New water-related disaster in the Philippines. New water-related disaster in Haiti. At the time of writing we don't know how difficult Haiti is hit. But the little I learned so far several Star of Hope projects are affected in one way or another. Now we keep our fingers crossed that nothing really have happend.

Your gift is needed more than ever. You can donate here on the website.

I will in the next few days blog and tweet about water in general and what it means in various Star of Hope projects around the world.

Some facts about water: 97% of all water on Earth is salt water. 3% is fresh water, 70% of it is frozen in the polar ends.

Less than 1% of the world's fresh water is available for humans.

I am reading the book Uncharitable by Dan Pallotta.  His book deals with the big picture of how our society's thinking on charity actually hinders and prevents non profit organizations from truly creating change.  While an interesting read, it has given me cause to reflect on how Star of Hope acts and communicates.

Specifically it has caused me to think about charity and how we approach donors. I have come to realize that many donors give out of a sense of duty. They feel blessed and believe that they should share those blessings. To me this is charity. It is something good. But I want more than charity. Something better.

I believe that some donors want to make an impact with their gifts. Not just an impact but a high impact. The most bang for their buck, if you will.

Star of Hope has some of the most effective projects at affecting change or having a high impact across the world. That is something I am proud of as the President & CEO of Star of Hope here in the USA.

If you are looking for a way to have High Impact as a donor, give me a call. I would love to talk to you about it. My number is (866) 653-0321.

Barry Borror

Having lived in Kansas now for one year I have learned a small bit about agriculture and livestock. One thing I realized is that most people on this globe have no idea how this industry works; I am talking about how grain comes to be Ritz crackers or corn to Cornflakes and of course how a magnificent black Angus steak gets on my BBQ grill. (By the way that’s a good place for it too.)

I have not looked at industry statics or read the farmers journal I have just been observant and listened to the farmers when they talk about their fields and such; that is a rare thing in itself, farmers rarely talk about yields.

Shriveled wheat

Not seen in Central Kansas this year

When I arrived in August last year Central Kansas looked like something from what I imagine the dust bowl must have looked like or something from Stephen Kings Gunslinger series. Burnt auburn crops and dead grass everywhere, it mattered not if it was wheat, rye, corn or even private houses front yards, it was almost like the color green was outlawed and was subsequently nowhere to be found.

I learned then (last year) about the drought and the effects were spoken of: feed, food, ethanol prices would spike and even surplus crops would be affected, for example US government aid donations to poverty and disaster stricken nations would fall. Farmers would be the biggest losers even if they had crop insurance.

Fast forward to this year and the situation is even worse. Crops have shriveled and dried up. Fields with production worthy of going to market have produced low bushel figures per acre, and again the warnings have come.

The drought in the USA is real and I have heard if it had been any other country it would be the catalyst for an appeal to other nations. But it seems the US will be able to absorb another pitiful year in agricultural production, of course there must be many family farmers who are facing personal disasters; will we hear of them or not, who is to say.

Farmers tend to do different things with their failed crops and I presume that has to do with their own disposition and of course insurance. We passed a field this morning in Barton County Kansas and saw the cattle had been let loose in the stunted corn field. That must be like a kid in a candy store for the cows and a visual reminder of another failed year for the farmer. I do care and I am empathetic but I was wondering too how long until that beautiful Angus would take to wind up on my grill.

This post is a result of the fact that Star of Hope has in the past received generous gifts from farmers who have had a normal or good year and it goes without saying that in a drought we do not receive these gifts. This means we cannot help as many children or produce the outcomes we hoped for, yes hoped for.

There is not a point to this post I just wanted to share some observations, I would like to motivate you to support your local farmers and if you are able sponsor a child.

Have a great day

Mark Presson

My wife usually takes the lead but when it’s time to clean out the house and take items to the local goodwill shop I get involved too as I usually have to carry, load drive and so on but I also have had the joy to go to the kids and guide them through the process of sorting their rooms to find items to give to the local charity. I don’t know why but they always have enjoyed this tradition and usually want to give away something quite new and relatively expensive and keep the old “obvious to me junk” it’s a pick your battle type thing and in the spirit of giving I usually let their will or heart decide.

Sometimes the cleaning for the needy becomes over the top as one of my son’s tell me “it will serve them better than me” and even if the item being lobbed onto the pile is a new or again an expensive item I am locked as I can’t really say “you can’t give that away” or can I?

In any event when my boys have had to weed out for charity it has always been a joy to see them, even from an early age, transform into a philanthropist and a true giver with smiles and purpose.

Sure they have had sponsored kids in their name since before they could talk and inherited the annual birthday giving to the sponsored children as they matured and were able. That info card and photo is proudly displayed in their rooms as it has been for many years, usually proudly displayed.

I do not know if their attitude was learned from me or my wife, or both. Perhaps it is instinctual, I do know it is a trait I am pleased with and it without a doubt is a small piece of the family puzzle that brings us closer together.

I know my youngest still wants to help all the strays and heaven forbid you walk past a beggar without giving. No point in dissecting the pros and cons of giving to beggars it’s just “dad we have to give” so we do. I think that is a good thing too, as the other side of that coin is rather cold. Concerning my kids empathy is alive and well and I always go back to our sponsored kids and wonder if they were the key, who knows, but being a sponsor is something we all can share and it has without a doubt added to my children’s compassion, willingness to give and just added to their being.

Do you sponsor a child somewhere?

If you are a sponsor, don’t forget to take down the photo you have of your sponsored child and talk with your kids about the child, share the photos and the letters. If you’re not a sponsor why not jump in and help a child while you at the same time teach your own a valuable life lessons to your children, its close and personal and takes very little time. Sometimes giving should be for the joy of it, for yours and your children’s, but there are many added benefits not in the least the life of the sponsored child.

Reported by Star of Hope Romania

Family from Iasi center

We are Mariana and Daniel Darie, we have been married for 13 years. My husband Daniel is working as a driver and I'm a personal assistant for my child. Cristian, was born 8 and half years ago. We have dreamed so much about having this child and it's the only one we have. At the age of three Cristian was diagnosed with ADHD syndrome and later appeared autism element's. Even if it was hard, the boundaries in our family are very strong and we have support from our parents, from our friend and from Star of Hope Foundation where Cristian is doing therapy.

Mariana and Daniel Darie

This is the first time we have come to this kind of conference. This is was a very nice experience for us because we shared our life experiences with many other parents. It was a very good time for us because we were surrounded by special people who just made us feel very emotionally comfortable. Everything that took place in this conference: the conference organization, the translators it was all very well done. We wish we can join this kind of conference again in the future. After this experience our relation as husband and wife has been improved, we strengthen our basic family values. We learned how to be more open to each other and how to appreciate what we have, to be more receptive to people's needs.

Profiri family from Iasi center

I came to this conference with my husband and our three children. Bianca is 4 years old and she is very happy because she met new children. She was also enthusiastic by the nature and by the employers of Star of Hope Foundation which have been very open to her needs. Filip is our two year little boy which was born with Down syndrome. He certainly felt love by the people who walked him and who played with him while we were discussing at the parents meetings. Teodora is the youngest member of our family. She is one month old and I'm happy that I had the chance to come here with my whole family.

Profiri family

I'm getting back home full of enthusiasm and with more strength knowing that 25 000 women are praying with me and because we know that God sees us, He hears us and He doesn't stay indifferent. After this experience i'm going home with the will of showing much more love for each member of my family. I have lived with God for nine years and I was always sure that He was preparing me for a great mission. I'm still searching the way God could use me in this mission serving the people around me. One thing is for sure: the prayer that comes from an innocent heart is much more than anything I could do. I have to thank you for the fact that you are supporting my family and praying for it and because you gave me the chance to fill up my soul this weekend that I spent in Sucevita.

Testimony of Iasi mother

It was a new experience for me this kind of conference. I was impressed by the fact that everyone was treated equally, beyond social position and status that we have. I was also impressed by the life stories of the guest from abroad and their capacity to overcome the heavies moments of their' s life. These three days were very sweet, it was a period of relaxation in which we could detach from everyday problems. I thank God for having allowed to come into our existence the special people from Star of Hope Foundation which always give us support and help.

Munteanu family from Iasi

We want to thank the team of Star of Hope Foundation which gave us always the strength to go on when we thought that everything was broken-down. Octav, our boy which has Down syndrome, bound us much more as a family. We believe that we are today here with you, because we are a family chosen by God to attend His plan.

Husi mother

Although I'm a mother of two healthy children, sitting in this conference made me understand how much I should thank God for the blessing received. I was impressed a lot of the mothers whose children has disability. Now, I will not remain indifferent when I'll meet this kind of situations and I'll try to get involved both emotionally and financially.

Husi mother

I felt very well in these three days, Ii learned new things and I heard that there are a lot of people which struggle like us for their children. For us as a family it is the first time when we go out together; this brought us more closer, we are more united. Before we came to the center of Star of Hope Foundation we did not know what to do with our child. We've prayed a lot that God show us what to do with our child, to open me a door. Shortly after my prayer, I met the Star of Hope team, some wonderful people who gave us strength as parents and support for our child. Thank you for the support that we have received and for this wonderful time spent together during these three days.

Dorohoi mother

This conference gave us support and strengthened our faith. Here, on this conference I met new people and I shared impressions with the others parents. This experience will make me able to say to others that a child whatever it is, is a gift from God. I have no words to thank Star of Hope Foundation team for having organized this conference and gave me the chance to participate in it.

Father from Iasi

These three days were a period of relaxation; we have time to think of our souls, to be closer to God and to forget the everyday worries. It was very good that we were together mothers and fathers, because we succeeded to get closer.

Father from Barlad

I want to thank Star of Hope Foundation and to the sponsors for the organization and for the opportunity that gave us the possibility to be together. I was really impressed by all the activities. In these three days I received only positive energy to go on and to be able to overcome the life problems.

SPONSOR NEXT YEARS CONFERENCE, BE THE CHANGE

BE A SPONSOR

Once again Metro Manila and the Philippines is hit by a disaster. Torrential rains have battered the megacity and floodwaters have poured in from almost all sides. A state of emergency was declared in and around Manila.

More than 50 were reported dead due to the combination of intense storms, monsoon rains and flooding, and at least 250,000 were evacuated, officials said. A landslide in the district of Quezon City killed nine people, including three children.

The flooding is the worst to hit the area since two storms in 2009 killed more than 900 people.

Manila is particularly vulnerable to flooding. The metropolitan area, which has a population of more than 14 million, sits in a low-lying area between a large lake and the ocean. The lake, Laguna de Bay, at the south of the city, drains to the ocean via the Pasig River, which runs through the center of town. The lake and the river are heavily silted and prone to overflowing their banks.

Star of Hope's school in Taytay, Rizal is in almost waist high water on Wednesday. The classrooms on the ground floor are flooded. Staff has moved books and expensive equipment to the second floor.

In some areas in Taytay, the water has reached the second floor Wednesday. Living in the area are 2 500 children attending the Star of Hope School. No reports of injured children yet but many sponsored children's houses are under water.

Pictures by Norman Coruna from Tuesday at Star of Hope School. More information soon. Internet and phone service is very poor at the moment! I wish I could be there to help out.