Fieldnotes - Fall 2023

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ASIA

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LATIN AMERICA

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EAST AFRICA

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WEST AFRICA

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SOUTHERN AFRICA

Fieldnotes Fall 2023

Resilience over Vulnerability in BANGLADESH.

By Kohima Daring

Asia D

ebdas lives in a remote village in

that prevent him from generating income

Bangladesh. His village's location on the

to support his family.

Bay of Bengal makes it susceptible to natural

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disasters, like cyclones and floods. Despite

In 2018, through World Renew, Debdas

the challenges of extreme weather, when

joined a Village Savings and Loans (VSL)

one visits the village and gets to know the

group that members named ‘Bonoful’.

locals, one does not see their vulnerability

He was excited to join the group and

but instead the village's resilience in the face

participate in learning opportunities

of adversity. Debdas is the epitome of the

facilitated by World Renew’s local partner,

determination that overflows in this village.

Faith in Action. Debdas plays a vital role

He has a physical disability but does not let

as the group’s secretary and has become

FALL 2023

a confident and well-respected leader.

Debdas also leads group meetings and is

In the last year,

of group events. Through his membership

101 families in

in the group, Debdas learned how to

Laos have implemented

instrumental in the planning and execution

become an exemplary leader and an effective entrepreneur. He also learned how to set aside savings for the future and was able to access low-interest loans. He took out a loan so he could set up a fish farm.

After he paid back that loan, he took out another to expand into crab cultivation,

improved crop-growing techniques, thanks to generous-hearted people like you.

which helped him increase his income.

Debdas is thankful to have the assistance of this group. He says, “It not only helped me develop economically, but also brought me social acceptance and respect.”

Prayers for Asia

by Ruairidh Waddell •

Bangladesh is preparing for an election in January and rallies between the two parties have already started, please pray for peace during this process.

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Pray for an end to the conflict in India’s north-eastern state of Manipur and praise God that through our local partner, World Renew could send relief to people displaced by the violence.

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As World Renew Asia staff travel, often along very treacherous roads, pray for their safety.

WORLDRENEW.NET • 1-800-552-7972

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Building a New Future in HONDURAS.

By Rolando Pinzon

Latin America A

met Orella, 25, lives in the community

Because of their financial struggles and the

of Flores del Oeste in Honduras. The

difficulty they had accessing water, Amet‘s

married father of two children supported

family was one of several families selected by

his family working as a banana farmer on

World Renew’s local partner, Alfalit, to have

a seasonal basis for the Estándar Fruit

a pila (a concrete water storage container)

Company. But the income he generated was

constructed on their property.

not enough to provide for his family’s basic needs. Amet longed to be able to do more to

Motivated by his desire to help his family

support his family.

flourish and his lack of stable employment, Amet approached Alfalit and asked about

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FALL 2023

Prayers for Latin America

by Corstiaan Van Aalsburg •

Drought has affected agricultural production in Honduras leaving 3 million people in a food crisis; pray for the people of Honduras.

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Honduras and Nicaragua as

becoming a bricklayer’s assistant on the

economic instability and increasing

pila project. Eager to support young

violence plague the region.

people like Amet in learning and expanding their income-generating abilities, Alfalit instructed the foreman in charge of the pila project to train Amet and help him learn this trade.

Pray for peace in Haiti, Guatemala,

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Pray for safety for World Renew staff in the region and for God’s wisdom and guidance for Jodel Pierre, the newly-appointed Country Director in Haiti.

Today, with his newfound knowledge and skills in masonry, Amet is better equipped to increase his income and improve his family's living conditions. World Renew and our partners celebrate God’s grace and the generous support that make it possible for us to walk alongside families like Amet’s and provide the training and tools they need to journey away from poverty.

Thanks to support like yours,

1,043 people in

Guatemala received training in farming-related practices in the last year.

WORLDRENEW.NET • 1-800-552-7972

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Conservation Agriculture Makes a Difference in TANZANIA.

By Joel Mwamponda

East Africa M

ore than 65 percent of Tanzanians are

enough to provide for his family’s basic

employed in the agriculture sector with

needs.

an estimated eight million households, mostly rural, involved in agricultural activities. But

In 2018, Rajabu joined a conservation

due to changing weather patterns across East

agriculture training program implemented

Africa, traditional farming methods are no

by World Renew. The program focuses

longer working to produce the crop yields that

on connecting local farmers who

farming families need to survive.

have received training in conservation agriculture practices, implemented

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Smallholder farmer Rajabu Kishosha, 43, a

what they learned and seen increases in

father of five children, struggled to harvest

their yields, with farmers still practicing

FALL 2023

agriculture methods are called Champion

Prayers for East Africa

Farmers.

by Barbara Kayanja

Rajab visited with Champion Farmer,

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traditional methods. The farmers sharing about their success with conservation

and for wisdom for leaders as they

Lucas Duba, who had managed to harvest

navigate the challenges of rising

15 bags of maize, 220 pounds each, from

food prices.

a one-acre farm. Rajab could only harvest 14 bags of maize from 13 acres of land.

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As the ever increasing cost of living impacts our programs, pray for

After learning about Lucas’ success, Rajab

God’s provision.

was motivated to implement conservation agriculture methods.

Pray for peace and stability in Kenya

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Pray for the health and safety of all World Renew East Africa staff and

In 2020, he dedicated a quarter of an

partners as they continue to work to

acre of land to growing maize practicing

share Christ’s hope with vulnerable

conservation agriculture methods,

communities.

including using improved seeds, manure, cover crop, and proper spacing. He harvested four bags of maize. He also observed, by applying cover crops the soil retained more moisture, ensuring the growth of microorganism and preventing soil erosion.

In 2021, Rajab expanded the area of land on which he practices conservation

In Uganda, gifts like

agriculture methods to three acres and

yours made it possible for

continued to see a significant increase in his crop yields. He plans to implement conservation agriculture methods to even more of his land in the future and says he appreciates the support from World Renew Tanzania.

3,040 farmers to receive

training in conservation agriculture between July 2022 and June 2023.

WORLDRENEW.NET • 1-800-552-7972

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Peace of Mind in Challenging Times.

By World Renew West Africa*

West Africa I

n some communities in West Africa* where

Saving and Loans Associations (VSLAs),

World Renew staff could once freely visit,

community members learn the discipline of

due to growing security concerns access

meeting regularly to pool their savings and

has become limited. But World Renew

save for the future. The VSLA meetings also

continues to work alongside our local

provide opportunities to train members

partners to provide the training and support

in business management, conservation

communities need, so that they can continue

agriculture, and more. Training sessions

striving for their own development even if at

are often facilitated by Group Advisors–

some point our staff cannot visit anymore.

community members trained by World Renew and our partner, SEL, in one of

By helping communities establish Village

the following areas: agriculture, revenue, health, family responsibilities, and in some Christian communities, prayer.

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FALL 2023

the importance of having identification

Prayers for West Africa

documents when police became more

by Harouna Issaka

In one region, the Group Advisors trained in family responsibility have been stressing

vigilant in enforcing the requirement for proper identification.

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Please pray for political and social stability across West Africa; pray for peace to prevail.

“Every time I brought my wife for medical treatment or to the market, I had to pay

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security challenges linked to armed

a 2000f fine ($3.21 USD) for not having

and jihadist groups, World Renew

our paperwork, and the day we wanted

West Africa is able to continue

to go to the city and we didn't have the

sharing God’s hope in the region.

2000f, we had to get off the paved road to continue in the bush, which is very risky,” shares Ibrahim*, one VSLA member.

“The director of the school threatened my son to bring a copy of his father's nationality paper…or he would risk being

Praise God that despite major

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There have already been violent protests as Senegal prepares for presidential elections on February 25th, 2024; pray for a peaceful and fair election process.

kicked out of school, and I did not have the documents.”

Ibrahim says, “Thanks to the advice from the [Group] Advisor, I completed ID cards, family books, birth certificates, and nationality documents for my wife and myself. Now we are at peace when we travel, and our children are no longer threatened to be kicked out of school.”

World Renew West Africa thanks God for his protection that allows us to share his hope even in the midst of challenging times.

During the first phase of a project focused on improving water access in Nigeria,

52 families had piped water service installed, thanks to

*Due to security risks, names and places have been changed or omitted to protect

gifts like yours.

identities.

WORLDRENEW.NET • 1-800-552-7972

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Building Confidence to Overcome Challenges in ZAMBIA.

By Lesley Wakelin

Southern Africa U

rthuan’s parents separated when he

With extremely limited options, his

was young, leaving him in the care of

grandfather did not know how to help

his grandfather, a carpenter. His mother died

Urthuan. Then teachers at the school

shortly after. Urthuan has an intellectual

suggested the BEN Therapy program which

disability and did not start attending a school

was being offered at a nearby church. The

for children with learning difficulties until

program, facilitated by World Renew’s

the age of ten. He struggled to fit in with

local partner, the United Church of Zambia,

his much younger classmates. By the time

focuses on addressing the needs of people

he was in Grade 5, at the age of 18, he was

living with disabilities.

unable to continue in formal education.

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FALL 2023

Working with the program therapists who offered encouragement, rather than ridicule, Urthuan became more confident and experienced drastic improvements in his ability to communicate and his behaviour.

This year, generosity

After two years in the program, Urthuan

like yours helped

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College. As he gained new skills, Urthuan

communities in Malawi

began to teach his grandfather how to grow

establish a disaster risk

was selected to attend the Chipembe Farm

crops on his land. His grandfather says, "The college has helped Urthuan to open his mind,

reduction plan.

and to learn so many things he didn’t know."

Urthuan is proud of the contribution he is now making to his family. “I am happy,” he says, “because I know a lot and I am able to assist my grandfather.”

Prayers for Southern Africa

by Steve Sywulka •

Pray that the supply of seeds, fertilizer, and other inputs are available for farmers in Zambia so they have what they need for the start of planting season.

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As World Renew Mozambique begins to work with new partners, pray that they will feel God's presence and strength.

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Pray for God’s guidance for World Renew Malawi and partners as they continue to support people impacted by Cyclone Freddy in the midst of recurring fuel shortages.

WORLDRENEW.NET • 1-800-552-7972

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Healthy Families Build Strong Communities A child in poor health is less likely to succeed at school.

World Renew offers vital aid and training to boost the health of vulnerable global communities.

Join us.

worldrenew.net 1-800-552-7972

Poverty compounds health challenges, but access to a nutritious diet, clean water, proper hygiene, and sanitation fosters healthy, self-reliant, and growing communities.

WORLD RENEW 8970 Byron Commerce Dr SW Byron Center, MI 49315-7400

Malnutrition can make an adult too weak to work to support their family.

Learn how World Renew is helping families around the world live cleaner, healthier lives. worldrenew.net/community-health