​CANFORD MAGNA CHURCHES -  MISSION TO ROMANIA
 
So soon again you say [!] but just last Saturday [20 May] Walter and his team returned safely after a very successful week with Phoneo during which they were blessed with good, dry weather and almost completed a new play area at the children’s day centre at Suseni.
One particularly poignant moment was when the team visited two families who are in desperate need of being re-housed but which isn’t possible where they are - on a remote site down a very muddy track with no accessible water or electricity supply.  Phoneo are now searching for another more suitable plot and if successful, we’ve committed to help with its purchase.
Another more enjoyable occasion was when they had the pleasure in presenting football kit to the recently formed Petelea and Apalina boys’ football teams, which had been so generously donated by AFC Bournemouth. As Franz, their Dutch leader has since written -
“The 32 boys aged 11-15, love the shirts and for them it’s so encouraging to get such things. Even in the short period [5 - 8 months] we’ve seen so much growth in the boys - both in the way they behave and in their football”.  Their long term plan now is to raise sufficient funds to purchase a piece of land and so avoid having to pay 250euro per month on pitch hire.
 
Two pictures of this visit below:

Next Saturday, Richard Dickson will be returning and along with Nigel Dickson [no relation] will be aiming to complete any outstanding work [or fresh ideas] on the play area. Accompanying them will be Jenny Elson and her daughter Amelia who are getting very excited about meeting Sandy, who’s in charge at the new Selah school.  They helped with teaching at a school in Rasnov several years ago but this time will also be hoping to encourage the establishment of a regular link with St John’s CE school in Wimborne where their headmistress is very keen on the idea.
 
Now a gentle reminder -  Saturday 17 June is fast approaching and it’s when we’re having a fun-filled quiz evening, complete with a fish and chip supper [or other], at St Barnabas church Bearwood, commencing at 7pm. Please don’t leave it till the last minute but book your place at either church office NOW. It will also be an opportunity to get up-to-date on all that we’ve been doing and are hoping to do in Reghin this year.  NB. If you’re interested, still vacancies to go to Reghin 16-23 or 23-30 September. 
​Thank you for your continuing support and with every blessing.      
 
 
John Clift [01202 884043]                                                                       29 May 2017
johnc-cobham12@tiscali.co;uk
 

Dear Friends

CANFORD MAGNA CHURCHES -  MISSION TO ROMANIA
 
In just a few hours time, Walter with his team comprising of Darren Baker, Richard Dickson, Peter Ferenczy and Serena Young will be setting off on our first working visit to  Reghin this year.  We’re very grateful to Mike Raymond who’ll be driving them up to Luton airport in the early hours of Saturday morning.  He, together with Ian Shears and Dave Hobson, answered our call for volunteer minibus drivers for which we’re very grateful, for as I’ve said before, this first leg of the journey is so very important - if we can’t get our teams to Luton then they won’t make it to Romania! They’ll be taking a load of football kit which has been generously donated by AFCB and with very sincere thanks to Andy Rimmer for arranging  this.   Once there, Walter and Co will be hoping for dry weather as they create and construct a garden and play area at the new children’s day care centre in Suseni.
 
Three weeks later and Richard Dickson will be returning - this time accompanied by Nigel Dickson, Jenny Elson and her daughter Amelia.  The “girls” will be helping the teachers in the new Selah school whilst the “boys” will be completing the play area or, if that’s finished, there’s plenty more to be done on a new house then being built by a Dutch team or on renovations at the Phoneo church.
 
Two more of our teams go in September and are planning to build two houses themselves - the walls in the first week and then the roofs will be added in the second week - a tight schedule and again dry weather will be essential.  There could still be places available [16-23 or 23-30] but if you are interested please contact me or Walter as soon as possible.
 
Between times, on Saturday 17 June we’ll be having a quiz evening with a fish [or veggie burger or sausage] and chip supper at St Barnabas church at Bearwood commencing at 7pm.  Why don’t you come along and enjoy a great evening with all the proceeds going towards the ever increasing costs of our mission.  Please don’t leave it till the last minute - you can book your place at either of the church offices or see myself or Peter Owen at the Lantern or Walter and Angie Meyer at St B’s.  
 
We are so grateful to those who’ve donated clothing/footwear to Phoneo in the past, but if you are planning to do so again, will you please speak to Angie Meyer [01202 887187] beforehand to confirm  what are their special  needs at any particular time - thank you very much.            
                 

 
Thank you for your continuing support and with every blessing.      
 
 
John Clift [01202 884043]