Tag Archives: Philippines

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Culture Smart: Guatemala

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Culture Smart’s Guatemala book

The “Culture Smart!” book series is a great way to gain insight into your sponsor child’s culture and country.

I recently read Culture Smart’s Guatemala book for the second time in preparation for my upcoming Compassion tour to that country.

The books are fairly short; the Guatemala book was only 136 pages, starting out with a chapter giving a brief history of the country, its geography, climate and even politics.

Other chapters cover topics like values, religion, customs and traditions, home life, travel, business customs and communicating. Often the book highlights differences in the cultures of Guatemala’s Latino population and its Maya population as well.

In this series, I’ve also read Culture Smart’s books on Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia and Ireland.

There are books available for many more countries, including these countries where Compassion works: India, Ecuador, Thailand, Colombia, Brazil, Uganda, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Peru, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Philippines, Dominican Republic, Ghana and Mexico.

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Giving Thankfully: Compassion and World Vision

In the wake of the recent destruction in the Philippines, I am so incredibly thankful for Compassion and World Vision, and their responses in aiding the people affected.

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Typhoon Haiyan is being called possibly the strongest storm in recorded history, and the Philippine government today reported a death toll of 2,275, while officials on the ground have said they fear as many as 10,000 might be dead.

Please click here to view a short video of the typhoon’s destruction.

About 9.5 million people are affected, according to World Vision. Residents of the hardest-hit areas are dealing with lack of clean water and available food, blocked roads, loss of electricity and, in some areas, looting.

You can help Compassion’s relief efforts by clicking here. Your gift will make possible interventions including emergency food and water, temporary shelters, trauma counseling and spiritual support, replacement of clothing, school supplies and household items, and restoring supplies families need for earning income.

You can help World Vision’s relief efforts by clicking here. Your donation will provide essentials such as blankets, mosquito nets, hygiene and food kits, emergency shelter and clean water. World Vision is seeking to raise $20 million for this effort.

Please consider reaching out to these people who so desperately need help.