——

Dear Partner,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you about a terrible loss to the World Vision family. Six staff members were killed in a brutal and senseless attack on our offices in the Mansehra District of Pakistan. Additionally, eight employees are hospitalized with injuries after the unprovoked assault by gunmen. Four of the staff have been released from the hospital. Our work in Pakistan is conducted by local citizens.

We remember those staff who died as dedicated workers seeking to improve the lives of people affected by poverty and disasters. World Vision has temporarily suspended our operations in Pakistan, but we remain committed to helping children, families, and communities in this country.

As World Vision mourns our colleagues, we ask you to join us in praying for the families of our staff members and the people they serve in Pakistan as well as our staff all over the world.

God bless,

Rich Stearns
President, World Vision U.S.

We feel that giving generously to those in need is something our Lord has commanded us to do.

If you call Exodus your home, or are one of our online listeners, please consider giving back some of what God has already provided.

None of the money collected goes back to Exodus – 100% of it goes directly to World Vision.

To Donate: go to http://twv.convio.net/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1067321&pg=personal&fr_id=1170
and click on the orange “Make a Donation” button to the right.

About World Vision

World Vision has been working in Haiti for 30 years and the earthquake relief efforts are fully underway. Your donation will help provide urgently needed resources like water purification tablets, food, shelter, and medical attention. It will also help provide long-term recovery in Haiti.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

To learn more about World Vision, visit http://www.worldvision.org.
To learn more about Team World Vision, visit http://www.teamworldvision.org

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”  –Plato

It’s always been difficult for me not to get impatient with others; to remember the humanity and the struggles that bind us all together. It’s much easier to think that I’m special–more skilled, smarter, a better driver–and that this entitles me to treat others as if they are at best just obstacles for me to swerve around as I go about my life’s tasks. But what if instead my life’s tasks are nothing more than to stop, look into the eyes of the hurting, and listen to the lonely? What better mission is there than to genuinely care for another?

A wise teacher of mine once said: “You know, Jill, at all times everyone is doing the very best they are capable of.” I believe that now…do you? How easy is it to become frustrated with people who make poor decision after poor decision; how simple is it to condemn friends and family who don’t make the changes we feel they should make? I’ve found that if I take the time to really look at someone and realize their pain, it’s clear that they’re doing the best they can. The judgment doesn’t come so easily, then.

I’m struck by the perspective shift that occurs when I stop thinking of others as so different from me, and start realizing that we’re all just cells in a universal body. All of us are human, we all need Christ, we mess up and need to brush ourselves off, we need grace from each other.

My challenge to you this week is this: find a way–maybe just a small way–to show someone true compassion. Listen deeply, care genuinely, and smile at someone who doesn’t expect it. Life is tough, and we’re all in this together.