Monday, April 25 is World Malaria Day

If you asked most Americans what they know about malaria, you'd most likely hear two things: 1) It is spread by mosquitoes, and 2) It happens "over there somewhere." After all, Americans usually don't have to learn much or worry about malaria, as it is not a common occurrence in the United States.

But for many parts of the world, including East Africa, malaria has been and continues to be a very real scourge on the lives of those living there. It is estimated that a child dies from malaria every 45 seconds.

In an effort towards "achieving the target of zero malaria deaths by 2015," organizers have set April 25 as World Malaria Day. Since its inception 4 years ago, deaths due to malaria have dropped from over 1,000,000 a year to 790,000. This is exciting news, made even more exciting by the fact that malaria can be treated, and it can be prevented through some very basic steps.

Mosquito nets provided by Portland Mennonite Church
Nickson Khamasi, a Lahash Portland community member who grew up in Kenya, says "malaria is very common, and a rampant cause of high fever during the rainy seasons."

The good news, according to Nickson, is that items like mosquito nets and repellents are easy and effective defenses against contracting malaria, and that adults can be treated with over-the-counter medication.

While preventing contraction through nets and repellents is extremely effective, treatments for those infected are still being developed; many strains of malaria have become resistant to the treatments. In addition, local "antimalarial" trees, which are used in the research and production of effective vaccines, have become threatened with extinction in many areas of East Africa, and urban sprawl has led to an increase of standing and stagnant water, which are high-breeding areas for mosquitoes.

We encourage you to find out more about malaria, World Malaria Day, and how you can get involved in providing simple, effective support to those in East Africa who wage a continual battle against this disease. With practical solutions and effective preventative measures, you truly can make a difference to help those most vulnerable.


More information:
World Malaria Day
Time Magazine article on malaria
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Work in Malaria
Malaria No More

Katie Potter Joins Lahash

Katie Potter has joined Lahash International part-time overseeing the U.S. Sponsorship operations. The position involves organizing and building the Lahash team of volunteers, coordinating the sponsorship operations in the Portland, Or. office, and managing new and existing Lahash sponsors.

Katie has been involved with Lahash since 2009, and has visited East Africa on two occasions, including travels to Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda in 2010, where she was able to spend time with the children at all of Lahash's partner locations.


Katie in Uganda in 2007
"Being a part of God's Kingdom here on earth is exiting," Katie says. "It's amazing to see God move among His people and to step out in faith where I feel Him leading me."

When it comes to the personal and practical ways that Lahash has been able to connect with the vulnerable children in East Africa, Katie says, "I love seeing how excited the children at IWASSRU got when they received something from their sponsors. It was so touching. Sharing the children's hand-written letters with their sponsors is one of the best parts of working with Lahash."

Katie and Leisha go to the market in Dodoma, Tanzania
We're excited to have Katie on board, and can't wait to see how and where God moves! You can contact Katie to learn more about sponsorship through Lahash International.

Lahash Gardens

One of man's first tasks on earth was to tend the soil and care for the land. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15). Throughout the old and new testaments, we are called to be good stewards of God's magnificent creation.

This spring, we at Lahash are entering into a period of focus on sustainability and stewardship with the construction of several garden beds behind the Lahash office in Portland, OR. We are excited about the opportunity to gain a more intimate understanding of God's creation as well as to take on a more active role as caretakers of the land in an effort to better identify with the agrarian culture of our partners in East Africa.

Three major goals for this project:

1. To understand and appreciate God and his creation on a deeper level.

2. To reacquaint ourselves with the stewardship of the created world

3. To better understand the relationship of our role as stewards and our current society's use and abuse of resources in order to better foster sustainability and conservation.