Army Staff Sergeant Chad Hindal doesn’t talk to many folks about his two deployments to Iraq where he helped protect convoys along roads lined with IEDs and sniper fire. His job was to clear these threats from the desert thoroughfares and provide safe passage for supplies and soldiers. And Chad was eager for the opportunity.…
Animals, Agriculture & Livelihoods
Building a New Life After Fleeing Sudan
Ismail guides his five whining goats to a post where he ties them up. He then walks his garden rows in peace, without fear the beasts will destroy his crops in a hungry frenzy. There is wire fence on three sides of the garden and on a fourth side a tall wall built of large…
God at Work in a Grieving Paradise
“This is something that I’ve never experienced in my 55 years of life,” Lenora shared while looking out over the remnants of her coastal neighborhood. Sweat dripped from her brow as she stood under her battered metal roof. It offered little relief from the heat. A somber confetti of pastel-colored fragments were scattered along the…
Health & Medical Ministries
Cleft Lip Program Continues to Change Lives
Cleft lip and palate can be easily repaired in many nations, but the required surgeries often are not available in developing countries with inadequate healthcare. Children born with these medical issues often face a lifetime of ridicule and discrimination, especially in areas that associate the health condition with witchcraft or being “cursed.” That’s why Samaritan’s…
Operation Christmas Child
Mongolia
Mongolia is located in northern Asia between Russia and China. Its pasturelands make livestock herding a common occupation. A traditional Mongolian dwelling is called a ger (yurt), a circular tent-like structure made of wood and canvas. Samaritan’s Purse began distributing gift-filled shoeboxes there in 1996 and launched The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship program, in…
Operation Christmas Child
Benin
Located in West Africa, Benin ranks high among the continent’s cotton producers, but still remains one of the world’s poorest countries. Samaritan’s Purse began distributing Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts here in 1999. Since 2010, many of the Benin’s children have also participated in The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship course for shoebox recipients. Learn…
Operation Christmas Child
Ghana
Located in West Africa, Ghana was the first country south of the Sahara to gain its independence from colonial rule. Formerly part of Britain’s Gold Coast, the nation’s rich natural resources continue to be an asset. Samaritan’s Purse began delivering Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to children here in 1996. Since 2010, we have also offered…
Operation Christmas Child
Honduras
Honduras is located in Central America and is one of the poorest nations in the region. Devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, the country has rebounded in part due to its production of sugar cane, tropical fruit, and coffee. Samaritan’s Purse began delivering Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to Honduran children in 1996. We have…
Operation Christmas Child
Madagascar
Madagascar is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. It is known for its lemurs, baobab trees, vanilla, and pepper. Samaritan’s Purse began delivering Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children here in 1993. Since 2010, we have also offered these shoebox recipients our follow-up discipleship program, The…
Operation Christmas Child
Philippines
The Philippines is a country located in Southeast Asia that consists of hundreds of islands, with coastlines totaling more than 22,000 miles. Named after Philip II of Spain, it was under Spanish rule for more than 300 years before becoming a U.S. commonwealth and then an independent country. Samaritan’s Purse began distributing gift-filled shoeboxes there…
