This is very true of our Tying Vines partners NOMADS in the Middle East. Christmas is the busiest time of year for NOMADS. This year the volunteers and full-time staff are providing gift bags for 500 laborers across 65 camps. The gift bags include toiletries, phone cards, and other necessities that are hard for many to afford. They are delivered with love and many opportunities to share the Christmas story, encouraging people who are separated from their families, working hard, and struggling with many challenges. Each gift bag costs roughly 30 dollars but the blessing that is shared is priceless.
While NOMADS is having a tremendous impact in bringing hope to the laborers in those 65 camps, unfortunately, in this post-pandemic economy, financially the organization is facing its own challenges. NOMADS is grateful for veteran donors who have stepped up this year to meet a financial shortfall and pay their two full-time field workers in order to continue the outreach. However, it is challenging to serve the 65 camps with only two full-time staff and the need is great to add additional staff to help serve this important community, but with the current financial challenges right now it’s difficult to even consider adding another full-time worker. In addition to the financial challenges there has a been some opposition to their efforts. These are all growing pains which impact a successful outreach program and NOMADS is figuring out how to deal with this appropriately and they are grateful for the help and counsel they have received from friends from other organizations.
As this year comes to a close please pray for NOMADS and the work that they are doing: work that literally reaches the ends of the earth, impacting people from Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Philippines, and countless others. Tyler, a volunteer with NOMADS, who lived many years in the region, put it like this. “We are hopeful God will provide the finances and resources we need at the right time through generous donors who have a heart for the impoverished people we are serving.”
Thank you for your prayers and support.
May you and yours have a blessed Christmas and may 2023 be full of hope and life!
Carla and her husband Tim, of 36 years, live in Pennsylvania and have been friends with the Settles for decades.
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The Tying Vines Marketplace Project is the focus for this month’s blog.
Comments
Thank you, Tying Vines, for writing such a great article!