Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
- Pslam 107: 8-9
One of the more common questions people have asked me about Operation Baby Rescue is what happens to the children after they are rescued and then rehabilitated to health.
Are they simply returned to the same conditions which led to their illness in the first place? Won’t they just keep getting sick from drinking more dirty water?
Operation Baby Rescue is really just the beginning. It starts with saving a life in the most physical sense.
But thankfully, it doesn’t end there.
World Help and their on-the-ground-partner here in Guatemala, Hope of Life International, continue to develop relationships within the villages and communities.
Our team had the opportunity to enter several local villages over the week and see these efforts first hand.
Sponsorship, education, and clean water projects are a few examples of efforts made within the villages to prevent the cycle of poverty from bringing children to the point of needing rescue.
Feeding programs in several local villages feed tens of thousands of children and families each week. But they are not simply welfare programs. Children are required to attend school to receive a hot meal. On Sundays, they are invited to church services, followed by a meal.
Our group was also able to distribute shoes for TOMS, a company that matches every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of shoes given to a child in need, one for one.
Participating with the shoe drop may seem unrelated to Baby Rescue, but it is another significant factor of health and safety for children in Guatemala.
On their website, TOMS explains the significance of providing shoes to barefoot children in developing countries:
•A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.
•Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.
•Many times children can’t attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don’t have shoes, they don’t go to school. If they don’t receive an education, they don’t have the opportunity to realize their potential.
Many pieces to caring for babies and communities, but my favorite thing about World Help’s work here and across the globe is their mission to give hope for the future.
To bring clean water and the Living Water.
To meet physical needs and bring the Gospel.
To rescue the life and rescue the soul.
Both. And.
- – -
Photos: Michele-Lyn
Read more: Baby Rescue Posts from this week
I am blogging with WorldHelp from Guatemala this week, October 1-6. I am joining a team of partners and bloggers to join the rescue: Operation Baby Rescue. Thank you for joining us to save lives and restore hope! You can tweet with us at #irescue and #blog4WH.
To read more about the rescue, please take a moment to watch the short film in the sidebar.
If you would be willing to give, you may do so HERE. Every dollar counts! Thank you, friends, for joining this incredible journey.
Please consider sharing this post with others… Invite them to join the rescue!
Sharing this week at some of these link ups and communities.
only by Grace,
Lauren
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Your comments bless me! Thank you for your prayers. I will try to answer comments as I can, but know your words are treasured, especially this week.
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Speechless! To God be the glory!!
Stefanie: You are truly such a huge encourager. Thank you for reading + sharing. And yes, all glory to Him! – l
Love this post! :) Beautiful! :)
Thank you Danise!!!
The summer I spent as a missionary in Guatemala, I spent many mornings washing school children’s heads for lice, but never their feet. I’m sure you really blessed those sweet children that day with clean toes & lovely shoes. Enjoy your adventures.
Jelli: Would love to hear more about your time in Guatemala! Thanks for visiting :) -l
What wonderful work! I’m so glad you got to be part of this effort. May many people feel the impact of God’s love as it was shared by you and your team. :)
Thank you Richella! It was really such a blessing to join this team and the amazing work their doing for the Lord. Blessings to you.