Reply From Outreach International President, Matt Naylor

Good morning Rachel,

Conditions in Haiti are exceptionally difficult for many people. You are right to be shocked by the report of people eating dirt to quell their hunger.Outreach International provides schooling in Haiti for about 9,500 children, including daily meals for about 1000. In addition, we have a new gardens project, and are increasing our support of this over the number of years to develop model gardens for families in communities where the schools are. While this report is new to many, the fact that many are hungry and are suffering in Haiti has long been a problem. That is why Outreach International has been working with the communities to develop school opportunities, which over time will lead to economic opportunities and increased self sufficiency. Our regular meals program also makes a difference.

We would, of course, like to do more - and will do so, as more generous hearted people make gifts to help the families and children in Haiti.Another place of desperate need that gets little attention is the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Outreach International also works. You might have seen the report last week about the peace deal that is struggling to go through (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/01/23/congo/index.html?iref=newssearch) 5 million people have been killed in that civil war since 1998 - 45,000 people per month, and many are women and children. Outreach International works in the south east corner of the country. Many of those with whom we work are refugees from the central and north east who are fleeing the war - where their experiences were horrific.We live in a broken world. I am grateful that we have the capacity to join with people in poor communities who have a passion for a world free of poverty. Working together - donor, field staff, and community residents - sustainable good can be accomplished. And is.

Thanks for your email.

Kind regards,Matt

"Posted with permission from Matt Naylor, 1.31.08 10:16am, via email"

"In hungry Haiti, dirt is food"

Many of you may be familiar with Outreach International and how they are positively effecting our world for the better. I just recently came across this article, "In hungry Haiti, dirt is food", on Yahoo! News. It should be of interest to us all that Outreach International as well as the Community of Christ have a presence in Haiti. We have several congregations there. Outreach International works to help provide adequate education in this impoverished nation.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Yet, they are just south from the United States, one of the most affluent countries in the world. I have contacted Outreach International as well as the field Apostle for Haiti, Bunda Chibwe, about how the church is handling the poverty in Haiti. I will keep everyone posted on what I find out. This last World Conference while we were in session we were informed that many of our brothers and sisters in Haiti had died in flash floods. Money from the World Church Oblation Fund went out to help those in need. Please be mindful when you are planning for your giving to the church to also remember the World Oblation Fund which provides the funds for services, food, and countless other needs for church members world wide.

Yolen Jeunky, 45, collects dried mud cookies to sell in Cite Soleil in Port-au-Prince,Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007. Rising prices and food shortages threaten the nation's fragile stability, and the mud cookies, made of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening, are one of very few options the poorest people have to stave off hunger.(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

For more photos click here.

If you are interested in reading the US Ambassador to Haiti speech on the US relations and Haiti please click here. It will help you better understand how the US is involved with Haiti given that we are the single most substantial supporter of help to Haiti.

Rachel

Interfaith Worship Services

Celebrating Our Shared Values
This series of interfaith worship services is being sponsored by the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO), The Interfaith Alliance of NW Oregon (TIA), Interfaith Council of Greater Portland (ICGP) and the Inter-Religious Action Network of Washington County (IAN). These services provide participants with the opportunity to worship with people of different faiths in churches, temples, mosques and synagogues. The topics this year address social justice issues such as poverty, health care for all, children, sustainability and peace.

February:
Sunday, February 17th 4 pm
Theme: Health Care for All
St. Andrew’s Catholic Church
4919 NE 9th, Portland, OR 97211

March:
Sunday, March 9th 4 pm
Theme: Fifth Anniversary of Iraq War
First Unitarian Church
1011 SW 12th, Portland, OR 97205

April:
Sunday, April 20th 4 pm
Theme: Sharing an Caring for the Earth
Soka Gakkai International
1805 SE Ankeny, Portland, OR (zip?)

May:
Sunday, May 18th 4 pm
Theme: Community of Faith
Muslim Educational Trust
10330 SW Scholls Ferry, Tigard, OR (zip?)
**Potluck Dinner following the service**

"Faith, Discernment, and Action" Young Adult Retreat Spring 08

All young adults are invited to our first (in a long time) young adult retreat at Lewis River Campgrounds March 28-30. Susan Gregory, of the Garden Grove congregation, will be our guest minister. We will have registration forms out soon. The theme is "Faith, Discernment, and Action." We will have some amazing theme classes, free time to explore, ice cream social, and song and testimony service. It will be a great chance to have some fun, learn, and fellowship!

I hope everyone can make it out and share with other young adults.

Prayers

Please keep Ryan Polly in your prayers over the next two weeks as he will be going in for surgery. Pray for safety, healing, and quick recovery.

Thank you all for taking time out to check the site and pray for those who ask.

Prayers for Josh Mills and Family

From Jarom Mills:

Please keep his brother, Josh Mills, in your prayers. Josh is in the Marines and just found out that he won't be going to Iraq. He is going to Afghanistan instead. Southern Afghanistan. The worst part of. My mother is really worried that something will happen to him and she is really shook up. Please keep his mother and family in your prayers. Also to keep him safe so she has nothing to worry about. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

"draw near to me, and I will draw near to you, seek me diligently and you will find me, ask and you will recieve, knock and the door will be opened for you, whatever you as the Father in my name it will be given to you..." Doctrine and Covenants 85: 16b-f

EMO Events

Sorry to dissapoint you, we are not talking music here but Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO).

Upcoming Events

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: View events

January 18 to 25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity For 100 years, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has stood as a reminder that the soul of ecumenism is prayer, making this year's theme "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) most appropriate. Learn more.

January 19: Gathering Hope: An Interfaith Worship Service for Climate Justice. 7 to 8:30 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th Ave., Portland.

January 20 : Interfaith Service "The Observance of Peace." 4 p.m. at Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 NE 14th Ave., Portland.

January 22 and 23: Religion & Violence: Untangling the Roots of Conflict, an interfaith dialogue with James Carroll, James H. Cone, Susannah Heschel and Tariq Ramadan; Katharine Jefferts Schori, preacher. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, 1535 NE 17th Ave., Portland.