The States recent weather reports, saturated with unusually rainy, snowy, and stormy conditions, may make it difficult to see beyond the flash floods, winter coats, and radio emergency warnings. Hard to believe that halfway around the world many crave for a consistent source or even just a drop of this precious natural resource.

A recent article from BBC news entitled, “Millions at risk as East Africa rains fail, Oxfam Says”, presents a very serious and disheartening issue.  This issue, as stated by the article, is that, “rains across swathes of East Africa have failed for the sixth year in a row, leaving millions of people facing hardship…”.  All throughout East Africa the failing rains have left millions of people in severe hardships with no sight of potential rain until April.

Somalia, for example, has been experiencing drought for almost 20 years, and coupled with an extensive amount of conflict, the resulting country (3.6 million people –almost half the population of this area) and her communities in great need of aid.  With the prices in food continually rising it is also becoming difficult to provide sufficient aid and food relief to all severely affected by the drought.

Though countries like Somalia, the northern regions of Kenya, and parts of Ethiopia are in need of emergency short-term aid, there is a huge need to establish a long term lasting developmental plan to help protect and prepare for the future.  This drought is not only taking lives but also many families’ sources of income, wiping out crops and livestock causing a high rate of unemployment.  Conditions such as these are dangerous as the development and spread of disease and infection is high.

During this holiday season give of yourself by means of carrying the burden for another, lifting up in prayer our brothers and sisters that are suffering from the effects of this devastating and extensive drought. If you so choose, we also have an opportunity for you to respond in a tangible way.

To learn more about how you can help an area affected by this drought, check out our Christmas focus featuring Makueni, Kenya.  LIA has been working with partner churches in this extremely impoverished areas to build a lasting and sustainable means for income, water, agriculture and overall community development.

Fact: Poor health services, minimal access to safe drinking water, and malnutrition are just some of the factors that result in the disheartening fact that in Ethiopia the under-5 years of age mortality rate is 173 per 1,000 births.

Fact found from UNICEF.org.

Our guest blogger is none other than THE Pete Newlove, who is both a friend of LIA and an excellent writer. Pete is a high school English teacher, currently residing in Pasadena, CA with his amazing wife and three young children.

I read somewhere not too long ago that when it comes to us Americans thinking about those who are far less fortunate, there is something very important for us to remember: “those who are less fortunate” have, in reality, much to give us.  A strange irony?  Not really.  It’s all a matter of perspective.

When it comes to material needs such as food and clothing, or money to provide these things, Americans are certainly at an advantage.  We are wealthy beyond comprehension to much of the developing world, and should certainly give of what we have in this category.  But take a step back, look at our society from an outsider’s perspective, and you may see what I mean, regarding the aforementioned contradiction to our usual way of thinking.

I recently watched a film called God Grew Tired of Us.  If you’re in the mood for perspective, I highly recommend it.  It is a documentary that follows three “Lost Boys of Sudan”- the Lost Boys being a group of more than 27,000 boys who fled, were displaced, or were orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War.  In the case of the three particular Lost Boys followed in this film, they had been living in refugee camps for more than a decade of their lives.

The documentary picks up at the beginning of a new chapter in the Lost Boys’ lives, as they receive word they will be flown to America and given asylum.  It is literally the opportunity of a lifetime.  These men are going from a refugee camp in which the arrival of food is so sporadic that Starvation is a real Enemy, to America- which, at least in the food category, has more to offer than these men had ever hoped or dreamed for.

Watching the Lost Boys’ trip to (and arrival in) America is actually hilarious.  For three men who have lived in poverty all their lives- and I mean extreme poverty- to suddenly be in America, almost everything is new, mysterious and wondrous.  For example, on the airplane ride, there are mixed feelings from the Three about the food that was served- although the cameras inform us that what they described as “that thing in the wrapper that tasted soapy” was really a stick of butter.  Such are the learning experiences, the things we take for granted, but are completely foreign to- well, foreigners. Read the rest of this entry »

O’Neil Printing is one of our ardent supporters of our organization. We are forever indebted to them for the countless time, energy and resources that they donate to tell our story (and that of those we serve in Africa) in a beautiful and dignifying way. Thankfully, a local news channel (Fox 10) also recognized their contribution to the community at large and featured O’Neil multiple times on their morning show. Watch the video and see if you find our Urban and Rural Hope Book!

Greeting Friends!

This is your last chance to Pre-Order LIA’s first ever documentary, “This Is My Home”. Orders placed before tomorrow afternoon will arrive in time for Christmas!

Check out the LIA Store to place your order today!

Thank you for serving to empower this holiday season!

Fact: Ethiopia is one of the least developed countries in the world, with an estimated annual per capita income of $868 (USD).

The United Sates annual per capita income, reported by the World Bank for 2008, was $46,716.

Information found from the World Bank, 2008.

Nairobi, Kenya - For the last seven days, the LIA senior management team, later joined by our country directors, planned and prepared for 2010.

When you are with the same people for such an extended period of time, even in the best circumstances, confrontation seems to be inevitable. Yet, this week we didn’t have a single moment of increased tension, let alone confrontation.

After some time of reflection (conveniently provided by the ‘inoperable airport’ in Nairobi), I’m convinced that we got along so well as a group because we understood that our individual stories weren’t as important as our collective story.

Our story is better.

Before we began planning, strategizing, budgeting and all of the dirty work that comes with preparing for a new year, we took half a day to share our stories with one another. On the surface it might sound cliché, but in reality it was tremendously eye-opening and humbling, especially from my perspective.

Take John (not his real name – in order to protect his identity). John is an LIA country director that we don’t publicly talk about. I hadn’t met John before our meetings, but when I heard his story for the first time I was literally taken back. John lives in what is referred to as a closed country. In his country, it is illegal to be a practicing Christian in public. He operates ‘underground’, hosting church services in his home. He organizes and implements a community service that meets the needs of the local refugee community as a way to bring the Kingdom to earth, right where he lives. Most of his friends are in jail because they converted from Islam.

Then there is Elijah. Elijah is from South Sudan and has two scars on his body from being wounded while fighting as a soldier in the civil war years earlier. He has seven children and a wife, they all live in Kenya while he serves as the Director of LIA South Sudan.

I can’t forget Tim (not his real name). Tim also works in a closed country and has to be very sensitive about the emails he sends because they are all monitored by the local government. Tensions in his community are high. While we were meeting a riot broke out in the city where he and his family live. A call home to his wife ensured that they were safe, for now.

Then there is me and my story of fighting in a civil war, or protecting my identity to avoid imprisonment or having to be sure that my service to the community is not too ‘christian’ as to not raise too much attention…

Wait, that isn’t my story. I grew up in Gilbert, Arizona and attended Islands Elementary school, just as peaceful and uneventful as it sounds. I played golf in college and have a wife and two children, none of which are in imminent danger from riots in the streets, other than when our neighbor gets mad at me for leaving the recycling bin out a day longer than allowed by our HOA. The only oppression I face comes from the heat when I can’t find a pool to relax in during the summer.

Even so, when we all came together and shared our stories and our dreams for what will happen in the communities we serve throughout Africa, it became obvious that OUR story is better than any one of the individual stories.

Our story is moving ahead to restore the dignity of the poor, marginalized, and oppressed.

Our story pushes against political oppression by training, equipping and empowering local churches to be the transformative change their communities are so desperately in need of.

Our story takes place in the secret places where refugees have no rights to basic human services, or among street children who aren’t offered an identity by their very own government. We rely on God to be the author of our story because we quickly realize that the stories guided by His spirit are made perfect.

Separately, we are Kenyan, Sudanese, Ethiopian, French, and American. Professionally, we are doctors, social workers, business people, public health professionals, and pastors. Yet, when our stories intersect, we realize that our story is better than anything that we could have come up with on our own.

Looking for that perfect gift for your friends, family, co-workers, or loved ones this holiday season? Why not make it a gift that serves as a means to empower another!

LIA is excited to offer a multitude of gifts in our online store that will serve to empower our partner churches and communities throughout northeast Africa. These gifts also serve as a perfect tool, allowing you to share your passion to serve and care for those living in the midst of great poverty. All proceeds raised benefit the cause of LIA.

Check out some great gift ideas below!

Thank you for your dedicated support!

Wishing you Happy Holidays from your LIA Family.

Fact: In Kenya it is estimated that 20% of children are categorized as underweight.  Comparatively in the United States, this percentage drops to 2%.

Fact found from UN Human Development Report 2007/08

On the December 1st over 2,000 women came together at Southeast Christian Church to kick off their winter Bible study series.  On this night the crowd was challenged to think about the magnitude of what God can do through ordinary people, and focused on the theme of making your life worthwhile and glorifying.  The guests were also challenged to think about creative ways to give this holiday season. 

Before and after the event, women gathered to hear stories about LIA’s work in Africa, were given the opportunity to purchase African crafts and also we able to donate to empower our community in focus this holiday season Makueni, Kenya.

LIA’s holiday initiative is to empower the Makueni community by highlighting the current projects and needs in this area and asking donors to respond.  Makueni, Kenya is considered one of the hardest hit areas by drought leading to food shortages, inadequate water supply, prevalence of disease and infection, and inability to create a sustainable livelihood or business.  LIA has a three-year partnership plan with local churches in this area to help empower the churches to respond to the overwhelming need.

Donations given through LIA can help these churches support their neighbors with food, water, and micro business training.

Over $8,000 was raised for Makueni at the Christmas Joy event as women responded to the challenge.

We pray that everyone who learns of this initiative will do something for Makueni this holiday season.

Check out our donate page as we have revamped it to support Makueni, Kenya this Christmas.

Are you a friend of LIA on Facebook? Join the “LIA’s Christmas Challenge: Empower The Makueni Community! “ and partner with LIA and the Makueni, community to provide 6 months of clean water!

Spread the word about the Makueni community and invite friends, family and small groups to join you this Christmas as we remember that this holiday was about – giving.

To see more photos from the Christmas Joy event check out Jules Wiegand Photopgraphy.