February 10
It was GAiN t-shirt day. The arrival gift from GAiN Canada was a t-shirt and a hat. We looked so clean, but that didn’t last long!
The team’s morning departure was delayed because of mechanical problems with one of the cars. Once that was addressed, they headed out to observe a training session organized to equip church members in the area where they were last night. They are called Action Groups and are made up of volunteers who will provide encouragement and help to the men and women who indicated a desire to follow Jesus. Mike and Rob are very familiar with the content of the training because it is similar to resources they used with students when they served on campuses in Canada. It is so interesting to see how small children accompany their mothers and seem to be content.
Lunch was a road side experience. The LIFE Team parked beside a village church. When participants asked about the church, it was clear there was no connection but we were assured it was okay to stop and use the benches for their lunch.
The women decided to do some exploring. They said it was to check out the vegetation in the area, which may have been code for finding an appropriate spot for a bathroom break.
The next stop was the home of a pastor who helps coordinate the activity and training in this area. GAiN is doing a pilot project to help support village pastors through a “chicken project” for economic development. A Canadian chicken farmer is providing the resources for this pilot in three locations. In a short time, 100 chickens will arrive at their new home. Here is a shot of the new chicken coup and the pastor with his family.
After dinner and the team debrief from the day, the word ice cream was heard! Within minutes, a GAiN staff member volunteered to take the team to a local ice cream shop. Looks good doesn’t it? What a great way to end the day.
February 9
The GAiN office is very near the ocean. In fact, we can see it from the rooftop meeting area. Our schedule has been so full, today was the first opportunity to walk on the beach. Even that visit was cut short because of an unexpected special visitor.
The former ambassador to Canada from Benin joined the team! Rob built a relationship with Mr. Loko through his work with the Christian Embassy in Ottawa and invited him to meet the team. Mr. Loko described his engagement with GAiN Canada and his assistance in launching GAiN Benin, which included the arrival of the first drilling rig. His involvement was a huge benefit to the ministry!
The afternoon and evening might be a highlight of the trip for some team members. They travelled to a village for the commissioning of a well. The well pad was poured on February 2, and today the well was flushed through the use of high-pressure air pumped into the well casing.
Near the end of this process, the villagers were given the green light to collect water. It was such a frenzy of excitement. The team couldn’t even imagine how they were processing water shooting out of a pipe in the ground! The women and children were trying to collect as much as possible.
Inspired by the women and children, each of the team members attempted to carry a container of water on their heads to a villager’s home. This provided great entertainment and laughter for the locals. Some of the participants were not so good and got cooled off in the process.
After the flush, bleach was added to the well casing. The PVC water tube was inserted into the casing and the pump was installed. Look at the smile on the face of this first woman to test the new pump.
Following the completion of the pump installation, the GAiN team organized games for about 100 kids. Each child got some kind of special treat before the competition was over. Smiles everywhere!
The DRIME team, using a combination of mime and drama, portrayed the story of Jesus’ love and sacrifice.
The last event of the evening was the showing of the JESUS Film in the Fon language. The film is a dramatic depiction of the gospel of Luke that has been translation into over 1,000 languages. After the DRIME presentation and JESUS Film, several people indicated a decision to follow Jesus.
What a great day!
The world continues to watch in horror as news reports flood in about the enormous earthquakes that struck regions of Turkey and Syria this past Monday morning on February 6.
The number of people harmed by the earthquakes is steadily increasing, with over 36,000 dead and tens of thousands injured across Turkey and Syria.
“When I see the images and I close my eyes, my mind goes back to Haiti,” recalls Aaron Rogers, CEO and Executive Director of GAiN. “I can still smell the bodies decaying under the rubble. The only thought that goes through my mind is that we cannot do anything for those who have passed away, but we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to the survivors who are alive, hurting and grieving. We must offer them hope in what really seems like a hopeless situation.”
The earthquakes ravaged both countries at an already vulnerable and difficult time, when cold winter storms continue to sweep the region, and an ongoing cholera outbreak threatens to destabilize Syrian communities.
In response to this natural disaster, GAiN Canada, alongside our global network, provided relief through our local partners in both Turkey and Syria within days by providing items such as food, water, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, heaters, power suppliers (generators, power banks) and winter clothing.
GAiN Canada is also serving as the lead agent in Syria in light of our long history of working in the country. From March 2013 until spring of 2022, GAiN provided disaster relief to those affected by the ongoing civil war that has consumed Syria over the past decade. Bags of Blessings were given out to families who had been internally displaced (IDPs) and included food and other essential items like soap, detergent, heaters and blankets. By meeting their practical needs, GAiN sought to bring hope and a sense of comfort to people in Syria.
In this time of exacerbated tension and grief, we have been able to supply practical food and non-food items for those affected in both Syria and Turkey to ease some of the burden for those that have lost their homes and means of supporting themselves. Already we have seen the faithfulness of God move through the support of our donors, for which we are overwhelmed and incredibly thankful. Though the situation is grave and troubling to our hearts, we put our trust in the Lord to bring hope and healing to Turkey and Syria.
Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Sources: CNN https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/turkey-syria-earthquake-updates-2-13-23-intl/index.html
As you might guess, a key link in providing wells is the drilling rig and team. Today, the LIFE Team travelled to an active drilling site. It was about a two-hour drive over some roads that were more like a path than a road. It is hard to imagine how the drill rig managed the trip. Each village makes a commitment to provide housing and food for the drill team, security for the rig, and water for the drilling process. In this case, the closest water source is about 2/3 of a kilometer away.
The team, guided by some of villagers, walked to the village water source. As you can see in this picture, a 5-gallon plastic container is being filled.
They left this site and travelled to another village that was even more remote to join the GAiN work crew and help with another pump pad. The LIFE Team was far more efficient after the experience on day two. As they drove to this site, the team noticed an increased number of symbols connected to Voodoo activity.
This community also has a population of just under 400 with no existing church presence. Their current water source is three km away. The anticipation for the well may explain why the team had a constant group of spectators. Plus, in this remote area, the village may have never had foreign visitors.
The finished work gets a date stamp and a prayer of dedication.
As the team traveled to this village, they passed through rich agricultural lands with pineapple, palm groves and our first sighting of cattle. Here are a few photos:
The LIFE Team’s day started with an introduction to the GAiN Benin staff team. GAiN was launched in Benin by GAiN Canada in 2005 and has since resulted in 1,756 wells. Through the local church, GAiN has helped build 591 village churches, and in rural Benin, 25% of the of the population are drinking water from wells provided by GAiN!
It’s one thing to hear numbers and quite another to see first hand what is happening. The LIFE Team visited two villages today. The first was a village where the well was provided in 2016. This particular well was a memorial to a woman named Helena. It is significant that the legacy of this woman has provided live-giving water for the past seven years!
When the team first arrived, women were lined up to fill their large bowls with water. The team took turns pumping to help fill their bowls, and the women enjoyed watching their efforts.
It was truly amazing to watch the women leave carrying the water on their heads. They sang a song as a way to share their appreciation. An elder from the village told us that before this well they had to travel 15 km for water!
The second village had a 72 meter well with a hand pump, but the work of pumping from that depth was difficult. GAiN provided a storage tower and solar panel to serve this village.
There was steady stream of women and children coming to get water. They lingered and enjoyed conversations and questions, thanks to some translation. To express appreciation, the team was given a bag of oranges and pineapples. Benin is an agricultural country with agricultural products as their main export.
What an incredible experience to see the results of kindness and generosity of so many Canadians who have given to the work in this country. Clean water saves lives and transforms communities! Here’s one last photo.
Today, the Benin LIFE Team visited a church that was planted in conjunction with a well provided in 2019. The church members welcomed the team warmly. Rob, one of the team members, gave the message in French and then it was translated into the local language which is Fon.
Colorful and energetic are two words that come to mind when others reflect on the service. Worship was filled with drums, dance, songs and responsive prayer. The people brighten the very simple worship center with their colorful clothing and joyful worship.
After the sermon, the pastor expressed his appreciation for the LIFE Team’s visit and for the blessing of clean water. He then invited each of them to share why we came to Benin and about themselves. It is clear that time is viewed in a different way here. This was a lengthy service, everyone was clearly enjoying the opportunity to hear their stories. Even the children listen and seem content to linger with their parents.
The well in this location is unique. Most of the wells in this area have hand pumps. This well is 67 meters/220 feet deep so an electric pump is needed to bring the water to the surface. The storage tank allows for the water to be stored and dispensed.
It was a wonderful day for the LIFE Team to catch glimpses of what a well has accomplished in a village; a clear illustration of the impact of clean water and the living water in this spot.
After 35 hours of travel, the LIFE Team arrived in Benin on February 3! The group of 11 consists of GAiN staff Lyndon and Monique, Cycling 4 Water team members Mike and Rob, as well as 7 others who support the work of GAiN.
The LIFE Team is travelling to different villages in Benin where they can interact with locals and be immersed in the environment. They will also experience the water crisis first-hand as well as see the impact that clean water and the message of the gospel can have on villages.
Mike, one of the team members from Cycling 4 Water, wrote an update on their first day in Benin:
After what felt like a very short night of sleep, breakfast and orientation, we joined the Benin GAiN team to build the well pad in a village outside the city of Cotonou. Leaving the highway, we turned onto a dirt road which became progressively more path like along the way. It almost seemed impossible that this village of mostly thatched roofed huts could exist so close to the modern city of Cotonou. Our task was outlined by the well pad forms positioned around the well casing.
Our GAiN crew quickly divided us into groups with specific assignments, which included preparing the rebar, mixing the sand, gravel and cement, and setting the forms into position. The cement was prepared with nothing other than shovels on the ground!
This was hard work especially since the temperature had passed the 30 degree mark and at least half of our Canadian team are age 65 plus. As the final touches were being added to the pump pad, some of the villagers assembled.
Singing led by the pastor’s wife created a joyful atmosphere filled with anticipation for the clean water this well would soon bring to the village of approximately 400 people.
Yes, this was hard work but you may remember early on in the preparation for cycling we said the same thing: “Wow this will be hard but it would be a lot harder to watch your children die because they do not have clean water.”
“It’s now a race against time. . .Every minute, every hour that passes, the chances of finding survivors alive diminishes.” -Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization
Sources estimate that over 11,000 deaths and 38,000 injuries have happened in Turkey and north-west Syria as a result of an enormous earthquake that struck southern Turkey at 4:17 am on February 6. Measuring at a magnitude of 7.8, this is the most powerful earthquake to be recorded in Turkey since 1939.
A second earthquake of 7.5 magnitude occurred at 1:24 pm with the epicenter in Ekinozu/Kahramanmaras province, following 78 recorded aftershocks. The Government of Turkey has declared a three month emergency in 10 provinces hit by the devastating earthquakes and several aftershocks.
The earthquake’s impact on north-west Syria is especially devastating, considering that 4.1 million people, primarily women and children, are already dependent on humanitarian assistance. In addition to the upheaval caused by the earthquake, Syrian communities are dealing with an on-going cholera outbreak and harsh winter weather, including heavy rain and snow over the weekend.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Turkey and Syria have spent the night in their vehicles, crowded into sports centers and shelters, or on the streets trying to keep warm with makeshift fires. Their homes are either a pile of rubble, significantly damaged or at great risk of becoming destroyed with each passing hour. Authorities fear that the final death toll could be much higher.
With severe winter storms currently sweeping through the region and compounding the misery for survivors, families urgently need life-saving shelter and assistance.
There is great fear and uncertainty for people affected by the devastating earthquake.
Will you join us in praying and in providing life-saving emergency aid to those in Turkey and Syria?
Through our local partners in both Turkey and Syria, we are providing much-needed items such as food, water, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, heaters, power suppliers (generators, power banks) and winter clothing. GAiN worldwide is responding to the situation together, with GAiN Canada serving as the lead agent for Syria and GAiN Spain serving as the lead agent for Turkey.
Those affected are in desperate need of hope, peace, provision and protection. The need for aid is critical.
We can’t do anything for those who have passed away, but we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to the survivors who are alive, hurting and grieving. We must offer them hope in what really seems like a hopeless situation.
Our goal is to raise $250,000 toward providing emergency relief. You can help make a significant impact in Jesus’ name.
Sources: OCHA, The Guardian, El País, CNN, NY Daily News
Since March 2022, Global Aid Network (GAiN) has provided disaster relief to people in Ukraine that have been internally displaced, directly affected in-country, or have fled to neighbouring countries because of the ongoing war. In partnership with our offices in Germany and the Netherlands, GAiN has helped ship over 215 truckloads of essential items to refugees within Ukraine, as well as Poland, Hungary, Romania, Latvia and the Republic of Moldova.
Over the course of our involvement in Ukraine, we have received many incredible testimonies of God’s faithfulness in meeting the needs of the people and demonstrating His unconditional love for them.
In one report, we learned about a young family who fled from occupied Melitopol in early March 2022. Nikolai Yushchiki (38 years old) and his wife Galina (36 years old), together with their children, fourteen-year-old Stas and two-year-old Alisa, found refuge in western Ukraine in the village of Ivanichi. Before the war, Nikolai worked at a foundry, and Galina worked at a confectionary shop. As a result of Russian aggression, the family was left without a means of supporting themselves.
Now, they receive only social benefits as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).The family was able to rent a small apartment in Ivanichi, but soon realized that the mattresses were in terrible condition. Nikolai turned to a charity foundation for help, asking if it would be possible to get new mattresses. Not only was this request met, but the family also received a grocery box, dry soup, lentils, sugar, as well as dishes and toys for children. Nikolai, Galina and their children were overjoyed, and deeply thankful for the abundance of support. This provision has given them a sense of security and hope for the foreseeable future.
In another report we learned about a man named Pavel Nikolaevich Ivanchenko (78 years old), who escaped the war in the Kherson region in the village of Kamyshany. The village is now under Russian occupation, so Pavel will have to spend the winter in the Volyn region of Pavlovka, which is far from his home. His daughter and family fled to Poland, but he could not bring himself to leave his native country and now must live alone. Since this traumatic experience, his blood pressure often rises and a significant part of his pension and social benefits must now go toward buying medicine. So when he received a package of dry soup from GAiN Canada donors, Pavel was overwhelmed with delight and gratitude. Through the simple act of giving away basic provisions, heartbroken and displaced people like Pavel are shown the goodness and warmth of God’s love.
Our team is heartened by the stories of lives being impacted through the practical assistance of our partners on the ground. However, our mission to reveal hope and restore life to those living in crisis and need in Ukraine is far from over. With the winter months upon us, our contacts share a deep concern about Ukrainians weathering the cold season without sufficient heat and electricity.
According to UNHCR High Commissioner, Filippo Grandi, “Winters in Ukraine are very harsh and severe, extremely cold. So, we must do everything possible to prevent the cold of winter from becoming the next challenge for people that already have to face so much in their lives.”
In response to this situation, GAiN has committed to three new projects in Ukraine that targets people’s basic survival needs, such as heat, shelter and food, while also creating space to share the gospel. The first project is in partnership with GAiN Germany, and provides practical support for IDPs registered in the city of Rivne. Since the start of the war, about 20,000 individuals have registered as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Rivne, and another 60,000 IDPs are forecasted to arrive. In response to these high numbers, this project focuses on setting up four different warming stations around Rivne.
GAiN has formed partnerships with local churches in the area so that locations will be run by a rotation of different church volunteers. Each warming station consists of a large heated tent for people to gather inside and receive warm drinks, a hot meal and engage in spiritually uplifting conversation with volunteers. There are also places for people to charge their phones and receive overnight accommodation, as GAiN Germany is setting up 100 beds within the warming stations.
The locations are utilizing a tool called the Light Box which sends out a mobile network, allowing people to get wifi and download the Bible, watch the JESUS film in their own language, and view different resources on such topics as trauma and information on the city. The church volunteers are available to answer questions and engage in further discussion surrounding the JESUS film showings and the downloadable Bible. GAiN is filled with joy that through the warmth and hospitality of these stations, the people of Ukraine are experiencing the comforting presence of God and coming to know his message of grace.
In partnership with another ministry organization, GAiN has launched a second project that focuses on distributing sleeping bags to communities across Ukraine. In early fall, this partner organization bought and distributed twenty sleeping bags, along with goods, such as canned meat, sauces, flour, sugar, salt, oil, and pasta. These sleeping bags were received with immense gratitude, and now as we are in the midst of winter, there is an increasingly high demand for more.
In light of this overwhelming need, we have purchased and distributed at least 250 high-quality sleeping bags to cities and villages in eastern Ukraine. We are thankful for the opportunity to join forces with another ministry, and believe that many will experience the care and love of Jesus Christ through the practical provision of these sleeping bags.
GAiN has undertaken a third project that will take place in the UK and focus on collecting pallets of food, as well as Gifts in Kind (GIK). In partnership with a local organization, GAiN purchased 30 pallets that went into a truck at the end of November, which was then transported into Ukraine in a convoy of 5-6 other semi trucks. Our offices in Germany, Austria and Spain also worked to fill these trucks, and we are thankful for how smooth this process has been.
The cold, long winter only serves to accentuate the devastation and upheaval that already preoccupies Ukraine. Despite the overwhelming need of those that are displaced within the country, GAiN is filled with faith for what the Lord has already accomplished and will continue to accomplish through these projects. We pray that through such gifts as a warm shelter, a hot meal, a sleeping bag or a listening ear, that people would receive a spark of hope and encounter the God that sees and knows them in their distress.
Sources: UNHCR (2022, July 7). Ukraine struggling now, but winter will be even worse: UNHCR chief. https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/07/1122102
Poland provides for Ukrainian refugees –
The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to destroy lives. Over 13 million people are displaced –6.6 million people within Ukraine and over 6.4 million refugees in other European countries – with over 17.7 million estimated to be in need of assistance, according to UNHCR.
For Global Aid Network (GAiN), we knew that our worldwide connections would enable us to be ready and equipped to send immediate help to displaced Ukrainians. In partnership with several GAiN offices, including Germany and the Netherlands, we helped ship over 168 truckloads of essential items for refugees in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Latvia and the Republic of Moldova, as well as within Ukraine.
Although news stories from Ukraine continue to be horrifying and disheartening, we have been encouraged by the outpouring of generosity and support for those who have been displaced because of this crisis. Thanks to the prayers and urgent action of our supporters, as well as the efficiency and hard work of our global network, we have been able to obtain emergency relief for refugees and internally displaced individuals and families in a timely manner.
As of October, GAiN has sent 148 shipments from Germany and 67 shipments from the Netherlands. About 20% of the total donated items go to Ukraine, with the rest going to neighbouring countries. These shipments contain food, water, blankets, pillows, diapers, clothes, hygiene items, and many other needed items.
When GAiN Spain staff member Pau A. travelled with Poland partner ESPA Fundacja to deliver essential items for refugees in Poland, they visited a small town outside of the city. He wrote about his time there:
“We drove towards a south-western town named Bielawa on remote bumpy roads, surrounded by hills, green fields and small Polish villages that seemed to appear out of nowhere. It would be easy to think that the Ukrainian war had no effect here. This, of course, would be far from the truth.
While the majority of refugees coming into Poland are headed for the big cities, many refugees are reaching the remote, rural villages and towns in Poland. According to our Polish partners, it is a much harder task for small towns to host and provide for Ukrainian refugees than it is for big cities. Cities are often better prepared in terms of structure and policies, and they receive more support from the government and private institutions.
Thankfully, through our growing local partner network of churches and local initiatives, GAiN is supporting Ukrainian families who find themselves in rural villages and small towns in Poland. Here in Bielawa, a town with less than 30,000 inhabitants which is hosting more than a 1,000 refugees, the partnership was already established before the war started.
During our visit to Bielawa, we met a man named Jarek. He is in charge at our partner’s office, which is located next to one of their two rehabilitation centres that host up to 70 people with addiction to alcohol and drugs. Running rehabilitation centres is an important part of the work they do here, yet the Ukrainian refugee crisis is now taking up most of the time of their staff and volunteers.
‘So far, we are helping 300 people – 200 of them children,’ Jarek explained. ‘We use two containers to store, and if there is a need elsewhere, we send it. We also send directly to Ukraine. At the end of this week, we will send our third truck.’ They even receive trucks from Amazon on a weekly basis with goods that are unable to be sold anymore on Amazon, but are still in good condition.
Jarek believes God was preparing them even before there were any rumours of war. For instance, they were finally able to open their social supermarket in November last year. They also unexpectedly received 1,000 mattresses in January that they have been able to use and distribute to refugees. It all started 7 years ago, when they brought in a refugee family from Donbas.
‘They live here in town, and he (he husband)‘ is the one arranging everything,’ Jarek said. ‘He calls to Ukraine, organizes and brings people here. He knows how to deal with this.’
We met Tania, who is about 30 years old, at the storage and distribution building that the city hall provided for Jarek’s foundation when the war started. Her oldest child, eight-year-old Anata, had come with her to gather clothes and hygiene products. Tania explained that she had left her hometown, Tarnopil, with her husband and three children on February 28, but the rest of her family members were still there.
‘We have no plans, we will see later what we will do,’ she said. Her husband is an electrician, while she worked as a hairdresser. It would be easier for them to find jobs here as they had studied the Polish language in Ukraine. Still, their hearts long to return to their home country.
‘Because my mother and father are in Ukraine, brother, grandmother . . . My family could not come.’
So far, the family’s needs are being met. ‘We have everything we need,’ she declared happily. They go to Jarek’s supermarket for food, while at the storage and distribution building, they can find other basic essentials. Some of these products clearly come from GAiN, as shown by the logo on the boxes.
‘We have received so many things from GAiN,’ Jarek said. ‘I lost count. Maybe 10 to 15 vans. Many shoes, and many hygiene and cleaning products.‘ About 180 children have received new high-quality shoes from GAiN.
Adrian, a volunteer, stepped up to say, ‘They have very little, but they have the best shoes in [all of] Poland!’
Jarek also clarified the current and future needs of the refugees. ‘We need food and clothes,’ Jarek stated. ‘The winter is coming to an end, [so] for spring and summer they do not have proper shoes.‘ His daughter Eva, who manages the distribution centre, added that milk and cots are also ongoing needs.
Eva explained that if they don’t receive these items from outside sources, their team works hard to find these basic essentials by coordinating with different organizations, institutions and local authorities. As we talked with her, it was evident that the responsibility of helping the refugees was leading to her physical, mental and emotional exhaustion.
‘There is no rest here,’ she said.
Indeed, there is no time to rest in any of the places in Poland where people are working to host and provide basic needs to Ukrainian refugees. We witnessed this relentless pace at our own warehouse, where trucks were being loaded and unloaded from early morning to late at night. Most of the Polish people behave as though the war was hitting their own country.
As our local partner leader put it once: ‘We Polish only need two things to react like this: one, an enemy, and second, a person, weakened, in need of help.‘” (end of Pau A.’s story)
Lindsey Schacter, COO of GAiN, shares, ‘”As the winter months approach and the war in Ukraine continues, GAiN is committed to supporting individuals and communities affected by the war. Through the generous contributions of partners and our worldwide network, we continue to minister to the holistic needs of those affected and pray for peace to be restored.”