Middle East
From Jamie & Sandra:

Dear Family,

We have seen an increase in the number of malnutrition cases in children, especially infants, at our Medical Life Center. This can be attributed to the financial crisis in the ME. Similar to the US, there is a shortage of formula here. Yet, what is available is extremely expensive. Some mothers have resorted to feeding their children rice water or potato water. Most are not knowledgeable about breastfeeding. They believe different myths about breastfeeding that cause them to stop. Recently, I (Sandra) was able to assist a new mom in best practice for breastfeeding. Her two month old baby weighed only 4 kilogram (8.8lbs). This summer I plan to attend a lactation consultant course to bring knowledge to our moms. We are blessed to have an amazing pediatrician who advocates for breast feeding and whose heart is touched by the level of malnutrition we are seeing. I also plan to implement a nutrition program to track these families and assist with formula if babies do not gain weight as they should. Soon I would like to introduce a prenatal class, as well.

Please, pray for all these families. Please pray that my “nutrition plan” would be effective with God’s help. A beautiful little girl came to us for a post hospital stay after being admitted for dehydration. She had been seen in our clinic and the mom was advised to go directly to the hospital. Praise, God all is well with her and we were able to provide formula for her.

[From Jamie]: Before moving to the ME, while working in the Mental Health field, it wasn’t always possible to openly share my faith with those I was helping.  I never thought moving to the Middle East would open up greater opportunities to do so. The majority of students who attend Christian schools here are not from Christian backgrounds. More recently, I have had the opportunity to speak to hundreds of students about Mental Health and the hope I have in Jesus.

Students are given the opportunity to ask questions after each presentation. Questions are often about heaven and hell, evil and hardship, as well as identity and relationships. Students are then given the opportunity to have deeper conversations at a later date. These conversations often become very fruitful. Many teens globally are struggling with anxiety, depression, and an overall uncertainty of what the future holds.

I have recently been appointed to lead the Youth Ministry at the local church we serve. God is doing something special in the lives of teens in the ME. They are hungry for truth, direction, and deeper fellowship with our Savior.

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

  • Pray that in this time of uncertainty and hardship young people would be open to Jesus
  • Pray for guidance and wisdom for me as I lead this growing ministry

Serving with Love and Joy, Jamie, Sandra, Hannah, and Caleb