CRS Stories of Hope: A Journey to Three Countries

Courtesy photo/Amit Rudro for Catholic Relief Services

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Milad picks green chilis for selling in the market in Bangladesh. He and his brother, Noornobi, have an extended family of 11 people. Noornobi and his father, now farmers, previously worked as fishing laborers but struggled to earn enough money to provide for their family. Then Noornobi participated in a CRS project implemented by our partner Caritas Bangladesh. Through it, families reduce their vulnerability by learning improved techniques for vegetable cultivation, ways to make their homes more disaster resilient and how to prepare for hardships through micro-savings groups. Noornobi learned disaster-resilient gardening and received support to build a vegetable plot. He gradually expanded his crop yield, and now produces vegetables commercially while meeting his household needs.

Catholic Relief Services — We are so happy you’re joining us on this Lenten journey to three countries, where we’ll learn how to help others through CRS Rice Bowl. When you donate to CRS Rice Bowl, you share your life and your abundance with our global family in need. Your generosity puts nutritious food on their tables and helps them lead healthy lives and reach their God-given potential.

Life is a journey back to God. Occasionally we get lost along the way. Sometimes we run from activity to activity and forget about spending time with him. Sometimes we don’t do the right thing and that hurts our relationship with him. But God always waits for us.

During the 40 days of Lent, we’re invited to slow down and focus on our journey and how we can follow Christ’s will more faithfully. We do this through the three pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Through prayer we seek and connect with the Lord and ask him to intercede for the needs of our global family. We grow in our relationship with him and unite with our sisters and brothers around the world.

When we fast, we experience a little bit of the hunger that many experience daily. We make room for the needs of others – and room for God’s Holy Spirit to work within us.

Finally, through a recognition of the world’s needs and a personal commitment to help others, we give alms.

This year, with these pillars as our guide, CRS Rice Bowl will introduce us to our neighbors in Guatemala, Bangladesh and Rwanda. We’ll learn how the dreams of our sisters and brothers are inspiring them to overcome challenges that impact their daily life. To dream bigger. To help their families and communities succeed.

As we prepare to open our hearts to God and neighbor, let us pray together.

Lord Jesus,

You call us to a conversion of heart during Lent, and you give us the tools to do this through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

When we pray, help us remember the needs of our sisters and brothers.

When we fast, help us offer our sacrifice in union with you.

When we give, help us recognize our gifts are from you so that we are generous with others.

Amen

Editor’s note: To view the “A Journey to 3 Countries” video, visit https://www.crsricebowl.org/stories-of-hope/intro

REFLECT

• What are the three pillars of Lent and why are they important?

• How do you think we can help someone who is suffering from hunger in another country by praying, fasting and giving alms?