Gift of Coal Warms Herders’ Hearts and Gers
Sensitive Location | Last winter was a dzud— but it brought unexpected blessings for eight struggling herder families. A dzud is a unique disaster that occurs when extreme summer drought is followed by bitterly cold and snowy winters. The drought means herders can’t grow or preserve enough hay to feed their livestock. Then winter’s extreme cold causes herd animals to burn fat and become malnourished, and heavy snow covers whatever grass the animals might have eaten. Thousands of animals die; entire herds can be wiped out.
Between the harsh conditions and the loss of their animals and livelihood, thousands of herder families are at risk of deprivation, economic collapse— even sickness and death. The greatest danger is to children and the elderly.
Last year, Asia’s Little Ones sponsored eight families through the Warm Ger Project (ger is another name for yurt, a circular tent on a collapsible frame used by herding nomads). At the height of the dzud, at the time of desperate herders’ most critical need, the Warm Ger Project supplied each family with coal to heat their homes, oats and hay for the livestock, and food packs to feed the hungry families.
These eight families and their livestock survived last year’s dzud. And of those eight families—who had never before heard the name of Jesus—seven are now involved with a local church.
This year, ALO hopes to more than double this important investment in the lives of herder families through the harsh winter.
“Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”
— Matthew 18:14 NIV