Dear Friends
CANFORD MAGNA CHURCHES - MISSION TO ROMANIA June and July are now almost behind us and after the dreadful weather last month, it seems that summer is with us at last – until I saw the forecast for next week!. Good weather in Romania has enabled work on the new Selah school to continue apace with outside rendering complete, inside plastering now in hand and a heating system [with wood-burning boiler] being installed so that the building is becoming more and more “liveable in” – I quote!. As well as the local labour force, several teams from Holland have also been there to help but we expect there to be still be a lot of fitting out and tidying up to do before it starts being used at the end of October. Initially it will start with the 16 students from the existing school but it is hoped to expand up to 40 – depending on how quickly more teachers can be recruited. Since I last wrote we’ve have the Referendum and are now wondering what effect, if any, “Brexit” will have on our work and the costs of visiting Romania. Obviously the changing exchange rate has put up some costs already but so far there hasn’t been any significant increase in air fares. llja, my correspondent in Reghin, describes the situation as weird but only time will tell how weird it is and anyway, we all know that our God is in charge! Air tickets are booked for the 7-person team, led by Richard Naish and Peter Owen, who are going to Reghin from 17 - 24 September. Others in the team are Richard Dickson, Nick Cresswell, Vanessa and Holly Ashby and Kirsty Wigmore. The following week, Walter Meyer will be leading a second team but we still need one or two others to join him. If you, or anyone you know, would like to go [24 Sept – 1 October] and join this team then please don’t leave it until the last minute but let either Walter [01202 887187] or myself know immediately. If the Selah building is complete by then we’ve been asked to help prepare a play area – to level the ground and build some play equipment – swing, slide play-house etc – an interesting challenge! Also, there always more small family houses to be built so no likelihood of anyone becoming bored! On 9 July we held a very successful skittles evening at the Bearwood Community Centre – an excellent venue where we were made most welcome. The 46 or so who attended all had an enjoyable time; we managed to get our message across [or so we thought!]; and to cap it all we raised nearly £250. Thank you to each and every one of you who came along and supported our work – it’s a great encouragement. That money [and a bit more!] is being used to purchase school clothing and footwear for those who’ll be attending Selah. Each morning when the children arrive, they’ll first have a good wash and then change into their school uniform before lessons commence. If anyone feels they would like to donate specifically for this purpose then your gifts will be very welcome. Cheques [payable to CMPCC ([Romania)] or cash to me please or via the Lantern office or you can donate via Paypal on our web-site. This could be your last chance to deal with me as I shall be giving up the MTR treasurership role shortly but am very pleased to say Peter Owen has joined the RAG team and will be taking over as soon as our bank can sort out the details. I’m hoping to stay around as the team’s secretary – as long as they’ll have me! Finally, don’t forget that we’rer planning to have 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 do put this date in your diaries NOW. With every blessing John Clift [01202 884043] 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 |