10/03/15
Dear Friends

CANFORD MAGNA CHURCHES - MISSION 2 ROMANIA

There are just a couple of things to mention in this very brief epistle:

1. On Saturday 18 April we shall be having our annual quiz evening at 7pm in St Barnabas church to raise money towards this year’s activities. Tickets cost £7-50 per person and from past experience do sell out quickly so please contact your church office soon if you don’t want to be disappointed. Ploughman’s supper and prizes included but please bring your own drinks.

2. On Friday morning Walter, Teresa, Jean and myself are flying out to Romania to meet with the Phoneo staff and make final arrangements for this year’s work and see for ourselves everything that goes on there. Unfortunately, a start on the Selah school project has had to be delayed whilst they await “planning permission”.

 However, the good news is that the land has been purchased, a new architect is moving things along nicely and there is every hope that work can start on the site in the summer. Meanwhile there is still plenty for us to do to with so many families living in appalling conditions.

In February we held a successful Information afternoon at St B’s and as a result have nearly enough people to send teams to Reghin in June and September and to LJH in August. However, we desperately need a few more, particularly anyone with building skills, to enable a team to be sent to Reghin 9-16 May. If you, or anyone you know is at all interested in going then, please contact me immediately. NB. I’ll be away 13-18 March.

Following our visit, I’ll be sending a longer newsletter out before Easter.

With every blessing

John Clift [01202 884043]                                                                                                            10 March 2015

NB. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, or know of anyone else who would like to have a copy, please let me know.

22/12/14

Dear Friends

CANFORD MAGNA CHURCHES - MISSION 2 ROMANIA

 As Christmas approaches, spare a thought for those many people throughout the world who are suffering as a result of conflict, disease or, as are those we know in Romania, from discrimination by the authorities and their Romanian neighbours. May His blessing be with them all and with the many charities who work so hard to help relieve their plight.

Of course, we pray especially for Phoneo in Reghin and Little John’s House near Sibiu and that they will be able to provide much seasonal cheer to those dear people they serve. We were able to send a Christmas gift to each and we know Phoneo are using it to provide extra food for some thirty families; to do something special during their Christmas celebrations in church and to give a little extra money to eight of their Romanian helpers who otherwise would struggle to save for something special for Christmas. NB. 10ins of snow forecast for the coming weekend!!

We were able to give these gifts as a result of the dinner/dance at St Barnabas on 29 November. Thank you so very much to all those who supported the event and I know that it was greatly enjoyed by everyone. We are so grateful to the many people at St B’s who helped to make it such a success - they are too numerous to mention by name but, suffice to say, the music was very entertaining, the food was great and the film which Dave Hobson made in Romania in September was truly brilliant. If you’ve not seen it yet then do key in to this link - http://yout.ube/5z7XPqmLrgU . If you’ve not been to Romania it will surely open your eyes and on the same page you can view more pictures taken by Darren Baker in Reghin this year – so give it a go!

Now on to 2015!

Since my last newsletter Phoneo have decided their top priority will be the Selah school project and agreeing that the children’s education is of prime importance, we have said we would very much wish to become involved, along with several other groups. Currently the school is housed in a small restored shed that simply can’t house any more children. Phoneo are currently very active in buying the land, getting planning permission and raising funds [40000euro]for a new building with 4 small class-rooms, kitchen and dining area, showers and space to change clothes and for storage. They hope to start building in April. The following extract is from their 2013-8 Business Plan:

Selah Junior school assistance project

Selah Junior is situated in Petelea and focusses on children of primary school age whose home situations make it very difficult for them to develop a good school routine and to keep up at school. The kids that are admitted to this program all come from very poor families where the parents are not able to provide school supplies and school clothing. Many of the parents have had hardly any education themselves or are completely illiterate which makes it impossible for them to support their children in doing their homework [in Romania homework is an essential part of the school system, starting from the lowest classes]. All of these children have difficulties with the Romanian language, this is due to the fact that their native language is Roma – a language completely unrelated to the Romanian taught and used in schools. Selah Junior helps these children with school supplies and clothes and helps them prepare for school each day. Besides this, the children receive extensive assistance with their homework and remedial teaching. The children also receive meals at the project.

Previously, we have invested in two individual educational projects in Chiselet and Rasnov - which failed when the girls concerned left school to get married. We admit these mistakes and realize now that the Selah project really is the way to make a difference.

Myself and a couple of others are planning to visit Romania before Easter to discuss and decide exactly what we shall be doing with our new partners and to finalize dates. There is so much going on but our resources are limited so we have to be careful not to over-commit ourselves.

We shall be arranging more fund-raising events in due course [details to follow] but very importantly, we need to know of anyone, of any particular skills [or none!], who is at all interested in going out to Romania in 2015.. It is hoped the teams will be visiting Phoneo in late April/early May, June and September and to LJH in August. You will not be committing yourself at this stage but we do need to know so please get in touch with Walter Meyer [01202887187] or myself as soon as possible. NB. Don’t forget, it’s not just about building work!

We will be arranging an open evening in February when all your questions can be answered.

 Now it just remains for me to thank everyone for your support to date, to wish you a very Joyous Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Now will you please pray for the busy few months ahead and..

· give thanks for the successful dinner/dance which has provided extra funds for Phoneo and LJH as they celebrate Christmas.

 · for LJH – that their Land Appeal will be completely successful.

· for Phoneo – as they progress the Selah school project – land acquisition; planning permission; funding [inc applications for “official” funding]. Also, for the other teams who have said they will help – that visit dates can be suitably co-ordinated.

· for the preliminary visit in March - good health, good weather and His guidance as we discuss the year ahead.

· that sufficient persons come forward to help. Any skills are very acceptable but we do particularly need some experienced builders.

 and as always:

· that all we are doing is in accordance with His will.

We can make our plans but the final outcome is in God’s hands. Proverbs 16 v1 [TLB]

 With every blessing John Clift [01202 884043]                                                            

 NB. If you no longer wish to receive copies of this newsletter, please let me know.

Dear Friends

CANFORD MAGNA CHURCHES - MISSION 2 ROMANIA

Well now, this is brief but important – so read on! It has now been decided which organization we shall be working with in 2015.

After much prayer, considerable discussion and feedback from both our potential partners, the RAG team have, by a majority decision, plumped for Phoneo, the Dutch-run charity operating in Reghin and the surrounding area. We knew it wouldn’t be easy but feel our limited resources will be more effective and of wider benefit to the communities there.

We realize this decision will be a disappointment to some of those who enjoyed such a good time with Smiles in September, as it is also to Smiles. However, their CE Kevin Hoy, has said any of our people who wish to go there again will always be most welcome and

Now though, our efforts are concentrated on planning our programme with Phoneo and ensuring with them, that we really do make a difference amongst their families who are in so much need. Already, they are prioritising those whose housing is way beyond the “patching-up” stage and we are expecting to link up with a team from the Netherlands who are preparing to visit next spring, to help with building.

 Phoneo’s Selah school 5-year project is another exciting opportunity – they are actively aiming to raise 70000euros to buy land and build and equip four small class-rooms, kitchen, dining area, showers etc. They are hoping to make a start next year though it remains to be discussed if and how we shall get involved.

There are also opportunities for children’s work, youth work etc for others who may wish to accompany our building teams. For more info about Phoneo see www.phoneo.nl

As I said in the last newsletter, we shall also be maintaining contact with Little John’s House and hope to send a team there in July to help with their Summer School. Anyone who is at all interested please get in touch with Angie Meyer [8871187] or myself immediately [though no commitment at this stage]. Have a look at the latest LJH newsletter on www.littlejohnshouse.org

To kick off our fund-raising for next year, we are having a grand dinner/dance at St Barnabas’s on Saturday 29 November. There are still some tickets available but, as there is a choice of menu, it’s essential that you get yours before next Sunday [23 November]. This is your last chance and they’re available from Angie Meyer [St Barnabas] or either of the other two church offices.

NB. One person who has bought a ticket and is now unable to come is kindly donating it. So, I have one free ticket or “two for the price of one” available on a “first come first serve” basis – phone me immediately if you wish to accept this offer.

 If we don’t sell all the tickets it simply means we’ll not be able to do as much as we could in Reghin next year. Don’t forget, all those who go out there to work pay their own expenses and your money just goes towards buying building materials, food etc for the families.

So come along, have a good evening with a 3-course meal[own choice], wine and dancing and at the same time, help those in so much need.

Don’t forget the next Romania pray–station which is on Thursday 20 November at 124 Lywood Drive - it only lasts for one hour [8-9pm] and you will be very welcome. If you aren’t able to get along then do please pray anyway:

• for all the arrangements and for a good attendance at our dinner/dance on 29 November

• for Smiles – that they will have no difficulty getting others to help and finance the work we started with them in the Rapa community.

• on our future partnership with Phoneo and Little John’s House – that their current fund-raising campaigns are successful and that together we shall be able to achieve much in His name.

• for His guiding hand on them and each one of us as we pray and plan for next year.

• that a team from The Netherlands is able to go to Reghin and that we can develop a good working relationship with them. and as always:

• that all we are doing is in accordance with His will. We can make our plans but the final outcome is in God’s hands. Proverbs 16 v1 [TLB]

With every blessing John Clift [01202 884043]                                                                16 November 2014

NB. If you no longer wish to receive copies of this newsletter, please let me know.