Christian Hope International. To 30th june 2018

Transcription

1 Christian Hope International To 30th june 2018

2 Life is about relationships, at work, at home, in our churches and groups. Good relationships are built through life s ups and downs, requiring trust and mutual respect. Some will last a lifetime, others may be short lived, but each one has an impact in our lives. Since 1994 CHI has worked through the local church in Rwanda and later in Uganda building strong relationships with our partners overseas. Some of those we work with today have been partnering with us from the start. The work of CHI gives our partners a platform to spread the Gospel, in the communities they serve and bring individuals there into a relationship with Christ. You will see evidence of strengthened communities as you read through this magazine. None of this happens by accident. God calls us into a relationship with Him and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are told to put the needs of others first. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Philippians 2: 3-5 J ust imagine what could be achieved if we all lived by that passage!! We can all make an impact in the life of someone less fortunate by putting their needs before our own. Christian Hope International seeks to bring the true hope only found in Jesus Christ along with practical support to those in need in Africa and, through links with other Christian charities, to the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The example of Jesus and his teaching are the motivation for our work. Working in partnership with the Christian Community in the Developing World we seek to glorify God by providing practical aid, resourcing community projects and enabling children to receive a good education through child sponsorship.

3 Charity chat At our AGM in November it was announced that Paul would be stepping down from his role as Director of Operations as he looks to reduce his hours (he isn t getting any younger!!!). Carmen has now taken over as Managing Director. In reality we work as a team and we do not anticipate any significant changes in the operations of the charity. RWANDA visit Ian, Paul and Carmen are off on their travels again, this time to visit the projects in Rwanda. We will leave on 26th February returning on 20th March. During this time the office will be manned by volunteers and may close earlier than usual. Please be patient if your enquiries cannot be dealt with immediately. Seeing the work first hand and strengthening relationships with our partners overseas is vital to ensure effective planning and implementation of the work of CHI. You will be able to follow our trip via the website and we ask that you keep us in your prayers as we travel. CHI are proud to announce they have mastered technology... well... maybe not!!! But TEXT GIVING is now a reality. To donate by mobile phone simply text ICAN41 plus the amount you wish to donate (any amount DATA PROTECTION ICAN41 3 from 1 to 5 or 10) to You will receive a thank you t e x t and a further text giving you the option to Gift Aid your donation. The sum donated will be added to your phone bill. This service is offered through Just Giving and does not cost you or the charity a penny in fees. Why not try it today? New data protection laws will require NEW SUPPORTERS to opt in before we can add them to our data base. New or exisiting supporters please be assured your data is held securely and we will NEVER pass on your information to a third party. If you wish to be removed from our data base please let us know. You will not then receive your copy of our magazine.

4 Date Feb 26th RWANDA Itinerary Project 6.30am Depart Heathrow - Arrive Kigali, Rwanda 7.10pm 27th Planning and meeting with Archbishop Onesphore and Josephine. 28th - Mar 1st Gasabo Diocese - meetings / visit projects 2nd - 5th Travel to Shyogwe. Meetings / visit projects / church service 6th Visit Gikonko School then travel to Butare 7th - 8th 9th Butare Diocese - meetings / visit projects am Butare Diocese - meetings / projects - pm travel to Kigeme visit to projects 10th Kigeme Diocese - meetings / visit projects 11th Church service Butare and travel to Kigali 12th - 14th Travel to Kibungo meetings / visit projects 15th - 16th Travel to Byumba Diocese / meetings / visit projects 17th am Byumba Diocese - meetings / visits - pm Travel to Kigali 18th Kigali church service 19th 8.15pm Depart Kigali airport 20th Arrive UK 7.40 am For those who wish to follow our travels and do not have internet access, this is where we will be and when. Please keep us in your prayers for safety as we travel, for strengthened relationships with our partners and for encouraging progress to be seen at the projects. Please also pray for stamina to keep us going during the three weeks we are away. We will post a blog on our website as we go. Kigeme Gasabo Shyogwe Butare Byumba Kibungo

5 Stitch in time It was in the Stitch of Time that we received feedback from Mission Without Borders on the distribution of garments and blankets in Eastern Europe during In their report we were told; providing a blanket can allow a child to perform better in school, or lessen the pain for an elderly person Pictures courtesy of and from an orphanage in Moldova the children said;.the clothing was very useful. It was so qualitative, nice and colourful. Thank you from the heart for your kindness and care. May God bless you.. We have continued to partner with Samaras Aid by providing storage and loading assistance for emergency relief going to relieve the plight of refugees in Syria. Some of the handicraft of our knitters has been included in these consignments. Be assured, therefore, that children, the elderly and families are blessed, not only by the practical benefit of keeping warm, but because each item is a declaration of love through the sacrificial giving of time, skills and energy to help those in need. Picture courtesy of If you are part of a knitting group we would love to hear about you and, perhaps, feature your group in our publications. Just send us an with some photographs of the group with your handiwork. We hope that this might encourage others to get involved but we can t promise an appearance in the magazine. TEXT GIVING : ICAN41 ( 1-5 OR 10) TO 70070

6 Caring & sharing We were delighted to have the opportunity to visit Chadwell Heath Baptist Church and speak to the young people about tackling Malaria. Annabelle was a willing victim for our efforts at protection but felt mosquito nets were probably a better option!!! Leader Caroline Grubb told us: The children enjoyed your talk and had fun with dressing up, learning about the plight families face in Africa with the mosquitos. The shocking statistics touched them and they wanted to be part of sharing Jesus love. The children enjoyed the work sheets and asking questions and were keen to send mozzy nets, raising funds from their pocket money. God bless their efforts THANK YOU CHADWELL HEATH BAPTIST JUNIOR CHURCH THANK YOU to all our representatives who promoted our Christmas Cards and Calendars in their churches and groups was the most successful year to date for this initiative with over 150 Packs of cards and approx 110 Calendar orders received. who volunteered to help us dispatch our Nov. magazine as part of their World Challenge Badge. We were delighted to accept their help. After all, if you take 1000 envelopes, a corresponding number of magazines and 2000 flyers, add around 15 teenagers...what can possibly go wrong!!!!! Thank you to everyone who took part. The envelopes have never been filled so quickly.

7 2018 focus Education - changing lives Can you imagine your child being denied an education simply because you cannot afford to provide paper and pens? This is the reality for many children in Africa. When providing even one meal a day is a challenge, an education is a luxury. The church run schools, with which we partner, try not to turn anyone away, but their resources are limited. Supplying those in most need with the basic equipment required to attend school costs just 5 per pack and enables them to receive a Christian education. Future prospects improve and lives are changed, both practically and, we pray, for eternity, as these children are encouraged in their faith and hopefully come to have a real relationship with Christ Jesus. If YOU would like to make this difference in the life of a child in need, and have some fun with your friends and family, then contact us for a FREE fundraising pack. Your poster, puzzle leaflet and stickers are suitable for all. Alternatively donate via our website, by phone or by cheque payable to Christian Hope International. THANK YOU 5 = 1 ANSWERED PRAYER

8 Kaleere parish project It is now eighteen months since the start of this project assisting the elderly in Kaleere and, despite a few challenges along the way, progress is being seen. Livestock are breeding So how is this affecting relationships within the community? We are told: Younger neighbours are being encouraged to assist the elderly tend their crops and are rewarded with quantities of manure to improve their own soil. These gardens have encouraged friendships, improving between neighbours. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS WHICH MAKE ALL THIS POSSIBLE Handing over savings Crops are being harvested Families are beginning to provide for themselves Following the success of the savings and loan scheme for the elderly reported in our last magazine many of the wider community were keen to join. Younger people are more able to utilise the loans to start small businesses, helping them to become self-sufficient and a more inclusive scheme will help improve relationships within the community. For this to be effectively achieved however, funds needed to be made available. We were delighted to make this possible. A new Loan4Hope Project has been born

9 There are still many challenges facing this community and we will continue to develop our relationship with them. Providing uniforms and school materials for the orphans has enhanced their self esteem and improved academic performance. The image of the school has improved and enrolment is increasing. Pupils outside their classroom This village does not have a school building but holds classes in the church, in a bamboo mat structure and in the shade of a tree. Encouraged by their relationship with CHI and the intervention made possible by YOUR donations, the community are coming together to begin making bricks to construct a school building. COULD WE HELP SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE? Just prior to Christmas Canon Eriab told us how the elderly did not have even a blanket to cover them at night. How could we ignore their plight? Praise God that funds were available and almost 70 elderly folk received a blanket this Christmas. Funds were also provided for 100 bibles for the community. David Bagiritima aged 78 said: "This is my first bible in life,for sure God doesn't forget His people,finally at 78 years I have received the word of life" TEXT GIVING ICAN41 ( 1-5 OR 10)TO 70070

10 sponsorship Each year funds are sent to our projects to hold a Christmas party for the sponsored children. How they celebrate and the gifts they receive varies from project to project, but a time of worship, sharing a meal and presentation of gifts to those who have performed well in school is the main format of each event. This is how they celebrated in 2017 kibungo On behalf of Gahima Agape students of CHI we really appreciate your continuing contribution to us. We thank you. For your fully lovely action you did for us of giving us Christmas party it had physically showed us that you don t stop thinking about us. We are so thankful. Many of us lacked how to thank you and elected me as their representative to inform you that God is the only witness for us. We are asking for blessings from God to you and we know our wishes is under God s will. James receiving his gift GASABO James representative for Gahima Agape Students Receiving rice & sugar In Gasabo each child sponsored during the year, also receives a mattress and a bowl.

11 BYUMBA Here the families chose to receive a bucket to keep clean water for the family along with vegetable seeds to improve nutrition. kijjabwemi As Canon Gaster, who has overseen this project for the last four years, has been promoted to Dean of Kako Cathedral, a very special celebration was held for the children to say farewell to a Pastor with whom they shared a very special relationship. We congratulate Canon Gaster on his promotion and thank him for his partnership over the years. We have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with him which we hope will continue as he takes up his new position. Through correspondence and photos, sent and received, sponsors can build with their sponsored children. Some last for many years, others just a short time but each one lets a child know they are valued and gives them the opportunity to come into a with Christ Jesus. Potentially changing a life for eternity. Please contact us TODAY if you will donate 15 per month to build a and make a child feel valued.

12 Mariam, ATINAH & IMRAN This is the latest update on how YOUR donations have helped Mariam and the abandoned children she took in despite being barely able to support herself. As Mariam s relationship with Atinah and Imran develops she tells us of the joys and challenges as they settle into their new home. We were moved by her revelation of how her life changed on the death of her husband. At a time when in the west, where we have plenty, and relationships with friends and family would likely be strengthened, Mariam became a burden, an outcast in society. Today, thanks to your support Mariam is able to build new relationships within her community. Pastor Patrick told us that tears of joy rendered Mariam unable to write so she told her story to him. This is what she said: I cannot forget the 11th July 2017, when God revealed Himself to me with a miracle of a new home without a single coin or human favour! Since I lost my husband I lost all my joy, relatives, friends and human dignity. Everyone looked at me as a burden and an outcast. Today, even if I miss a meal I feel satisfied and restored. Praise be to God. It has not been easy since we entered here but Rev. Patrick and the Christians at Kimwanyi have stood with us. We have started harvesting our own crops. Surely we rejoice for God s mercy. (A moment of silence in tears!) I can weave baskets and have started because materials are free and available. We can also keep livestock (pigs or hens) but we don t have a house for them yet. Many blessings to whoever has supported us. Mariam Mariam still faces health and emotional challenges with Atinah & Imran but with support this family now has hope for the future. TEXT GIVING ICAN OR 10 TO 70070

13 YOUR donations ARE changing lives THANK YOU

14 Gisanga parish project This rural parish in Shyogwe, Rwanda faces many challenges: Small, infertile plots of land Lack of safe water sources T here Poor health due to malnutrition, worms and malaria Lack of skills within the community Initiatives to benefit the community as a whole have included: Repairs to the school teacher s house is a primary school at Gisanga attended by some 800 pupils but text books are scarce. Dictionaries and other books have been provided. Twenty families were given basic training in food production, animal rearing and environmental protection. Each family has received a goat which will provide manure to improve the soil, milk to improve nutrition and young can be sold to provide an income. Seeds and garden tools have also been provided. Funding for three water tanks to provide safe water Twenty thousand seedlings for agro forestry to improve the soil. TEXT GIVING ICAN OR 10 TO 70070

15 One recipient, Leonard Ntuyenabo said: we were trained and given more knowledge about increasing food production and we share this knowledge with our neighbours, we were given a goat and it is producing manure which we are using in our farming activities. When the goat will give birth we will share with our neighbours what is a living sign of Christian love. The Bible given to us is used to learn the Word of God and we are changing as we try to live according to what we read in the Word. I feel a sense of satisfaction as I look forwards to the improvement of my living conditions together with my family. In case my income is increased I will be able to provide for my family and cover their medical insurance and food. I am thankful to the Diocese of Shyogwe and to Christian Hope International for their moral and financial support Pastor Jean Pierre tells us: Vulnerable families selected are now sharing the Word of God and their hopes are being restored as they see something transformative happening in their lives. We praise God for the opportunity He has given us to serve Gisanga Community in order to help vulnerable families to improve their living conditions and also to strengthen their relationship with Jesus through improved food production and Bible study. The project is still in progress but some of its results are tangible. We thank CHI and its supporters for their generosity. Your labours are not in vain

16 IN 2017 YOUR BOXES RAISED 1381 THANK YOU Please contact the office if you require a Loose Change Appeal box. Contact details Hope House, The Elms Estate Church Road, Harold Wood Romford, RM3 0JU United Kingdom Office no: addresses Carmen Denham: accounts@christianhope.org.uk Paul Guyver: info@christianhope.org.uk Sponsorship: sponsorship@christianhope.org.uk Web site: Christian Hope International is a member of the Evangelical Alliance and Global Hand. We are signatories to the Red Cross Code of Conduct. WHO S WHO? Managing Director Carmen Denham Director Paul Guyver Accounts Kevin Denham Office Volunteers: Stitches of Hope Ray of Hope Office support Registered charity Dorothy Bowen Trish Nelson Eileen & Trevor Anderson Eileen Knowles Ian & Carol Phillips Audrey Vinten Trustees: Chairman Ian Phillips Treasurer Tony Gibbs Val Dobson John Harris Trish Nelson International Keith Root Christian Worldwide Aid Steve Wheeler Christian Hope Patron: Rt.Rev.Stephen Cottrell Bishop of Chelmsford CHI Magazine The Magazine is published 3 times a year and is also available on-line. It is sent free of charge to supporters and is published in accordance with our basis of faith. Articles in the magazine may represent the ideas of the author and may not necessarily be those of the charity. Articles from this magazine are available for use in your church literature, but please let us know before using them.