Joy in Trials

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

–James 1:2-4

There are negative choices we can make when hard times come. We can get angry with God for His role in allowing the trial. We can get discouraged because we were expecting an easier life with Christ. We can even develop a persistent bad attitude in a trial that doesn’t allow others to see our hope in Him in the middle of what God is doing.

Joy is a much better choice! He calls us to "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). He longs for us to persevere—joyfully! When we do this, we show the world what it means to have the hope of Jesus Christ even in the toughest of times.

Healthcare in Colombia

Colombia’s social welfare is a problem. No solid plan for welfare has been set up by the government, leaving only 16 percent of Colombia’s total population completely covered with social insurance. The poorest part of the population isn’t covered by any program at all.

Urban and rural residents experience significant differences in regards to healthcare. The coverage in the three largest cities—Bogotá, Medellín and Cal are almost 95 percent. At the rural level, the best services were delivered by the departments in the coffee-growing areas which are at the bottom of the scale. Colombia’s healthcare system needs help. Although they are making good changes, they still have a way to go. 

The Need for Shoes in Colombia

Shoes help prevent the spread of parasitic diseases that plague over 1.4 billion people worldwide. They are a basic human necessity.

In Colombia, the lack of shoes can become a main cause for disease. Shoes are are essential, but many families in Colombia can’t afford them. Walking along unpaved roads without proper footwear can cause feet to be exposed to unsanitary conditions. For many people, the lack of shoes means increased infection rate. A walk to school can become a dangerous burden for many young children.

Hands on Outreach is looking for people to partner with them to help alleviate this problem in Colombia. They need your help.

Floods in Colombia

Five of Colombia’s 32 states were on red alert towards the end of 2014, due to flooding and landslides. This disaster left at least 38 people dead and 18,000 people homeless. These heavy rains in Colombia have been the cause of many natural disasters. As of September 1, there were 88 recorded floods, 50 landslides, three avalanches and 29 structural collapses.

 Colombia is known for flooding during their rainy seasons. Typically, there will be two rainy seasons and two dry seasons, each lasting about 3 months. In 2014, the rainy season came during September and ended in December. BBC records have reported that 2014’s flooding has been the worst flooding Colombia has ever seen.

President Juan Manuel Santos reportedly has taken $25 million in drug cash and is requesting $150 million from the World Bank in-order-to help the victims affected by this flood. Anti-narcotics police have seized $140 million this year in Colombia.

Unfortunately, Santos said the $227 million the government has used for flood relief this year isn't enough.

For more information visit:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40510679/ns/weather/t/colombia-floods-die-million-impacted/#.VRxZhSvF_Rg

Welcome!

     Welcome to our blog! Hands On Outreach will be posting here weekly. With this blog, we plan to educate readers not only about the organization, but Colombia as well. By following our blog, we hope you learn about this beautiful country and the special people who reside there.

     We will be sharing some of our needs as an organization, Colombian current news, facts about the culture and spiritual encouragement. Please share our posts on social media. We are excited to share our heart with people. Hands On Outreach hopes this blog inspires readers to join our cause in improving the quality of life for the Colombian people.