When Moses stood before the burning bush, he was terrified. The presence of God not only overwhelmed him, but the task that God was asking of him was such that he reached for anything he could to be excused.
But God asked Moses a question He asks each of us: “What is in your hand?”
As we look out at our hurting world today, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed like Moses did. Natural disasters and wars highlight the world map. It’s only natural to empathize and also wonder, “What could I possibly do to help?”
In the hands of God, our “not much” is enough. As Moses presented his staff at the Lord’s prompting, there was nothing supernatural in his actions. But in obeying God and surrendering what was in his hand, Moses saw his staff do more than it ever could have if he’d held onto it with both hands.
In this issue, we’re looking at some difficult global situations. But let us not be discouraged by the enormity of hardship; rather, let us look suffering in the face and then examine what small thing in our hands can be used by God to bring change.
Venezuela Earthquake Recovery
Even amidst decline, mass expatriation, and now natural disasters, Venezuela has many behind-the-scenes heroes near and far fighting for the health of its people. These champions are literally filling boxes and sending them straight to the country, quietly saving lives and sustaining those whose only recourse is to pray for provision.
Every week, a church in Oklahoma that wishes to be unnamed sends ten pallets of medicines and medical supplies to Venezuela. They work directly with pastors in-country, who faithfully distribute the medicines while sharing the Gospel. While they help every state in Venezuela, they are particularly focused on La Guaira right now, an area affected by the earthquakes.
“It’s going to be years,” the medical ministry coordinator told us about the recovery efforts following the earthquakes.
One of the pastors in Venezuela who receives medicines and supplies from the church, reported following the earthquake, “We went to ‘Ground Zero’ in La Guaira state—the area most affected and where most of the collapses began…. [W]e provided care … to hundreds of people. We listened to the stories and realities left in the wake of this catastrophe—losses of loved ones and material possessions, and a sense of aimlessness—with people relying solely on those God has used to help meet their needs.… [W]e have been able to show that God’s love reaches us even when we believe we are walking alone in the desert.”
Despite most people’s inability to go to Venezuela in person, the medical ministry coordinator encourages anyone wanting to help that there are many ways to get involved. “There are so many things that need to be done, but so many ways that God would like to love on people, that all you need to do is just look.”
Cuba Aid
According to donor and partner Dr. Randal Hartline, Cuba’s situation is one of the most desperate situations in the world. “It’s a sad place to go,” he said. “It’s broken.… It’s just a total collapse of a system.” He describes rolling blackouts, garbage piled high in the streets, and hospitals with no medicine. For anyone whose hope is in the tangible, there is despair.
And yet, the local church is shining like a city on a hill.
“The people there don’t go to the local hospital,” Dr. Hartline said, “because it doesn’t have anything. They go to the church.”
Thanks to people like Dr. Hartline, who is providing food and medicine to churches, the network of aid begins in Cuba’s churches and spans out from there.
“I’ve been frustrated that I can take so little. I take 150 pounds when I go through the airlines. We disperse that out as fifty pounds.… One of the fifty pound bags I gave … they treated 500 people with it!"
“I want to do the stuff that’s concentrating on the church, the body of Christ,” Dr. Hartline said. “If nothing more, keep the church going in Cuba. If you do nothing more than that, you’ve done a lot and you’ve put your money where it needs to go.”
“Christ is always working. He always works in small ways…. He's [working through] the small people going out there and doing what they can.”
Jamaica Hurricane Relief
Almost one year after Hurricane Melissa, the rural areas of Jamaica are still struggling, and some remain without power. The hospital where donor and customer Dr. Heidi Zimmerman used to serve was completely leveled during the hurricane. She goes to Jamaica once a year with the organization H2Jamaica, and serves in St. Elizabeth Parish, a hard-hit region.
“I think the brick-and-mortar replacement hospital will be up in five years,” she said, “but it will take a decade to replace all the small homes and businesses … barring any other hurricanes.” While the Sandals resort will be running again in November, it’s the average individual—the single mom with three kids living in a one-room home—whom Dr. Zimmerman is actively trying to help. “With limited resources and overwhelming need, it is often difficult to find and help single moms or disabled seniors who may not know how to access help."
She adds, “Farming, I would say, has had the most consequential impact from the hurricane, in addition to loss of homes and schools and the hospital.” And without farmers, food prices have risen extensively.
Since the hurricane, Dr. Zimmerman has visited Jamaica twice and sent a container with needed items. She and H2Jamaica are also helping in tangible ways by providing construction help and agricultural resources. She gives to Blessings’ Emergency Disaster Relief fund because she personally understands the difficulties of acquiring medications for areas of great need. “If you’re not in the medical field, having done missions, you just don’t grasp how hard it is to actually get the medication and the stuff you need to do what you want to do."
“Now Go!”
During the encounter with the burning bush, God told Moses three times, “Now, go.” Each time, Moses offered excuses, but God was calling him to step beyond what he could see and to trust.
God has placed gifts in your hands—and He’s calling you to use them. How will you answer?
Take a moment today to ask: What has God placed in my hands? Where is He asking me to go? Who is He calling me to serve? How is he asking me to give? Then take one faithful step forward.
(If you'd like to give to Blessings International's Emergency Disaster Relief fund, which is helping in Venezuela, Cuba, Jamaica, and anywhere our partners are responding, please go here or scroll to the blue giving box at the bottom of this e-newsletter. Thank you!)
* Information current as of August 31, 2026.
