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.

Captivating

There are many books that have been written regarding the nature of males and females both from within and outside the church. Many seek to explain the different roles of men and women, maybe the differences of how we each handle various aspects of our lives, and so forth. In spite of others attempts John and Stasi Eldredge have created a book which goes deeper(in my opinion).

Instead of pointing out differences or trying to delegate specific gender roles, John and Stasi work together to help the reader come to a better understanding of the desires women find within thier hearts in the deepest spiritual sense. Through the use of scripture, testimonies, and life experience the authors help the reader search thier hearts for thier own deepest desires which the Lord has placed there. They search the questions in our hearts. Those questions we have asked all our lives. Am I beautiful? Am I worth it? Am I lovable?

With each chapter the reader will find themselves searching thier own life, past hurts and pains, struggles, and questions and begin to understand why so many of us never believe how amazing we truely are. I began to understand more about who God created me as a woman, an image bearer of the character of the Lord in this world. You also come to a stronger realization that nothing, not a relationship, material possession, or compliment can fully answer your question or fill the void. Only that love found in a relationship with Christ Jesus makes us whole and heals us from the past. This is an amazing book and I think would be a good read for anyone who wants to better understand thier heart.

John Eldredge has also written a book that coincides with "Captivating" for men titled, "Wild at Heart", which challanges men to also look at the deepest desires of thier own hearts and to allow God to make them fully alive.

If you want to look into buying click on "Captivating" or "Wild at Heart". Both can be bought used.

John and Stasi reside in Colorado Springs, CO and work with Ransomed Heart Ministries.

Rachel

Updated World Church Young Adult Website

Check out the new World Church site. It has been updated with all kinds of cool stuff!
Click Here

From Erik

Heya People!

It took me a long time to get things organized over here, just after barely two weeks in the Netherlands, I went to WinterKamp near the border of Austria. Which was awesome and I just got home after 11 hours by car and 4 by train.But it was an awesome experience, once again.I just wanted to say that I felt so blessed to spent time with all the marvelous people from the Portland/Seattle/Salem area in the past months.You guys were amazing! And it felt as I belonged for years in our small group.My wish is to see you all soon again. Who knows in America again, but first in Europe. ;-)Thank you all for the wonderfull time!

Your Maya/Yaps member from Europe hahaErik

January Events

Here are the details for our January activities. I hope everyone can make it out. Please let us know if you plan to attend any or all of them so we can prepare. Also, if you have any activities for young adults or young families at your congregations please forward us the information. And if you have an idea for an event in your area send it our way! We are trying to move out and do some activities in different areas but need your help!

Union Gospel Mission Volunteering

What: We will be serving dinner at the mission and helping with clean up.
Where: Union Gospel Mission
3 NW 3rd Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97209
503-274-4483
When: Friday, January 25 7-9:30pm. We will meet at the Portland Congregation to carpool at 6pm. Directions click here.
Bring: Waiver (see attached pdf file), bottled water, wear clothes you do not mind getting a little messy, and a beautiful smile and attitude!
After: Hopefully everyone will be up for coffee or a snack and we can talk about our experience at the Mission and how it relates to our service to Christ.

Dinner and a Movie

What: There are many theatres in the Portland area that show recently released movies a fraction of the cost of a corporate theatre. Lucky for us they also serve pizza! So we get to not only save money and see a movie on the big screen but also get some tasty pizza pie...
Where: Many of the theatres play different movies. We will check a few days before on movies and times. We will choose from the Baghdad, Laurelhurst, Montvilla, or Kennedy School theatres. We will meet at the Portland Congregation beforehand at 5pm and choose a movie from any of the theatres and go from there.
When: Saturday, January 19, 5-10pm
Cost: $3-5 a movie, $5-10 for food

Blog Issues

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