Praying Gratitude Compels Us... Thanksgiving 2010

Batey 9 is a sugar cane cutting community in the southwest portion of the Dominican Republic. It’s a place where the poverty is not circumstantial. It is the fruit of intentional exploitation based on racism, nationalism and classism. While sugar comes to us inexpensively and is available for free at coffee shops and restaurants it is provided at a high cost, severe exploitation with poor housing and no healthcare. These communities are hungry and many children die from and suffer the negative effects of malnutrition.

So as many of us celebrate Thanksgiving today, It’s good to know that some of these kids in Batey 9 are getting a meal today too, modest, though it may be. Praying today that we will allow our gratitude to compel us to do justice, have mercy and compassion, moving us towards sincere, creative and radical generosity towards others who suffer needlessly.

Batey 9 Nutrition Center from Jeff Rogers on Vimeo.

Praying for Haiti in the Face of Disease and Storms...

On October 21st fear emerged that Cholera had hit Haiti. It was not long before the threat was confirmed. I contacted John Martinez on the morning of the 22nd to confirm that he had already made contact with the 7 Haitian pastors we work with in central and north eastern Haiti. He had called them on the afternoon of the 21st. None of the Haitian pastors knew anything about it. Imagine living in a place with such poor infrastructure that you have to receive life saving information from a citizen of another country. Thankfully, one of the pastors we work with in Haiti has a radio ministry whose broadcast is capable of reaching about one million listeners. We were able to raise the alarm early last week in response to the spread of the disease, instructing communities to wash hands well, boil water and spread the word. Today, in addition to praying that the spread of Cholera be stayed, we pray that the path of the looming hurricane passes by Haiti or breaks up all together rather than passing over it. The most recent reports suggest that this is in fact happening. Please join us in praying that it continues to weaken.