Until I reached the age of eight, my mother soothed the thunders of my mind prior to my bedtime by reciting stories to me. In particular, she engraved the story of St. Marina, who took responsibility of an infant that was not her own, and the story of St. Joseph, who accompanied St. Mary on each step of her burdensome journey, into my memory. Having an ocean of inspiration bestowed upon me, I, Marina Joseph, commenced my quest for people lacking service and attended to the needs of whomever I encountered.

During elementary school, I realized we live in a country where people complain about a bad manicure, while Syrians complain about sending their children on plastic dinghies across the Mediterranean . I realized we live in a country where people believe that Jesus was the last man crucified, while Yemenites have witnessed otherwise. I realized we live in a country where people claim that getting a paper cut is the worst pain one can feel, while Egyptians are run over by tanks in public. With these acknowledgements came an abundance of passion — passion I did not know what to do with.

This is unjust. Because of Unheard Cries Charity, I realized this crucial reality.

By God’s grace, I realized my passion could be more than just a mound of emotion; I could channel it into service.

I instituted a club — Unheard Cries — at Clovis North High School, that, through the hands of God, evolved into Unheard Cries Charity. As a sophomore, I tenaciously vowed to help alleviate the poverty that millions of Middle Easterners are drowning in as a result of persecution.

By means of creative fundraising, my club raised approximately $1,650 worth of donations and clothing items per year — a number that I pray will increase for the benefit of others.

Acknowledging that my days as a high school student were ending, with my continuing passion of serving the Middle East that would never die, I pinpointed my next strategy: establishing my own charity.

Now, as a college student, I am currently spreading this charity’s influence by means of registering a branch on the University of California, Riverside campus, and actively searching for leaders who can preside over additional branches for this nonprofit organization. After hiring a registered agent and remunerating a company to represent my charity, I intend on further trailing after the devastating poverty that is heavily existent in the Middle East, and building my charity so its name can stand with confidence.

My Daily Dose of Manna

As Unheard Cries Charity’s President, I naturally find myself surrounded with first and second-hand stories that would require a whole other article of those who are directly affected by Middle Eastern poverty. Upon hearing such stories, I realized the abundance of gifts God bestowed upon me for which I had forgotten to be thankful.

Beginning from a young age, the story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt clouded the gardens of my mind. When looking at the big picture of this remarkable forty year journey, one will realize it did not end in a mere “happily ever after,” because the Israelites’ lacked one important thing: thanksgiving.

Even after God granted them freedom, after years of drowning in slavery, they were unthankful for the manna God sent them. It was only until I joined this service that I fully understood that I am the twenty-first century unthankful Israelite.

Each and every day, I believe God sends me manna in the form of education, or an inspirational individual, or a relaxing thought. For years, I took for granted the fact that I did not have to sell tissues on the side of the street to provide for my family, like a woman I met in Turkey.

I took for granted the fact that a “Christmas present” meant something more than a cracker, as an orphan’s caretaker once communicated to me. I took for granted the fact that I did not have to wipe the blood of my fellow congregation members off the church floor, like a family member of mine did.

This is unjust. Because of Unheard Cries Charity, I realized this crucial reality.

Meanwhile, I had failed to apply this fruitful story of God’s manna in my life, and I realized that I needed to begin seeing life through a spiritual lens.

Beginning from the day that I decided to begin my club, my passion for addressing Middle Eastern poverty has grown exponentially. As time passed, I became much more educated on the topic, and through God’s grace, I have been able to magnetize people towards this movement.

Through prayer and practice, evolving my club into a charity has helped me develop my leadership and business skills, and most importantly, inch closer and closer to the “good Samaritan” image that all Christians pursue.

I was never a varsity athlete. I was never a leading musician. Forming Unheard Cries Charity made me understand who I am… a servant for the needy.

Your Role

For those of you who are interested in this service, feel free to contact me via email (marinajsph@gmail.com). From beginning your own branch of this organization, to helping maintain existing branches, there are plenty of volunteering/leadership opportunities available.