Responding to food shortages in Madagascar, South Asia, and Ecuador in Jesus’ Name.
Feeding Children in Madagascar
The cassava leaves and cactus fruit that 10-year-old Tenuvutu survives on during the week aren’t enough to nourish his growing body. He’s often tired. Too tired, even, to play his beloved soccer.
But then Sunday arrives. “I’m happy for Sundays to come!” he said, smiling from ear to ear. With his mother and three siblings, he attends the church in their remote village on the island of Madagascar.
At the church, the family and others from the community receive a hearty lunchtime meal given in Jesus’ Name by friends like you. “I’m excited and happy to eat lunch today,” Tenuvutu shared. “I have more energy to play soccer when I have the food. Thank you!”
In southern Madagascar, multiple droughts have devastated the livelihoods of families that grow crops like cassava, maize, and legumes—so much so that it’s one of the hungriest countries in our world today.
For Vitase, Tenuvutu’s mother, the battle for food and other basic needs feels never-ending. “I want my children to be able to eat,” she said. “We were really happy when we heard about the feeding program!”
Samaritan’s Purse has worked with churches to provide 100,000 meals across 50 locations in recent months. The meals are made from locally purchased staples and a mix of dried, nutrient-rich vegetables grown by Canadian farmers.
Tenuvutu and Vitase heard the Gospel through this outreach—which also included Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts—and both were baptized a few months ago. Praise God! “I’m grateful to be walking this life with Jesus,” Vitase shared. “I say thank you.”
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you” (Psalm 55:22).
Distributing Emergency Food in South Asia
God works through your support of emergency food distributions in Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Haroon’s South Asian nation.
Haroon* tried to keep his eyes open in the dark. “I had to be the watchman for my family,” he said. “I didn’t sleep all night … so that no one would harm my daughters, my wife.”
The family belongs to a persecuted minority group in South Asia.* Life is a daily struggle, and one made much worse when their home was swept away in a deadly flood. “We slept outside because we had nowhere to stay,” explained the father of five.
Not only did Haroon’s family see their home destroyed, they also lost their livelihood, and hunger quickly took hold. “There was a long time when we were looking for food,” Haroon said. “There was water all over.” As a father and community leader, he appealed to the owner of the land where they lived. “The landlord gave a bit of food once or twice,” Haroon told us, “but then [He] said, ‘I don’t have anything more. I can’t help.’” And the
community faced starvation.
Samaritan’s Purse Canada responded quickly with our local church partner to provide 116 metric tons of emergency food for over 110,000 people. Families received packages containing a month’s worth of oil, rice, cooking utensils, and Canadian-grown dried vegetables. We’ve also sent more food to initiate a child feeding program to meet ongoing needs in the region.
“It is a really good effort that you are doing, helping those who are without jobs and resources right now,” said Haroon. “It is such a great help.”
Emergency food saves the lives of people facing immediate and severe hunger around the world. Each package not only fills hungry stomachs but also provides critical nutrients to ward off malnutrition and disease. “For I was hungry and you gave Me food” (Matthew 25:35).
Growing Gardens in Ecuador
God works through your support of life-sustaining agriculture projects in Ecuador, Kenya, the Philippines, and many more nations.
Gloria* is fighting to feed her six children. She lives in Ecuador, where one in every four boys and girls is so hungry that their growth is stunted.
“Gloria is a very charismatic and sweet person who is ready to help her community,” said our local partner. “What she thought would be a one-time help with food and entrepreneurship ended up being a big change in her life.”
She was first provided with guinea pigs to raise and sell. They’re a common source of food throughout Ecuador. Then she was given seeds, tools, and training to grow nutritious fruits and vegetables. “Today she is feeding her family daily from the produce she harvests,” our partner shared.
Every bite of food that Gloria can grow counts. Plus, she’s attending Bible lessons that nourish her faith in Jesus Christ. “Gloria is a great example of how our project is moving forward,” our partner added. “We want to create community, help our entrepreneurs grow spiritually and start eating healthy, and continue fostering their skills in agriculture.”
In Ecuador, the elderly are also vulnerable to heart-wrenching hunger. Nina* may be 72 years old, but she carefully tends her garden, knowing it’s a lifeline for her and her loved ones.
“Through this project, Nina has managed to nourish not only her family but also her spirit since we’ve given her a Bible in her native language,” said our partner. “She can better understand the Gospel.”
God is using gifts from friends like you to cultivate food and faith in 22 countries worldwide. More than 1,600 people are being reached in Ecuador alone. “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger’” (John 6:35).
*Names changed for security.
