HOPEworldwide
FEMA Recognizes HOPEww Mid-Atlantic Chapters
August 16, 2013 – The Mid-Atlantic and Northern Virginia Chapters of HOPE worldwide were recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region III team for their excellence in protecting and preparing their communities for disaster and home fires. HOPE worldwide was one of only eight recipients from the D.C. area to be honored for their service excellence.A Message to HYC Families and Church Partners
What I Learned Through Serving in Oklahoma
I have always wanted to serve like this but each time there was a call for help I had to work. When I first got the email from Frank Dowd I thought “Wow, I’d love to do that, but I have to work.” Then, my church [Greater Houston Church] showed a HOPE worldwide video regarding the opportunity to serve in Oklahoma and the Lord really stirred my heart. So, the very next day I emailed my boss asking if I could use my vacation to serve. God blessed my request and He went above and beyond - like He always does. Not only did I get the time off, but I didn’t have to use my vacation. My employer paid me to go AND they are matching up to 25 hours of my serving time with a contribution to HOPE worldwide.
What One HOPE ww Chapter Can Do
The Boston chapter of HOPE worldwide will be participating in a national September 11th effort with HOPE. We are offering an opportunity for volunteers to serve in a Disaster Preparedness program, which involves handing out door hangers which provide great information about how to prepare your home and family for a local disaster. Volunteers will go in their own neighborhoods to hand these out. Our chapter will also host a 9/11 ceremony of remembrance during the week of 9/11. This will involve honoring victims of the Marathon bombing, highlighting HOPE volunteers who serve as first responders for our communities and others. HOPE worldwide has awarded our chapter with about $12,000 from a federal grant to support our 9/11 effort. Thank you HOPE worldwide!!!
HYC 2013: Teens Share, Learn and Grow in Faith
This summer Great Britain hosted one of the HOPE Youth Corps teams. Our young volunteers traveled to London from Russia, Siberia, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Canada, the U.S., China, and Ukraine as well as from places in the U.K. The number of countries represented was AMAZING! Many of these students came from cities where they were the only teen or campus disciple. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to maintain your spiritual convictions? Would you be able to stay faithful year after year as the only person in your school who has faith? What if your parents weren't supportive and they persecuted you for being a teenage Christian? I know it would be extremely challenging for me.It was so encouraging to see the HYC team form bonds with each other the very first day the program. It was as if they had longed to meet and talk to other disciples their age. They shared about their lives, their struggles, their families, their cities, and their churches. I was so inspired to see God's family interact during my time in Birmingham and to hear how they served the poor and reached out to the lost together. We have such an amazing hope, don't we?
A Note of Thanks
A big thank you to Andy and Tammy Fleming for hosting the program and everything they did to make it such a success. They reminded me of the scripture in John 12:23-25 that says: “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life." I was blown away by the exciting stories and the faith of the Flemings. I’ll never forget Andy’s story of rafting in Papua New Guinea after getting lost in the jungle during an evangelism trip. I hope my generation takes note and has similar stories to share in years to come.
Thank you to Walter and Kim Evans for their steadfast leadership and support of HOPE Youth Corps. Their faith and love for others truly inspires me. Thank you to Antonio Boyd and his visionary leadership which makes it possible for the HOPE Youth Corps to grow and have a greater impact for the poor each year.
Find out more about HOPE worldwide here.
HOPEww Responds After Dam Collapses in Indonesia
The Way Ela Dam, a natural dam located in the Central Maluku District, failed due to heavy rainfall on Thursday, July 25, 2013. The powerful flood waters crushed the walls built to control the spillway. Within two minutes after the breach, 470 houses were washed away by the water. Flash flooding also destroyed six schools, two mosques and a clinic. Although no loss of life has been reported, 5,233 residents are now displaced. At the present time, the rain has not subsided and is slowing down relief efforts.
Turning the Tables of HOPE
As HOPE worldwide workers and volunteers we try our best to help and support people in need. The vast majority of the beneficiaries are very grateful. Occasionally we meet someone whose gratitude goes beyond the ordinary.
In June North India was devastated by floods which took hundreds if not thousands of lives (the exact number will probably never be known). Homes, whole villages, and towns were washed away. This happened at the height of the tourist season in the mountains and many vacationers from Delhi were caught in this tragedy. Read this account written by a young lady, Medha Rastogi, who was stranded in the mountains for several days only to be rescued by a HOPE foundation team.
"My Name is Medha Rastogi. Today I am going to tell you about my journey to Uttrakhand where I saw a thin line between life and death. I departed from Delhi to reach Haridwar on 7thJune . The next morning we left for Gangotri Dham. I saw high mountains; it was so beautiful. All the way I clicked various pictures of nature. We reached Gangotri Dham at night. The next day we saw the main Gangotri temple.
We had to leave for Delhi on 16th June but it was not possible for us to do so as it was raining heavily for two days. We stayed in an ashram . Many hotels were vacated due to fear of flooding. They charged a huge amount from people.
In the early morning of 19th June we started our journey to Harshil from Gangotri by walking which is 30 km from “Gangotri Dham”. We reached Harshil around 2pm and waited for a helicopter for Uttarkashi but no helicopter could reach there due to the bad and stormy weather.
On 19th June we stayed in an army camp. We also ate food there because we were out of money. In the afternoon of 22nd June we finally got the chance to travel in helicopters. By helicopter we were able to reach Chiniyali Sod at around 4pm. We did not have a single penny to reach home. Then in Chiniyali Sod, we met with the members of an NGO named “HOPE worldwide (India) and HOPE foundation”. This team helped us so much. They were assisting people who were out of money with food, medicine, shoes, etc. They provided counseling as many were traumatised. This counseling helped us to get mentally strong. We also received financial help from them. Then we departed from Chiniyali Sod to Rishikesh via bus. At the bus stop of Rishikesh, there were many volunteers from HOPE who were ready to help those who needed support. They provided medical treatment, carried people's luggage from one place to another, arranged food for us, and also helped to talk to our relatives over mobile phones. Most of the people had lost their mobiles.
On 23rd June, we finally reached Dehradun in the night. The next morning we left for Delhi via bus. This was my first trip to Uttrakhand which was full of adventures. It was an unforgettable tour for me. I am very thankful to HOPE who came like “GOD” to save the lives of many people. At last, I want to salute those people who lose their lives in the Uttrakhand tragedy.
I am studying to become a Chartered Accountant (3rd year). I saw how the HOPE volunteers were helping the needy and poor people in Uttarakhand. So I decided to volunteer with HOPE for a few months. Now I am volunteering with HOPE worldwide (India) “Tigri School” , New Delhi. So I request that whoever reads my letter please hold the hand of the HOPE team to help the needy and poor.
Thank you so much HOPE worldwide and HOPE foundation."
Medha is now volunteering at the HOPE worldwide Tigri School in New Delhi. It is our turn to be grateful for her service to the underprivileged children of the slum of Sangam Vihar. Nothing is more rewarding in our work than to see those who have been helped in turn decide to give back.