Fiji Emergency Appeal

Cyclone Winston wreaked devastation upon the island nation of Fiji on Saturday 20 February. With wind gusts of over 300kmh, the Category 5 Cyclone was the worst recorded in the island nation’s history.

While the capital, Suva, escaped the worst, grave fears are held for people and infrastructure in the outlying areas. A state of national disaster has been declared by the Fijian Government, which will stay in place for one month. Figures on fatalities, injuries and damage to property are sketchy and likely to
increase. One aid worker said: “I’m especially concerned about the remote communities… Until communications are re-established and we assess the damage, we won’t know the full extent of the situation.”

In response to this destruction, what is it that we can do?

We can pray, and we can put those prayers into practice through giving. GMP has been in partnership in Fiji for over 20 years. We have strong partnerships with five church settings in Fiji. We will also support families from those church communities whose lives and livelihoods have been severely disrupted. We
will keep you informed about these needs and our response as they become known.

COCOA will partner with Uniting World as they are on the ground in Fiji and is operating through the Methodist Church in Fiji. The focus will be on immediate assistance and the rebuilding of infrastructure. We would strongly encourage you to support this appeal which is also tax deductible.

http://www.inpartnership.org.au/fijiemergency

For further information contact GMP office
8352 3466 or info@gmp.org.au

There will be a special meeting in our church this coming Wednesday evening at 7:30pm. Super is provided.

That’s tomorrow!

Guest speaker will be Mr James Abraham from GMP (Global Mission Partners)

James Abraham grew up in Kenyi but fled the war in 1986. His family was welcomed to Australia as refugees in 2003. They joined the Ballarat Church of Christ in Victoria where James began to share his vision to support his homeland.

GMP has appointed James as Project Manager of the Bongibot Agricultural Project in Kenyi Payam in South Sudan.

In the Kenyi Payam district, in the fertile hills close to the Ugandan border, four sections of land have been provided for agricultural enterprises to generate food security, agricultural development, employment and finance for community development initiatives.

Kenyi Payam continues to experience extreme poverty as a direct result of civil war. Agricultural development ceased during the civil war and continues to be severely restricted, leaving the community with little opportunity for food security, employment, income generation, or the ability to finance basic community development.

The Payam is divided into four Bomas with a combined population of 85000. There are three primary schools, no secondary schools, and three clinics that are staffed by a nurse who can provide basic medical assistance. The region was a major conflict zone from 1983 until 2005, which halted development and restricted agriculture severely due to land mines.

The land is extremely fertile but people lack knowledge and equipment for modern farming practices. The project aims to equip people with these skills through the four models farms, training and providing key equipment.  Any return from the farms will be poured into community projects in the area.

All welcome to attend.

˄TH

Great Gifts of Trade Tools to Build

One of the COCOA Great Gifts that has benefited Khayelihle Children’s Village (KCV) in Zimbabwe has been the provision of trade tools for the workshop.

KCV Director, Themba Nyoni, reports their appreciation:

“Since the tools are here our employees have been able to use them for general repairs around the farm. We have been able to fix our gates by the entrance of the village and the paddock gates destroyed by our livestock.

One man, whose wife is employed at KCV, has also been able to provide his services in our workshop. He has helped in the welding of burglar bars for the workshop, fixing the roof of the Guest House and also welding our trailer’s broken tailgate.

The workshop is a valuable asset to the village as it has assisted in cutting down our expenses. We have been able to put free air pressure into the tyres of our vehicles (in town you have to pay for this). With the welding, money is spent only for our electricity and the purchase of the iron rods. Being able to do these projects on our own makes us independent and proud.

Our aim is to have more skilled staff, who can train our older children to use the tools in the workshop and so generate income for the village.”

Behind the Smile (India)

There is the cheerful sound of happy children echoing around Ankoor Home. The students have just returned from their summer vacation. Seven new children have joined the student body with more newcomers expected over the next few days.

They have returned with stories to tell of their holidays with family. For the ten children without parents that spent their vacation at Ankoor, the family camp and sightseeing from a nearby hill station was a special highlight. Those who secured prizes for their singing and Bible quiz competitions were especially delighted.

While there are happy, relaxed faces in the safety of Ankoor home, for a few their home life is a different story. Amos, aged 12, has experienced significant trauma in his short life. His mother struggles with a mental illness and his father is currently in prison. His mother’s brother, who lived with them, intervened when Amos was being severely beaten by his dad. The uncle was subsequently murdered for his interference. Amos went into shock after witnessing this event. He has returned to school and is slowly regaining his equilibrium. Continue to pray for Amos.

Appreciating the Great Gift of Education in Bangladesh

Education is life changing.

The 83 children at Bandarban and Rwangchary hostels come from remote areas of the Bandarban Hills in Bangladesh where there are no local education facilities. Since 2009 the Bandarban Hills Churches of Christ have assisted 12 students complete secondary school with good results and four students have completed higher secondary. Currently we have four students doing their final year of higher secondary education.

Our aim is to train and educate the children beginning with primary education through to high secondary level (eleventh standard). Very few of them can afford further studies beyond the assistance offered through the Bandarban hostels.

The members of the hostel management committee are selected from the guardians committee and the church board members. This joint committee meets once a month. The guardians committee appreciates the hostel mentoring and caring for their children.

In the words of children from the hostels, “We appreciated GMP for their great contribution toward us. We pray for you every day in our morning and evening devotions. This program has bought great change into our lives.”
Vana Bawn, Bangladesh

The Life Changing Power of Water in Zimbabwe

After retiring as a baker, Mike and Lizzie Nkiwane gave up their home in Bulawayo to take up farming at Filabusi, 150kms away. Rural life soon became a nightmare. They were constantly suffering from stomach problems from contaminated water.

Mike invited Showers of Blessing to visit. What I found was shocking. The water they were drinking came from surface water also accessed by animals.

The donation of a bore transformed their lives. The whole community is now enjoying clean drinking water free of waterborne diseases. The addition of this well has also made Mike popular in the community!

On my recent visit I was very impressed to find a church under construction and nearing completion. It was already being used with attendance currently at 80+. The bore, which is only 1km away, is assisting with much needed water for both construction and consumption.

I found it heart-warming to see that Mike had established an orchard of 37 mango and orange trees. Mike and Lizzie told me they have donated sales of one mango tree towards the construction of the church and give 10% of sales of excess fruit from the other trees towards the church.

This well is the only clean water source in the area. It is currently catering for 90 homesteads and approximately 600 consumers, which means water rationing occurs during the dry season. There is still a need for one or two more wells to alleviate this problem for the community.

Boniface Mpofu, Showers of Blessing Director, Zimbabwe

The eldership team of our church invite you to come along to our worship service tomorrow.

The service begins at 10am and we usually finish around 11:30am. Our church is situated at 32 seventh Street Murray Bridge, an easy 5 minute walk from the main street, Bridge Street. If coming by car there is plenty of on-street and off-street parking available.

As a part of the service we observe the Lord’s Supper (Communion) and all who love the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal saviour are welcome to join us in this special time of worship.

We will have the delight of welcoming John Gilmore to speak about the work of Global Mission Partners (GMP), the mission arm of Churches of Christ in Australia.

After the service we will enjoy a time of fellowship in the Coffee Shop, followed by a special luncheon for Rosie Reardon’s 50th birthday.