This year, HumaniNet has experienced ever more requests for assistance with remote communications. No one else provides the service that we do - an "information lifeline" for humanitarian and mission teams.

In these challenging times, we are honored and excited to have been able to help hundreds of dedicated people who work in incredibly difficult circumstances. Here are a few of our partners:

Mike Cousineau, pictured here with his family, is a manager and teacher with the International Christian Academy in Cote d'Ivoire, Africa. Two years ago, Mike was pulled from his car by armed rebels to be executed. He murmured a prayer, ran for safety, and thankfully "dodged the bullets" that were fired at him.

Before returning to Africa this year, Mike contacted HumaniNet to find the best communications possible as he works to reestablish the school and plant a church in Cote d'Ivoire. We helped him to procure a satellite phone for personal safety and a satellite data terminal for the school. Mike now can call for help should he, his family, or his mission team be threatened.

Dr. Erik Bohler, shown here with his wife Kristin in a village in Nepal, is now able to email for medical consultations, order supplies, and stay in touch with family using the RBGAN satellite terminal, the first approved for use in Nepal.

Villages like the one where the Bohlers work are isolated from all other medical assistance. People who cannot be healed in the village are usually carried on the back of another villager for three days or more to the nearest clinic. Being connected saves lives in these mountain locations.

Alan and Abby are "MKs" - missionary kids - in a remote part of Africa. Because of the security situation in their country, we cannot state their full name or location. Their family is one of many thousands who work in distressed parts of Africa, bringing assistance in agriculture, health care, clean water, and more. And above all, bringing hope.

With the assistance of their parents, Abby and Alan are taking a home schooling course from a high school in the United States, sending in assignments and receiving instruction over satellite. Without the connection to the Internet, they would not be living with their missionary parents.

This summer has seen a surge in requests. We assisted several relief teams with communications from the Sudan, where the Darfur crisis continues to worsen. We helped a church group find the right satellite system for a missionary in Siberia. The systems we researched continue to operate in Afghanistan and Iraq. Some are in the South Pacific.

Last week, a missionary preparing for an agricultural training mission to Mozambique told me that he had researched satellite phones for months and was delighted that he found us, enabling him to get a much discounted price and better service.

The Internet enables us to reach many people with current information, but every aid manager and missionary has unique needs and should receive the best advice possible. We provide that "information lifeline" when they need help.

If you would like to know how you can become part of the HumaniNet community, please go to How You Can Help. We welcome new field partners, volunteers, and financial contributions. You may also wish to subscribe to our e-newsletter, the Global ICT eUpdate.