I have an awesome story to tell of God’s faithfulness to answer sincere prayer.

I read the book “The Hole in our Gospel” by Richard Stearns, who is the president of the Christian relief organization, World Vision. The book describes terrible world problems such as poverty, illiteracy, and diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. It challenges us as Christians to commit to do something to help.

Judy Piette and her daughters, Leda (left) and Lela, pose with contents for In-Home Care Kits packed by their church, Eagles Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Ga.

So I prayed and asked God what He wanted me to do. The part in the book that most touched me was the HIV/AIDS victims in Africa. The statistics are staggering, but the story of children caring for their dying parents broke my heart! I have been called upon four times in my life to help someone die. Even with my medical training, modern conveniences, help from Hospice, and support I needed, it was still a VERY difficult thing to do.

I just imagined these children in such poor conditions trying to care for their dying loved ones and I wept and wept. I then sincerely begged God to show me how I could help a dying AIDS patient in Africa. I promised God that I would do anything and to please show me what to do and how to do it.

Three days later, I was stopped by our children’s minister at church. She said, “Judy, I know that you have done recreation in VBS for years, but I was praying and really felt led to ask you to do the missions study this year.” I accepted and she gave me the Missions Rotation Leaders Guide. When I got home, the first thing I did was look in the back of the book to see what the mission project would be. Imagine my shock when I read, “Partner with Baptist Global Response in the In-Home Care Kit Project. It is a compilation of medical and hygiene supplies provided to caregivers who are taking care of terminally ill patients.” AIDS patients in Africa!!!

As I said at the VBS Family Night, “You can’t make this stuff up!” God directly and quickly answered my prayer. I had a joy and excitement to tell the children to bring in their money for the kits. I have purchased and packed and prayed for each of the 11 kits, and I have shared this story many times. I turned in the kits on 8/3, but I will continue to pray for the people who will receive the kits and that the kits will bring help, hope, and the message of salvation to many.

I can’t wait to see what God has for me next!

The worst flooding in Pakistan’s history has carried away the lives of over 1,600 people.  The disaster caused by the monsoon rains has affected more than 20 million people, leaving at least 3 million homeless.  The country’s agricultural sector has suffered losses amounting to nearly $3 billion and UN officials say nearly $500 million will be needed for eliminating the aftermath of this calamity.

The greatest concern right now is that people’s supplies of drinking water have been contaminated by the flood waters.  Risks are mounting of outbreaks of various infections.  BGR personnel are on the ground in Islamabad, assessing how the immediate needs of the people can be met.

Pray for the people of Pakistan.  For many of them, things will get worse before they get better.  Pray for our national partners to have the energy they need and to get needed rest.  Pray that we will be able to effectively get help to many who need it.

You can help by giving to the Pakistan Disaster Response Fund.

In the past ten days, Pakistan has been hit by the largest flood in a century. [photos]  Nearly 12 million people have been affected by the flood. Over 1,500 people have died and another 1,500 are still missing. Government reports that more than half a million homes have been destroyed or severely damaged.  Many towns and villages are isolated because of the destruction of the bridges over the rivers.  A full assessment will not be easy or quick.

Because of your gifts to the World Hunger Fund, BGR partners were able to act immediately to send assistance.  Thousands of people are being fed each day in areas of Pakistan that are some of the most devastated and difficult to access. Please pray for the health and safety of our partners.  Pray for smooth coordination between partners and communities.

Gifts to the World Hunger Fund help our ministry partners respond quickly to disasters such as this. For information about donating, click here.

The Big Picture has some heartbreaking photos.

On Monday we delivered two In-Home Care Kits — one to David Ndzishe and the other to Manduleli Kobo. These are both bed bound and very ill. David said he is looking forward to his home in heaven. When we left David’s house, one of the ladies who took us there went around the back and wept.

Please pray for God’s comfort and peace to be with David and Manduleli. Praise God for the ladies who volunteer with the Ilitha Community Psychological Services and minister to many very poor home-bound ill people.

For more information about how you can help bring God’s comfort to terminally ill people, their families and caregivers, click here.

Caregivers visit David and Belnina Ndzishe

You can find the flyer updating Haiti earthquake response on the home page, clicking the link that says”Haiti Relief Update.”

You can find the flyer updating the In-Home Care Kit project under the “Get Involved” tab on the home page, selecting the “In-Home Care Kit” option, and clicking the “page 1” and “page 2” links.

Thousands of congregations and individuals have enthusiastically engaged these responses and touched hundreds of thousands of lives as a result. You’ll be excited to read about what’s been going on!

Thank you, Stamford Baptist Church and Pastor Waylen! For more information about the In-Home Care Kit and how you can minister to a terminally ill person in Southern Africa, click here.

BGR partners are intending to reach approximately 5,000 families in and around this area with much needed food supplies. They will distribute the supplies through local churches there. Pray for wisdom and compassion as the church leaders minister to hurting families affected by the recent violence and the hunger situation.

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Reprinted from BGR to GO, a weekly e-mail newsletter that helps connect people who care with people in need. To get a free subscription, fill in the blanks at the bottom of our home page.

]]> http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=239 http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com/blog/?p=232 http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com/blog/?p=232#comments Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:16:26 +0000 admin http://www.baptistglobalresponse.com/blog/?p=232 In a particular province in Pakistan, students who do not have schools in their villages must stay in a town where a school is located in order to get an education.

Nearly 40 boys, ranging in age from 5 to 16, live in a hostel in a small town which has a government school. Many of these boys could easily be forced to live a life of slave labor in brick factories if not for this hostel.

BGR partners will provide monthly food supplies to the hostel for the next year as an expression of God’s love. Will you pray that the boys will be both encouraged and inspired by this gift?

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Reprinted from BGR to GO, a weekly e-mail newsletter that helps connect people who care with people in need. To get a free subscription, fill in the blanks at the bottom of our home page.

Heavy rains caused the Cumberland River, which runs through downtown Nashville, to swell out of its banks the weekend of May 1-2. The deaths of nine people are connected to the flooding and two men remain missing. Although the assessment is not yet complete, the city’s Emergency Management estimates the property damage from the flood at $1.56 billion.

If you would like to contribute to relief efforts in Tennessee, BGR will channel 100 percent of your donation to the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s disaster response ministry. Further information on how to help can be found at the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s disaster relief page or the North American Mission Board’s website.