“The winds started in the evening.” Glorimar recalls the horrors of Hurricane Maria like it was yesterday. The powerful storm all but destroyed her community in Puerto Rico—the place she’d called home her entire life. “The sound of the wind across the roofing sheets was horrible. My daughter wanted to
Venezuelan Migrant Beneficiary Turned ADRA Employee Carlos is truly a renaissance man. In his native Venezuela, Carlos studied and graduated from university with a degree in communication, worked as a tailor, volunteered as a sign language interpreter, and formed part of a cultural dance group. Carlos led an active life alongside
In Madagascar, It hasn’t rained for almost two years, the earth is packed hard, and only the occasional cactus breaks the horrific sea of brown—and even they are starting to wither from the lack of rain. Empty. It’s also how you’d describe the eyes of starving children like Saholy. Their
When the magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit Indonesia on September 28, Asdar was unprepared. He had just returned from work for lunch at his home in Petobo, a small northern village when the first tremors struck. “We were eating when the earthquake hit,” he recalled. “We had no preparation for the
Mrs. Juana Zelaya is a 57-year-old mother and wife who lives in the community of Las Casitas, 89 kilometers from the capital of Honduras. It is a community with very difficult road access and belongs to what is called the Dry Corridor of southern Honduras. Las Casitas is one of
Yemen is in a hunger crisis so severe that much of the country is now on the brink of famine. Abdo, a Yemeni father with nine family members under his care, knows more than most about making sacrifices to keep his family fed in these conditions. Earlier this year, Abdo
Ha Thi Thom, 23 years old, is living with her husband and two sons in Phieng Tac village, Kim Cuc commune, Bao Lac district. Thom said that for many generations, the people in her village were using open cooking stoves, which was the traditional one with three stands. One of
More than a year ago, a bright-eyed and slender nine-year-old girl named Malee* was offered refuge at Keep Girls Safe (KGS), a shelter in the rural district of Chiang Rai, run by ADRA in Thailand. “Her mom didn’t want her and local villagers couldn’t keep her,” said Sunita, KGS project
Three months ago, Esa was wasting away from a lack of food. Due to nationwide instability, there was little in the small Yemeni village of Al-Noba for the one-year-old to eat. Though the rest of his family also suffered from hunger, little Esa suffered most of all. His arms were
“I am scared to die from hunger,” Marie-Julina said. “I have eight children and four grandchildren living with me,” she said. “I am responsible for their survival. We haven’t had enough to eat for eight years. We would plant, but nothing would grow. “Some of my children have never had more than
Hear ye, hear ye, the most anticipated time of the year has finally arrived, and no, I’m not talking about Christmas. I’ll give you a few clues: it’s a season where the bright yellow sun casts fun shadows for us to chase after; the local pools begin to sparkle with
Meet Ahmed, an 11-year-old refugee who fled the war in Syria with his family a decade ago, seeking safety in Lebanon. Ahmed and his family now live in a makeshift tent made of tarpaulins and various scraps, near a cashew nut farm owned by their landlord. During school breaks, Ahmed
(May 21, 2024) Pastor Ahmed Mohamed knelt by the side of the dusty road where he, his wife and three children had paused to rest. “God save us!” he prayed. “How can I preach Your word, if I am dead?” He looked at his family huddled under a lone tree
SILVER SPRING, MD (May 1, 2024) – On the morning of February 7, Trinidad and Tobago’s fishermen set out under the usual azure skies, their boats slicing through the tranquil waters. But this day would mark a profound shift in the island’s serenity. Instead of the familiar blue expanse, they encountered
Before eating Before cooking Before giving food to the child Wash your hands! It is not uncommon for Balilo Pedro Papy to hear those lyrics on the air while working in communities in the Kitangua health zone of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). After going to the latrine, Mom
Ingrid Flores is a single woman living with her mother and young son in the dry corridor of Honduras where more than half of the population is living in substandard conditions. For years she lived with an abusive husband until one day he beat her and left her lying on
SILVER SPRING, MD (March 8, 2024) – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is honoring International Women’s Day (March 8) and National Women’s History Month by spotlighting the amazing stories of the mission’s female leaders. The United Nations designated the 2024 Women’s theme, as the year to inspire inclusion and
By James Standish “Bucaramanga?”, my friend Mike chuckles1, “nope, never heard of it – but I’m amused to learn that a place called Boo·kaa·ruh·maang·guh even exists!” Mike sounds it out one syllable at a time as we’re sitting in a bagel shop in midtown Manhattan, not too far from the
It’s been reported that global fatalities have increased in 2023 by 30% compared to the previous year due to floods, wildfires, cyclones, storms, landslides, and other disasters. ADRA has been on the frontlines helping communities worldwide who are grappling with the aftermath of disasters and emergencies. In 2023, ADRA responded
Martin Luther King, Jr. described poverty as a monstrous octopus that “projects its nagging, prehensile tentacles in lands and villages all over the world.” This is the beast ADRA Connections volunteers are fighting. ADRA Connections volunteers are partnering with communities to fight this monster. Just ask Kusi. Kusi is part
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