Partnerships are a beautiful thing. Because of your help, thousands of children are hearing about the love of Jesus while having their practical needs met in unique ways. We recently heard news of how children benefit when the body of Christ links arms -- this past weekend, more than 240 children received a new pair of shoes, and there are 2000 more to give away!

If you own a pair of TOMS shoes, there's a big group of kids in the Philippines who would love to say thank you! Our friends at Convoy of Hope (who have also helped us get nutritious meals to Haiti after a major earthquake devastated the country) made sure the donated shoes arrived for these eager recipients. Take a look at partnership in action!

This little guy could not wait for his friends to get new shoes, so he helped find all the needed sizes!

As so many children wear ill-fitting shoes, finding the proper fit can take time. Here the shoes are lined up so the children could stand next to them to find the right size!

And then the fitting began! The staff team had this down to a science!

One staff person remarked, "It's hard to imagine how important a pair of shoes can be to families who can't afford them. What a blessing!"

Kids young and old were able to receive a new pair of shoes.

We like to call this picture "Happy Feet!"

Special thanks to TOMS Shoes, Convoy of Hope, and the staff in the Philippines who worked so hard to bless the kids in this special way!

To learn more about why shoes are SO important for children in the developing world, read this story. And thank you for the many ways your partnership provides for children in need!

This is Typhoon Bopha's project path as of December 4, 2012. Please keep the Philippines in your prayers! (Image courtesy of the Pacific Disaster Center's Global Hazard Atlas at weather.pdc.org.) A massive typhoon churned through the Philippines, and our country staff is asking for your prayers.

UPDATE: Our projects received rain but sustained no real damage; most of the storm's force was well south of them. However, they ask for your continued prayers:

"Please pray for these people who lost their loved ones during the typhoon. It will be hard for them to celebrate this special season because of their present situation. There are some who are still missing due to landslides. Thank you so much for your concern."

Typhoon Bopha made landfall early Tuesday morning just south of the island where most of our projects are located. Although spared a direct hit, they are experienced heavy rains.

When it first made landfall, Typhoon Bopha was considered a "super typhoon" with Category 5 strength (roughly the size and power of Hurricane Katrina). Thankfully it has since weakened to a Category 2 storm. Most families in this region of the Philippines live in the most basic of homes with tin roofs and wood slat walls. It’s estimated that more than 50,000 have fled seeking shelter from the rains and mudslides that are common in the mountainous areas of the Philippines.

We’d appreciate your prayers for the safety of the children and their families as this storm passes. To help us respond to crises like typhoons (and smaller yet equally devastating incidents such as medical emergencies) One Child Matters relies on the Children’s Crisis Fund. Your donations enable us to move quickly in times of need. If you’d like to help, visit www.onechildmatters.org/ccf to make a donation online.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We will provide updates as we are able.

As you may have heard in news reports, a large 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines. The epicenter was on Negros Island, to the southwest of Cebu Island, where many Mission of Mercy programs are located.

Our staff reports that the earthquake was “so strong. Everyone went out of the building to an open space. But everyone is alright.” Thankfully, a social worker was present and was able to provide counseling to children who were frightened by the event.

A dental team is also in the Philippines providing dental care to children in our projects. They experienced the trembler and several aftershocks. They will travel to another city tomorrow and ask for prayers for good weather, as much of the travel between islands involves ferry boats.

We have two very different mission teams leaving this weekend.

THE PHILIPPINES

A dental team is traveling to the Philippines to provide much-needed cleanings, exams, and other services to our projects there. This may be the first time some of our children have seen an actual dentist. Please pray for a spirit of trust to form between the team and the community, and for an absence of fear for the little ones getting their first cleaning!

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

On Sunday, a very special team of elementary and middle-school aged kids (and their parents and grandparents) are leaving for the DR. In response to the need in one of the communities we serve, the team raised funds to build a library.

The project expects to use the space to help children (like the sweet little girl pictured above) study and help their parents learn to read and gain new skills. We are quite excited to share more about their trip with you when they return. In the meantime, please pray for their travel and the work ahead!

“Brokenness is the bow from which God launches the arrows of healing.”– Louie Giglio

Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. If you're looking for inspiration on how you can get involved in the fight against this evil industry, we recommend looking toward the very girls who recently escaped its clutches.

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Your sponsored child may live halfway around the world, but you have more in common than you think in terms of Christmas traditions... especially food! We even included some recipes if you'd like to try something different this year!

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This may not make a typical Thanksgiving list, but that's no reason not to be grateful for the way you've helped us improve the lives of children!

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Our final group of homes in this 'round the world tour...has this series helped you understand how your sponsored child lives?

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How does your sponsored child celebrate Easter? Some of the traditions are more familiar than you'd think...

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The people God has placed in leadership over the projects your sponsored child attends are absolutely incredible. Their testimonies are awe-inspiring. In this post, some of our international staff reveal that in some instances, their heart for this ministry comes from their own experience.

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If you want to send a small gift to your sponsored child, what should you send? How can you best ensure that these items make it to your sponsored child? Learn about the restrictions and see pictures of what cannot be sent so you can encourage your sponsored child well!

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Water affects so much of your child's life -- is there enough to wash up before school? Is it safe to drink? Can I go out and play? What season is your sponsored child experiencing right now, and what does that mean for daily life?

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Our sponsored children are creative beings, inventing games or tweaking rules of established sports to accomodate their resources. From simple to high-flying, these games sure look like fun!

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Continuing our little series on the sports our sponsored children favor, we'll look into another game with funny rules and a mad following. Get ready, because the pace has picked up since you played in junior high!

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This week we’ve been talking about the importance of education and how we can help. So how is your sponsored child's education supported at the project level?

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Sponsorship is one way to speak into the lives of those at risk -- but how do you reach those who are already deep in the darkness?

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