Westwood’s global outreach efforts are focused in three primary areas: The village of Tegucigalpa in Honduras, the Uyghur people group of Central Asia and people living in the Chitipa District of Malawi, Africa.
Honduras
Westwood has partnered with the people of Tegucigalpa, Honduras since 1998 when Hurricane Mitch devastated the region. We became aware of the great need in the area through a member of our church whose father, Dr. Vides, operated a small medical clinic in the area. Westwood’s eyes and hearts were opened to respond to a community in need. Desiring to help beyond the emergency needs created by the Hurricane, a team from Westwood met with city and church leadership to determine how we can best partner to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people. Priorities were discussed and a framework was laid for a working agreement to guide our partnership.
Over the years a close, personal relationship has been developed with the wonderful people of this rural, mountain village. Many adult and senior high teams have traveled there for service and construction projects. Clothing and shoes have been sent down for the children as well as tools for a local carpenters coop. Thatch roofs in homes have been replaced with tin to help prevent the spreading of insect-borne disease.
In recent years, Westwood has partnered with Rotary Chanhassen, Rotary International and the Hondurans to bring fresh water to the village. Miles and miles of piping has been donated by a Minnesota company. Each family in Santa Cruz is responsible for helping to dig the trench in which their section of pipe will be buried. The long-awaited project is scheduled to be completed late in 2007.
The Uyghurs of Central Asia
In 1998, Westwood "adopted" as an unreached people group, the Uyghurs, committing our resources to help God build an indigenous church among this nominally Muslim group of nine million in Central Asia. Only a handful of the Uyghurs have heard the name of Jesus Christ and there are very few churches. Those few that are Christians experience intense difficulty in practicing their faith. In the region in which we are working, it is illegal to be a Christian.)
Several Westwood teams have traveled to Uyghur inhabited areas to encourage Christian workers and help support an agricultural project. A Westwood Christmas offering provided funds to drill a well in a dry and thirsty oasis in Central Asia, giving the first taste of "sweet water" to it's people and serving as a flowing example of Christ as "living water." We also support workers in church planting and radio evangelism ministries.
Malawi Outreach
Westwood is partnering with World Relief to help the church in Malawi, Africa, bring relief and hope to a country devastated by the effect of AIDS/HIV. Malawi is one of the poorest nations on the earth and has an AIDS rate of 16%. We are working with churches in the Chitipa District as they minister to the poor and suffering in order to lift living standards in the community, reduce the prevalence of AIDS and extend the love of Jesus Christ. Chitipa, in the far northern part of this south African nation, is often called the “forgotten district,” as it is an extremely disadvantaged area.
Much is being accomplished through the churches of Malawi. Though the problems of AIDS, hunger and economic development are huge in sub-Saharan Africa, the churches are in a unique position to make a difference. A respected institution, the church has a ready supply of caring, compassionate individuals whom World Relief mobilizes, trains and equips. "World Relief encourages and empowers us," said Pastor Raphael Judah of the Anglican Church in Nchisi, Malawi.
World Relief utilizes the H.E.A.R.T. model in the Malawi ministry which is an acronym for it's efforts to reduce AIDS by raising the standard of living in a community through: Health, Education, Agriculture, Refugee and Trade initiatives. Our initial work in Chitipa focuses on helping to increase the rate of child survival, rates which are devastatingly low in Chitipa.
Learn about the Malawi project that is connected to our "Nothing Less Than Extraordinary" facility and ministry expansion campaign.