and the islands will see Your light as it rises on us..."

Here is a video from their website.  Let these beautiful faces touch your heart:

1 comment:

Liz Hooper Brookhart said...

This is the focus of your that I have most connected with...we will be parying for their support