International Solidarity….. are not just words but ACTION. One cannot expect every justice minded person to put their lives on hold (and risk) and board the next mercy ship to Gaza. To even expect this of people is totally unrealistic. There are family commitments, work or school responsibilities, umpteen situations….

You can suffer for fashion.  You can suffer for beauty.  You can suffer for art. You can suffer to do good.  You can suffer for your religion.  You can suffer for a cause.

Just as shoving your feet into painful shoes or having cosmetic surgery may seem silly to one, giving up worldly comforts or personal desires to stand for a cause may seem ridiculous to another.  For whatever you choose to suffer, it does not automatically make you more attractive, other-worldly, superior, above the trivial, or noble.  Depending on your chosen affliction, it may just make you uncomfortable, out of place, bored or hungry.  You might have earned “bragging rights” but if you use them, are you a fraud?

My next three posts will be loosely inspired by people believing otherwise.

About three years ago, I was living at a study center in Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy.  During a field trip to Rome, our professor, who was socially aware and wanted all of us over-privileged brats to know it, saw fit to take us into a Kazakhstan refugee camp.  It was a literal fortress of poverty, with filthy stone walls on the perimeter and stick shacks with fabric roofs along one wall.  We were NOT welcome there.  Our professor, Peter, went over to speak to a group of men “greeting” us at the entry portal.  They stood, a solid line of defense, and supposedly invited us to “have tea” but Peter hastily ushered us out of the camp without looking back.  If he’d told us what they really said, I’m sure it would have destroyed his prized teaching moment.

Although I’ve seen worse living situations in my travels, witnessing this environment on the outskirts of a city known for no such thing was shocking.  I understand how no one can surface from having seen impoverished conditions untouched, but back at the study center a small group of students were discussing such inequality and I was appalled at their attitude.  They spoke of how guilty we should feel with our sturdy roofs and running water, even though they were the ones complaining the several times our water supply became unusable and we had to improvise showers and flush toilets with buckets.  Ideas were tossed around that we should live as the refugees do so as to promote “community with them”.  What does that even mean?  Were they really just vapidly regurgitating buzz phrases?

Once, these same students were feeling a bit homesick and they marveled at the decadence of our food choices in America.  “In Italy, a ham sandwich is pretty much just that: ham sandwiched between baguette slices, maybe with cheese.  Sure they taste great, but there just aren’t the options available at sub shops.”  They went on to talk about how when they got home, they probably wouldn’t be able to order food without thinking of how lucky they were to have so many options.  Newsflash: Italy has tomatoes.  If they wanted to provide vegetables and other dressings for the otherwise bare sandwiches, they would.  It’s just cultural that they don’t.  Italians are extremely proud of their food and it takes research to find the non-Italian cuisine in town.  Sure there wasn’t a lot of variety when it came to eating in that country, but a ham sandwich from an American sub shop is not the epitome of excess.

From time to time, I would hear them discuss the triviality of American life and how they were going to be better than that when they came back to the states.  They were worldly, alert, and European now.   I couldn’t help but feel their new-found conscience was excruciatingly unaware.

People live worse off and it is not by choice.  I’m pretty sure someone living in rural South America would never obnoxiously say, “Well I slept in a thatched hut with spiders and ate only beans the entire weekend…what did you do?”  They would love to have the luxury of their own car, a clean pillow top bed, climate controlled homes, and all you can eat prime rib in Vegas.  We are not evil.  We are the end game, the goal of developing nations.  You can argue that less is more and simpler is better, which may as well be true, but the point of humanitarian work/aid is usually to elevate the standard of living and promote progress.

These well-meaning students probably landed back in the states and couldn’t get in a car without thinking about how much better of a person they were in Europe for using public transport and how it was going to kill them to be so environmentally irresponsible.  Having lived a different lifestyle for a period of time and experienced its benefits does not mean you should scorn your thoroughly American life.  It’s also likely they couldn’t eat at a Chili’s without shaming themselves first for not eating local.  A man on my street owns a good portion of the sonic drive ins in Texas and Oklahoma, so whenever the carhop delivers my drink, I’m supporting my own neighbor that bought girl scout cookies from me when I was seven, not to mention all the people he employs.  Now that’s community.  “You’re missing the point of ‘eating local’ Shanna,” you say.

Am I?

by Shane Gleason

A few weeks ago Sojourners appealed to Obama to rethink military strategy in Afghanistan and focus instead on humanitarian aid.

Now, a letter signed by a broad group of 187 NGOs has endorsed Wallis’ personal letter to the President which is set to be delivered to White House staff.

A feature article in Nigeria’s popular evening newspaper, PM News, detailing the inspiring charitable works taking place at The SCOAN. Remember, your rewards in life are determined by the problems you solve for someone else!

His words are witty but powerful. Perhaps this accounts for the number of prominent individuals around the world who have paid visit to Prophet T.B Joshua, head of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN).

At the last count, presidents of various countries have been to the church, which is conspicuously located in the hilly Ikotun Egbe, a busy Lagos suburb. The Ghanaian president, Prof. John Attah Mills visited the Church before the keenly contested election in his country, which ushered in his government. He also came to give thanks for his victory. The King of Limpopo, Koshi Kgabo Moloto, and his Zulu, South African counterpart, King Godswill Zwelithni Kabhekuzulu have visited the church too.

Yet the man of God, renowned for his exceptional simplicity, is not satisfied, and until he is able to reduce the suffering and hunger daily experienced by the majority, he says his job is not done .

“People are helpless, they have no hope … They know what they want in life and can achieve them when faced with the right opportunities, but they are facing serious challenges in their lives and this is my utmost concern,” he has continued to emphasise – while asking, “How many of these people have you helped to become happy again?”

Little wonder, last Sunday, 8 November, 2009 the prophet declared a N4.3 million cash gift and scholarships to indigent students, especially the physically challenged. One of the beneficiaries, Miss Ibeabuchi Onyinyechi, who is a second degree student of the Abia State University where she currently studies Business Administration, would forever tell the story of her life and how the prophet has shown her there is life beyond disability.

Prophet TB Joshua - You are created to change somebody

The lady, who is now proud owner of a specially made car for the disabled, could not hide her emotions when she shared her testimony. “Before I came to this church, I was living a life of no hope…. from hand to mouth. I used to crawl on the ground because of the problem that made me unable to walk like every normal human being,” she said in an emotion-laden voice.

Onyinyechi continued, “But with the wheel chair donated by Emmanuel TV, a branch of the church, my mobility problem was solved. When I met the man of God, he took over my education problems and paid my school fees. He said he would continue to do so.”

The beneficiary told this medium that Prophet Joshua has also been taking care of her other expenses including payment for her accommodation, transportation and every other daily expense.

“Last session, we were here and he treated us well. Can’t you see me full of smiles? I am doing my masters degree programme and now this is my second year.”

Onyinyechi never anticipated that she would get more than just the school fees as usual, but that Sunday, after telling the church how she had fared academically, the prophet declared that she must go home with an automatic car. All others of her kind who were in the church for their school fees that day also got blessed with a car gift apart from their school fees, some bags of rice and wheel chairs.

For Adams Surajudeen, it was a tale of hopelessness turned victory over death and dejection. The final year Computer Science student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba – Akoko, Ondo State, said that being from a poor home, his condition got his parents discouraged. Though he wanted to go to school, there was no money and “l go to the street begging for alms. I used part of the money I derived to pay my school fees till I met Prophet T.B. Joshua. The man of God provided me with money enough to pay my fees, transport myself and solve other problems of life money can solve,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Nwokorobia Grace, a Mass Communication student of Imo State University, told P.M.NEWS that when she started watching the prophet on television, she knew that her time for God’s blessing had come. “He has assisted me since I first met him,” she added.

The man of God, who was deeply encouraged by these less privileged, said apart from the scholarships, he was setting up a Non Government Organisation (NGO), to cater for the needs of the poor in the society.
The beneficiaries of the NGO, he said, would include widows, those who are victims of social wickedness and those wrongfully accused of evil practices. According to him, “How would a normal person feel to see people like these litter the streets?”

Speaking about Onyinyechi, Joshua emphasized that, “a sister like this actually needs an automatic car since she has her two hands working. She is in the condition so that we can help to support her and others.”

Joshua added that the NGO would collaborate with some vehicle manufacturing companies for the manufacture of specially built vehicles for these set of people whom he said have been divided into 10 batches. “Even if there is nobody to support me, I can sell my property including my clothes and underwear to see that these people are happy,” he said.

But hardly had the man of God finished explaining the nature of the NGO when calls and e-mail messages flooded the church from every part of the world. While some promised several thousands of dollars, others promised to provide specially built vehicles most of which are Honda ,Toyota , Peugeot brands to the NGO for onward donation to the needy.

Hear Joshua: “This donation will be used solely for these special people. We will encourage them too to have good husbands and wives. If you have a beautiful church and the people there are suffering, then it is useless. The heat will continue until we are able to provide adequately for the needy. This is what ministry is all about and you know this has been my calling. I will not relent.”

He added that another paramount area the NGO, which name has not been made public, will focus on are “armed robbers, especially those who are tired of the act and want to be delivered. We will rehabilitate and help them find their bearings in the society,” he promised.

A church member, who gave her name as Musa, told P.M. NEWS that he had to change his religion after meeting the man of God. “I came to this church on invitation. But my orientation about the church and the man of God changed when I saw how he was helping the poor. Repented armed robbers have been rehabilitated and given money to start something. These people are really doing well.

“I can tell you categorically that this man is a father of over 12,000 needy people, some of whom he does not even know .This church is always busy, full of people and 90 percent are under the care of Prophet T.B. Joshua,” he told P.M. NEWS.

Musa may not be far from the truth. Recently, Mr Kefa Olatunji Taiwo, his wife and 11 children were brought out from a slum in Lagos where they had been living for several years due to acute poverty. The 60-year old man was looked upon as a lunatic due to this extreme condition. One day, he decided to visit The Synagogue, Church of All Nations. Mr Taiwo explained that the man of God suddenly came to him and said, “You are the one I am chasing. Where is your family? You are getting old and a man of your age should not be sleeping outside.”

The former furniture maker said he told the man of God that he had become a useless person. “I just went there to hide myself when it is night. This is a shameful place, but I have no alternative. That is why I stay there living like a mad man,” he told the prophet. But the man got a comfortable accommodation, his children all got scholarships and he was empowered with N300,000 and some bags of rice.

Close to this was the tale of Philomena Sunday, a mother of nine, whose husband died in 2004. Since then she became a regular visitor to dump sites, where she got her clothing and foods.

“Even the clothes we wear, we picked them up from the dust bin. Sometimes, if we don’t make it early to the dust bin, we don’t have anything to eat at all. We pick bread, groundnuts, yams and everything we could find to eat.”

She, however, claimed that she was one day approached by a lady she did not know. This lady, Philomena claimed, asked her what she was doing there. “My explanation must have touched her, but I didn’t know she had a video recorder with which she recorded us.

“The lady later gave me the video clip and directed me to go and see the prophet after hiring a bus for us. Even the clothes we wore to church were from the dustbin.

“After listening to our story, T.B. Joshua asked the whole church to come to our aid. I remember him saying ‘we must do everything possible to restore this family and make them part of our families and counsel them, we must not allow these children to be destroyed.’ And that was it. We got a donation of N500,000, some bags of rice and the Bible. He also promised to assist in the education of my children. Viewers around the world who watched us on television also donated money, which was given to us.”

She concluded by saying she daily offers prayers that God should strengthen the prophet and empower him to continue to help the needy.

His charity works, which have become widespread, have been attracting commendations, one of which recently came from Senator Anthony Agbo, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital.

The senator, who said he watched the church’s television and saw all efforts by the man of God to alleviate poverty, explained that the number of foreigners who trooped into the church made him think about any other spots in the county that could attract such influx of foreign nationals in Nigeria.

The senator, who is also the National Patron of the National Association of Disabled Persons in Nigeria, said the influx of foreign citizens to the church to benefit from healing and the ‘unparalleled charity works’ of the man of God made him happy to be a Nigerian in spite of everything.

“Watching Emmanuel TV, I cannot see myself fail to glorify God for giving this kind of gift and man of God to Nigeria. The TV channel has made Nigeria one of the world’s hottest spots for religious tourism.”

Agbo, while lamenting that the greatest problem bedevilling the country was poverty, also lamented that the situation is further compounded by the fact that the rich get richer but hold tightly to what they have because no rich wants to give the smallest bit of what he has to the next poor person in his community.

Hear him: “On Emmanuel TV, I see in contrast how an individual is being used to associate with widows with pathetic and plaintive cries as well as disabled persons who live under the bridges and on the streets of all states in this country.

“He clothes, feeds and rehabilitates them. Mother Theresa of Calcutta got the Nobel Prize and highest award in India. From what I have seen on Emmanuel TV within the last months, Pastor Joshua deserves a national award; not only for his charitable works, but to glorify God. It is not for him as a person but to God for giving this gift to Nigeria and Africa.”

But TB Joshua believes helping the poor remains the most important part of his work on earth. “People out there are waiting for you for a lifetime, to give them a chance to smile again. You cannot afford to fail them. Failing them is failing God. Remember, God is speaking to you through them, saying: ‘They are fatherless so that you can be their father; they are lonely so that you can be their companion; they are in want so that you can be their benefactor.’

Written by Eromosele Ebhomele

SOURCE: The PM News – Vol. 15, No 218

This is the latest edition of our News From Hope Center.  It highlights a few of those who have been recipients of humanitarian aid from Hope Center.

Humanitarian Aid and Outside Programs

During the course of the year many resources are sent out from the Hope Center and many programs are implemented by our staff, but it is the people that these resources and programs touch that are the most important.  They are the reason behind it all, and we would like to invite you into the lives of three people touched within our community.

Alexander, village of Lipnitovka

Alexander was born in 1941 in Russia but later moved to a village outside of Kerch named Lipnitovka.  During the Soviet times, Alexander worked on the fields driving a tractor.  However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the village lost its ability to farm the fields, leaving Alexander unemployed.  The intense stress of struggling to provide for his wife and daughter led him to drinking and smoking excessively.  By 2005, his body could not keep up with the abuse and became paralyzed.

In 2008, diabetes had affected his body so much that he had to have his toes and later his whole leg amputated.  Alexander and his wife heard about Global Action’s activities in the community and began to hope that maybe he too would be able to receive some help. Our staff member, Gala who is very active in meeting the needs in this particular village, brought him a wheelchair.  Not only was he able to move around within his small house for the first time in a long time, but he also was able to hear about God.  In 2009, he was blessed to receive an electric wheelchair and is now able to interact outside of his home.  His experience with machinery has helped him greatly and he already drives the small vehicle as well as his old tractor.  He visits the local church and is grateful for his new life.  His wife expressed how hard it was for her to take care of him prior to receiving the wheelchairs.  She told us with great emotion, “I don’t know what I could have done without your help!”

Alexander

Tatiana, Kerch

Tatiana Papova was born in 1977 and led an active life working as a nurse in a nearby hospital.  In 2001, Tatiana delivered her first child, however complications arose during the delivery causing her legs to not function properly.  Within four months of her daughter’s birth, Tatiana was completely paralyzed in both legs leaving her bound to a wheelchair.  In 2003, she underwent surgery, hoping to return the use of her legs but the operation was unsuccessful.  More advanced surgeries are available in the capital city of Kiev, however these are much too expensive for her family to afford.  Tatiana expressed to Global Action that she dreamt of having a computer so that she could help her husband in supporting the needs of their family.  Global Action was able to supply her with her own computer this week.  Whereas before Tatiana felt helpless, she now has a purpose and a way to give back to her family.

Tatiana

Maria, village of Chistopolya

Maria Goncharenka, originally from Moldova, moved to the small village of Chistopolia 50 years ago.  She worked very hard at the train station while raising her son and daughter on her own.  Both children have made poor decisions, abusing alcohol and never getting along with each other or their long-suffering mother.  The daughter began using drugs and became so depressed that she later committed suicide.  Her son is still alive and continues to live with her, but he has become very abusive and often beats her.  So bad is the violence that she sometimes is forced to find somewhere else to sleep.  Last winter Maria even had to sleep outside a few times because her home is not a safe place for her.  Gala heard of Maria’s story and began searching for help.  Global Action supplies humanitarian aid to a hospital in Bagerovo, a neighboring village to Maria’s, and Gala earnestly requested for someone from this hospital to personally go to Maria and take her medicine and clothing.  Gala and Jenya also continue to take food to her once a week, talk to her about Jesus, and invite her to attend the local church in her village.

Maria

We are immensely grateful that we are allowed to meet some of the physical needs of these people with the resources that have been donated to the Hope Center.  It is our hope and our prayer that as we continue to distribute aid items in the local communities we will have even more opportunities to impact lives and exemplify Christ’s love.

“In the same way let your light shine before men, that they might see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

TheHungerSite.com – Click to Give Free Food!

I was going about my morning ritual as I always do, morning coffee, checking Facebook & Gmail and visiting The Hunger Site. As I was about to click, I read this:

“More than 1 billion suffer from hunger according to the UN. Let’s decrease that number right now by clicking at http://www.TheHungerSite.com. Have you asked a friend to click today?

So, I’m asking…

Please follow this link and click on the big yellow button.

The Hunger Site is celebrating its 10^th anniversary.
For ten years, The Hunger Site has provided a simple, easy, and free way to help. Together we have funded more than 657 million cups of staple food for people in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and North America.

The Hunger Site also provides links to other great causes as well.

Breast Cancer Providing Free Mammograms

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Child Health to provide Free Child Healthcare

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Literacy to provide Free Books to Children

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Rainforest to protect Endangered Habitat

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Animal Rescue to give free Food & Care

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Please do your part and remember to click every day to give help and hope to those most in need. Every click counts in the life of a hungry person.

You can become a fan of The Hunger Site on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/TheHungerSite

It’s how I remember to click everyday.

David Stirrat
PremaClothing.com

Spread The Net: A Chance to Make a Difference

Spread The Net’s goal is to cover Africa in blue bed nets and stop death by malaria. They raise funds so that Unicef can procure and distribute bed nets at no cost to the children and families receiving them.
Every $10 collected will purchase a bed net for a child in Africa. It’s a simple, effective and inexpensive way to make a BIG difference!

1 net. 10 bucks. Save lives.

Prema Clothing has formed a team to raise money and awareness for the Spread The Net campaign.

Our recent efforts, with your generosity, have raised over $1000.00.

This translates to saving over 100 children and their families.

You can sponsor or join us in our pledge to
http://my.e2rm.com/TeamPage.aspx?teamID=58055&LangPref=en-CA

From our Team Page, you can join our team, sponsor our team and make a secure online donation.

In our fundraising efforts for Spread the Net we made and sold out of 2 runs of men and women’s t shirts. We have also work with the Spread the Net office in Toronto supplying them with Spread the Net shirts.

If you are looking to make a difference with The Spread The Net campaign or have a charity or cause you are passionate about supporting here is what we use during our campaigns.

Gildan Ultra Cotton® T Item # 1000
Fabric/Style:
* 10.1-oz, 100% cotton
* Seamless double-needle collar for more comfort
* Taped neck and shoulders
* Double-needle sleeves and bottom hem
* Quarter-turned body for seamless print surface
* Pre-shrunk

Gildan Ladies’ SoftStyle Ring Spun Fitted T Item # 1040
Fabric/Style:
* 7.5-oz, 100% cotton ring spun jersey knit
* Junior fit, with nearly-cap sleeves
* Side seam construction with tapered body
* Narrow 1/2″ rib knit collar for a feminine look
* Seamless double-needle sleeve and bottom hem

Gildan Ultra Cotton  Youth T Item #1100
Fabric/Style:
* 10.1-oz, 100% cotton
* Taped neck and shoulders
* Topstitched collar and neckline
* Seamless collar for more comfort
* Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem for increased durability
* Quarter-turned body for seamless print surface
Youth sizes XS (2-4), S (6-8), M (10-12), L (14-16), XL (18-20)

Our Gildan shirts are available in these 58 different colours

Contact Prema Clothing for your fundraising needs.

David Stirrat
PremaClothing.com

Recent events in Obama’s handling of the war in Afghanistan suggest perhaps a change in policy toward humanitarian and developmental aid are on the way.

According to Jim Wallis, a change in direction, and pressure from the faith community is paramount:

Development and humanitarian assistance can no longer be an afterthought; they must be central to any strategy the U.S. government puts forward. It is time to stop arguing about the size of the hammer needed and begin looking at what other tools we might have in our belts.

The Jenzabar Foundation partnered with Glamour to create a fund that will allow Iranian women to pursue study at colleges and universities in the United States. A donation from the The Jenzabar Foundation seeded the Women of the Year Education Empowerment Fund which was announced at the Glamour Women of the Year awards ceremony on November 9th.  “The Glamour Women of the Year Education Empowerment Fund initiative not only recognized current women leaders around the world, it also motivates young girls to get involved in humanitarian efforts and exposes them to role models that inspire them to become future leaders,” said Ling Chai, Chairman of the Board of Advisors for The Jenzabar Foundation and also a 1990 Women of the Year honoree.

Information about donations to the Glamour Women of the Year Education Empowerment Fund can be found at The Jenzabar Foundation.

To apply for the scholarship email:  women.of.the.year@thejenzabarfoundation.org

Another touching account of the charitable works in The SCOAN…

The story of Job in the holy book sounded like a fairy tale to Mr Ezekiel Ayodeji until the cruel hands of nature and man unleashed deadly blows on him in quick succession recently. Within two weeks he lost his wife to typhoid fever, his shop that was full of goods he had just purchased to fire and duped of the sum of N240, 000 by a close friend.

The physically challenged indigene of Ondo State had lived up to his dream of not being liability to anybody by acquiring skills in rewinding coils. In Year 2000, he married a fellow artisan, Medinat Omokeinde. Within five year of marriage, the family was blessed with three children. His business was also thriving. Consequently, he said they lived a life of paradise on earth.

Mr Ezekiel Ayodeji and his three young children

Mr Ezekiel Ayodeji and his three young children

Filled with the joy of having a peaceful home and without any premonition of early exit of either of the couples to the world beyond, he averred that they drew out plans for projects they would execute over a period of time. But this was not to be as the wife fell ill along the line. She was diagnosed of typhoid fever and all effort by medical doctors to cure her of the sickness proved abortive.

According to him, she passed on a few weeks after, precisely on June 5, 2009. With the sudden exit of his wife, Ayodeji’s life was shattered. The sorrow of losing his heartthrob barely 9 years after marrying her and the pain of becoming a single parent of three children shattered his whole existence.

As a strong adherent of traditional statutes, he observed 7-days confinement at home as a mark of respect for his beloved wife after the burial. As the end of the confinement period drew near, he braced himself up for a return to his business in order to have the wherewithal to cater for his three children and other pressing needs.

It is a real privilege to be in a position to give – TB Joshua

Suddenly, another arrow was thrust into his heart when he got a call on his mobile phone informing him that the shop he just stocked with goods had been razed by fire. Having lost his wife and means of livelihood within a week, his every hope was instantly lost and committing suicide became the best option but for the love of his children.

Speaking with National Life in Lagos last Sunday, Ayodeji tearfully recounted how joy and contentment that defined his life gave way to

t is a real privilege to be in a position to give - TB Joshua

sorrow and gloom. “As you can see, I am physically challenged. But I resolved never to be a burden to anybody in my life. To live up to that, I learnt electrical rewinding and thereafter, carved a niche for myself in the job. My dexterity drew many customers to me and as a result, I delved into selling electrical wiring parts. When I had made enough money that I was certain would empower me to cater for a family, I married my late wife Medinat. She was such a nice wife that brought me good luck. Because of my turn around in my fortune, we started making plans for the future of our children and ourselves. But the whole plan suffered a serious setback when my wife fell sick. I took her to the hospital and spent so much all to no avail. One day, I was asked to go and buy drugs for her but when I returned, they told me that she passed on. The news devastated me a great deal. I got her family informed of the development and got no resistance whatsoever from them in going ahead to bury her.

“After the burial, I stayed back in the house for seven days as a sign of respect for her. When it was the seventh day, I heaved a sigh of relief that I would at least go back to my business to get money to feed my children. It was not long I thought about that that I received a call from my colleagues in the market that my shop had been razed by fire. When I heard the news, my whole life completely collapsed and various thoughts crossed my mind. Because I love my children so much I jettisoned all the unholy thought”.

His hope of living a meaning life again was rekindled when Governor Olusegun Mimiko visited the scene of the fire incident and promised to give financial relief to all the victims. What that, smile returned to his face. He then relied on a close friend who was saddled with the responsibility of giving details of each victim’s business financial worth to collect the governor’s monetary promise for him.

The gift given to Mr Ayodeji by Prophet TB Joshua and the Emmanuel TV team

Even though, the governor made good his promise by approving the sum of N250, 000 for Ayodeji, the story became the third sojourn into another life of sorrow. He narrated that his friend who was very much aware of his predicament, collected the money on his behalf but merely sent him a token sum of N10, 000 and bolted with the remaining.

The gift given to Mr Ayodeji by Prophet TB Joshua and the Emmanuel TV team

Confused over what could have informed his friend’s inhuman action, Ayodeji explained how all efforts he made to retrieve the money from his friend proved abortive.

“I am very surprised by my friend’s action. He was put in charge of giving the government details of our loss to the inferno but after collecting N250, 000 on my behalf, he only sent N10, 000 to me and ran away with the balance. This is a person who was duly informed of my pitiable plight but still went ahead to confiscate the money that the governor approved for me to start up after the fire incident that razed my shop. I called him severally but he would not act accordingly. At a stage, he stopped taking my calls. I went and reported him to the Commissioner for Environment but all efforts to get him to return the money falied”.

Left with no money to make both ends meet, Ayodeji said he had his children sent out of school while his landlord threatened to eject him for unpaid rent. To save his children, from pangs of hunger, he stated that he had to take to the street to beg neighbours and privileged members of his community for help. “When I didn’t have money to feed my children, I resorted to begging people for help. I bought food on credit for a period of time and such opportunities closed I started begging people around for both money and food”.

Now a silver lining seems to have appeared at the end of his dark cloud. Besides being financial empowered, Ayodeji is now a proud owner

God blesses us not only that we may be able to earn a living, but also that we may be able to give - TB Joshua

of a Mercedes Benz and has fast forgotten his past. He explains to sudden turn around in his fortune to National Life.

God blesses us not only that we may be able to earn a living, but also that we may be able to give – TB Joshua

“I must confess to you that I was terribly weighed down by all those bitter experiences. One day, while ruminating on the way out of these problems, my mind went to Synagogue Church of All Nations. I had heard and seen how people who had problems were helped there. With faith, I went there and as God would have it, Prophet T.B Joshua revealed the whole problem in his prophecy.

“Thereafter, he gave me the sum of N300, 000 to start my business all over and also gave me a Mercedes Benz. Somebody had presented him with the car, but he gave it to me and made provision for the maintenance. Now my children can go back to school and I can live a meaningful life again”.

Written by Innocent Duru

SOURCE: National Life – VOL.2 NO. 68

Another touching account of the charitable works in The SCOAN…

The story of Job in the holy book sounded like a fairy tale to Mr Ezekiel Ayodeji until the cruel hands of nature and man unleashed deadly blows on him in quick succession recently. Within two weeks he lost his wife to typhoid fever, his shop that was full of goods he had just purchased to fire and duped of the sum of N240, 000 by a close friend.

The physically challenged indigene of Ondo State had lived up to his dream of not being liability to anybody by acquiring skills in rewinding coils. In Year 2000, he married a fellow artisan, Medinat Omokeinde. Within five year of marriage, the family was blessed with three children. His business was also thriving. Consequently, he said they lived a life of paradise on earth.

Mr Ezekiel Ayodeji and his three young children

Filled with the joy of having a peaceful home and without any premonition of early exit of either of the couples to the world beyond, he averred that they drew out plans for projects they would execute over a period of time. But this was not to be as the wife fell ill along the line. She was diagnosed of typhoid fever and all effort by medical doctors to cure her of the sickness proved abortive.

According to him, she passed on a few weeks after, precisely on June 5, 2009. With the sudden exit of his wife, Ayodeji’s life was shattered. The sorrow of losing his heartthrob barely 9 years after marrying her and the pain of becoming a single parent of three children shattered his whole existence.

As a strong adherent of traditional statutes, he observed 7-days confinement at home as a mark of respect for his beloved wife after the burial. As the end of the confinement period drew near, he braced himself up for a return to his business in order to have the wherewithal to cater for his three children and other pressing needs.

It is a real privilege to be in a position to give - TB Joshua

Suddenly, another arrow was thrust into his heart when he got a call on his mobile phone informing him that the shop he just stocked with goods had been razed by fire. Having lost his wife and means of livelihood within a week, his every hope was instantly lost and committing suicide became the best option but for the love of his children.

Speaking with National Life in Lagos last Sunday, Ayodeji tearfully recounted how joy and contentment that defined his life gave way to sorrow and gloom. “As you can see, I am physically challenged. But I resolved never to be a burden to anybody in my life. To live up to that, I learnt electrical rewinding and thereafter, carved a niche for myself in the job. My dexterity drew many customers to me and as a result, I delved into selling electrical wiring parts. When I had made enough money that I was certain would empower me to cater for a family, I married my late wife Medinat. She was such a nice wife that brought me good luck. Because of my turn around in my fortune, we started making plans for the future of our children and ourselves. But the whole plan suffered a serious setback when my wife fell sick. I took her to the hospital and spent so much all to no avail. One day, I was asked to go and buy drugs for her but when I returned, they told me that she passed on. The news devastated me a great deal. I got her family informed of the development and got no resistance whatsoever from them in going ahead to bury her.

“After the burial, I stayed back in the house for seven days as a sign of respect for her. When it was the seventh day, I heaved a sigh of relief that I would at least go back to my business to get money to feed my children. It was not long I thought about that that I received a call from my colleagues in the market that my shop had been razed by fire. When I heard the news, my whole life completely collapsed and various thoughts crossed my mind. Because I love my children so much I jettisoned all the unholy thought”.

His hope of living a meaning life again was rekindled when Governor Olusegun Mimiko visited the scene of the fire incident and promised to give financial relief to all the victims. What that, smile returned to his face. He then relied on a close friend who was saddled with the responsibility of giving details of each victim’s business financial worth to collect the governor’s monetary promise for him.

Even though, the governor made good his promise by approving the sum of N250, 000 for Ayodeji, the story became the third sojourn into another life of sorrow. He narrated that his friend who was very much aware of his predicament, collected the money on his behalf but merely sent him a token sum of N10, 000 and bolted with the remaining.

The gift given to Mr Ayodeji by Prophet TB Joshua and the Emmanuel TV team

Confused over what could have informed his friend’s inhuman action, Ayodeji explained how all efforts he made to retrieve the money from his friend proved abortive.

“I am very surprised by my friend’s action. He was put in charge of giving the government details of our loss to the inferno but after collecting N250, 000 on my behalf, he only sent N10, 000 to me and ran away with the balance. This is a person who was duly informed of my pitiable plight but still went ahead to confiscate the money that the governor approved for me to start up after the fire incident that razed my shop. I called him severally but he would not act accordingly. At a stage, he stopped taking my calls. I went and reported him to the Commissioner for Environment but all efforts to get him to return the money falied”.

Left with no money to make both ends meet, Ayodeji said he had his children sent out of school while his landlord threatened to eject him for unpaid rent. To save his children, from pangs of hunger, he stated that he had to take to the street to beg neighbours and privileged members of his community for help. “When I didn’t have money to feed my children, I resorted to begging people for help. I bought food on credit for a period of time and such opportunities closed I started begging people around for both money and food”.

Now a silver lining seems to have appeared at the end of his dark cloud. Besides being financial empowered, Ayodeji is now a proud owner of a Mercedes Benz and has fast forgotten his past. He explains to sudden turn around in his fortune to National Life.

God blesses us not only that we may be able to earn a living, but also that we may be able to give - TB Joshua

“I must confess to you that I was terribly weighed down by all those bitter experiences. One day, while ruminating on the way out of these problems, my mind went to Synagogue Church of All Nations. I had heard and seen how people who had problems were helped there. With faith, I went there and as God would have it, Prophet T.B Joshua revealed the whole problem in his prophecy.

“Thereafter, he gave me the sum of N300, 000 to start my business all over and also gave me a Mercedes Benz. Somebody had presented him with the car, but he gave it to me and made provision for the maintenance. Now my children can go back to school and I can live a meaningful life again”.

Written by Innocent Duru

SOURCE: National Life – VOL.2 NO. 68

It is all about Jesus!

On the heels of the recent controversy sparked by insinuations that Nigerian Pastor TB Joshua had claimed glory for the Black Satellites World Cup victory through his prophetic insight to Coach Sellas Tetteh, a similar event seems to have thrown a spanner in the works of the pastors critics…

A mere fortnight after the Satellite debate was at its hottest, revelations have emerged how coach of the current Nigerian U-17 Team, John Obuh, also received prophetic insight from T.B. Joshua concerning the Golden Eaglets last match with Argentina in the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup. Prophet Joshua also debunked the allegations of claiming glory for the Satellites triumph, referring to such statements as blasphemous and uncalled for.

On Sunday 4th November, a recorded conversation between the Nigerian cleric and Eaglets coach John Obuh was played back to The SCOAN congregation, an event broadcast live to the world via Emmanuel TV. Obuh was said to have called Joshua on Thursday, the day before the Argentine match on Friday.

I feel strong in challenges, believing that personal improvement and fulfilment come through the continual process of learning from both negative and positive experiences - T.B. Joshua

“I told you in under 2 to 5 minutes they will score,” Joshua was heard telling the coach. “I want to assure you – your people are going home one ahead. That is the promise of God. But for five minutes they will be very dangerous – let us mark our home. 15 minutes to go will be for us – we must make use of it.” Coach Obuh told Joshua he had already informed the players of the prophecy. Another conversation was then played between Joshua and the Eaglets assistant coach Abimbola Samuel in which he told him in a local Nigerian dialect, “Your boys will work a penalty when it is 15 minutes to go…”

As events would have it, the match followed in the footprints of the revelation, Argentina scoring in the first two minutes, Nigeria winning a penalty in the last 15 and eventually winning by one goal to top their group and advance convincingly to the knock-out stages.

Speaking to the enthralled congregants, Joshua clearly defined the role of a prophet in such scenario, demystifying the rumour that he was attempting to ascribe glory to himself. “I cannot help anyone to win any match – I am just a servant,” he carefully explained. “A prophet is to tell God’s opinion. It’s a blasphemy, sin against Holy Spirit if you say a prophet is the one who helped someone win a match. I am a gentle donkey. I am just a donkey Jesus is riding on. If somebody drops beautiful clothes, attires on the floor for the donkey to march on, it is not the donkey they dropped the attire on the floor for, but the One on top.”

He further explained how the opinion of God can guide the team concerned, but the prophet who delivers such message has no say whatsoever in the matter. “There is nothing I can do – I am just a servant. I cannot touch it, I cannot alter it. It is God that can alter anything. A prophet doesn’t make a team win – a prophet only tells you the mind of God. When we know God’s opinion, it will help us to guard against mistake and error…”

The storm that erupted in Ghana over the Satellites Saga seems not to have deterred or discouraged the Nigerian pastor, who is widely known as one of the most persecuted pastors in Africa. Using his own life experience, he encouraged the viewers and those present that they must pass through both schools of persecution and praise as part of the necessary preparation for the journey ahead. “I feel strong in challenges, believing that personal improvement and fulfillment come through the continual process of learning from both negative and positive experiences,” he explained.

Recalling the words of his late mother that have been a source of inspiration for him, Joshua lyrically expounded, “When times are stable, and the sea is calm and secure, no one is really tested.” “People will challenge you, question you, try to get you off track,” he bluntly told the audience. “Don’t listen to the temptation to act out of character.”

On the presumption that such precise prophetic revelations can be dished out according to his own will, Joshua made it clear that the God of all nations who reveals such mysteries shows no partiality, attending equally to all who come to Him in humility and sincerity. “A prophet is a prophet to all nations irrespective of where he is from, and God is the Father of all – and He treats His children equally. For those who come to Him in humility, He opens His heart – and if you receive a prophet because he is a prophet, you receive a prophet’s reward…”

On the reason for the seemingly sudden burst of prophetic revelations about football, the pastor explained it is simply part of God’s mission to save souls, especially those of young people. “God wants to win the souls of young people – and young people today are into games such as football,” he clarified. “If they now see God’s hand in their midst, they will begin to believe God. It’s a game that unites other religions and Christians, even pagans – everyone unites when it is time of the game.”

When times are stable, and the sea is calm and secure, no one is really tested - TB Joshua

Speaking on the qualities of true ministers of God, Joshua pointed to the importance of contentment, saying it is the lack of contentment that often causes people to engage in petty and unnecessary criticism of others. “When you are content – you will not compare yourself to others, you will not stand and begin to accuse your fellow brother or pray to rebuke and destroy them… The principle of a contented man is ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ” Instead of criticising from afar, men of God should do what is good to change the bad they see, Joshua admonished.

The same service also witnessed the testimony of an armed robber who had come to the church last week armed with a gun, and the presentation of a brand new Mercedez car to a physically challenged man who had been begging for food with his three children for many months, his electrical shop having burned down a week after his wife tragically died. The reformed robber was supported with N200,000 while the physically challenged man had earlier been given N330,300, all part of Joshua’s extensive charitable activities.

SOURCE: All Voices, Ghana Live, Africa Online

Happy Veterans Day to all of those who are serving and who have served!

Maj. Kristi Beckman is the Chief of Social Media for European Command Public Affairs

I am proud to call myself a Veteran. From setting up a base in Kyrgyzstan, evacuating Americans out of Liberia; providing humanitarian aid throughout the Horn of Africa, and even providing aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina in our own country; I can truly say I’ve done some amazing things and been around some incredible people all fighting for what we believe in and helping those who need it the most.

That’s what it’s all about, right? It’s about love of country, love of people, and love of freedom. It’s about helping those in need and protecting the weak from those who want nothing more than to destroy them.

There are many Veterans today who have given so much, not only for the price of their freedom, but incredibly for the price of others’ freedom. When service members come home to their families missing arms and legs because they’ve been blown up in another country while trying so desperately to bring change and hope to that country, THAT is selflessness.

And THAT is what being a Veteran is all about. Veterans face fear and trudge forward. Veterans give their last breath so others might go on breathing. Veterans fight those who would kill innocent civilians without pause. Veterans protect those who cannot defend themselves. Veterans are the most noble of creatures on this Earth.

On this Veterans Day, take a moment out of your busy day to pause and reflect on these brave men and women. Take a moment to listen to the stories of some of the Veterans who have given so much for so many. Wounded Warrior Diaries

And PLEASE, if you know a Veteran, tell me how that Veteran has touched your life or the lives of others.

Nightwatch fronts Japan’s new aid package:

A draft of a foreign aid package indicates that Japan might give Afghanistan about $4 billion in civilian aid over five years beginning in 2010, Kyodo reported 3 November. The aid package, which would be implemented through the Japan International Cooperation Agency and international organizations such as the U.N. Development Program, would include assistance in vocational training for former Taliban fighters, development of Afghanistan’s farmland and a project to construct a new city north of Kabul. Japan would also help build schools, train teachers and pay for police officers.

Japanese Cabinet members are expected to decide on the outline of the aid package soon, perhaps by 5 November, according to Yomiuri Shimbun. The Democratic Party coalition government is willing to provide non-lethal assistance to Afghanistan, but will not extend the naval refueling mission in the Indian Ocean when it expires on 15 January 2010.

During this Watch, Kyodo reported Defense Minister Kitazawa said the government is considering sending Self Defense Force liaison officers to Kabul to work with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The new government is comfortable with this arrangement because (ISAF) was approved by a UN resolution. The Self Defense Force officers also will have an opportunity to work with NATO which leads the ISAF.

It’s a shift within the nation consonant with the party-politic shift earlier this year, and acts as a soft-power way to assert separation from the previous administration’s policies while still providing support and ally with NATO in Afghanistan. Actually, despite not being a military or military support action, this could prove to be generally more beneficial to Afghanistan (if not necessarily NATO & the ANA) given the gaping need for international civilian assistance in development projects. Interesting, will keep watching.

I’ll admit I was surprised that Abdullah Abdullah withdrew from the runoff election set for this month. It seemed somewhat abrupt after the eight-week long deliberation that lead to the announcement of the runoff. There’s a lot of commentary flying about Abdullah being Tajik, Karzai being Pushtun, calls of corruption and questions about international credibility (not to mention a couple pointed asides at the Obama administration for taking too much time to deliberate).

TNR has probably my pick for best analysis of what the f*ck just happened, saying:

Abdullah’s candidacy was always a long shot. The prospect of an Abdullah presidency may have seemed attractive to some Western observers, impressed by his soft Italian leather jackets, sharp suits, fluent English, and polished manners. But to many Afghans, he is anathema, still the face and the voice of the Northern Alliance. Even during the recent election campaign, Abdullah traded heavily on his mujaheddin past: Election posters showed a young Abdullah side-by-side with Massoud in the Panjshir Valley, brave soldiers repelling the Soviet invader. An Abdullah victory would very likely have provoked a major backlash in the Pashtun south, where Massoud and his cohorts are almost universally reviled.

Karzai was the overwhelming favorite from the beginning. Given the ethnic and political realities of Afghanistan, Karzai the Pashtun was destined to triumph over Abdullah the Panjsheri Tajik, regardless of the latter’s claim to a Pashtun father with roots in Kandahar. But by depriving Karzai of a chance to redeem himself with a strong showing in a second round, Abdullah has ensured that the stigma of the August elections will shadow Karzai for the length of his presidency.

Steve Coll also offers insight:

Many lesser politicians would have handled themselves less responsibly than Abdullah in such circumstances. He has ample reason to resent Karzai; he was forced from Karzai’s cabinet a few years back in less than happy circumstances, only to have Karzai or his team try to steal the presidential election—unnecessarily, and thuggishly. No doubt this personal history had some influence on Abdullah’s decision to foil the satisfaction of an outright Karzai election victory by employing complaints about fraud to withdraw from participation. But a better explanation lies in an analysis of Abdullah’s interests and current negotiating position. He has long sought constitutional reforms to strengthen parliament over the presidency. He is almost certainly interested in rejoining the government, with some of his allies, if the deal is attractive enough. He retains ambitions and wishes to remain a viable national figure in a post-Karzai Afghanistan. He will be in a stronger position to negotiate toward all of these goals by adopting the posture he announced yesterday than he would have been if he had participated in the runoff and been defeated.

As the sense of a decision made starts to settle in Afghanistan, it seems imperative that Obama must announce the conclusions of his month-long tactical review. If he offers a deviation from the strategy he laid out in March, that too changes the game, at least on the ISAF side. Whether he announces his conclusions before his trip to Japan is still up in the air, but it is not some taunt of “dithering” that concerns me. It is that the result of his review will have an immediate effect, on our goals, on our morale, and on quelling this level of uncertainty inherent in our presence in Afghanistan right now.

Also, I am very impatient, and I want to know already.

Last night I had a great conversation with Jakob Lund, head of Play31, an NGO that sets up soccer matches with a local NGO in Sierra Leone. Essentially, Play31 sets up these games in such a way as to provide settings in which participants feel empowered to address reconciliation between communities there (go see the website for more). Jakob’s currently interested in evaluating his program, so he came to chat about approaches, measures, etc.

Jakob told me a great story, one that  is, I think, typical of assessing aid programs in general, and may also have something to say about our ability to judge the sustainability of programs. On his last visit, he and his local colleagues went around talking to the different communities in which Play31 works about how people feel about their program, what they get out of it, what they don’t, and finally, what would happen if the funding for these games went away. To the local NGO representative, people in villages uniformly said that if funding for the games disappeared they would get together  what resources they had and keep holding these matches; to Jakob,: “Oh no, without this program no games would be held.”

The demand characteristics of who asks the questions are strong.

How many lives are you capable of changing? How many have you changed? This is what matters to Jesus; this is what life is all about…

Beyond the burdening, burgeoning bondage of homelessness, Mr Kefa Olatunji Taiwo had strayed slowly into the hazardous realms of hopelessness. At 60 years old, his family had scattered, any shred of dignity or self-worth left battered – his life in total tatters. Living in a bedraggled and dishevelled excuse for a shed, scantily assorted from stray aluminium and rotting wood, he had dwelt and dealt in the refuse grounds of Lagos, Nigeria for over three agonising years, surrounded by the repulsive stench of decay and debris, and the degrading stigma of a lunatic-like existence. Suicidal tendencies crept increasingly closer…

The Prophecy

He suddenly halted before him, sensing something strange.“You are the one I am chasing.” Kefa looked up, astounded, dumbfounded. “Where is your family? Everybody is scattered in your home – and you are sleeping under the bridge, as an elderly man.” Extraodinary. His life-story unfurling uncannily from a man he had never encountered, a man he had never explained his predicament to. “You are getting old, an old man sleeping outside – and the family are scattered. Do you know where your problem comes from? This is what your mummy was telling you. The little money you had, you were going out – sometimes in the night you will not come home. You would take girlfriends. The little you had – you spent it just like that. This has destroyed you, destroyed your career.” How did he know? Whom had he told? “Something happened to you before this thing started. You met a mad woman – you never knew she’s a mad woman, and you slept with the woman. This is where the problem comes from. Today, when you sleep you see animals.” “Exactly, sir”

When Mr Taiwo walked dejectedly into The Synagogue, Church of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday 30th August, unbeknown to him was the unfolding of a divine design to break the chains of poverty and restore the bonds of unity within his crises-fraught family. The prophecy took him by surprise. It was so sudden, so direct, so precise. Pastor TB Joshua narrated his life to him, a brief 30 seconds of breath-taking revelation, a concise uncovering. As he was led through the beautiful sanctuary, a flame of hope licked within his veins. Could it be a way out had actually come?

You are created to change somebody...

The following week he stood again before the vast SCOAN auditorium, clips of his ‘home’ broadcast to the world live on Emmanuel TV. Evangelists had accompanied Taiwo to establish the veracity of the prophecy. The crowd gasped, beholding a dank wasteland with pigs scavenging among the filth, dirty infected water up to the knees, slime and grime at every turn. And a human being lived there, slept there, ate there, amidst the clutter and litter of decomposing garbage and gunk. “I’m useless,” the former furniture maker told the evangelists. “I just have to go and hide myself here when it is night. This is a shameful place, but I have no alternative – that’s why I have to stay here, living here as a mad man,” he said, explaining how local hoodlums had burnt his only property to ashes, forcing homelessness upon him.

Accompanied by his estranged wife and 11 children, all suffering a similar fate, Mr Taiwo watched on in reflective silence. “I believe if this man is helped, he will not go back to his past life – because he has tasted suffering and hardship,” said TB Joshua, addressing the whole congregation. “And I know if blessing comes now, he will be able to maintain it. Sometimes God uses foolish things. Don’t be surprised that among these children may be the president of tomorrow. Remember the past history, remember the heroes – many of them were raised from this kind of humble background,” he explained. “The first step is to get accommodation for the family, so we can bring the family together and let them live as one. To liberate these children, we must give them scholarships. And those who want to learn a skill – we will give them that opportunity.” The pastor, famed for his unrivalled and unbridled philanthropic works, explained that if the youths were left to themselves, they would probably end up in armed robbery or prostitution out of frustrations irrationalising influence. “Give them N300,000 and five bags of rice.”

Life is not fun and games. It is a warfare where only the serious minded are victorious.

Tears of shock and joy escaped from beneficiaries and congregants alike. Never before had Kefa seen or touched such money. “I didn’t expect this. Thank you, sir,” he quibbled, words failing to form his heart-felt expressions of gratitude. “This is what we are born for, this is what we are to live for, this is what we are to die for,” smiled the prophet, ascribing all glory to God.

“Someone out there is waiting for you for a lifetime,” Joshua counselled the enthralled audience and viewers worldwide. “You cannot afford to fail them; failing them is failing God. Remember, God is speaking to you through them, saying: ‘They are fatherless, so that you can be their father.’ ‘They are lonely, so that you can be their companion.’ ‘They are in want, so that you can be their benefactor.’ ”

SOURCE: Modern Ghana, All Voices

The evidence of Jesus Christ is lives changed...

The Center for Global Development releases the Commitment to Development Index annually, comparatively tracking how supportive developed countries are of developing countries.  The resulting maps and charts are entirely too fascinating for my workday productivity.

I don’t find the overall score to be very helpful (the US is towards the bottom, Scandinavian countries take the lead), but poking around gets you to some interesting findings.  For example, a surprisingly large portion of the US’s Aid points are in the private aid category.  Digging a little deeper: it’s because (this time not surprising) we’ve been penalized for our nasty habit of giving a large percentage of our total aid to “less poor and relatively undemocratic governments” and tying or partially tying our aid so that recipients can only spend it on donor goods and services.

The Migration score also caught my eye—especially since Greece and the US, unlikely partners by my reasoning, received the same score.  US points mostly come from an increase in the number of unskilled workers allowed into the country.  Greece gets points for a large foreign student population and the number of refugee and asylum applications accepted, the latter particularly worrisome in light of this story.

Poking around at the Trade score, and particularly the “trade-distorting farm subsidies,” I wasn’t expecting Norway to score so poorly.  Those are some unbelievably high subsidies!

Anyway, you get the picture.  Go play.

Jonas

Aaaannd………………… I’m back!

I apologize for neglecting this blog.   It’s report writing season.   The whole office has been a sea of tension and stress.   Apparently, this happens every fall.  Donors expect reports from Project Managers.   Project Managers expect reports from  Project Coordinators.  Project Coordinators expect reports from staff etc. etc. etc.   

Roxy and I have been up to our ears in M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation)  reports.   Apart from the major one that we’ve been working on for the past 3 months (which has involved evaluating a ton of projects across the region) we got slammed with a few others in between.  

In my last post I mentioned how happy I was to be back in the office. Ya, well that lasted about a day.  Writing this report has reminded me of the joy I experienced while writing my  Master’s research paper.  Those of you who had the pleasure of being in my company during those heinous six months will likely remember it well…. 

This report was tough  but  incredibly rewarding.  C ondensing 3 months of interviews, focus groups, surveys etc. into a 50 page beast of a report complete with recommendations was a real challenge.  In all, we’d consulted over 400 people in the past 3 months for this evaluation, so we had a lot of data and a lot of ideas.   

It took 14 days of writing,  2 jars of Golden Roasted Instant Coffee, an area heater (it’s damn cold here), a kilo of cold schwarma and my top playlist (a little Joss/Asa/Adele/Bedouin/MGMT/Alicia, MJ, Ottis, Barry, Ray and a LOT of motown etc.) on repeat -  but we got it done.   And then collapsed with exhaustion.   

But, after a few days of recovery – i.e. the entire first season of “How I met your Mother” and a couple  bottles of cheap Moldavian red. 

I am back in business

 I’ve got a lot of updates and will likely inundate you with a ton of blog posts  over the next week.   But first, I want to share some of my pics from my field trip to Murghab district.  

Wow.  What a place.  Aside from Afghanistan, this was definitely the highlight of my travels to date.  The vastness of this district, the culture, the people and the sheer sense of wonderment  you feel  in the midst of it all, is truly incredible. 

A little history on Murghab:

With a population of 4,000, Murghab is the only significant town in the eastern half of the Autonomous Gorno-Badakhshan Oblast region of Tajikistan (I live in Khorog in the southern half).   It is the highest town in Tajikistan (and of the former Soviet Union) at 3,650 m above sea level and is located at the junction of the Murghab River and the Pamir Highway.  The Pamir Highway (along the Silk Road) goes north to Osh in Kyrgyzstan (and into China) and southwest to the region’s capital Khorog.    Murghab is home to ethnic Kirgyz people, they are Sunni Muslims and speak Kirgyz (same language spoken in Kyrgyzstan) and Russian.  Interestingly, the majority do not speak Tajik.  They are semi-nomadic and have ancient ties to Mongolia.

It’s a 6 hour jaw-dropping drive  from Khorog to Murghab.    I had my face plastered to the window the entire ride – the scenery was incredible and constantly changing.   At first the landscape was green with black mountains-   the higher up we’d go the drier and more vast it became -  the mountains turned from black to brown and the landscape from green and lush to sandy and rocky, dotted with deep blue lakes.   In certain places, I felt as though I was on Mars or better yet, in a scene from  Jurassic Park - a truly fantastical place (yes, that is a word - I checked   

Check it out:

My first meal in Murgab was fried fish with nan (bread), served by this Kirgyz woman in her yurt (house). Delicious.

The majority of Kirgyz have Asian features with beautiful  light green, golden and dark brown eyes .   As much as I was curious and stared in wonder at the people I saw.  I also got stared at a lot in return.    My features and “faux” hawk hair style attracted a lot of attention. But interestingly, people rarely ask about my ethnic background in Tajikistan.  They are generally a lot more curious about my nationality and my relgion.  

It’s a nice change.

 I had the pleasure of having lunch at this woman’s house. Not much grows in Murghab (due to the altitude) and the main staples are Yak yogurt, Yak milk, Yak butter and Yak  (and the occasional goat/sheep dish ;)    I had a yak soup (tastes like beef) which basically consisted of water, oil and small pieces of meat with nan (bread) and butter.   Normally, I love yogurt.  But the idea of eating fermented yak milk that hadn’t been refrigerated  defeated me.   By the end of the trip, I knew how to say:  “Thank you but I am lactose intolerant” in Kirgyz. 

This woman’s husband is one of the leaders of the village.   During lunch he kept kissing me on the head and calling me daughter.  At first, I thought it was just Kirgyz hospitalityin over drive…but then some wise words that my friend D* had given me a while back came bubbling to the surface.  He said and I quote:   “If someone’s acting a bit strange, chances are they are drunk.” 

It was lunch time so it  hadn’t occurred to me as a possibility – but once again D* was right on.   Never one to kill a buzz – I rolled with it.    And had a great time.   

I have to say that the hospitality of the people in this district is incredible.   Most people have little to give but you would never know it,  since they offer you everything they have. Guests are truly honored here and considered a blessing.   It honestly puts us to shame back home.   Our grudging hospitality with timelines and restrictions can’t even compare.   

I met this little girl a couple of hours up the mountain from Modiyon (which is a couple of hours from the centre of Murghab town). Very isolated. There are three families that live up there and with the help of an NGO they’ve built a greenhouse (lack of vitamins from fruits/veggies is a big problem here) and developed their hot springs. The springs were amazing!

Check out this hat.  I love it. I bought two of them.  Totally rockable in  Montreal.  The shopping in Murghab was really great. Although, admittedly, I can find great shopping pretty much anywhere.   But the carpets and wool knits are really nice.   The traditional clothing in Murghab is also quite different from the rest of the GBAO.   Aside from these hats, they wear leather moccasins with specially fitted goloshes.  The idea is that when you are going outside you slip on the goloshes and when you come back inside you remove them and have your moccasins to wear around the house.  The protection of boots with the comfort of slippers!   As a lover of  slippers, and all things that keep me warm in general, I think it’s brilliant!  

 Being in Murghab you realize that the people here live and work in difficult conditions and an extremely harsh climate.    In the winter the temperature in Murghab drops below  -35C  -    giving even Montreal a run for its money ( minus the central heating of course).    

As there are no trees at this altitude there is also no shade to speak of.  The sky was the bluest sky that I have ever seen.  The sun was unforgiving and relentless.   The heat was intense during the day but also very dry.  At night, the temperature drops signficantly and the dryness of the air makes it hard to  sleep.   The people here, especially the children, suffer from skin damage from years of constant sunburns.  It gives them the appearance of having permanent rosy cheeks and dark leathery skin.  

This amazing spot took two hours to get to from Modiyon.   And what a ride. 

Roxy, Tohir (engineer), Akbar (driver) and I, loaded into a rickety old relic from the Soviet era – known as a UAZ jeep and hit the road.   As previously mentioned, I have a tendency to get car sick.  However,  my body was too racked with fear to even worry about feeling nauseous.   I honestly thought that I was going to die – at least twice.  

 The gravel “road”- and I use this term loosely- was carved into the side of the mountain.  Apparently, the key to not skidding to your death on gravel is to drive as fast as possible. Akbar, a true professional, was roaring down the “road”   at 65Km  an hour.   Having a professional driver is essential  here  -  and it’s a job that requires  a lot skill (and  a lot of guts).     It’s life and death on some of these roads.  

The scenery – when I ventured a look- was beautiful: green valleys and jagged mountains with the occasional horse or herdsman.   The river was gorgeous (see above), carving its way through the mountains as it has been  since the beginning of time.   

We spent the night here and Roxy and I took advantage of the hot springs.  Tajikistan has a ton of hot springs and mineral water sources.  It’s customary when driving through the districts to pull over to fill up your water bottle with spring water.  Most springs have signs posted next to them that explain what they cure -  heart disease, poor circulation and arthritis are common ones.  But you name it – there is a spring for it.  

It was a beautiful place to spend a couple of days.  And aside from the flea colony that I brought back to my house as a souvenir, I had a wonderful time here.

 The land goes on forever.   A lone house at the base of a mountain will appear out of nowhere  and then nothing for hours.   I can’t imagine what it would be like to live miles away from my nearest neighbor and civilization for that matter.       

The majority of Kirgyz live in Murgab during the winter and move to the pastures in the summer to graze their animals. While in the pastures they live in traditional yurts – which are essentially mobile homes.  These can be collapsed and then reassembled.

The latrine.

I don’t know if it’s because you feel like you are actually IN the sky, or because there  is almost no light at night….But, the stars shine brighter here than any other place I have ever been….It’s incredibly humbling.

A stirring article from The News Magazine in Nigeria concerning the extensive philanthropic activities of TB Joshua, as broadcast on Emmanuel TV…

Temitope B. Joshua, donates millions to widows and widowers

For eight years, Magaret Babalola lived the life of a destitute with Dare, 19 and Dupe, 15, her two children. She had been condemned to living on the street, sleeping mostly in market stalls after the death of her husband. According to her, there was nothing to live on and whatever she was able to eke out of her daily jobs was barely enough to keep her children in school. It got so bad that by last year, both had to withdraw from school, as no one was willing to assist Margaret anymore.

T.B Joshua is real

At that point, she made up her mind to take her own life, but by a stroke of good fortune a good Nigerian intervened. The same good Nigerian, she said, also directed her to come to the Synagogue Church Of All Nations, (SCOAN), where there is a rehabilitation programme for widows.

But there was a problem. As an Anglican faithful, it was more of a taboo to be associated with SCOAN. But out of desperation, she took the advice. “I didn’t know what to do anymore because I was tired of living,” she recalls as she narrated her ordeal.

As it turned out, Babalola’s fortunes, along with three other widows, Florence Adewale, mother of four, whose husband died when she was six and a half months pregnant; Mojisola Adeyemi, thrown out by her landlord as she could no longer pay her rents, and Stella Emmanuel, a Ghanaian, mother of one who is pregnant with another, took a new positive turn. Before a parked auditorium of the church on 17 February, Prophet Joshua gave N200,000 to each of the four, in addition to scholarship for their children, a bag of rice and another of flour. For Emmanuel, Joshua promised to pay her passage to her home country, where SCOAN’s branch would provide other materials she would need to survive.

Joshua’s gesture was in continuation of an event which began two days earlier. On the widow’s forum on 15 February, Ndidi Ndukwu, 40, mother of four and three other persons who were the biggest beneficiaries went home N150,000 richer. Twenty two others received N50,000, a bag of rice and flour each, while 200 widows and widowers, erstwhile beneficiaries of Joshua’s generosity, received a bag of rice and flour respectively.

Among the group, Ndukwu and Emma Sumo recounted experiences that made the audience speechless. According to Ndukwu, her husband’s death eight years ago triggered off a trauma she thought the sympathy of relatives and friends would heal with time. But no sooner had the man been buried than her in-laws began to mount pressure on her to marry his younger brother. Following her refusal, she was abandoned along with her four children. Since then, Ndukwu told this medium, it has been a tale of long suffering.

“My husband was sick for two years but he kept it to himself. By the time I knew what was wrong, he had died. Shortly afterwards, members of his family turned their backs on me and his children and I could not get help from anywhere I went,” she recalls.

If Ndukwu’s tale is a sore truth about the life of an average widow in the country, Sumo’s experience reeks of sadism. The 49-year old former nurse and mother of nine from Liberia, told this medium that she lost her husband to the tortuous fratricidal war that turned citizens of the West African nation into refugees across the continent. For refusing to marry one of her dead husband’s relations, her in-laws, she disclosed, burnt down her two buildings and a school. To complete her humiliation, they drove her, along with her children, away from whatever belonged to her husband. While running around Liberia, begging for food, she lost four of her nine children to the war, the same way she lost her husband.

“They shot my husband in front of me. My in-laws made it harder for me when they took everything from me and drove us away. I begged daily to survive and the worst was when I also had to lose four children to the war the same way I lost my husband,” she said struggling with tears.

But on 15 February 2008, Ndukwu, Sumo and numerous widows and widowers received life-saving support from an unlikely quarter: Temitope B. Joshua, founder and General Overseer of the Synagogue Church of All Nations. While Ndukwu and two others received N150,000 cash, a bag of rice and flour, including a bible from Joshua, Sumo and 21 others became N50,000 richer, getting as well a bag of rice, another bag of flour and bible. About 200 other widows and widowers, comprising those who previously received various sums of money and other items also collected a bag of rice and flour each from Joshua. Like Babalola, Ndukwu and Sumo shed tears of joy as they received Joshua’s gifts.

“I want to thank the man of God for making us realise that there is hope for us. I want to thank you because before now, we hardly had enough to eat. My mother can start trading with this money and my siblings can go back to school. I want to thank you for making us believe that there is a future for us,’’ 19-year old Lynda, Ndukwu’s daughter and a pre-degree Bio-Chemistry student of the University of Benin, who appeared to speak the recipients’ mind, told Joshua amidst tears.

A source in the church told this medium that Joshua spent over N6 million to put together events of the two days. The source also disclosed that Joshua has spent close to N1 billion since the fortnightly philanthropic gestures for widows and widowers began a few years ago. Widows and widowers, the source revealed, are so close to Joshua’s heart that he has asked them to come for help without any string attached. Joshua himself alluded to that when he said “We will always be there for you. We want you to be part of the family, but we will tell you what to do with your gift. It is a gift from God, who is a father to the fatherless and husband to the widow.”

Bishop Olusola Olukolade, who witnessed Joshua’s philanthropic largesse, explained that Joshua is indeed doing what Jesus Christ asked his true followers to do. According to Olukolade, all men of God must carry on with what he referred to as ‘the directives of Jesus,’ since he will not physically come down.

“This is what every ministry that preaches Jesus is expected to do. It shows that Joshua is a man of God and a follower of Jesus Christ,” Olukolade said. Joshua’s philanthropy is not restricted to providing succour for widows and widowers. He is also a source of comfort for the aged and dwarfs. He is reported to have supported both groups with multi-million cash and food. As one of the recipients puts it, “Joshua has shown everyone today that he is hope for the hopeless.”

By Ernest Omoarelojie

SOURCE: The News Magazine, Nigeria

A touching article from SCOAN’s publication: ‘Faith Cometh’ about reaching out to the less privileged in Surabaya, Indonesia…

In far away Indonesia, compelled by God’s compassion that sees beyond race, colour and culture, Prophet T.B. Joshua’s passion to provide for the poor did not waver. While preaching to the people of Indonesia at the popular Graha Bethany Church, he took his time to visit a charity home called the House of Love where since 1977, a couple had taken the task of feeding no fewer than 3,000 underprivileged people every fortnight.

The couple, Mr. and Mrs. Ananda, lovingly welcomed the prophet, explaining how in 1977, God had spoken to them to feed the poor, clothe the naked and care for the weak. Mrs. Hana Ananda said: “In 1977 when everyone was hungry, God spoke to me: ‘Now feed the people.’ So we started giving the slum people food until I had to stop them because we didn’t have enough food. That was why we started meeting once every two weeks.”

When asked why she decided to spearhead such a cause, Hana said: “I have to be held accountable when I die. I have to do these things – that’s my belief”. Hana explained that irrespective of people’s religion and position, the House of Love seeks to provide for all who enter their doors: “I don’t know. I don’t want to know. I only know they’re poor and in need. Of course some come because of the food but they also need love.”

TB Joshua - Love is the greatest of christian virtues

Touched by this report, Prophet T.B. Joshua visited the home with both spiritual and physical provision – moved, motivated and inspired by the love of Christ. For Hana and the House of Love, this visit could not have come at a better time as the Prophet donated $10,000 to assist the charity in their efforts to feed the poor. Clearly touched and unable to hold back her tears any longer, she prayed: “Thank you so much for providing for their needs O’ Lord. Bless this ministry. Bless Prophet T.B. Joshua and the team that you have used to become a blessing to the nation and also for the poor in Surabaya”.

When the Prophet mounted the platform of a humble stage at the House of Love, he greeted them in the name of Jesus Christ. He said: “I am here today because I love you. I am here today because Jesus cares for the weak. I’m here today because Jesus loves the rejected ones. The powerful people in society would like to oppress the weak but God cares for the weak. Those who feel rejected by everyone, those who are lonely should trust in the goodness of God. I want to tell you that I’m your brother. Whatever you want me to be, I’m ready, I’m here”.

After addressing the congregation and ministering the Word of God, helped by his team, he gave out boxes of food to each one of the several thousands that were present. Among those who were fed, were hungry babies, mothers and children, including the sick and the afflicted. Radiant smiles served as an unspoken expression of appreciation. For many, it was a moment in which they forgot their usual scarcity and suffering, while redirecting their focus towards a faithful God and His abundant provision.

Thousands gather for the Indonesia Crusade with TB Joshua

It was an unforgettable event where not only the lonely were comforted and the hungry fed, but the sick and afflicted also received their healing. The crowd looked on as the resurrection power of Jesus Christ flowed through Prophet T.B. Joshua to the lives of those in sickness and affliction, breathing life anew. Among those who received their healing was 40 year-old Mrs. Ping Ping, who had Parkinson’s disease and was unable to walk being confined to a wheelchair. After personally distributing food to her, Prophet T.B. Joshua prayed for her in the name of Jesus Christ and to the cries of disbelief of those around her, Mrs. Ping Ping rose to her feet and began to walk unaided from her wheelchair. Amidst the clapping of the crowd, she gave thanks to God for His goodness in her life!

Before taking his leave, Prophet T.B. Joshua told them: “God loves you. He is the Father of the fatherless and Mother of the motherless. He is your Advocate. Remain in Him and trust in His goodness”.

The ‘House of Love’ was born of a heart of love – and such should be the love that characterizes our lives as children of God. As Apostle John admonishes us in a magnificent epistle, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” It is time to let love be uppermost in our hearts.

SOURCE: Faith Cometh