Newsletter 5/2017
CANFORD MAGNA CHURCHES - MISSION TO ROMANIA
I’d not realized it’s almost three months since I last wrote.
Since then we’ve had a very successful quiz evening at St B’s on 17 June when over 100 of you had your memories well and truly tested by Irene Selway and enjoyed a fish and chip supper. Very many thanks for the money raised which has gone towards a piece of land on which five new houses will be built.
In early June, a small team led by Richard Dickson finished off the new play area and Jenny Elson and her daughter helped with the children at the new Selah building, Sandy, the American lady in charge there, has a vision to create a boarding school so that the children will have a safe and secure home as well as receiving a higher standard of teaching - thereby bettering their prospects. There is the distinct probability that a “twinning” arrangement between Selah and St John’s school in Wimborne can be established during this coming autumn term - Selah will welcome encouragement and prayers whilst the kids here will learn a lot more about life elsewhere..
It has been a difficult time for us since June as of eight who’d hoped to be going to Reghin next month to finish two houses, seven had to drop out and so sadly that trip has had to be cancelled. Walter would have been leading the team but last month, following a minor heart attack, he spent a week in hospital and had a couple of stents fitted. Thankfully he is very much better and back at work and much as he wanted to go to Romania we are all so relieved that he’s decided to give it a miss this year.
However, we do have one team going to Reghin from 16-23 September - Richard Dickson [again] will be with Lizzie Peters and David Staniland from the Lantern and they’ll be helping to erect the walls of two new houses. Our other team would have been there to add roofs the following week but now we hope and pray that Phoneo can find others so at least one house will be complete before winter sets in. Travelling with them will be Vanessa and Holly Ashby from St B’s and they expect to be helping at Adapost [the city centre home for the homeless and the lonely] and also in the Selah school.
At a RAG meeting the other evening it was agreed that maybe we’ve been too ambitious and so next year we shall be planning to send no more than three teams. Already, we’re seeking the most suitable dates and once these are available we’ll be aiming to get people signed up with non-returnable deposits being required at the outset. Also, we recognize the need for more people with building skills - all our volunteers are tremendous but we really must have more “ Walters”!. Phoneo need us and many in the Roma communities live in such deplorable conditions that we hope and pray many more volunteers will come forward. And please, get in touch if yourself or anyone you know is interested in going to Romania with us next year.
At the same time we’d welcome any suggestions or comments from yourselves - we want the mission to continue to succeed for Him - so don’t be shy!
Probably in early November we are hoping to have another successful dinner dance on a Saturday evening at St B’s - so do keep an eye on our web-site - www.missiontoromania.org.uk
Thank you for your continuing support and with every blessing.
John Clift [01202 884043] 24 August 2017
johnc-cobham12@tiscali.co;uk
PS. Sorry about the delay in getting this circulated - due to computer problems!
If you know of anyone who would like a copy of this newsletter but doesn’t receive it, please do ask them to get in touch.
CANFORD MAGNA CHURCHES - MISSION TO ROMANIA
I’d not realized it’s almost three months since I last wrote.
Since then we’ve had a very successful quiz evening at St B’s on 17 June when over 100 of you had your memories well and truly tested by Irene Selway and enjoyed a fish and chip supper. Very many thanks for the money raised which has gone towards a piece of land on which five new houses will be built.
In early June, a small team led by Richard Dickson finished off the new play area and Jenny Elson and her daughter helped with the children at the new Selah building, Sandy, the American lady in charge there, has a vision to create a boarding school so that the children will have a safe and secure home as well as receiving a higher standard of teaching - thereby bettering their prospects. There is the distinct probability that a “twinning” arrangement between Selah and St John’s school in Wimborne can be established during this coming autumn term - Selah will welcome encouragement and prayers whilst the kids here will learn a lot more about life elsewhere..
It has been a difficult time for us since June as of eight who’d hoped to be going to Reghin next month to finish two houses, seven had to drop out and so sadly that trip has had to be cancelled. Walter would have been leading the team but last month, following a minor heart attack, he spent a week in hospital and had a couple of stents fitted. Thankfully he is very much better and back at work and much as he wanted to go to Romania we are all so relieved that he’s decided to give it a miss this year.
However, we do have one team going to Reghin from 16-23 September - Richard Dickson [again] will be with Lizzie Peters and David Staniland from the Lantern and they’ll be helping to erect the walls of two new houses. Our other team would have been there to add roofs the following week but now we hope and pray that Phoneo can find others so at least one house will be complete before winter sets in. Travelling with them will be Vanessa and Holly Ashby from St B’s and they expect to be helping at Adapost [the city centre home for the homeless and the lonely] and also in the Selah school.
At a RAG meeting the other evening it was agreed that maybe we’ve been too ambitious and so next year we shall be planning to send no more than three teams. Already, we’re seeking the most suitable dates and once these are available we’ll be aiming to get people signed up with non-returnable deposits being required at the outset. Also, we recognize the need for more people with building skills - all our volunteers are tremendous but we really must have more “ Walters”!. Phoneo need us and many in the Roma communities live in such deplorable conditions that we hope and pray many more volunteers will come forward. And please, get in touch if yourself or anyone you know is interested in going to Romania with us next year.
At the same time we’d welcome any suggestions or comments from yourselves - we want the mission to continue to succeed for Him - so don’t be shy!
Probably in early November we are hoping to have another successful dinner dance on a Saturday evening at St B’s - so do keep an eye on our web-site - www.missiontoromania.org.uk
Thank you for your continuing support and with every blessing.
John Clift [01202 884043] 24 August 2017
johnc-cobham12@tiscali.co;uk
PS. Sorry about the delay in getting this circulated - due to computer problems!
If you know of anyone who would like a copy of this newsletter but doesn’t receive it, please do ask them to get in touch.