Thursday, August 25, 2011

Ready to Respond to Hurricane Irene

Matthew 25: Ministries is ready to respond in any way needed to Hurricane Irene. We have already been in contact with our partners in the areas that might be affected by the storm. Please check our website to see how we are responding in the days to come.

Read more about the forecasted path of Hurricane Irene.

Any and all links to outside sources and materials are intended for reference only. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Matthew 25: Ministries and its affiliates.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Monitoring Hurricane Irene

Matthew 25: Ministries is closely monitoring the development of Hurricane Irene. As with any threat of disaster, we stand ready to respond if assistance is needed and requested.

Read more about the conditions surrounding Hurricane Irene.

Any and all links to outside sources and materials are intended for reference only. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Matthew 25: Ministries and its affiliates.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Japan: 18 Weeks After Disaster

Our partners in Japan recently sent an update on the living conditions of tsunami survivors. Here is a summary of the report, which was written 18 weeks after the catastrophic disaster:

Aftershocks continue to hit the region on a regular basis. Areas along the coast are still experiencing quakes larger than 6.0 several times a week. This has caused widespread fear and stress throughout the region.

Our partners are continuing to focus on helping evacuees north of Sundai. Many tsunami survivors have moved into temporary housing locations. However, their situations continue to be very difficult. Work is limited and will be for a long time in these areas. Some families have received insurance money, which they can use to help cover basic living expenses. But many families only had fire insurance, which does not cover the damage from the tsunami. They are now trying to survive day by day with no income at all. The situation is especially difficult for young mothers who lost their husbands in the tsunami, their children, and the elderly.

Radiation continues to be a problem as it shifts into valleys throughout the area. Our partners had befriended one young man, his wife and their baby. They had tried to restart a life in the hills. They built a shed for shelter at night, had a tent for a kitchen, and a stream nearby for water. But they just received word that the radiation has become too dangerous, and they were advised to move.

At a school nearby, they have had to remove the top layer of dirt and replace it with new sand because of radiation. The number of children at that school has almost doubled with evacuees since the disaster.

In the area that we help, disaster relief efforts have slowed drastically, so our continued our work is all the more important now. Thank you for your prayers and support!

View photos of Japan as the country continues to recover from the earthquake and tsunami.

Any and all links to outside sources and materials are intended for reference only. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Matthew 25: Ministries and its affiliates.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Appalachia Mission Trip

For the past eight years Matthew 25: Ministries has led a team of staff and volunteers to Appalachia with the mission of improving the environment and lives of students in a rural West Virginia elementary school. Each summer the mission team completes various renovation projects and runs an educational day camp for students.

This July, Matthew 25 upgraded the school's library by replacing the 31-year-old carpet with new tile, touching up the wall paint and assembling new furniture, including bookshelves and computer tables. The students love their new library and will greatly benefit from the improved facilities.

As the maintenance team accomplished their tasks, other members of the mission team organized an educational day camp for the elementary school students. The children were challenged to learn in creative and interactive ways through a fun assortment of projects, games and activities.

The trip was a huge success. All of our goals for the week were accomplished – the kids had a lot of fun at camp, the library looks brand new, and the students, staff, and community were encouraged by Matthew 25: Ministries’ on-going support.

View photos from the 2011 Appalachia Mission Trip here.

"This was the first mission trip I have ever been on so I wasn't sure what to expect. Being able to interact with the kids and see how much our time and effort positively impacts their lives made me believe in our purpose of being there even more. This week was a huge blessing and I would gladly welcome the opportunity to be a part of future mission trips." - Lauren, 2011 Appalachia Mission Trip team member

Any and all links to outside sources and materials are intended for reference only. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Matthew 25: Ministries and its affiliates.