poverty

A Joyous New Year

A letter from Claire Zuhosky serving in Niger|February 2016

Water is Peace

A letter from Jodi McGill in the U.S., on Interpretation Assignment from Malawi|November 2015

We Thank God

A letter from Claire Zuhosky serving in Niger|November 2015

Seeking Safety in a World of Peril

A letter from Amanda Craft, serving as Regional Liaison for Mexico and Guatemala and Omar Chan, serving in Mexico

Who is our neighbor?

A letter from James Adams serving in Germany

August 2015 – Who is Our Neighbor?

Dear Friends: On August 29, 2002, Madalin Voicu, one of the most well-known Romani politicians in Romania and one of two Romani representatives in the Romanian parliament, made the following statement: Our Gypsies are stupid. They could at least be crafty, but they aren’t. They are just primitives and they manage to irritate the entire society which is already watching them closely. … They run through the country and Europe barefoot, slimy and dirty, wearing clothes which are more likely to disgust you than make you feel sorry for them. … Begging, soliciting and being disorganized will never bring them any advantages.

This quote graphically illustrates that Romanian society harbors one of the worst cases of social stigma in Europe.  And this attitude prevails today as the Roma population has grown immensely, far surpassing the growth rate of the general population of Romania.

Four Special Friends

A letter from Ruth Brown serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo|Christmas 2015

People on the Move

A letter from Judy Chan serving in Hong Kong|November 2015