Olira is a sweet two-year-old boy from Ethiopia, whose joyful spirit brightens the lives of his parents and younger sister. His name, which means "From above," was chosen by his father in the hope that Olira's healing will come from a higher power. Olira loves to play with his sister and share precious moments with his family. Olira's father had qualified to attend university, but could not afford the tuition. Instead, he chose to enroll into a diploma course in agriculture in his hometown, and now earns a living as a gardener in the city. Unfortunately, his income is not enough to support the family, especially during recent challenging times. Olira’s uncle and other young people in the area find work in the woods burning charcoal for sale, but Olira's father is unable to join them due to a liver problem. When food runs low at home, Olira often visits his uncle's house to find something to eat. The past three years of drought have made farming nearly impossible, leading to severe food shortages in the region. As a result, Olira and many other children are not getting the nutrition they need. Olira's father wakes up early each day to search for work, often skipping meals himself to save money for the family's dinner. Olira was born with a condition called hypospadias, which affects his urinary function. Without treatment, he will continue to experience discomfort and could face future medical complications. His father took Olira to a local referral hospital but was faced with the heartbreaking reality of needing to purchase medicines, gloves, syringes, and other supplies that their family simply cannot afford. Desperate for help, they returned home without the treatment Olira needs. The family had received some support from church members to get to the referral hospital, but they quickly ran out of funds after paying for transport and initial medical expenses. A friend suggested reaching out to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids MyungSung Christian Medical Center (BKMCM), known for its commitment to supporting families in need, and church members provided some assistance with transport. However, the challenge of affording ongoing medical care for Olira remains a significant hurdle. Fortunately, our medical partner Africa Mission Healthcare is helping Olira receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 8th that will restore normal bodily functions, improving his quality of life. Now, Olira's family needs help to fund this $1,293 procedure. Olira's father says: “I hope that my son will heal after the surgery. God is my source of hope. I will praise God if I see my child heal and be able to pass urine normally.”

Thein is a 54-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild in Karen State, Burma. Both Thein and her husband are unemployed. Her son-in-law works as a taxi driver and her daughter is a homemaker. In her free time, she enjoys sewing clothes and look after her grandchild. In March, Thein began experiencing abdominal pain and difficulty walking or standing up. She was diagnosed with adenomyoma. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Thein's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Thein is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on July 4th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, this treatment will help free her from abdominal pain and she will be able to stand up and walk easily without pain. Thein said, “I am worried about my situation. I want to undergo surgery. However, I cannot afford the surgery cost without your support. Now, I am very grateful that I have met the BCMF and the donors who could help pay for my treatment cost. Thank you very much.”

John is a 73-year-old farmer from Malawi. He and his wife have six children. They live with their four grandchildren. In May 2023, John started experiencing frequent urination and acute urinary retention. John was catheterized, which helped alleviate his symptoms. However, in March 2024, his illness resurfaced with worse symptoms. John was catheterized again, but the pain caused him sleepless nights. John was referred to our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, where he was diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and was recommended for a prostatectomy, a surgery to remove part or all of the prostate. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund this procedure that will take place on August 29th. Once completed, it will relive him of discomfort and pain, and improve his quality of life. John says, “The surgery will enable me to regain my strength so I can continue farming.”