Seven years of fighting diabetes in the Pacific
Jarrod:
Hello and welcome to another episode of Record Wrap, the Adventist Record news podcast. It’s Wednesday, October 23. I’m Jarrod Stackelroth.
Danelle:
And I’m Danelle Stothers.
Jarrod:
In this week’s episode: leaders of the Adventist church meet for annual council, and 10,000 Toes tackles diabetes in the South Pacific. But first, Danelle, what’s making headlines this week?
Danelle:
At last week's General Conference Annual Council in the U.S., Michael Kruger, president of ADRA International, announced a new venture called "goodone," marking ADRA's entry into the cashew business. ADRA have trained over 10,000 farmers in Ghana in cashew cultivation but found that international companies were purchasing their product at low prices, hindering the farmers' livelihoods. With goodone, ADRA aims to create sustainable change by fully owning the business and reinvesting profits into the farmers' lives and communities. Farmers will receive a premium for their cashews, all processed locally to benefit their communities. Delegates sampled the new cashews, and vending machines will be installed at the General Conference building, with a subscription service available to the public starting in late 2024.
In other news,
A recent study published in Nature Scientific Reports has revealed that spending time outdoors can significantly enhance life satisfaction and health. According to the research, individuals who spend at least 120 minutes per week in natural environments report more fulfilling lives. The findings indicate that those who hit this “magic number” are 20% more likely to feel their lives are fulfilling, and 60% more likely to report being in good physical health compared to those who don’t spend any time outdoors. Interestingly, they found that shorter durations of outdoor activity didn’t yield notable benefits. The study reinforces the idea that taking time to enjoy the great outdoors is not just a leisurely activity, but a vital contributor to our wellbeing.
Jarrod:
Now for the news.
Leaders from the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide gathered in Silver Springs Maryland, United States, for the annual council meetings. The event, which happens every year, sees Union and Division administrators gather together to vote on policy and keep the church moving in between General Conference Sessions, which happen every five years.
This year, the final annual council before next year’s GC Session, the group voted on the strategic plan for the next five years. The 22 measurable goals are organized into four key priorities: Communion with God, Identity in Christ, Unity through the Holy Spirit, and Mission for All. A website, iwillgo.org has been set up to share the strategic plan and resources created to address key areas.
According to South Pacific Division President Pastor Glenn Townend, the plan has become more and more focused over the years and will emphasis mission.
The SPD will adopt and adapt the GC strategy in alignment with needs in this Division and progress will be measure by both GC and SPD.
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And 10,000 Toes is celebrating seven years of fighting diabetes in the Pacific this month. The campaign emphasises Oc-TOE-ber as a key time to fundraise each year, with this year being no exception. A fundraiser at the Sydney Adventist Hospital on the first Tuesday of the month, made just over $2000 Australian, offering a vegetarian burger and other goodies. Each Tuesday burgers are being sold at the SPD office.
The fundraising efforts follow on from the Trans Pacific Union Mission 10,000 Toes Ambassador conference, held in Fiji late September. More than 150 ambassadors attended the three-day summit focused on health, wellness and diabetes prevention, combining physical activities, expert-led training sessions and spiritual reflections to promote holistic wellbeing.
According to 10,000 Toes Campaign coordinator Pamela Townend, the fact that the program has trained more than 11,000 grassroots ambassadors in communities across the Pacific is key to its success.
Pamela Townend:
If it wasn't for them, this campaign wouldn't be making the impact that it is. It is them at the grassroots feeling empowered. That's what it's all about. We've given them not only a vision, but we've given them the equipment and the knowledge to change their lives, their family and the community that they work in.
The campaign is not only making an impact at the grass roots level but also at a government level, as 10,000 Toes regional ambassador for the Trans Pacific and Fiji region, George Kwong, recently met the Tuvalu Health Minister and announced 20 new ambassadors in Tuvalu.
Pamela Townend:
All the governments that are talking with us, each one and Papua New Guinea, they all look different because they're individual countries and they have their own system and that's why it's important that culturally 10, 000 Toes works, in the space in the country that it's designed for and that we don't try and say one cap fits all because it doesn't, it looks different for each government.
Jarrod:
You can find out more about the Adventist Church’s 10,000 Toes program at 10000Toes.com.
And that wraps up this week's episode of Record Wrap. Thank you for tuning in.
Danelle:
Don't forget to visit our website at record.adventistchurch.com and follow us on social media for more updates and stories. You can also receive news straight to your inbox by subscribing to our weekly e-newsletter
Jarrod:
We'll be back next week with more news from around the South Pacific Division.
