in this issue
-- Iraq refugees reached by native missionaries
-- Native Bolivian missionaries in need after severe floods
-- Native missionaries in Burundi battle civil war, natural disasters

Every day thousands of Iraqis flee their country due to the continuing sectarian violence, poverty, lack of basic infrastructure, unemployment, and civil unrest. Nearly 20% of Iraqis are living below the poverty line.

Most Iraqi refugees take shelter in the Arabic- speaking countries of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Many of them have never heard the gospel. One Christian Aid-supported ministry, covertly working in the Middle East, has found that these refugees are often open to the gospel. Christians have a multitude of opportunities to reach out to these refugees, who are left without the aid of the government.

Once away from their family, friends and culture, refugees frequently question their native religions. Despite the great challenge, ministries in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are taking this important opportunity to share the gospel with Iraqis.

Jordan: Approximately 700,000 Iraqi refugees are living in Jordan with limited legal status. While wealthy Iraqis fled to Amman and live very well, most suffer from poverty and lack basic necessities. Often they have left behind all of their belongings. The flow of refugees continuously increases, yet international aid has decreased. Indigenous ministries tackle the basic yet increasing needs in Jordan by providing food parcels to the refugees. One ministry, which has started many churches throughout the country, is distributing these parcels containing sugar, rice, tomato paste, canned meat and oil.

Syria: Indigenous ministries continue to facilitate the distribution of food parcels and Bibles to needy Iraqi families in Syria. These ministries also support a medical clinic to provide needy patients with free medical prescriptions. Now that more than 1 million Iraqi refugees live in Syria, representing more than 5% of the country's population, Syria has decided to prohibit Iraqis from entering the country. Since 2003, with the high influx of refugees, food and housing prices have skyrocketed. Children comprise 48% of the Iraqi refugee population in Syria. Although permitted to attend school, Iraqi children are discriminated against. Education provided by Christians is always welcomed and appreciated by this marginalized group. Two Christian Aid-supported ministries in particular have opened schools for Iraqi children. Because Syria does not issue work permits to Iraqi refugees, most adults are either unemployed or working illegally. Syrian ministries are providing vocational training for jobs that refugees can legally perform.

Native missionaries with Serving Jesus Christ Mission in Bolivia are still recovering from the worst floods to hit Bolivia in 25 years. The devastating February floods affected approximately 350,000 people, destroyed an estimated 494,000 acres of cropland, drowned 22,000 head of cattle and resulted in millions of dollars in losses.

Months of heavy rain has swamped a vast floodplain- running from the Bolivian Andes to the Amazon basin-and caused numerous mudslides and blocked access to emergency aid.

SJC reports that most of the missionaries they oversee lost everything, including houses, crops and belongings. They were evacuated to Trinidad, the capital of Beni Province. Around 90,000 other people are stranded in Trinidad.

They are in desperate need of medicine, clothing and blankets and ask for the prayers and support of fellow believers.

Since its inception, SJC has used boats to reach more than 40 river communities and establish more than 20 churches. They have also established a Bible institute and Christian school for needy children. One of their boats was made into a floating clinic to provide medical care for the poor people living along the rivers.

Native missionaries with Men of the Cross Ministries in Burundi are struggling to help those affected by poverty, natural disasters and civil war between the Hutu population and Tutsi minority. The country is marked by a history of genocide against the Hutu majority.

One of the poorest countries in the world, Burundi was recently ravaged by three years of drought, followed by severe flooding that destroyed 76,000 houses. The roofs of several churches planted by MCM were also destroyed by the rough winds. Thousands of acres of crops were destroyed, causing people to flee from their land in search of food. Schools were closed. Many children were separated from their parents in the turmoil.

While the government waits for foreign aid, MCM is doing what it can to help the desperate people of Burundi. The ministry leader's wife, Denise, has provided food and shelter to 20 women, along with a total of 52 children who were begging on the street. Some of them were raped and impregnated by the feuding members of other ethnic groups.

Denise made it possible for 35 of the children to return to school, and is providing the women with an income-generating project of selling vegetables in the markets. However, rising prices due to the natural disasters threaten the future of this small enterprise. She asks for the prayers of fellow believers.

Missions Insider is a free email report from Christian Aid, your link to indigenous missionary ministries based in poorer countries overseas, or where evangelical Christians are a persecuted minority. Christian Aid provides headquarters services and representation in the USA for more than 700 indigenous ministries that have a total of 90,000 missionaries on the field, many in countries where American missionaries are not allowed.

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