Diary of an Anti-Trafficking Worker Today I played Stella Ella Olla with four victims of trafficking for child pornography. They were discovered an hour before in a raid that For Freedom International was invited by our government partners to come and learn from. I watched as police officers and social workers spoke with their mothers, who had no idea what was going on in their shared home, whose worlds were breaking apart around them. Family members arrested, phone calls to be made, heart-wrenching interviews to go through. The mom is walking around holding her [...]

In 2011, a year after the devastating earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands, we began working with two pastors and a local business owner on the small island of La Gonâve off the coast of Haiti. La Gonâve is often referred to as “the island Haiti forgot” because it is cut-off in many ways from the mainland. Beginning as an organization responding to a crisis, we have worked hard to move in the direction of rehabilitation and development through education support and job creation in the community. The goal of PiFò Haiti is to spread the [...]

Jerusalem Satellite Project City: Gemena, Democratic Republic of Congo. Partners : Locally- FOSASA (Foundation Sabuli & Sanguma), Internationally - Lobiko & Donorsee. Macedonia church began a small satellite Sunday school program up in the mountain as the distance for small children to walk to the main church was over 3 kms. We were able to come alongside this program and provide some Bible’s and other resources, as well as starting a small feeding program for the ever-growing group of children, now over 150. We have been able to encourage the family of 14 [...]

Right now in Tanzania, there are 200 albino children aged 5-12 in protective custody at Mitindo School. Cement walls 8ft high, bars and an armed guard keep them safe as they are targets. Why? Witch doctors believe a body part of an albino will bring great wealth. These children are taken and usually murdered. Will you help these children? Please join us in praying for their protection and safety. We continue to provide them shelter, food, and security that is desperately needed. However, providing for these special kids is difficult at the best [...]

I just returned from the community of Esperanza, “Hope”, far up the Tupisa River, an Embera’ village of about 350 people where we have just begun a community water installation from scratch, funded by Rotary International and with collaboration from local institutions. My right-hand man, Fernando, is from that village, and he stayed to lead the community in digging and laying pipe while I surface to continue with material purchases and logistics. While there, we sleep in the home of Fernando’s grandparents who raised him as a child and which he sees as his parents. While [...]

What would you do if you lost everything weeks before Christmas? You’re a single mom. You have three teenagers. It's a pandemic. You don't have money for food and bills let alone gifts. What would you do? God had our paths cross with this newly single mother, to walk alongside her and her family through this extremely difficult time.  They needed help.  They needed hope. With a list of needs in hand, we organized a Heroic Family Mission and provided local families the opportunity to come together to provide clothes, furniture, food and [...]

In this time of Covid lockdowns, restricted gatherings of the church, and great instability, pastors are experiencing loneliness, uncertainty, and a loss of purpose. About 1/3 of our church planters are busier than ever while the other 2/3 are finding margin and some level of rest. Giving has been steady and stable for most, and at the same time most have lost access to rental facilities for gatherings. Our greatest gift to these pastors and church planters is being a safe place for them to be real about how things are going, and to remind ourselves [...]

At Kurumbuka, we believe that real change comes from within. That’s why we work to develop and empower local leaders with God-given visions for transformation. Leaders like Gilbert: Gilbert Kubwimana is one of the 25 leaders currently participating in our Abundant Leadership Institute (ALI): a one-year advanced leadership certification program for Africa’s most promising Christian leaders. God showed Gilbert how children with disabilities in his community were suffering and lacked support. These children faced extreme discrimation, and many of their neighbours believed they were being tortured by demons for their sins. Gilbert knew [...]

We are excited about what is happening around our new home at the Good News Hospital in Mandritsara. Last month we made the trip from Canada to Madagascar during this pandemic world. Our timing was coincidentally or providentially good because the route we took has now been shut down due to further travel restrictions into Madagascar. Despite what is going on in the rest of the world, the hospital here is bustling with construction activity including a new surgical building, new houses, and supporting structures. It is a beacon of hope in this remote community. [...]