June 19, 2010: Crisis. Armed Conflict. Disaster. These headlines dominate the newscasts and provide a daily snapshot of the dramatic events that cause suffering to so many members of our global community. Hope Force is committed to responding to the human need that captivates all of us as we are exposed to the calamity and loss experienced by men, women and children around the world. Yet there remains a surprisingly large segment of the population whose suffering is overlooked and often devalued – the millions who live in chronic poverty.

Our commitment as a mission is to reach out to people who are caught in hopeless circumstances, whether they experience a natural disaster or a lifetime of persistent poverty. Those who are born into the day-to-day debilitating circumstances of ongoing need often go unnoticed by the news media, social aid programs and, sadly, by the church as well.
 

For several years now, Hope Force has been focusing on the Appalachian region of the United States, one of the clearest examples of “hidden poor” in our country. Our staff members have been all around the world, most with decades of international aid work in our backgrounds. However, none of us were prepared for what we have begun to discover in the "coal towns" of our own country. It grips your heart to see the conditions in which some of our fellow citizens live. Walking into their homes, hearing their stories, finding within them an absence of hope or vision – it is a heart-breaking experience that is impossible to forget.
 

“Miss Milly” is 93 years old and lives in McDowell County, West Virginia. Her home has no insulation, limited protection from the elements and mold showing itself in many parts of her humble dwelling as a result of the constant exposure to weather. In this area, more than half of the housing is considered sub-standard, in fact there has been virtually no new homes built since the 1970’s. People like Miss Milly need our heart-felt assistance and that is what we intend to provide now and in the future.
 

We already have three Reservist deployments scheduled for the summer but in the midst of our planning, heavy rainfall this month in Southern West Virginia turned streams into raging waterways that swept into homes, knocked out power, damaged roadways and ripped out small bridges. Officials are estimating that at least 300 buildings in the region were destroyed and hundreds more were damaged.
 

Already, staff members are in position to provide assistance and other Reservists are on the way. The assistance that our staff and our Reservists can provide is urgently needed. Please pray with us as we begin projects focusing on debris removal and restoration of basic services to community members. A catastrophe such as severe rain and flooding is amplified by the tragic conditions in which many of the people in this area already live.
 

Thank you for your prayers, support and involvement.