The Batey Relief Alliance

The Batey Relief Alliance

The Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) is a non-profit, non-political, humanitarian aid entity uniting grassroots groups, faith-based organizations, government agencies, and the international community in a strategic partnership to help create a safe, productive and self-sufficient environment, through health care, education and development programs, for children and their families severely affected by extreme poverty, disease, and hunger in the United States and the Caribbean.

Mission Fields: About Mission Fields

Mission Fields: About Mission Fields: "On the streets of Port au Prince, Haiti after the big quake.

I am passionate about my life and how I choose to live it. I believe..." Read more...

World Vision Calls on Congress to Protect Effective Humanitarian Assistance in Budget

World Vision Calls on Congress to Protect Effective Humanitarian Assistance in Budget

Disproportionately large cuts targeting America’s humanitarian assistance budget jeopardize the success of global development initiatives and undermine both U.S. global security and leadership.

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Visa and Leading Humanitarian Aid Organizations Partner to Improve Speed and Efficiency of Relief Payments in Times of Disaster | Business Wire

Visa and Leading Humanitarian Aid Organizations Partner to Improve Speed and Efficiency of Relief Payments in Times of Disaster | Business Wire

In times of disaster, humanitarian organizations perform detailed needs assessments in order to inform disaster response and early recovery efforts. These assessments increasingly are including consideration of the capacity of local markets to meet the needs of people impacted by crisis. When local market conditions allow, more and more relief agencies are choosing to deliver money rather than physical goods to those affected, allowing people to buy what they need while at the same time supporting the local economy.

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Near the town of Abeka, Ghana, West Africa.

  Near the town of Abeka, Ghana, West Africa in the Fall of 2005.

  

  This was the site of a small church, orphanage, school and clinic. The facilities were actually very nice compared to many of the surrounding buildings. 

  As with all of our clinic days, hundreds were waiting at the gates every morning. Some were there long before dawn awaiting our arrival.

The Village of Dwenase, West Africa

We had set up a small clinic for the village of Dwenase, where we treated several hundred people during our two day stay, before moving on to the next village.

The welcome precession with Dwenase Chief Na Na.

Real Man on a Mission

  Never expect praise for doing what you’re supposed to do (e.g., take care of your kids, change a dirty diaper if needed, clean up your own messes, gas the car, wash the car, work for a living). Real Men do these things and don’t complain, it’s part of the deal.

  I originally started this Blog after my trip to West Africa on a Medical Mission in 2005. It was a journey of self discovery for me. 

 I have since traveled to the impoverished island nation of Haiti on similar medical trips. I also went to Haiti after the devastating earthquake of 2010.

 This type of work has been rewarding to me personally on many levels. I intend on doing many more of these trips as the years pass on, and as long as I have the health to do so, as these are usually very physically demanding.

Brother Tom; Leader of men!

  This is Tom... He was responsible for the daily devotionals (as this was a Church-led mission trip). I had never met this guy until this trip, but can tell you that he made an impact on my life!! The daily devotionals were given in hotel lobbies, in parking lots, in vans, and en route... without fail!!!

  Tom led the team in devotions each morning, which helped participants to focus on the work at hand.

  He was awake before anyone else, and made sure we had coffee brewing before anything else!! I would travel around the world with this man any time... any where!!!

  It is inspiring to do mission work with a group of dedicated Christians, weather it be medical work or disaster relief. The shear honesty and depth of caring is unparalleled. This particular trip was led by F.A.M.E. The Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism.

Agricultural Development

  One of Ghana Christian Mission's projects is agricultural development to create employment and generate income for the church members.

  

  The members of three churches in Ghana--- Akraman,Gakope and Accra-North Christian churches had been working together on a pineapple project with seed money provided by IDES-International Disaster and Emergency Services.The farm is at Akraman in the Eastern Region of Ghana. 

We took a tour of the Pineapple farm owned by the Ghana Christian Mission. These pineapples are sold to locations such as Europe, and the money is used for ministry in Ghana. 

  This is a crucial part of doing mission work... sustainable resources,  which support jobs for the locals thereby developing their independence, and helping them to ascend from poverty.

Cause for Celebration

  One of our first encounters with the locals of the rural Volta region, was our attendance at the Christ In Youth conference, which was being held in a cleared field outside of Accra.

  We drove for nearly two hours to this gathering, as was the case with all of our scheduled trips, and encountered a large group of Ghanaian people worshiping, in their own fashion, with dancing and singing into the night.

 There was never a shortage of grace and goodwill amongst these people. Their hospitality towards us was amazing, seeing as how they were surrounded by poverty.