Monthly Updates

Happy New Year!

We are happy to announce that by God's grace, your generous donations, and our >500 volunteers who expressed interest in joining us, Helping Hands International, Inc. was able to complete the following 2020 Disaster Relief efforts following the S. Oregon fires.

• Phase 1: Food Distribution - Distributed approximately 12k meals at the Jackson County Expo. to S. Oregon Fire Victims and those in need.
• Phase 2: Sifting Teams - Sifted approximately 64 homes and gave out a similar number of gift cards, totaling approximately $32k, to Fire Victims.
• Phase 3: Gift Cards - Gave out approximately 94 gift cards, totaling approximately $47,000, to individuals and families impacted by the S. Oregon Fires through the Talent-Phoenix Schools, Armadillo Technical Institute, Logos Public Charter School and Kids Unlimited Academy Public Charter School.

Now we are focused on seeking the Lord's will for 2021 and so far have several service opportunities available to volunteers.

Will you consider supporting our mission to share the love of God by bringing help and hope to hurting people in 2021?  We'd love for you to join us!

God bless,

Helping Hands International Staff

We've completed the new Christian Dream School in Kenya!  

Helping Hands International, Inc. started construction in 2020 for a more permanent structure to replace the existing Christian Dream School and, as of the middle of January, we were able to hold our fist week of classes!  By February, we were able to complete our first month of school and, thanks to your financial support, buy new school books for all of the classes!

We also plan to dedicate the school later this year so click here if you are interested in joining us! 

God bless,

Helping Hands International Staff

We've expanded our Child Sponsorship program!

Helping Hands International, Inc. has expanded our Child Sponsorship into the slums of Nairobi, Kenya by specifically partnering with the Bethany Education Center (BEC) - which currently helps approximately 650 children in the area who need food, education and the good news of Jesus.

Would you consider sponsoring one of the 38 new students at the BEC who need help?

God bless,

Helping Hands International Staff

Save the date!

You are invited to join HHI and the Salvation Army as we celebrate the completion and dedication of the Hope Community Park (1065 Crews Road, Medford OR 97501) on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 @ 5:30 p.m.

This is a free outdoor event so please bring your friends and family and RSVP here.  

God bless,

Helping Hands International Staff

Join HHI and the Salvation Army as we dedication the Hope Community Park (1065 Crews Road, Medford OR 97501) on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 @ 5:30 p.m.  This is a free, outdoor, casual event so please invite your friends and family to join us.  For headcount and refreshment preparation purposes, please RSVP here - thank you!

God bless,

Helping Hands International Staff

P.S. View the recap video here!

HHI is kicking off three projects this month and could use your prayers!

(1) Kenya - We sent a team of volunteers to Kenya who is visiting Nairobi and Rakwaro to dedicate our clean water projects (e.g. two wells/boreholes), dedicate the new Christian Dream School, and meet with sponsored children as part of our Child Sponsorship program.  Volunteers will also serving villagers through a variety of local projects.

(2) Mexico - We are sending our first of four teams to Mexico this month to serve two families in need (e.g. Santos and Lopez) in the Baja area.  Specific projects include building two new homes for these families and ministering to local villagers.

(3) United States - We are kicking off our Southern Oregon Makeover project this month by building a two story after school annex/ministry center for Westside Compassionate Ministries, who has a free after school program for Washington Elementary students but which needs more space!

Trip registration is closed for #1 and #2 above, HOWEVER, we still have room for volunteers for #3!  To register for the S. Oregon Makeover project, simply click here.  Volunteers are welcome to join us for all or part of this 6/19/21-7/2/21 project! 

God bless,

Helping Hands International Staff

HHI is happy to share the following updates on our three project areas!

(1) Kenya - Our team of volunteers returned from Kenya after visiting Nairobi and Rakwaro to dedicate our clean water projects (e.g. two wells/boreholes), dedicate the new Christian Dream School, and meet with sponsored children.  Listen to what a few volunteers had to say about how the trip impacted them personally.

• "It taught me to never give up hope, be there to help and try to help.  There is always hope and there is always a chance for others to be saved."
• "God used me somehow to preach His word at church and the words just came.  God paved a way through all of the trials and tribulations that the trip offered." 
• "This trip restores my spiritual relationship with God."

(2) Mexico - Our first two, of four, teams has returned from Mexico and built a total of four houses for families in need (e.g. Santos, Lopez, Hernandez and Gonzalez).  Listen to what a few volunteers had to say about how the trip impacted them personally (see below).  

• "It reminds me how much God can do with us when we're willing to step out in faith, and how he daily draws us closer."
• "The family was extremely grateful for us for building them a house. It was on the second day that the parents came to know Jesus as their Savior."
• "It was eye opening to see how much a house and some groceries mean to a family in need.  It also showed me that what we do on these trips can yield fruit.  Our labor brought not only the family we were serving to know Christ but also a family living nearby."
• "Been wanting to do this my whole life. Going with my family and new loved ones was totally awesome. Our other team from Portland was really a bonus of joy. Asher and the team in Mexico were unbelievably great, fun and such good help and reference setting it all up for us and making it easy. What an absolute blessing!!"

We are planning to build 10 more houses between July and August 2021 so please pray for the teams and for funds for the homes to come through - thank you!

(3) United States - We are so thankful for the volunteers and skilled laborers who came out to help with the Southern Oregon Makeover project!  Listen to what a few volunteers had to say about how the project impacted them personally (see below). 

• "It is always inspiring to work together with other believers who I didn't previously know, as we seek to be the hands and feet of Christ to those who don't know Him."
• "Seeing how happy it made Tara and Ben and especially when the children, from Washington school, showed up a couple of times. They LOVED it and were SO excited that it was happening.  Watching them light up while Tara and Ben explained the addition to them was so touching to me." 
• "Provided a great opportunity to serve with other Christian volunteers and experience what this ministry does and how HHI serves missions close to home."

In total we had approximately 189 people (many of whom were repeat volunteers - thank you!) serve over the 12 day project and were able to: pour a concrete foundation, frame the building, install electricity and plumbing, hang joists, lay sub-flooring, install siding, add insulation and drywall, pull weeds, dig-out a section adjacent to the walkway and install bark, paint, and minister to others by sharing testimonies and handing out a bible to the neighbor who received a recent life-threatening cancer diagnosis.  

The remainder of the project will be finalized between now and August (with professional contractors) and HHI will hold a celebration later in the year so that everyone can view the new space! 

To check out what new volunteer opportunities exist for the remainder of 2021, click here!

God bless,

Helping Hands International Staff

HHI finished our remaining Summer service projects by building a home for Doris in Alaska and our last dwelling, for the Vazquez family, in Mexico!  A special thanks to all the Volunteers who made time during the Summer months to serve the Lord by serving others!  

God bless,

The Helping Hands International Team

There are no service projects scheduled for this month but, we invite you to watch how our HHI Volunteers were able to serve in Kenya this Summer.  As you will see, they helped local villagers through a variety of projects (like planting tomatoes, wormwood project, fetching water etc.), visited sponsored children, dedicated a well for a neighboring orphanage etc.  Thanks all for sharing the love of God by bring help and hope to hurting people through practical hands-on care!  

God bless,

The Helping Hands International Team

Our annual homeless outreach project to San Francisco, California, the India orphanage building project and the Nepal dental clinic have all been postponed for October.  Due to an unexpected death in the body of Christ, as well as country specific travel barriers relating to visas, we have had to reschedule these trips for 2022.  In the meantime, we invite you to review our 2021 Mexico project video (which highlights how four HHI Volunteer teams, comprised of approximately 186 Volunteers, helped build 14 homes for families in need in four weeks) and pray for our Kenya Team Leader (Crissy Christian) who is back in Kenya this month to visit children in the Child Sponsorship program!  

God bless,

The Helping Hands International Team

Many of you have asked if we are having the annual Celebration Banquet this year and the answer is no due to COVID.  We are planning to have a year-end Phonathon/Online Fundraiser starting November 1, 2021 and are trying to raise $100k.  The Board of Directors has generously agreed to match every gift of $100 or more, up to $45k, so we encourage you to prayerfully consider a year-end gift!

God bless,

The Helping Hands International Team

Helping Hands International is partnering with Samaritan's purse to provide Flood Relief to Whatcom County, WA following heaving rains and subsequent flooding that has displaced approximately 500 homeowners.  If you are interested in volunteering for this week long project (12/5/21-12/11/21), please click here!

God bless,

The Helping Hands International Team