Venture International had many efforts to help some of the 1.2 million Iraqi refugees forced to leave Iraq to seek safety and shelter for themselves and their families. Four hundred thousand of these refugees are from the Christian population of Iraq. |
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In Jordan and Syria, we are working hand in hand with a Jordanian Christian ministry. Recently we got this word from them: “Thank you” is not enough to express how indebted we are for your invaluable prayers and generosity. This project would not have materialized without your support; the positive impact of this project on many lives is profound! We are grateful. We also know that your love and effort are not in vain.”
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The war in Iraq has caused one of the most severe refugee crises in history. At a bare minimum, at least one out of every seven Iraqis has had to flee his or her home due to the violence and chaos set off in their country1. Almost 4 million people have been left homeless. More than half have fled the country, seeking shelter as refugees in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, and Iran. Syria has taken in the largest number of refugees, which currently exceeds 1.2 million, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR); this figure represents more than 5% of Syria’s population. |
Approximately 1,115 Food parcels were distributed (in four different churches) to around 800 Iraqi families; as per the following estimate percentages of categories:
- 160 Iraqi widows (20%)
- 3,180 children (19.8%)
Thirty-five patients also benefited from the monthly medical supplies on a daily basis (approx. 1,050 patients total) Thirty percent were children; seventy percent were adults and seniors. |
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Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Venture International joined efforts with four Lebanese church partners to help some of the 50,000 Iraqi refugees displaced in there.
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Project Summary
Program Title: Six-Months Support for 150 Iraqi families
Purpose and Intended Results:
• Provide 150 Iraqi refugee families with basic food and hygiene supplies throughout the period of six-months.
• Build a relationship with these families in order to maximize the end results of the project.
Program Duration: 6 months (February – July 2008) |
Reporting Period: February – April 2008
February 4 Distribution of packages 50
February 6 Distribution of packages 50
March 3 Distribution of packages 50
March 11 Distribution of packages 50
March 20-22 Children’s camp 75
March 29 Distribution of packages 50
April 2 Distribution of packages 50 |
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During the Easter vacation, four Christian groups worked together with our help and organized a camp for Iraqi children. A total of 75 children attended this event, through which the children had the chance to listen to Bible stories and discuss them, they spent time in worship and prayer; they had fun with games, crafts, and sketches that were performed for them as well as spending a day out sightseeing.
One Iraqi brother commented - “We’ve become closer to God; we’ve learned to love Him more, to believe in His grace, and to love each other as ourselves.”
Another Christian pastor said “It would be a disaster for many Iraqis if this project stops.”
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We received news from the The United Nations Office For
Coordination Of Humanitarian Affairs that "Residents of Dora District in
Baghdad have been fleeing after gunmen imposed a strict interpretation of
Islamic Shariah law there." The majority of Iraqi Christians in Baghdad live
in Dora. According to official agencies, non-governmental organizations have
been banned from delivering aid inside the district, leaving hundreds of people
without assistance; more and more Christians are leaving Iraq. It is
extraordinary that the United Nations would reveal this fact. The Iraqi Ministry
of Interior also said it was looking into the problem but refused to give details.
"We just want our country to follow the correct laws of
Islam again and people to be prevented from becoming depraved. If Christians
aren't happy with the situation they can leave any time,"Abu Hussein, one
of the gunmen responsible for local security, said.
Yesterday, a Jordanian sister agency returned from a
refugee assessment trip to Syria to report there are now four-hundred
thousand Christian refugees in Syria and Jordan. This means there are
approximately 100,000 Christian families in need. They also reported three and
four Christian families living together in one room in refugee areas near
Damascus and Aleppo, Syria. This is the
first estimate of the number of Christian refugees that I have felt free to
report.
Venture International is working to ship and distribute 140 of these special rugged wheelchairs (called PET) to the Kyrgyz Republic on the other side of the world. As of today, we have received a total of $11,761. Contributions are being matched 100% by a charitable foundation who have the vision of sharing Jesus’ love.
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Meet some other players in this exciting drama! Larry Hills represents one of the gifted professionals who construct PET from scratch and make them available to Venture International without charge. Now retired, Larry and his colleagues are using their background and experience to provide a better life for mobility challenged men, women, and children. |
PET is made up of a network of people who design, assemble, and finish PET until it rolls up to the right person who can use it.
PET’s have been sent to over sixty countries. We are excited and truly honored to be their partner.
On the other end of this bridge is our staff in Kyrgyzstan who direct Venture International’s Family to Family sponsorship program. They are super busy people caring for fifty-five families in various parts of their remote mountainous nation bordering China. All of these sponsored Kyrgyz families have one or more disabled member. Our dedicated nationals staff and church volunteers have also recently opened Oasis, a day center for the disabled. To say the least, they have their hands full.
Helping people takes time. Social, physical, and spiritual development is not done overnight. PET is creating self-reliance; quick success is exceptional.
YOU CAN PRAY: Please pray as we recruit a short-term team to travel to Kyrgyzstan for at least two weeks to identify riders who will use PET. A second team will be needed to help distribute PET once they arrive. We are currently talking to two churches about this short-term assignment. |
PET works with people who have lost use of their legs but have enough upper body and arm strength to deliver the power to drive PET. In one country, a shoemaker received a PET and now uses it to pick up raw goods for making shoes and delivering the finished product. In another country a PET rider use it to take garden vegetables to market.
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If you have friends or a small group who you think would like to join you in this project why not show them this letter. Call 800-421-2159 if you need help or you can also click on "donate" to give on line.
Your gift of $45.00 will be matched and will enable us to sea freight and locally identify and distribute one PET to one deserving person.
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(A story from the Bible Society in
Egypt)
"A lady in Southern Egypt had been trying to read the Bible. She was
just not able to understand a thing. She finally became so
discouraged she prayed, "Dear Lord, you made me and you know my
mind. You know that I cannot understand the Bible. But you made me
that way, so please don't get mad at me because I am not going to
read the Bible anymore." About 4 months later, her son received a
Children's Bible through the Bible Society school project.
Beautifully illustrated and written in a clear, simple style for
children, the lady was able to read this Bible to her child. How
loved she felt, to know that God cared enough to send her a Bible
that she could understand! She now testifies that the Bible was not
only meant for her son, but for her as well!
In 2005/6, the Bible Society of Egypt embarked on a large-scale project
to provide 215,000
students with a Children's Bible of their very own!"
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Venture International, in partnership with two other agencies, has also
made it possible for children and families to love and
understand the Bible. The success experienced by the Children's
Bible distributed in Egypt by the Bible Society has also been
confirmed by those who have received 25 FAVORITE BIBLE
STORIES FOR CHILDREN.
Translated and prepared for printing by one of Venture
International's staff this children's bible story book in Arabic
has now been distributed to thousands of children in Egypt,
Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Israel, West Bank, and Iraq. This
attractive Bible story book can be seen in Arabic on our website
(click here to see it) Your gift of $15.00 will allow us to
print and distribute 10 copies to boys and girls in the Middle
East. $30=20 books, $45 = 30 books, etc. Our goal is to
distribute one million copies. |
I want to help now
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VENTURE INTERNATIONAL | A UNIQUE SERVICE AGENCY