Newsletter 3/2016
CANFORD MAGNA CHURCHES - MISSION TO ROMANIA
The dust has now settled on another very successful trip to help Phoneo After an unfortunate start when Walter and his team missed their flight early on the Saturday morning, the rest of the week went very well. They had arrived in the departure lounge at Luton airport at 6-20am only to find it heaving with people and on reaching check-in it was nearly 7am. They weren’t particularly concerned for Wizzair say the gates close 30minutes before take-off but they weren’t allowed through! No amount of reasoning helped and so they had to book on the flight going out at 7-55pm that evening and arriving in Targu Mures well after midnight [local time] and to top it all at an extra cost of £292 – which we can ill afford - but there was no choice. So, they took a bus into London and enjoyed a day looking around the capital rather than settling in at Reghin.
In spite of their very late arrival, they were all were up in time for the Phoneo church service on Sunday morning where they were made very welcome. For the rest of that day they relaxed and rested in readiness for an early start on the Monday. Walter and Ollie’ who hadn’t been too well beforehand, set about fitting skylights into the roof – they worked hard on a far from easy task but found it very satisfying to have it completed within the week. Meanwhile Ian and Richard were enjoying installing the ground water supply system. In Ian’s own words:
”For me the week started with a discussion about the pipework with Leon [the builder]. Having travelled with him to pick up materials for the job, I assembled some pipework and fittings on the wall but when Leon returned he said it was all wrong! They do things a lot differently in Romania! As the week progressed I worked out what was required as we installed pipes for the toilets, showers and [many] basins - this will allow the children to be cleaned up for school. Richard did the “donkey work” of beating holes through walls and channeling-in for the pipes and did a fantastic job all week. If anyone ever needs to escape from prison by breaking through walls – he’s your man! Having retired from Bournemouth Water just over a year ago, the one thing I’ve missed is pipe fitting. Sadly, as this may be the last trip I go on, so I feel the Lord allowed me the privilege of a hard week doing something I love. I also took a huge number of school uniforms [31.5 kg in weight] and to see the little boys and girls in their own uniforms was absolutely delightful and made it all worthwhile”. That leaves Dave who spent the whole week being ferried about the various Phone projects around Reghin taking photos and film for two videos he’s now putting together. All credit to him who, shortly before they flew out, broke his wrist and whilst it didn’t impede the photography very much, editing of it all is proving to be slow-going
So, well done everybody and on the Friday evening they celebrated with Phoneo staff as they enjoyed a meal together. As one of them said “I would love to do the whole building” In fact through a Dutch team, ourselves and local paid help, the hope now is that the new Selah school will be complete by the end of October and open to pupils in November.
We’re still planning to send teams in late September and the expectation now is that they’ll be helping to put the finishing touches to the school. Ten or so people have already volunteered but there will be an upper limit on the number who can go so, if you’d like to help with completion of the Selah project or just want to see and help with some of the other Phoneo activities please speak to either Walter and Angie Meyer at St Barnabas or Peter Owen, Ian Pratt or myself at the Lantern asap. NB. Don’t feel left out if you’re at the Parish Church – you will be just as welcome! As well as the building, other opportunities will include working with children [at Casa Ana and in the existing small school]; neighbourhood visits; Adapost centre for the homeless; day care; home groups etc etc. So don’t be shy – do prayerfully consider offering yourself to serve our God amongst some of the poorest people in Europe. It’s a big challenge, a life-changing experience and a lot of fun!
Now on the home front:
With every blessing
John Clift [01202 884043]
johnc-cobham12@tiscali.co.uk
CANFORD MAGNA CHURCHES - MISSION TO ROMANIA
The dust has now settled on another very successful trip to help Phoneo After an unfortunate start when Walter and his team missed their flight early on the Saturday morning, the rest of the week went very well. They had arrived in the departure lounge at Luton airport at 6-20am only to find it heaving with people and on reaching check-in it was nearly 7am. They weren’t particularly concerned for Wizzair say the gates close 30minutes before take-off but they weren’t allowed through! No amount of reasoning helped and so they had to book on the flight going out at 7-55pm that evening and arriving in Targu Mures well after midnight [local time] and to top it all at an extra cost of £292 – which we can ill afford - but there was no choice. So, they took a bus into London and enjoyed a day looking around the capital rather than settling in at Reghin.
In spite of their very late arrival, they were all were up in time for the Phoneo church service on Sunday morning where they were made very welcome. For the rest of that day they relaxed and rested in readiness for an early start on the Monday. Walter and Ollie’ who hadn’t been too well beforehand, set about fitting skylights into the roof – they worked hard on a far from easy task but found it very satisfying to have it completed within the week. Meanwhile Ian and Richard were enjoying installing the ground water supply system. In Ian’s own words:
”For me the week started with a discussion about the pipework with Leon [the builder]. Having travelled with him to pick up materials for the job, I assembled some pipework and fittings on the wall but when Leon returned he said it was all wrong! They do things a lot differently in Romania! As the week progressed I worked out what was required as we installed pipes for the toilets, showers and [many] basins - this will allow the children to be cleaned up for school. Richard did the “donkey work” of beating holes through walls and channeling-in for the pipes and did a fantastic job all week. If anyone ever needs to escape from prison by breaking through walls – he’s your man! Having retired from Bournemouth Water just over a year ago, the one thing I’ve missed is pipe fitting. Sadly, as this may be the last trip I go on, so I feel the Lord allowed me the privilege of a hard week doing something I love. I also took a huge number of school uniforms [31.5 kg in weight] and to see the little boys and girls in their own uniforms was absolutely delightful and made it all worthwhile”. That leaves Dave who spent the whole week being ferried about the various Phone projects around Reghin taking photos and film for two videos he’s now putting together. All credit to him who, shortly before they flew out, broke his wrist and whilst it didn’t impede the photography very much, editing of it all is proving to be slow-going
So, well done everybody and on the Friday evening they celebrated with Phoneo staff as they enjoyed a meal together. As one of them said “I would love to do the whole building” In fact through a Dutch team, ourselves and local paid help, the hope now is that the new Selah school will be complete by the end of October and open to pupils in November.
We’re still planning to send teams in late September and the expectation now is that they’ll be helping to put the finishing touches to the school. Ten or so people have already volunteered but there will be an upper limit on the number who can go so, if you’d like to help with completion of the Selah project or just want to see and help with some of the other Phoneo activities please speak to either Walter and Angie Meyer at St Barnabas or Peter Owen, Ian Pratt or myself at the Lantern asap. NB. Don’t feel left out if you’re at the Parish Church – you will be just as welcome! As well as the building, other opportunities will include working with children [at Casa Ana and in the existing small school]; neighbourhood visits; Adapost centre for the homeless; day care; home groups etc etc. So don’t be shy – do prayerfully consider offering yourself to serve our God amongst some of the poorest people in Europe. It’s a big challenge, a life-changing experience and a lot of fun!
Now on the home front:
- On Saturday 9 July we are having a skittles evening at Bearwood Community Centre,commencing at 7-30pm. Tickets will be on sale at each church office shortly. The cost is £7-50 [inc supper] if you’d like to play or £5 if you’d just like to watch. It should be good fun so come along and enjoy yourselves whilst finding out more about what we’ve been up to.
- Then there will be a more relaxed version of the dinner dance held a couple of years ago at St Barnabas church on Saturday 8 October. More details nearer the time but put this date in your diaries NOW.
With every blessing
John Clift [01202 884043]
johnc-cobham12@tiscali.co.uk