If you ask this question to someone in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Japan, Australia, and most other areas of the so-called "developed world," the answer almost certainly would be yes. I am nearly 73 and have had well over 100 dental visits--perhaps twice that amount. Almost every child in the U.S. who is five years or older has been to a dentist, and some adults continue to do so beyond their 100th birthday.
However, if you live in a developing country, especially in an area that is remote and extremely impoverished, the answer probably would be no. About half of the world's population have never had dental care and must deal with the pain of rotten teeth and gums--and often worse. According to World Dental Relief (an organization described in this directory), "Dental disease is the most rampant disease in the world, affecting 95% of the population." See http://www.worlddentalrelief.com
Recently my wife and I returned to the Global Missions Health Conference in Louisville, KY. It is the world's largest Christian medical missions conference, and over 2200 participants--over half of whom are undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students were there. See www.medicalmissions.com Again and again, we heard about how medical ministry is one of the most effective ways of reaching people for Christ in developing countries.
There were many outstanding speakers. One of them is a pastor in a West African country. He serves in an area that is almost all Muslim. He noted that only one government dentist was there for approximately two million people.
He went on to say that he had not been very effective in reaching his Muslim neighbors for Christ. Then an American dentist came to his community and taught him some very basic dental skills. When his neighbors heard that he could help with their dental and some other medical needs, they were really happy. A prominent Muslim leader who had been strongly against him turned into a supporter and arranged for him to get land for a new mission outreach facility. Many people accepted Jesus Christ as a result of these experiences.
The same pastor has increased his outreach into several other communities, an adjoining country, and plans to do so in a third country in the near future. This probably would not have happened if a Christian dentist had not come to teach him some basic skills and if the pastor had not utilized these new opportunities.
I make no secret of the fact that my Christian faith is the main reason for having this Helping Overseas Directory, and over two-thirds of the organizations in it are Christian. Over half of the material is medically-related. This includes many of the organizations that provide opportunities for medical service--mostly overseas, but some in the U.S. -- and sources of medical supplies and technologies.
Almost every week, someone contacts me about finding an opportunity to serve in a medical field or who is looking for medical supplies. The second most common kind of inquiries probably is about Bibles and other Christian literature.
I am especially happy to help people find information that brings these kinds subjects together, along with related ones, such as clean water and sanitation, food supply, and a variety of other things. A few nights ago, I had two e-mails. One was from a lady who is a nurse with fluency in Spanish. She wanted to know about the Ruth Bell Boat in Bolivia (established by World Medical Mission -- see www.samaritan.orgindex.php/WMM/index Another was from a pastor in Pakistan who wanted Biblical literature he could download from the internet. Yesterday I heard from someone in Cambodia looking for medical supplies. I try to answer the inquries as well as I can.
There are many stories in the Bible about how Jesus Christ brought people to him through his healing ministry. My hope is that as I provide this kind of medical and non-medical information (even though I am not a medical professional), it can help you to find ways to follow his example.
Do You Have a Cell Phone or a Flush Toilet?
August 13, 2011
This probably seems like another stupid question I am asking. Assuming that you live in the United States, Canada, Japan, almost anywhere in Europe, or another so-called "developed country," the answer probably would be both.
My wife and I have two cell phones and two flush toilets in our house, and both of our adult children have two of each in theirs. I personally do not know anyone in a developed country who does not have a flush toilet, but I know a few people who do not have a cell phone. Mostly they are elderly. Neither of them was available when I was born on a farm in Tennessee in 1938.
On the other hand, it is estimated that over 2/3 of the world's population live in what is commonly called a developing country where the typical income is under the equivalent of two U.S. dollars per day.
That is the main focus of my Helping Overseas Directory and my website: www.HelpingOverseasDirectory.org
Recently I saw the July-August 2011 issue of a magazine called Fast Company. It had a cover story entitled “Matt Damon and His Global War for Water: The Intimate Tale of an Actor Done Good.”
Damon is famous for his lead or supporting roles in many movies. However, he has also become very involved in humanitarian activities, especially water and sanitation projects, throughout the developing world. He and his friend, Gary White, are the co-founders of Water.org (which I include in my directory—with their permission).
Here are some of the highlights of the Fast Company article.
Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease.
About 80% of sewage in developing countries is discharged untreated.
More people have cell phones than access to a decent toilet.
Less than 1% of the world's fresh water is readily accessible for direct human use.
The average American uses 100 gallons of water per day; the average African uses 12 gallons per day.
Nearly 1 billion people lack access to safe water.
Millions of women and children spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources.
I had seen most of the above data, but the comment about there being more cell phones than decent toilets was new to me. Most people who know anything about needs in the developing world are aware of the fact that dirty water is one of the biggest causes of illness, disease, and premature death. However, the lack of adequate sanitary facilities kills over twice as many. Rotary International had a cover story about that in one of their magazines a few years ago.
Water.org is taking a different approach than what some of the other clean water and sanitation organizations involved in developing countries are doing. They are emphasizing getting local people more involved and having ownership of the projects. Microfinance is a big part of it.
One of the requirements for getting support in a local community is that there must be a water committee. "At least 80% of the community needs to sign up and raise money for the project, participate in its construction and support." Damon then adds: "That's how a project turns from top-down charity to bottom-up sustainability." These are some of the basic concepts that lead to what Damon and his colleagues now call Water Credit.
There is also a related program in Haiti called MyWater.org Again this goes through the process of committee organizing around the most commonly-agreed upon goals in regard to water and sanitation.
I have over 25 organizations in my directory that focus primarily or partially on clean water and sanitation. Along with Rotary International and others with a proven track record, I am glad that Water.org is one of them. It's beyond my ability to say which is better than the others for each and every situation.
One of my newer listings is A Layman's Guide to Clean Water. (See http://www.clean-water-for-laymen.com ). It has nine divisions and 77 specific subjects or links. I have not found a more comprehensive listing of water and sanitation resources.
I hope to have helped you find information that will be helpful in your clean water and sanitation activities. If you have material that I did not include, please let me know.
In the 23rd Psalm (Revised Standard Version) are the famous words about how God leads us besides the quiet waters. I believe that He wants them to be unpolluted as well as quiet.
Were You Born in a Hut or a Hospital
July 17, 2011
As an American speaking to other people who may be more likely to be American than from other backgrounds, this might seem like a crazy question. "Everyone is born in a hospital," you might say "unless there is some emergency that keeps them from getting there on time."
It all depends on when and where we are talking about. Although I was not born in a hut, I almost was born in a barn on Christmas Eve in 1938 while my mother was there helping my dad with some chores on the farm where we lived in Tennessee. We did not have any electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, or a telephone. However, dad managed to get mom inside our house and into bed. He got a physician from ten miles away to come over muddy roads to our house in time for my arrival in the middle of the night.
Just about everyone in Overton Country, TN (100 miles east of Nashville) was born in a house back then and for several years afterwards. All of my relatives of my age or older were born at home. Now, however, Overton County has a modern hospital and virtually all of the births in the county take place there or at another hospital.
Another thing that strikes me is the big change over the past century in very big drop in the maternal, infant, and child mortality in places like Overton County and most other areas of the U.S. Walking through some of the old cemeteries near where I was born, I have seen many grave markers where mothers and babies died during childbirth a century or more ago. You can tell when the dates are identical or almost so.
You might think that all of this is past, but unfortunately that is not the case – especially when we look at the most impoverished areas of the world. Millions of babies are still being born under circumstances like mine, or much worse, and a high percentage of them and their mothers die in the process of childbirth. Yes, babies are still being born in huts under very extremely difficult circumstances.
The United Nations reports that worldwide every 60 seconds a woman dies of complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. In Sierra Leone, the number is 2,000 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births (about 1,200 times that of the U.S.)
Last week I had an e-mail from Maternova in Providence, RI. They are led by Meg Wirth and focus on the need to improve the situations I described above. She asked to be on my website. I now have Maternova: http://metronova.net described on the "Sources of Medical Supplies" section of my Helping Overseas Directory website and suggest that you take a look at it. Some of the things they market cost as little as $5. They are also working with an affiliate to introduce a $10 device that fits on a cell phone and functions as a microscope while analyzing blood, urine, and saliva samples when coupled with a laptop computer.
They have brought many related organizations together on their website. Women United: www.womenunited.org reports that women in Afghanistan are more likely to die in birth than by a bomb or bullet.
Many of the other organizations in my directory are actively seeking to build and equip clinics and hospitals throughout the developing world. That’s usually one of the biggest goals of people who live there.
The Bible has several stories that urge help for mothers and little children. In Luke 18:16, Jesus told his disciples to let the little children come to him. It still applies now. Of course, the mothers and babies must first survive being born. I hope that this new listing for Maternova and other material in my directory will be useful in that regard.
Being the World
May 30, 2011
Imagine that you are Kimani Maruge, 84, living alone in an impoverished rural village in Kenya, and wanting to learn to read so badly that you go to the local elementary school and passionately beg to sit with the six year olds in an overcrowded classroom to learn your letters and numbers. A half-century earlier, you had fought the British for your country’’s independence, you were personally tortured, saw your wife and children shot to death, and never received any recognition for your heroism.
The Kenyan government announced in 2002 that there would be free primary schooling for every citizen, and you do not want to be excluded. Many of the adults opposed you because they thought you should not take up classroom space when many younger people needed it.
This is the summary plot of a fascinating new movie called The First Grader. National Geographic Entertainment and BBC Films worked closely with Kenyan officials to make it possible, and all of the filming was done in Kenya. Nearly all of the actors and actresses are Kenyan. Especially noteworthy are the children—most of whom had never even seen a camera before. The website is www.thefirstgrader-themovie.org Marague was invited to New York where he spoke to the United Nations about the importance of education. Yes, he really was the world’s oldest first grader.
Although it is based on a true story, some things have been modified. Still, the movie seems to be very honest as it depicts past and current problems. Unfortunately, Marague died before it was completed.
Use the website to find out if the movie will be shown anywhere near where you live and go to see it in person, as I did twice recently.
My younger son went to Kenya during parts of four summers and helped by teaching basketball at a Christian school. You can learn about it at http://www.pacekenya.org
Two weeks ago I had an e-mail from a school principal in Kenya who runs the Dundori Orphans Project. He found my website and was pleading for help. Their website is www.dundoriorphans.com, and someone in Kansas (whom I contacted) runs their U.S. affiliate. Their organization is not in my directory or website because I don’t handle ones that deal with less than five countries, but I am glad to mention it in this blog.
Jackson Kaguri is a good friend in East Lansing, MI who is originally from Uganda and wrote a fascinating autobiography last year. His book is: The Price of Stones: Building a School for My Village. He tells about growing up in a remote village, getting as much schooling as possible in Uganda (including their top national university), getting a scholarship to come to Columbia University in New York City against extreme odds, then Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, and next an administrative position at Michigan State University. However, his heart was always centered in helping his home village. Thus he founded a school for AIDS orphans that is very successful. The project also includes a medical clinic, clean water and sanitation system, and other necessary things. You can learn about it at www.thepriceofstones.com
I have led or helped lead over 50 people on short-term mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua (as well as two trips to Haiti and having a Haitian house guest for a full year while he was at a nearby seminary). These experiences got me started in collecting the material that is now my directory and website. The more I learn, the more similarities I find.
It seems that almost every group that wants to help in a developing country and their hosts have similar goals. They want schools, medical clinics and medical supplies, clean water and sanitation, agricultural help, energy improvements, and micro-enterprises. Schools and medical care are usually at—or near—the top of their lists. This is true of both faith-based and secular organizations.
I think it’s great when a person can personally go and see situations firsthand and get involved. However, that may not be practical. My directory includes several excellent organizations that help with schools. A supporter can send in a regular contribution to help a child. Compassion International (www.compassion.com) is among the largest and best. My church is affiliated with American Baptist Churches/USA, and we have something called STEP (Student Tuition Expenses Program). Contact Chris Marziale at 800-222-3872, ext. 2245 or chris.marziale@abc-usa.org
To see some others with good track records of effectiveness and financial accountability, take a look at the Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (www.ecfa.org) websites. The key thing is to find out a way whereby you can personally make a difference. Perhaps this can be one. There are also many kinds of opportunities for people to teach in impoverished overseas places.
As Chaucer put it in the words of one of the characters in Canterbury Tales, "And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach."
Over One Million Percent Increase in Good News in 22 Years
April 01, 2011
Bad news is all around us. Last year more than 220,000 people died in an earthquake in Haiti. Three weeks ago there was an immensely more powerful earthquake in Japan that caused a tsunami, destroyed a nuclear power plant, and killed at least 30,000 people. The United States is involved in two major wars and has been involved in military strikes in Libya in recent days. We know that many thousands of babies and young children die each day because of lack of clean drinking water, sanitation, and food. There certainly is poverty in the U.S., but it does not even compare to what is found in places such as Haiti, virtually all of Africa, and many other places in the developing world.
The cover story of the March 28, 2011 issue of Newsweek Magazine says: "Apocalypse Now: Tsunamis. Earthquakes. Nuclelar Meltdowns. Revolutions. Economies on the Brink. What the ____ Is Next?"
As a Christian, I am concerned about all of these things. However, I am even more concerned about the huge number of people who die without having accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Some of the best news, however, is that there has been a huge increase of Christians in many areas of the developing world.
There probably is no better example than Mongolia. It is a very arid impoverished country between Siberia and China with a large land mass (about 90% that of Alaska) but a relatively small population. It is the most sparsely populated independent country in the world with around 2.9 million people. According to the 2010 edition of Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation, there were only four Christians in Mongolia in 1989. The book says that the number is now over 40,000 and continues to grow at a rapid rate. I strongly recommend that you get a copy. See http://www.operationworld.org Every country in the world is described from a Christian perspective.
One of the 240 organizations in my Helping Overseas Directory is Galcom International (see the first chapter: "Mostly Non-Medical Resources"). Their website is www.galcomusa.org
Their main concern is helping bring Christ to the 2/3 of the world's population that does not read in any language. They do this by producing and distributing small solar-powered radios that are fixed-tuned to receiving specific Christian stations. Over 848,000 have been made for 125 countries with many languages and dialects. The cost is only 20 dollars each (including transportation) and is tax deductible for Americans who contact their Tampa office. (I am quoting what I wrote about them – with their permission.)
The April 2011 electronic newsletter from Galcom International refers to Mongolia. The one for December 2010 gives more detail and is called "Life Wind in Mongolia." It has essentially the same information as what Operation World says about the country's Christian growth. However it takes that a bit farther by stating: "Now, twenty years after communism's fall and almost 10 years after (Galcom's Christian contact) radio went ON AIR, more than 46,000 Mongolian believers call Jesus Christ their Lord. From four to over forty thousand—that's more than one million percent church growth." You can find this on the Galcom website. They are also sending some more radios to Mongolia.
I am glad that there is some really great news in the world, and I hope that you are too.
*Bruce's Blog
