Global Food Crisis

I've found that there is no better way to always be thankful for our many, undeserved, unearned, blessings than to be in prayer constantly for those who are less fortunate. Some time back a couple of my favorite bloggers wrote about a trip to Africa that they were taking with Compassion International, and I began to research... until that time Scott was the only person in our family who took an interest in the way our tithes were invested. I was content to give it all to our church. Scott, on the other hand, already had the fever for finding other ways to use our gifts to bless others. After reading about Shannon and Sophie's trip, we prayerfully decided to sponsor a child. We selected Sabina and have been blessed already by our letters and correspondence with her.

As a result of our sponsorship, I attempt to keep up with the goings on in Sabina's part of the world as well as other Compassion news. A big part of the news with Compassion lately is the global food crisis. You can check out the link to read some facts about it.

I talked with the owner of the salon where I get my hair cut yesterday about the fact that rising gas and grocery prices were hurting business. Gas here is right at $4/gallon and people are beginning to carefully consider and consolidate trips; people are cutting back and cutting out things they consider to be extras.

Until last night I had never considered what the rising costs of food and fuel were doing to those who already live with poverty. The higher food prices are forcing families just like Sabina's who survive on around $1 per day to spend upwards of 80% of their budgets on food. Many of the compassion sponsored children in parts of the world are only eating when at their church-based centers. In Haiti Compassion will spend a minimum of $2M feeding the sponsored children and their families for the next couple of months alone.

I can not begin to imagine being a mother in one of these poverty stricken areas and wondering what/ when my children would be able to eat next?!? It makes me sick to think about it.


If you are wondering what you can do to help, I can offer two suggestions.

1- You can make a donation to Compassion's Global Food Crisis Fund. They make it very simple, and the organization itself has a 4 star rating with Charity Navigator, one of the evaluators that Scott always uses to check out charities before giving to them.

2- June 25th has been set aside as a day of fasting and prayer to honor the victims of the global food crisis. Please join us that day in praying for our sponsored child Sabina, and for the thousands of others affected.