Recent Projects

Crossing the border from Uganda into Sudan can best be described by the word "surreal." I truly felt like I was in a dream and would wake up and realize I was still in the USA. I had to keep telling myself over and over "you are in Sudan Africa!" We were not sure what God had in store for us on this trip but we knew it would be life changing and we were not disappointed. The needs of the Sudanese, as in any other 3rd world country, were numerous. There is a lack of quality healthcare, nutritious food, clean water, education and adequate sanitation. Everywhere we went people asked us for help. It was overwhelming at times, frustrating at others and to say we felt inadequate was an understatement. While there, we held 3 days of medical clinics and were able to give free health care and medications to over 100 people. They would come and sit for hours and hours to be seen. That is truly humbling for someone who gets impatient standing in line at Wal Mart for more than 10 minutes.

I think the thing that moved me the most and that pierced my heart to the point of breaking was when we visited the home of a family that had 2 disabled children. One was in the hospital miles and miles away; the other was a little girl that was maybe 3 years old. The mother told us that both legs and one arm were paralyzed due to complications from malaria. This child sat in the dirt with nothing but a t-shirt on. Her little knees were calloused from dragging herself around--wheelchairs are not an option in Sudan. Not one time while we were there did she smile. As we left, Kristi and I laid our hands on her head and prayed for her. It took everything within me not to break down sobbing. See, in a 3rd world country disabled children are a huge burden. They cannot contribute in a "tangible" way to the family and many times are left to die. This child, as well as countless others like her are considered the "least of these" by society. God sees them quite differently though and as Matthew 25:45 tells us, when we fail to care for the least of these we are failing to care for Jesus. I pray the Lord uses Agape In Action to meet the needs of these forgotten and ignored ones. I personally can think of no greater honor or calling.

 

I've seen the movies and read the books about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda during which close to 1 million people were brutally slaughtered. I thought I was emotionally prepared to visit that country.....I was wrong. After all, you can't touch or hug the people you read about in a book, you can't converse with the people on a movie screen.
Even though it has been 14 years since the horror of those 100 days, the scars remain both literally and figuratively. One of the cooks at the ministry house where we stayed had scars on her face and head. She was only 10 years old when a madman tried to end her life with a machete. Our driver was 10 years old when he and his sisters saw their father forced to his knees and told to start praying because he only had 5 minutes to live. They watched from the shadows as his head was cut-off and as they fled into the night their mother was being killed also. In spite of that these 2 people were quick with a smile, not a perfunctory one either, but smiles that were genuine and heartfelt, smiles that could light up a room. Sadly many, many more can find no reason to smile. They do not have the hope of Jesus in their heart that can overcome that kind of tragedy. Some are the only surviving member of their family. Take a minute and try to imagine having no parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts or uncles. Or if you were married, no longer having your spouse or children either. Many women were raped by men known to be HIV+ and they now suffer from AIDS. The Solace Ministry guesthouse where we stayed has a clinic that ministers to several of them. Each day we saw dozens and dozens of women and children walking back to the clinic to receive treatment. It was truly heartbreaking.

One highlight of the trip was spending a night in a mountain village. We were welcomed by the children at the school who sang and played games for us. After that we took a walking tour of the countryside. Rwanda is truly one of the most beautiful countries I have ever seen. We were able to visit the homes of some of the poorest children. We are so very blessed here in the US and each time I see how people in developing countries live I am reminded of that and am so thankful for what I have. It also convicts me to help those less fortunate in any way I possibly can. Kristi and I were able to bless many of the children in that village with shoes, clothes, blankets and even health insurance which only costs $2.00 a year! We could not have done this without the generosity of those of you who gave for this trip. Thank you so very much!  Agape In Action plans to be further involved in helping this particular village get an agricultural project and a henhouse started. The food and eggs produced will help feed and sustain the orphans and some of the extremely poor families. We are truly honored and humbled to be a part of this and look forward to hearing progress reports from the missionary overseeing the work. Proceeds from our 1st Annual Golf Tournament on May 17 in Seattle will go toward funding these projects. If you are interested in helping just click on the "Make A Donation" button and donate through Pay Pal or you can mail a check payable to:

Agape In Action
16212 Bothell-Everett Hwy Ste F 343
Mill Creek, Washington  98012 

 

Coming soon!

Guatemala Medical Mission Trip

In March of 2007 we took a team of 29 people from all over the US and Canada to Guatemala for a medical outreach. We held 6 free clinics over 4 days in remote mountain villages. We were able to treat and encourage over 1500 people! We saw babies and children on the brink of death from malnourishment or dehydration. We were able to give them formula and vitamins and get them referred into a child sponsorship program called Embrace, which is a ministry of Nancy Sheldon.  We treated many people with severe infections, some who probably would have died without medical intervention. We were fortunate to have 2 massage therapists with us on this trip and they gave foot and shoulder massages to hundreds! The little old ladies enjoyed this more than anything else and it was a joy to see their faces light up as they would point to areas they wanted massaged. Kristi and Cindy would like to thank everyone who made this trip such a success from the team members to those who gave financial donations to help us purchase medicines and supplies. We could not do it without you!

There are pictures and a short video from this medical mission trip on our Photo and Video Gallery page. 

 Testimonies

There were so many needs but each night when I laid my head on my pillow I felt a new level of fulfillment in my life. My soul has forever been branded by the sights, sounds, and people in the mountains of Guatemala and I believe I am a better person because of that.

Ginie Ramsey

 

It was so incredible to be able to meet immediate needs while serving these precious people.  The poverty and living conditions are so overwhelming, yet they are so gracious and humble.  Truly a lesson in humanity and what is really important in life.  It has forever changed my life. 

Carita Sims

Cistern Project

In May of 2007 we traveled to Guatemala to learn how to install underground water cisterns. The technology is simple and the cost minimal at approximately $80 per cistern. They can be used in any area of the world so we felt this was a good skill to learn. We worked alongside David Byrd, who is the founder of Restoration Ministries. He has had great success in using this method of obtaining and storing clean water in the mountains of Guatemala. The ministry provides the supplies for the cisterns and the locals are required to install it. This gives them ownership and a sense of accomplishment and also let's them be a part of providing a safe clean water source for their family.

Kristi and Cindy are also planning to attend a course this fall with Equip Inc. to learn how to build water filters that are made from natural materials that can be obtained anywhere in the world. These will work well in areas that have a readily available water source such as a river. However, the need exists for harmful bacteria to be filtered out before people drink it. These filters are extremely effective and remove 99% of harmful substances. The benefits that clean drinking water brings to a family in a Third World Country are numerous and we are honored and humbled to be able to offer this assistance to the poor and needy.

To see more pictures of our trip and the Cistern Project go to our Photo and Video Gallery page.

 

Summer Training

Cindy and Kristi were busy this summer taking mission training courses with Equip International. The first course, Medical Mission Intensive, was 2 weeks long and invaluable in what it taught. In Third World countries you often see diseases that have long been eradicated here in our country. There are also parasites and nutritional deficiencies that we rarely, if ever see here. This course taught us to recognize and treat these conditions. It was intensive but well worth it!

The second course we took is called Community Health Education. They taught us how to raise up a team of nationals then train them to work in their communities to bring about changes like proper sanitation, clean drinking water, good nutrition, basic hygiene and health care all the while incorporating the spiritual aspects into teaching. The first step is to get people to recognize their need then work together to come up with a solution. That way they take complete ownership of the projects and will maintain them. We are excited to implement this on the field in the future.