“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matt 25:40 NIV)
Did you know that hundreds of orphaned bear cubs are shot every year, just to keep them from starving to death? Ever since the white man has encroached on bear territory, orphaned cubs have become a huge problem. Many mother bears are either hit by cars or shot by hunters each year, and because bear cubs are totally dependent upon their mothers, orphaned babies are left to the mercy of the wild. Most will either starve or fall victim to predators, and even to other bears.
Veterinarian Ken Macquisten had a burden on his heart for these cubs. He theorized that if orphaned bear cubs could be given a safe wilderness home to grow up in, with little or no human contact, they could be released back into the wild. He suggested that a three-strand electric fence could be stretched around approximately two acres of wilderness land rich in the food elements necessary for the survival of bears. Inside the fence, the bear cubs would be protected from predators while they learned to forage for food. He decided to test his idea with two orphans, Coola and Grinder.
Coola was found wandering aimlessly in Bella Coola, British Columbia after his mother was hit by a car. It isn’t known what happened to Grinder’s mother, but he was discovered alone and near the point of starvation near the Alberta-British Columbia border. Ken took these two orphans under his care until he had built their wilderness habitat in the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife near Vancouver, British Columbia, and then he released them into this area.
Unfortunately, by the time the experimental area was ready, Coola and Grinder had been with humans too long to ever be released into the wild; however, the experiment was a total success in every other way. When the cubs first arrived in their new habitat, they both weighed about 7 kg. (“By way of explanation – because there was no government authorized program to release captive raised orphan grizzlies at the time that Grinder and Coola became orphans, these two bears had no chance of being releasable in any event.” Dr. Ken Macquisten)
By the time their first winter arrived, Coola weighed 78 kg and Grinder 61 kg. They had both learned how to forage for food and how to do all the other things that bears need to survive. Most importantly, they proved that Ken’s idea would work. Thanks to this successful experiment, the Canadian authorities now have an alternative for orphaned bear cubs.
It only took one man to make a difference in the survival of these abandoned cubs! Just one man!
Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere, has an infant mortality of 7.6%! Because of a baby boom, almost half of its population is under 14 years of age, with the median age being 17. The average life expectancy is 51. If you ever visit this country, you will be in for a major shock. Crowds of people live either in the streets or in shacks that aren’t fit for human occupation. Water mixed with human waste flows freely in the streets. Disease rampages out of control.
What can one do in such conditions?
Hands and Feet, an autonomous ministry founded by members of Audio Adrenaline and Flicker Records, came to the rescue of Haitian orphans to provide hope to future generations in Haiti. Their philosophy: “When we impact the lives of these orphans, we impact future leaders of communities, cities, and a nation. Touch a child and you can rescue a nation. It begins with the children. They need love, hugs, and a caring family – a home. Together we can change their world through God’s love.”
One little thing, yet what a difference it makes in the lives of those kids.
My question: What am I doing to make a difference in this world?
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:12 NIV)
May we learn to depend on God and let Him lead us in being part of His love-revolution. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13 NIV)
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:21 NIV)
Where is MY treasure?
It only takes one dedicated person to make a difference in this world. Will you be that one?
Rob Chaffart
P. S. For more information about Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, go to http://grousemountain.com/adv_wilref.cfm
For more information about Hands & Feet ministry, go to http://handsandfeetproject.org/