Rafael is an adorable ten-month-old boy who lives with his parents and four older siblings in Ethiopia. As the youngest child, Rafael brings immense joy to his family, and his birth filled their home with happiness. He loves playing with his siblings and watching other children play football. Rafael's mother is a dedicated housewife, while his father is a truck driver and the family's sole provider. Shortly after birth, Rafael's mother noticed something different about Rafael's body. She brought him to a health center, where he was referred to a larger hospital. There, Rafael was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remain undescended. If left untreated, Rafael has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Unfortunately, there is a significant wait for surgery, and Rafael's family left the hospital without a surgery date. Months later, they received a call that Rafael could be seen at our partner's medical care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on March 9th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Rafael's mother shared, "May God bless each of you. Your support for our child will be rewarded, as God watches over those who lend a helping hand. Thank you all very much."

Deborah is a 27-year-old mother of two from Kenya. Her husband is a small-scale farmer, while she stays home to manage their household and care for their children. When Deborah was two years old, she lost her hearing. She had an ear infection, underwent treatment and surgeries, but her hearing was never restored. When she was seven years old, she received hearing aids donated by missionaries. Unfortunately, she misplaced one of the hearing aids and was never able to recover it. She relied on the remaining hearing aid throughout her primary school education. Over time, her only hearing aid stopped working, leaving her with profound hearing loss. Since then, Deborah has withdrawn from social interactions, often choosing to remain at home because communicating with others has become extremely difficult. She is unable to help her children as they begin learning and growing, something that deeply saddens her. On July 8th, Deborah will be fitted with hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is seeking assistance in raising $1,171. This will allow her to reconnect with her family, regain her independence, and improve her quality of life. Deborah says, "I can't help my son with his homework, and it breaks my heart to feel left out of my children's lives."

Lowena is a dedicated community health worker from the Philippines. She assists with maternal care and child health services in her community. She works three times a week in the field and will soon help with a measles vaccination program for children. Her son, Randy, drives a school bus, and together they provide for the family. Lowena enjoys singing in her free time and considers her fieldwork her exercise, as it keeps her active through frequent walking. Forty-four years ago, Lowena began to experience troubling symptoms, including pain, significant discomfort, and occasional bleeding. She was diagnosed with internal hemorrhoids. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. For a long time, Lowena postponed her own treatment to care for her sick grandchild, but after seeing the child recover and learning about hospital support, she decided it was time to prioritize her health. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Lowena receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a hemorrhoidectomy on May 5th at WSFP's care center. During this procedure, surgeons will remove her hemorrhoids. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is requesting the remaining $1,257 to cover the cost of Lowena's procedure and care. "Having this surgery is a huge blessing, especially for people like me who cannot afford treatment. I hope Watsi continues helping more people, because helping others brings happiness," Shared Lowena.