We are very excited that 2009 is underway and look forward to many events this year!
Renovated Dvudvusi School
Our team has made the first quarterly pilgrimage this year to Bulembu, Swaziland. Much progress has been made within the town, in particular, the Dvudvusi School renovations which are now complete. We also recently shipped a container with over 11,000 pairs of shoes. Any remaining shoes will be sent to other projects that we have in surrounding areas of Swaziland. This shipment, which was our 2nd shipped container, included computers, books, medical supplies, etc. Thank you to everyone who donated to fill it from top to bottom!
Another mission team also paid a visit to Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point), Mexico, in January to visit ministries that are working in the area. We visited the Esperanza por los Ninos Orphanage which is located on the north side of the town. Esperanza serves approximately 30 at-risk children. Unfortunately they, like the majority of our orphanages, are in dire need of financial support.
We also had the opportunity to meet with Tab Gray, an American church leader in the area, who introduced us to the One Mission ministry. They purchased a RV park to use as a staging are for groups coming to build homes and to minister in Rocky Point. We also met with representatives from Weekend Missions who serve and minister in the community. All in all, we were wonderfully blessed to see first hand what these groups do. We felt it was a privilege to have the opportunity to introduce the Partners in Action family and to uncover the opportunities that are available in Rocky Point for the growth of our Lord’s kingdom.
We also have trips to Thailand and East Africa planned for April. We are looking forward to seeing the children and the progress on our homes and project across the globe.
As we look forward to 2009 and beyond, we hope that you remain committed to working with us. While these times are difficult, we pray that you find comfort in the Lord and let Him lead the way.
Thank you to the Phoenix Coyotes and Coyotes Charities for choosing Partners in Action’s Camp Grace as a 2008 grant recipient!
Camp Grace is located in the heart of Lakeside, Arizona on the edge of the Tonto Rim in northeastern Arizona. It is adjacent to the Tonto National Forest with access to trails and lakes.
With the Coyotes’ generous donation, we will be able to provide camping experiences which include mentoring, team building, environmental education, and sports activities in a natural setting for poor and marginalized children and youth throughout Arizona.
Coyotes Charities seek to enhance the quality of life throughout Arizona communities by supporting non-profit organizations like Partners in Action.
Mission Africa, a local based ministry, has joined the Partners in Action family. Victor Jakpor, a member of Mountain View Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Arizona, is originally from Sapele, Nigeria. Victor came to the United States to attend college, and twenty years later, he heard the call to visit his homeland and make a difference. Fellow members of Mountain View and other area churches, joined together to support Victor's vision of reaching out to Nigeria. Mission Africa will shine a light of hope in the Sapele communities that are riddled with poverty and despair, through educational projects, spiritual support, and healthcare.
Although Mission Africa has not been serving the people of Sapele long, they have been able to install a water pump and build a latrine at a local school, and have also donated 1000 reader books for students. In an effort to raise further funds for a clean water system for the village of Sapele, Mission Africa is raffling a 7-day spa trip to Ixtapan Spa Hotel and Golf Resort. Please click here if you are interested in purchasing a ticket.
Victor is an inspiration and joy to work with and we look forward to Mission Africa's upcoming success in 2009. If you are interested in learning more, please visit their website www.missionafrica.org
A Look at One of the Fortunate People of Nigeria by Senan Murray with the BBC
Since the Mission Africa ministry recently joined the Partners in Action team, we thought you may like to see more of an inside look into the country of Nigeria. The following is a pictorial of a widow who lives day-to-day as a street vendor. Sadly, she is one of the more fortunate who are able to scrape by each day.
Widowed
Mary Uduru is one of the many Nigerians struggling to live on less than $1 a day, despite the country's vast oil wealth.
Some Nigerians hope their lives will be easier after April's elections.
Mary works from dawn to dusk cooking and selling food on the roadside in the small central town of Makurdi.
Her husband died when she was 26, leaving her to bring up her four children alone. She now cares for three of her grandchildren.
Privileged past
She used to lead a privileged life as the wife of a local chief.
The seventh and youngest wife, she lived on a huge farm and there were many workers around to look after her and her young children.
But all that changed when he died in 1983.
Despite being the favourite, little provision had been made for her, and she found herself almost destitute, with just a small plot of land in the town and four children to support.
White beans
Since then she has had to make enough money to keep her family afloat.
Now age 50, every day she walks to the railway market, and buys white beans, palm oil, yams and vegetables.
It takes her an hour-and-a-half to get there and back in the intense heat.
“I can tell what kind of yam I want by the look and the colour,” she says.
Male politicians
When she gets back, Mary buys wood from a neighbour and a jerry can of water.
Makurdi has a huge river flowing through it, but there is no running water in the town.
“Every election, politicians promise to bring running water but never do. I have a low opinion of male politicians,” she says.
“We spend our spare money buying water to wash our kids.”
Tight margins
The beans are washed repeatedly before being ground.
She rarely has help cooking and preparing the food, although her eldest grandchild will fetch and carry for her.
And she runs her operation on tight margins. Her daily expenditure is about 1,800 naira ($12) and if she does well she will make 2,300 naira.
Like chips
After preparing the rest of the vegetables, she cooks on the side of the street and waits for customers.
Nigerians are used to eating by the side of the road.
A full meal will cost about 30 naira. Moi-Moi are the beans wrapped in leaves and cost 20 naira. Akara is bean cake and costs five naira.
The yams are fried to taste a bit like chips – each slice is five naira.
Proud
Her youngest son, Peter, runs a barbers nearby and still lives with his mum. He says he’s very proud of her.
“She worked very hard and got us through our education. At times she had to starve herself going without to feed us. “When I was young I thought she didn’t like eating."
Dreams
And for Mary, things are not getting easier. “Life has got worse not better,” she says. “If I were president I’d create employment and really try and tackle our problems.
“I sometimes dream that mine and other people’s suffering will end but our politicians don’t seem to do this.
“We are lucky if we get power for one hour a day.”
Leftovers
Any leftovers are eaten by the family, so there is no waste and her grandchildren are fed.
The family sits around the table outside her two-room house, say grace and eat.
“We have so many problems but we can eat,” says Mary.
Meet Barbara - A Little Girl with a Bright Future!
This is the story of Barbara - a bright young girl that has difficult physical challenges. Three years ago, Barbara’s life was drastically changed due to a car accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down. Her mother struggles day-to-day to provide Barbara with the medical equipment and care that she needs. Teach Them to Fish, a local organization that we support, heard of Barbara’s plight.
Please learn more about this remarkable family and how a few people can help a little girl continue to make dreams come true!
Given everything that is going on around us, sometimes it’s easy to forget that we have the guidance and love of the Lord who is constantly with us. Please remember that it’s okay to smile and laugh no matter what life demands of you. We hope we can take credit for a little levity in your day!
Thank you to the Phoenix Coyotes and Coyotes Charities for choosing Partners in Action’s Camp Grace as a 2008 grant recipient! 
