Project Isenhart

Just a week before Christmas, Typhoon Washi dumped a month’s...

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:30:00 -0800

Just a week before Christmas, Typhoon Washi dumped a month’s worth of rain in 12 hours creating flashflood conditions on parts of Mindanao Island in the Philippines.

“The tragedy was unexpected and people were not aware of the flashflood as this happened around 2:00 in the morning,” says Foursquare Philippines National Leader Val Chaves. “I think this is the worst disaster we have experienced in Metro Manila.” Val says Foursquare people have lost homes in Cagayan de Oro. Foursquare leaders are awaiting reports from our Foursquare district supervisor in other provinces, including the Visayas, another hard hit area.

Overall, an estimated 338,000 people have been affected and more than 10,000 homes damaged following a flashflood that according to locals, is unusual for this part of the Philippines. The BBC reports that 40,000 people on Mindanao, many of whom were already desperately poor, are now living in evacuation centers after losing their homes and possessions. The death toll has topped 1,000.

The Foursquare Church in the Philippines took immediate action following the disaster and began responding to the needs of their communities. At the time of this writing, seven Foursquare families have been evacuated and are living with the other 40,000 evacuees in government provided centers where news reports indicate disease is beginning to break out. The greatest immediate need is water, food, and clothing for victims and their families.

Foursquare Greater Los Angeles District Missions Representative Remi Lawanson says the district has a close working relationship with Foursquare Philippines and is sending a team there in 2012. Foursquare Missional Leader, Rod Koop, has connected with many church planters in Manila and says that these leaders are responding to affected people where they live.

We have continued to stay in contact and assess the needs of the Philippine Church, and support and coordinate things as they are brought up. The fast action by the National Philippine Church to help their own people was amazing to see, and hear about the great ministry and relief they were able to give.

Chad

East Asia Flooding

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:59:41 -0800

East Asia Flooding

Bangladesh, Thailand and Cambodia

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:12:29 -0800

I just returned from my trip to Southeast Asia where there has been annual flooding that has been a lot more destructive than past years. My trip started in Bangladesh where I spent 7 days traveling from the North to the south with National leader Benjamin and his associate Jacob. I flew into Dhaka airport where I waited over an hour for Benjamin’s domestic flight to arrive. His flight was delayed, but I didn’t know that, and no one spoke English. To say the least my heart was getting a bit nervous that I was going to spend the night in the airport.

The next day we took a flight to Jessore, then drove 3 hrs to Khulna where Benjamin and his family live as well as the location of the National Offices for the Foursquare.

We traveled from there south to Mongla, and Bagherat where we visited many different churches and villages that had been flooded or were currently flooded.

We were able to talk to the local Pastors, Leaders, and residents about their needs. Hear stories of how God has provided and kept them safe, as well as see the local Pastors minister to their communities. Benjamin has started over 100 churches in the last 11 years, and has many churches in this area that are in communities entirely surrounded with Muslim and Hindu people. God has given them great inroads to these communities and great fruit is being harvested.

The southern part of Bangladesh has annual flooding that they are somewhat prepared for yearly. But this year the flood waters were more severe and the water stayed months longer, destroying more homes by damaging the foundations. 13 churches and 59 believers homes need to be replaced or fixed to severe damage.

We stayed in the south 2 days traveling.

We then took a 14 hour train ride from Khulna to Sultan Pur where we stayed for 3 days. This was a great experience. We again traveled to many different churches. This area is mainly tribal communities that are cast out from Bangladesh culture and society. Going to these area, and showing we care means so much to them, and shows Gods love.

We will be focusing on this area for our relief efforts by providing clothing and blankets to these needy families. Due to the flooding, these families have lost work. They survive only by working others land. With the land flooded, they don’t hire anyone. Families barely make enough to just survive, let alone buy things like needed clothing and blankets for their families. We have already been doing food distributions to these areas, helping them with food to get by until work begins.

I will attach a short assessment and financial report after this post.

I then headed to Thailand where they are also having severe flooding for over a month now. We have been helping Burmese families and Church outside Bangkok. They are living in the area that they work. They are Migrant workers, and only have papers like a visa that allows them to work, but if they leave the area they work, they will be deported. This is modern day slavery in my mind. With factories flooded and production stopped, these Burmese families can’t work, cant leave the area to find other work, and cant provide for their families. We have been sending them food, and will continue until the factories begin again.

We have also helped in Nakon Sawan and Lopburi were we recently did a huge distribution giving over 200 families packs with

Blankets

Pans Pots

Buckets for water

Flask

Spade of frying pan

Bibles

This was done with a team from Bangkok, evangelizing and sharing Gods hope and love to the flooded people. Great ministry

Next I went to Cambodia. They had flooding about 2 weeks ago, and since I was already in the region, we wanted to check in with them to see how things were going. Foursquare Cambodia has 105 orphanages with a Church combined. They sustain their orphanages through sustainable programs like fish farming, animal farming, factories, and rice farming. Due to the long floods recently, the water has destroyed over 30% of their harvest this month. This has caused a huge lack of useable rice for their homes. Because they use this food as a staple in their diet, and so many children rely on this, we are responding with financial aid to buy rice, and then re-plant for the next years harvest. Flooding like this hasn’t happened in decades and is not regular. We will continue to keep you updated on how things are going.

I was truly blessed by visiting all these countries and seeing these Pastors and leaders reach out to their communities. We are excited for the future work here, as well as continued relief to be raised. Please pray for these countries as they work to rebuild and get back to life after the floods, and pray that they would have the resources needed to rebuild their lives, homes, and communities.

Thank you for your prayers and support during this time! Without you I would not be able to bring relief to these countries that have been destroyed by floods,

The Isenharts

Kenya Relief Update from Pastor Joseph

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:25:00 -0800

Recent email I received from the National Leader of Kenya Joseph Michieka about the relief we gave to Kenya!

Dear Chad,
Greetings in the Name of Lord Jesus Christ.I am glad to write this email to you.First i want to thank the church in US for the great support they assisted some of our churches in Kenya in time of famine.This as caused a great impact to the affected areas.I visited recently Meru district and Nanyuki as follow-up their a great impact to church in Meru The people who received the cows for milk They could not hide their face of smile this changed their life style.This make me to appreciate of what the International mission is doing changing lives of many. on behave of the in Kenya we thank so much and praying for you may the Lord God shower you with heavenly blessing.

Your in Ministry.
Bishop Joseph O Michieka.

Asia Flooding

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:17:28 -0700

I want to keep everyone up to date on things. I am preparing for a trip to respond to the Asia flooding that has devastated the region, causing loos of life, loss of homes and personal items, destroyed businesses and crippled entire cities.

I will be traveling to Thailand, Cambodia, and Bangladesh to help respond to the needs. I will try to keep you updated on the progress while in the countries, but will have limited internet. I also need to keep some information about locations and people I am working with quiet for security purposes for them and the ministry as well as any problems it might cause me.

In Bangladesh currently there are 20 churches damaged, with 2500 foursquare families homeless. Cambodia has lost thousands of acres of rice fields that support their hundreds of orphanages, schools, and churches. Thailand, the needs are a little unknown still, but the National Church is currently helping 200 families with food and supplies on a weekly basis. The government of Thailand says it might take months for them to get the water out of the city and even longer to fix the damages caused by the flooding.

We are excited about the opportunity to reach out to this area of the world in their time of need, and the doors that this will open. Please keep us in your prayers as we go, and reach out to this region of the world.

Blessings

Chad

Proposal for Relief In Thailand

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:16:37 -0700

Here is the proposal that the National Leadership of Thailand has requested. Pray that doors would open, and funds would be provided to reach these people in need.

Proposal:

The Foursquare National Leader of Thailand, myself and a team from his church will travel to Nakhorn Sawan Province to help 200 families with physical/felt needs along with spiritual needs—the Gospel.

Below is the list of needed items for the outreach.

The Bible in Thai (200 x 320 Baht) 64,000 Baht

Book of Hope in Thai (200 x 20 Baht) 4,000 Baht

When I am Afraid Book in Thai (2,000 x 3 Baht) 6,000 Baht

Transportation costs 10,000 Baht

Basic Necessities: pots, pans, blankets, food (1,000 Baht for 1 set x 200 families)

200,000 Baht

Food for outreach team 16,000 Bath

Total 300,000 Bath <$ 10,000 >

Asia Flooding

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:15:01 -0700

Photos of the flooding still effecting Bangladesh as well as the...

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:38:27 -0700

Photos of the flooding still effecting Bangladesh as well as the current distributions that Foursquare Bangladesh is doing right now!

Photo

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:30:57 -0700

Photo

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:30:32 -0700

Bangladesh Update

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:27:57 -0700

The flooding in Bangladesh continues to worsen. Thousands are in need and our Foursquare family is responding to the needs. Below is a recent conversation I had with Brother Benjamin about the situation and their plan for relief. I will be traveling to Bangladesh and Bangkok soon and will help in the recovery from the floods , please continue to pray for the are and the people in need. More to come later
-Chad

Thank you so much for asked me to know about some questions that you have to needed for reporting or discussions.

Your questions: And the-
Answers are given below of your questions.

I wanted to again request some new photos of the situation in Bangladesh,

ANSWER: Attached with this e-mail and please check up attachment. Am not sure that you have previous one I sent before to FMI. If not please remind me.

as well as any report or plan that you are doing.

ANSWER: Some of other denominations (Nazarene, Catholic, Talithakumi and Gospel for Bangladesh) are continuing and providing food grains and cash to purchase rest of their needs only for their own believers. With them some NGOs provided food grains for flood affected Muslims only.
We provided only once a small quantity of food grains and some cash for our affected believers along with some other religions peoples but could not covered all.
At this moment we don’t have any plan for the rest of our flood affected believers because of our financial inability. In this critical situation many of our believers were being tempting by all those other denominations activities. We got Informed from our pastors that through this situation many of our believers left us and jointed with them. “SAD”

OUR PLAN : From the last 12 years we had been requesting to FMI to built some flood shelters to save lives from the devastating flood and could keep them in safety places. Still it is dark. Our purpose was we could use those shelters for multiple purposes, i.e. flood shelter, coaching center along with Sunday service as local church.
Another plan if possible, at this moment needed to supply food grains and some cash for our believers like other denominations are doing because they are not getting from any helps from the other sources and still straggling.

How many families your helping,
ANSWER: 584 families included Hindu & Muslim families.

what amount of food or other products they are receiving,
ANSWER: 10kg rice, 2kg dal/pulse and Tk.250cash for purchase other goods.

how many foursquare families are effected,
ANSWER : From our 60 church locations about 1800 families affected.

how many churches are effected,
ANSWEW : 15 local made churches fully damaged.

As well as any numbers of people effected in all of Bangladesh?
ANSWER : At this point about 250,000 people from South and Southwest being affected by present flood.

Total population.
ANSWER : Attached Children’s Home of Love according to our National report in 2009.

also what other organizations are doing things in response to the flooding if any as well as what they are.
Given ANSWER in above.

As much new information you can send me by email is great and very helpful.

Sincerely,
Brother Benjamin.

New Photos, Bangladesh and Kenya

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:16:18 -0700

New Photos, Bangladesh and Kenya

Kenya and Bangladesh

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:27:40 -0700

We wanted to give you a short update on things from our end. We currently have been continuing the relief food aid to those in need in the North east of Kenya mostly in Meru areas. The Pastors have been doing a great job at reaching the people with the most needs, and sharing the Gospel to their people with the food aid. Really strengthening the Church’s impact in Kenya. We are very excited about this work.

We need you to fervently pray for God to move on peoples hearts to give financially towards this effort. We need more resources to be able to achieve the work we are planning on doing. Please join with us as we continue to believe that God will provide for the Horn of Africa.

Also a update on the flooding in Bangladesh. There has been severe rains.

about 600,000 people have been sufferings for food, pure drinking water and treatment.

Mainly children and up to this information from different locations from our church areas about 100 and more children died from dehydration and food crisis. South and south-west part now seriously damaged by this devastating flood. 60 of our local churches and believers of those areas also already affected.

Government is doing some 10% relief work and another 10% doing some ngo’s and several denominations. Most relief work have done near by cities but 80% are sufferings at rural and remote areas.

Please remember in yours prayer for all those situations and for Lord’s blessings that they can get safety shelters, food and treatment for their children. Our Mighty lord is very kind and will show us the way to overcome this critical situations

Update Video

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:17:49 -0700

Photos of Kenya

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:57:27 -0700

Foursquare News update

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:55:38 -0700

I made the Foursquare Leader news update. Check it out below

Foursquare Responds to East Africa Famine Crisis

http://www.foursquare.org/news/article/east_africa_famine_crisis

By The Foursquare Church

East Africa is suffering its worst drought in 60 years, and millions are at risk of starvation and disease. Foursquare Relief and Compassion is responding by raising awareness and support.

The most severe drought in decades is threatening the lives of more than 11 million people—especially young children—in East Africa. Famine has been declared in parts of southern Somalia and threatens to spread further if nothing is done to prevent it. Kenya and Ethiopia are also severely affected by the crisis, with millions in critical need of food and water.

Insufficient rains have created drought conditions throughout East Africa, destroying crops and killing livestock. Malnutrition and disease are on the rise as families travel long distances in search of food. Record high food prices, internal conflicts and insecurity in the region further exacerbate the situation. Thousands of refugees are pouring across the border to Kenya and surrounding countries in a desperate effort to survive.

In partnership with Foursquare leaders in Kenya, Foursquare Relief and Compassion is responding by raising awareness and support to provide aid to those who need it most in this area. Ted Vail (project director for Foursquare Relief and Compassion) and Chad Isenhart (assessment coordinator) are working closely with Humberto Paz, Foursquare Missions International’s (FMI) area missionary to Africa and the leaders of the Kenya Foursquare Church to strategically reach those affected by the tragedy in East Africa.

Plans to provide essential food and water are underway at this time through our Kenya Foursquare family. In Somalia, where there currently is no Foursquare presence, Foursquare will be working through partnership organizations to assess needs and respond, as we are able.

Join us as we pray for the millions suffering in East Africa. Please consider supporting our efforts to reach these affected peoples. Your financial gifts will provide food and essentials to those who are in critical need of aid at this time, and enable us to reach people with the tangible love and compassion of Jesus Christ in this most urgent hour.

To give to Foursquare Relief and Compassion, logon to give.foursquare.org/relief. For updates on the situation in East Africa, visit reliefandcompassion.org.

Download a United Nations map that shows the location of drought in East Africa (JPG, 115 KB)

Relief and Compassion Kenya 8-1 ]]>

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:12:34 -0700

Relief and Compassion Kenya 8-1

Updates on East Africa, Kenya, Hurricane Irene

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:51:00 -0700

Hello everyone!

Sorry it has been awhile since our last update. Things have been crazy for us. We moved to Missoula Montana for Jordyn to finish some schooling, I responded to the East African food crisis, and we have been figuring out what to do about the east coast storm Irene.

My trip to Kenya was great. We traveled from Nairobi the capital up north to a town called Migori. This is where the Foursquare Kenya National Convention was held. Here pastors and leaders from all the 10 districts came and met for 2 days of teaching and worship. In this time I was there to meet with the national board members. These 10 leaders are the supervisors for the different districts. They were able to talk to me about the current situation of each area. We spoke of the challenges people are facing. The needs they have. And talk about what the posibilities for help and support would be. With most districts needing immediate food aid, but also long term support and help through mirco loans and business training. Many areas are also in great need for clean and accessible water for irrigation, drinking, and animals.

We planned on helping with immediate food aid in 3 areas, as well as a pilot program of the micro loans. Now we are awaiting and praying for more funding to come in from the US churches around the nation. With more funding we will be able to increase food aid, and vamp up the loan program and business training to those in need. Please see the update below for more info on Kenya.

Hurricane Irene came and hit the eastern coast. We are working through our churches and leaders on the coast to learn of the damages to their areas of ministry, and see what opportunities present. At this stage we are not actively doing anything, but our partners Convoy of Hope are responding and giving aid to some of our Foursquare Family. Please pray that the Lord protects them, and gives us wisdom about how to respond to the needs in both the East Coast and Kenya

The Isenharts-

East Africa Relief

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:09:06 -0700

I will be heading to East Africa to meet with National Leaders and Area Missionaries this week to strategize our plan to respond with the Foursquare Family. We are going to be strongly backed by the Kenyan National Church which is our strength. Working through the local church to bring healing, hope, and relief to the people of Africa. Keep checking back for updates while I am gone.

Blessings

Chad

Appeal for Relief Food/Support to Save 20000 Women and Children

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:13:07 -0700

Below is the recent appeal from Foursquare Kenya to respond to the recently declared Famine and refugee’s caused by drought, war, and unrest in the horn of Africa. Thousands being displaced from the conflict in Somalia causing thousands to cross into Kenya for safety. We are moving to responding to the food need, and praying about how we can create change in a torn area. Please pray for us as we decide at what level we can help the people of Africa in this time of need.

THE FOURSQUARE GOSPEL CHURCH IN KENYA
SOCIAL GOSPEL DEPARTMENT
P. O BOX 29191-00256
KANGEMI NAIROBI
28th.July. 2011

FOURSQUARE MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL
CALIFORNIA U.S.A.

Dear sir

RE:APPEAL FOR RELIEF FOOD/SUPPORT NEEDED TO SAVE 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE STARVING IN KENYA(Most of whom are women and children/orphans)

SITUATION ANALYSIS
Agreat famine has engulfed the whole country due to a prolonged drought in most parts of the country and the influx of reufgees fleeing from war and hunger in Somali.There was a servere crop failure in most arable parts of the country and the county is facing a food crisis.Thousands are already starving.The analists say that the situation is going to even more worse in the next 2 to 3 months.Already the famine has claimed many human lives and livestocks especially in the northern Eastern Kenya.The other most hit places include:Mbeere,Mtwati,Imenti North,Laikipia East,Baringo,Turkana,Nyatike,

Sori,Hamisi,Kibira,Josika,Katito,etc.

TARGET POPULATION

In view of the serverity of this siuation the National Boards wishes to target 20000 poor widows and orphans in most of this hard hit areas with at least 2kg of beans and 2 kg of maize flour.

BREAKDOWN
2KG BEANS X 20000 people =40000kg (appx 400 bags of beans)
2kg maize flour x 20000 people = 40000kgs(appx 490bags maize)

BUDGET SUMMARY

490 SACKS OF MAIZE @KSH.2300 EACH =KSH. 1,023500 (US$ 14622)
400 SACKS OF BEANS @ KSH.4800 EACH =KSH.1,920000 (US$ 27429)
STORAGE COSTS ………………. =KSH. 20000 (US$ 286)
TRANSPORT COSTS………………. =KSH. 50000 (US$ 714)
ADMINISTRATION…………………=KSH. 20000 (US$ 286)

TOTAL KSH.3,033500 (US$ 43337)

The Kenyan church through voluntary service and donation shall undertake the storage costs,transport costs and the administration costs which leaves with a relief request of ksh.2943500 (us$42051)