Re:Action Issue 5 February 2007

Latest news from BibleLands Issue 5, February 2007

Work like an Egyptian:

Our next volunteer team, made up of 9 people from across the country, will soon be setting off for Egypt, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Their mission: to work alongside the rural poor in Upper (southern) Egypt, building safe and sanitary houses in place of families' old mudbrick shacks. New houses will have a separate room for the animals, properly constructed stairs, separate kitchens and bedrooms, and will have concrete roofs rather than palm fronds that scorpions, spiders and other wee (and not so wee) beasties can slip through. But perhaps the main work will be in making friends with the families whose houses the team will be working on. Brian Wyld, of the October 2006 team, said: "We did make a difference but not in the way I expected! In the end it was the interaction with the families that was of major value, rather than the amount of sand sifted or walls built." Hugh Bradley, another team member, added: "The trip was as much about building relationships as building houses."

Look out in the next edition of re:Action for the story of this latest team's experiences in Egypt. In addition, look out for the report on the October 2006 team's exciting and fulfilling trip, in the forthcoming issue of The Star in the East.

For more info on any of the volunteer projects mentioned, see www.biblelands.org.uk/volunteer or contact Jennie Watts on 01494 897931, jennie.watts@biblelands.org.uk

Speaking of volunteers... if you would like to travel to Jerusalem for a holiday with a difference this summer, then read on. BibleLands works in partnership with Highway Projects, offering short-term mission trips for Christians aged 18-40, to Israel/Palestine each July.

This year, we will be travelling from 5-21 July and teams will spend a couple of days visiting the sites of the Holy Land before beginning work at one of three Children's Centres in Jerusalem. Join us at the Helen Keller Centre, helping to run a summer camp for visually impaired and sighted kids; the Spafford Children's Centre, undertaking a variety of practical work; or the Princess Basma Centre, helping to run a summer camp for physically disabled and non-disabled children. These teams are a time of great fun, deeply spiritual moments, intense self-discovery, and offer you the chance to give of your Christian faith and love in a very practical way. Application forms are available now, from Jennie Watts.

Project Profile:

The Salaam Centre, Cairo

The 15,000 inhabitants of Ezbet El Nakhl on the outskirts of Cairo live in absolute poverty and squalor (see photo, below right). Known as the ‘Zabaleen’, or ‘rubbish-pickers’, they scrape a living by salvaging whatever they can from the rubbish dump, selling anything recyclable and using food scraps to feed the pigs that share their homes. Infection and parasites are rife in these appalling conditions, and there is a constant danger of injury from the unknown contents of the dump.

The Salaam Centre for Medico-Social Services brings hope to this impoverished population. Led by Sister Maria of the Coptic Orthodox Church, it provides a hospital, a child health care programme and a school for children with disabilities. A special scheme for under-fives aims to improve the health of around 650 of the youngest members of the Zabaleen. Each child receives vitamins, immunisations and twice-yearly health checks, as well as emergency medical care when needed. Children with disabilities are referred to the Salaam Centre’s specialist school.

Now the Salaam Centre has opened a new building right in the heart of the rubbish dump area, allowing it to reach even more of the people who need it most. Please pray with us that this new Centre will have a huge positive impact on the lives and health of the desperately poor Zabaleen people.

The A-Z of Fundraising Ideas:

F is for…

Fun Run – No, running is not fun, but maybe you are one of those people who are prepared to pretend that it is in order to raise money for your favourite charity.

Fête – this fundraising stalwart doesn’t have to be worse than death, and it doesn’t have to be on an ambitious scale either – you could have a few stalls in your garden with bric-a-brac, plants, tombola, cakes, bat-the-rat etc, and get family/friends to help.

Face painting – a lucrative sideshow for the above fête, or for a stand at a church fair. Even if you are not very artistic, patterns and instructions are available on the web. Persuade the most popular child to have the easiest design, then everyone else will want it too!

Fancy Dress Party – you could choose a theme, or let people’s imaginations run riot. Homemade costumes are much more fun than hired ones – offer a prize for the best, and raise funds through ticket sales and a raffle.

Are you looking for new material to use with a Bible study group this Lent? Look no further than BibleLands’ 2007 study guide, available from 12 February. Valuing Everyone in God’s Community focuses on the work of the Al Kafa’at Foundation in Beirut. Through a series of six Bible studies, it invites groups to affirm the gifts and abilities of every one of God’s people. Download the guide [1.6MB pdf] or email info@biblelands.org.uk to order free printed copies.

Christian Love in Action in the Middle East

Latest news from *BibleLands* Issue 5, February 2007**

Work like an Egyptian: Our next volunteer team, made up of 9 people from across the country, will soon be setting off for Egypt, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Their mission: to work alongside the rural poor in Upper (southern) Egypt, building safe and sanitary houses in place of families' old mudbrick shacks. New houses will have a separate room for the animals, properly constructed stairs, separate kitchens and bedrooms, and will have concrete roofs rather than palm fronds that scorpions, spiders and other wee (and not so wee) beasties can slip through. But perhaps the main work will be in making friends with the families whose houses the team will be working on. Brian Wyld, of the October 2006 team, said: "We did make a difference but not in the way I expected! In the end it was the interaction with the families that was of major value, rather than the amount of sand sifted or walls built." Hugh Bradley, another team member, added: "The trip was as much about building relationships as building houses." Look out in the next edition of re:Action for the story of this latest team's experiences in Egypt. In addition, look out for the report on the October 2006 team's exciting and fulfilling trip, in the forthcoming issue of The Star in the East.

For more info on any of the volunteer projects mentioned, see www.biblelands.org.uk/volunteer or contact Jennie Watts on 01494 897931, jennie.watts@biblelands.org.uk

Speaking of volunteers... if you would like to travel to Jerusalem for a holiday with a difference this summer, then read on. BibleLands works in partnership with Highway Projects, offering short-term mission trips for Christians aged 18-40, to Israel/Palestine each July. This year, we will be travelling from 5-21 July and teams will spend a couple of days visiting the sites of the Holy Land before beginning work at one of three Children's Centres in Jerusalem. Join us at the Helen Keller Centre, helping to run a summer camp for visually impaired and sighted kids; the Spafford Children's Centre, undertaking a variety of practical work; or the Princess Basma Centre, helping to run a summer camp for physically disabled and non-disabled children. These teams are a time of great fun, deeply spiritual moments, intense self-discovery, and offer you the chance to give of your Christian faith and love in a very practical way. Application forms are available now, from Jennie Watts.

Project Profile: The Salaam Centre, Cairo The 15,000 inhabitants of Ezbet El Nakhl on the outskirts of Cairo live in absolute poverty and squalor (see photo, below right). Known as the ‘Zabaleen’, or ‘rubbish-pickers’, they scrape a living by salvaging whatever they can from the rubbish dump, selling anything recyclable and using food scraps to feed the pigs that share their homes. Infection and parasites are rife in these appalling conditions, and there is a constant danger of injury from the unknown contents of the dump. The Salaam Centre for Medico-Social Services brings hope to this impoverished population. Led by Sister Maria of the Coptic Orthodox Church, it provides a hospital, a child health care programme and a school for children with disabilities. A special scheme for under-fives aims to improve the health of around 650 of the youngest members of the Zabaleen. Each child receives vitamins, immunisations and twice-yearly health checks, as well as emergency medical care when needed. Children with disabilities are referred to the Salaam Centre’s specialist school. Now the Salaam Centre has opened a new building right in the heart of the rubbish dump area, allowing it to reach even more of the people who need it most. Please pray with us that this new Centre will have a huge positive impact on the lives and health of the desperately poor Zabaleen people.

The A-Z of Fundraising Ideas: F is for… *Fun Run* – No, running is not fun, but maybe you are one of those people who are prepared to pretend that it is in order to raise money for your favourite charity. Fête – this fundraising stalwart doesn’t have to be worse than death, and it doesn’t have to be on an ambitious scale either – you could have a few stalls in your garden with bric-a-brac, plants, tombola, cakes, bat-the-rat etc, and get family/friends to help. *Face painting* – a lucrative sideshow for the above fête, or for a stand at a church fair. Even if you are not very artistic, patterns and instructions are available on the web. Persuade the most popular child to have the easiest design, then everyone else will want it too! *Fancy Dress Party* – you could choose a theme, or let people’s imaginations run riot. Homemade costumes are much more fun than hired ones – offer a prize for the best, and raise funds through ticket sales and a raffle.

Are you looking for new material to use with a Bible study group this Lent? Look no further than BibleLands’ 2007 study guide, available from 12 February. Valuing Everyone in God’s Community focuses on the work of the Al Kafa’at Foundation in Beirut. Through a series of six Bible studies, it invites groups to affirm the gifts and abilities of every one of God’s people. Download the guide [1.6MB pdf] or email info@biblelands.org.uk to order free printed copies.

*Christian Love in Action in the Middle East*