Mission Crossroads 21
God's mission in
Central America
Addressing hunger and poverty
in El Salvador
PC(USA) mission co-worker
Kristi Van Nostran is
companionship facilitator of
Joining Hands Network–
El Salvador, a ministry of
the Presbyterian Hunger
Program.
Kristi's ministry
of accompaniment
focuses on raising
awareness, empowering
and equipping Salvadorans to
advocate for their human rights
to food and water. Priorities include
building resistance and resilience to climate
change by promoting healthy, sustainable
and chemical-free farming practices; and
campaigning peacefully and prayerfully—in
strategic collaboration with local, national and
international partners—to restore wholeness,
healing and hope.
Te realities of hunger, injustice and
violence that are lived daily in El Salvador make
it difcult to see transformation. Yet Kristi and
the Joining Hands Network work to connect
farmers to learn from one another, keep healthy
food on their tables and provide a dignifed
living. "As farmers come together, they
recognize that they are not alone," Kristi says.
"And by connecting with U.S. Presbyterian
partners, they feel that their struggles matter
and that their voices will be heard."
Kristi has played a key role in advocating
for more just, sustainable and creation-friendly
food systems, and in a very vulnerable country,
she continues to promote reconciliation and
community development, and sow seeds of
faith and God's love.
Support Kristi in El Salvador.
presbyterianmission.org/donate/E200479
God's mission in the
Middle East
Providing 'Care with Love' in Egypt
After a need in her own family, Dr. Magda
Iskander, PC(USA) associate for ecumenical
partnership in the Middle East, created Care
with Love (CWL), the frst home health care
program in Egypt. CWL provides dependable,
high-quality, compassionate in-home
health care for those who need it, as well as
employment opportunities for young adults.
Te comprehensive four-month certifcation
course provides more than knowledge and
skills: it includes a values curriculum to ensure
students become compassionate, accountable
caregivers. Te CWL values curriculum is
being adopted by schools in the Synod of the
Nile and is already being used by the Gouna
Technical Nursing Institute in El Gouna.
Since 1997 more than 1,500
students have completed the
program. Tose employed by CWL
enjoy full benefts, including
social and health insurance. Other
institutions are replicating the
program to meet demand.
Dr. Iskander is a co-founder
of Health and Hope Oasis, Egypt's
frst supportive care center for children
with cancer and their families. Te center
promotes the nutritional, physical and
emotional well-being of children with cancer
and their families in an environmentally
healthy and safe community.
"Children who have undergone
chemotherapy, radiation or surgery need proper
nutrition and a clean environment to protect
them from secondary infections between
treatments," says Dr. Iskander. "Tey also need
to be surrounded with love and allowed to
express themselves and play without fear."
Support Magda in the Middle East.
presbyterianmission.org/donate/E200366
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