Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Restoration
Rescue, rehabilitation, and restoration - what do these words mean to the everyday person? And, is there a different meaning for people who are much less prosperous than most Americans? When I think of the word RESCUE, I imagine someone drowning, and in immediate need of life saving efforts. Or, someone who has fallen through a hole in an ice covered lake. In other words, somebody, who apart from expedient intervention, will most certainly perish - die.


REHABILITATION is a different concept. Think about homes that need to be rehabilitated. Often times, they need a complete overhaul to look inhabitable. Individuals, families, and communities are very similar in that no one will die without intervention, but the environment they live in will be run down, and in need of repair. Often times, they need a complete overhaul to look inhabitable. Individuals, families, and communities are very similar in that no one will die without intervention, but the environment they live in will be run down, and in need of repair.

RESTORATION speaks towards the inner workings of something. Using the house in need of rehab as an example – the outside can have a make over, with the look of a proper place to live, but the inside is an absolute mess. People, families, and communities are no different – they can have an appearance of health, but on the inside they are in need of a work over. The core of what we are endeavoring to do at Seeds of Life is to address the 3 R’s – rescue, rehabilitation, and restoration. Our central purpose in taking teams to the northeast of Brazil and the lower Amazon Basin is to provide rescue food supplies to families who are in imminent jeopardy. We partner with local charity organizations so the rescue element is in place year round. Also, while in-country, we work with the same charities to identify potential leaders in the community; further develop their leadership skills, and walk with them as they organize their communities – this is rehabilitation.
Our longer range goals involve matching the generosity of corporations and private citizens with the more foundational needs of these communities. We have found that building multi-purpose community centers is an effective way to provide an actual meeting place for community organization and eventual community development. The purpose is to address illiteracy and a lack of primary education.

We believe entire communities can be changed when literacy projects are a focal point of the effort. When a generation is changed through education programs, rescue and rehabilitation become less of a concern because restoration has transformed the person, the family, and the community from the inside out.