Stories from the field

Impactful moments of life change

Jean-Yves' story

Jean-Yves had a dream. He wanted to be an agriculturalist, but his family was very poor — he practically grew up with nothing. So education seemed like an impossibility. He started at a university in Port-au-Prince, but halfway through the year he couldn’t afford to continue. His dream seemed dead.

Answered prayers

Kids love to fix things. In Pryazovs'ke, Ukraine they have the opportunity to work on bicycles. As they grow older, they even learn to repair cars. While they develop their skills, they help their community.

Edna's story

Every year, for the last fifteen years, Edna puts on a brunch. She invites family and really close friends. They all come in the door, they greet each other and everyone is happy to be together — chatting a mile a minute. And then, she serves the brunch.

Rachel's recipes

In 2011, Rachel was patiently awaiting the arrival of her new niece. Her brother and his wife had adopted a beautiful daughter from Ethiopia. That was when Rachel — filled with all sorts of excitement — decided to make a cookbook. It was a taste of home gathered from African shores.

Nigel’s story

Nigel is the oldest of 5 children. His father is a pastor and tries to make a living by selling small bags of water on the street. One day Nigel was playing soccer using a ball made with bits of string and plastic wound together. As he was playing, he kicked a rock that he mistook for the ball. The pain was immediately intense.

Maggie's story

The view from the narrow dirt road was breathtaking. The whisper of a breeze through the trees and the deep red earth — it was a symphony of sound and color. I was struck by the disunion; the majesty — even perfection — of creation in front of me, and the suffering that plagues this land.

Pheral

Pheral was an orphan—a tiny tot with a swollen belly and big, vacant eyes. He was tired, hungry and alone.

Mary's story

She spoke somewhat reluctantly, this jewel of a woman. Weathered and straight-backed, she carried herself with a certain elegance, in the middle of this drought-ridden African land. The deep lines on her face spoke of laughter, of depth, of hope and humility. It was all there, as she graciously endured our obtrusive microphone and began to talk about someone she would rather have not: herself.

Foundations

When Corianne was spending time in Anse Rouge, she learned an incredible life lesson. At one point during her trip, the team arrived at a place where several children lived. When asked about their family, the kids informed them that their mom had been gone all afternoon. As they were about to leave, they noticed a baby girl laying on a dirty mat just inside the home. She was naked and surrounded by animal feces—it was a shocking sight.

Always be joyful

Sometimes the best memories are introductions. They take place in tiny, unassuming places. For Wilhelmina, that place was a little mud house. Inside, she spotted a small, frail figure lying on a bed. It was dark, but obvious there was no other furniture in the room. Hesitant, and curious, Will greeted the woman in Creole. The response was immediate and exuberant. It almost took her off guard.

Stories from the field

Impactful moments of life change

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