Hope in a Bag of Berries
Properly referred to as indigenous or aboriginal, Inuit are part of the First Peoples of Canada and are among the most culturally resilient in North America. Many Inuit face persisting social and economic hardship. Many families struggle to meet their basic needs in safety, housing, and getting enough food to eat. The history of colonization among the Inuit has left … read more
Seeds of Hope
In October 2020, Cambodia experienced heavy rainfall across much of the country. Soon, hundreds of thousands of people in 14 provinces battled with raging flash floods. The worst-hit provinces included Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Battambang, and Kampong Thom, and the southwestern suburb of Phnom Penh. Over 40,000 people were forced to leave their homes, and 43 people lost their lives. Houses, roads, health centres, over 600 schools, and … read more
A Happy Face
High in the mountains of Peru, lies the community of Chilca. Remote and unforgiving, at 13500-15500 ft above sea level, the temperature can quickly drop to -5 degrees. These freezing cold temperatures bring rain, snow, and blustery winds that negatively affect the local inhabitants’ health. The harsh conditions exacerbate vulnerabilities, especially for the very young and the very old. With their precarious economic condition made worst by the COVID-19 pandemic, few … read more
A Simple Act of Kindness
It has been just over a year since the first confirmed Canadian case of COVID-19 was reported by Health Canada on January 25, 2020, and words like lockdown, isolation, and quarantine have become commonplace. We complain about the things we miss: the restaurants, hair appointments, shopping and yes, church gatherings. But for many … read more
Minerva’s Story
“When EMBRACE began in our village, I wanted to learn everything. I reached out to other women to encourage them to join, as well. I knew some of them were too shy to attend, or they were too busy to see the full importance of the project. I thought that the project … read more
In Our Backyard
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, F. Edgar Nunes, pastor of the Kingston Seventh-day Adventist Church, was asking himself, “What more can my church do to help those in need? We are handing out as many food parcels as our resources allow. But these resources are limited. What more can we … read more
“I Didn’t Expect to be Treated Like That.”
On the eastern peninsula of beautiful Manitoulin Island, off the shores of Lake Huron in Ontario, the Wiikemkoong Unceded Territory is home to a proud Anishnaabek First Nations village. Known as “Wiky” for short, the community is governed by progressive leadership that promotes strong values and the health and well being of … read more
Shelter, Not Suicide
The Keep Girls Safe shelter in Thailand is a haven for young girls. Here they are able to live in a safe, stable environment while they attend elementary and high school. Nina* was not born in Thailand, but moved there with her mother and four younger siblings. Nina’s mom had to leave her children early in the morning to … read more
Blessings Abound
The economic situation of Linda’s* country is dire. Inflation is rampant and there are severe shortages of food and other essentials. Linda and her husband are unemployed and they struggle to raise their family of six children. It is heart-wrenching for them to see their children suffering from want. They worry constantly about their health. Their concern is not unfounded. Linda has already lost one baby because she could not afford pre-natal care and was unable to buy enough … read more
Touching Hearts Door to Door
Brian and Ed are friends who both attend the Lacombe Community Church in Alberta. Together, they have almost 100 years of combined door-to-door canvassing experience. For over 25 years, Brian has been canvassing for ADRA. He was introduced to canvassing at a young age and realized that he enjoyed it. “My feet never … read more