Latest news from BibleLands                Issue 7, August 2007

Summer is finally here!
 
It might have taken a while, and I hope that you were not effected by the flooding, but the sun has finally started shining. Although, as I write this, the forecast for the rest of the week is yet more rain! Read on for details of those volunteers who sought the sun in Jerusalem this summer (where there is currently a heat wave) and the great time they had, working at 3 of BibleLands’ Partner Centres. There is also a short report about our stand at New Wine, and information about our upcoming presence at Greenbelt, as well as the usual fun(draising) ideas! Enjoy.

Volunteers in Jerusalem, July 2007
 
In this 3rd year of BibleLands’ partnership with Highway Projects , three teams travelled to Jerusalem...
 
Once again, the Princess Basma Centre team helped to run the annual summer camp. This year only children from the Centre attended, rather than other local children too, making the camp smaller (about 50 children with a hearing impairment or with physical disabilities) but allowing the team to get to know the kids more quickly. There was lots of singing, art and craft, games and a party - where one volunteer dressed up as an orange bear (see above). So, a smaller camp, but as entertaining and fun as ever!
 
The Spafford Children’s Centre team did a lot of practical work, such as knocking down walls, digging up concrete, painting, and clearing away rubbish. They kept on smiling, in spite of aching muscles and the odd minor injury or two! The Centre’s staff appreciated the team’s hard work. In the words of the Director, Dr Dajani: “it was such a pleasure having the group again”, not least because they helped the Centre to prepare practically for its 4 summer camps, taking place over the following weeks.
 
The Helen Keller Centre team helped to run the summer camp for 80 visually impaired and sighted children. Mainstreaming everyone together showed that even if someone is different to you, they can still be your friend. Activities included English country dancing, cooking English bread and, of course, the hokey-cokey. The team spent the afternoons with the residential kids - the children enjoyed playing with new people, the team loved it, and the houseparents enjoyed a bit of time off. Everyone’s a winner!
 
Through all this work, the teams were able to practically share God’s compassion and love with those at the Centres. For more information on next year’s teams, logon to www.biblelands.org.uk/volunteer, or contact me on 01494 897931 / jennie.watts@biblelands.org.uk.

The A-Z of Fundraising Ideas: H is for…
 
Help! Caroline is not here to provide the usual stock of good ideas for this, as she’s busy looking after baby George. But I’ve done my best. If you have any ideas for I, J, K, etc, please do let me know!
 
Happy Birthday – not sure what expensive present to ask for? Why not let BibleLands take away the worry, with our Alternative Gifts Catalogue . Filled with ideas for presents that make a difference, your friends and relatives will enjoy buying you something unusual.
 
Hair – local newspapers always love stories about people having their hair shaved off for charity, especially if you sit in a tub of cold beans while it’s being done.
 
Hang-gliding, hopping, hurdling – in fact, any sport beginning with H. Ask people to sponsor you to hang-glide, for a 24-hour hop-a-thon, or a pound per hurdle you clear.  Or you could combine all three and see what happens.
 
Heroes, heroines and hippies party – with a Hog-roast, at your House.  You could always finish it with a Hoe-down.

Project Profile: The Cedar Home
 
The Cedar Home was founded by Christians in Beirut in 1960, to care for girls who have lost at least one parent due to divorce, separation, or death, and where the other parent is unable to provide for them.  BibleLands has supported the Home since 1980, and gives grants of over £15,800 a year.
 
About 30 girls, aged between 3-18 years, live at the Home as one big family.  Several house-mothers help to care for the girls, offering woman-to-woman advice on growing up, and giving lots of love.
 
The girls go to local schools, where they meet with other children their age.  They are also encouraged to join local youth groups, which help them to gain confidence, as well as providing more friendships. 
 
In addition to this work, the Home helps another 30 local children, who are from very poor families. The Home pays these children’s school fees and offers additional tutoring in the afternoon. After this, everyone eats dinner together, before the local children return home to their families.

New Wine, 2007:

Were you there this year? Did you see anyone from BibleLands – easily recognisable by our BibleLands t-shirts, our general pleasant demeanour, or because we were on the BibleLands’ stand.

 
Not all of the 11,500 visitors to New Wine visited our stand, but several hundred did stop to say hello, or to find out more about what we do. We had to reorder stocks of Christmas cards and catalogue goods (twice!) and we came home exhausted and hoarse.

Greenbelt, 2007: 24–27 August
Cheltenham Race Course
 
If you are going to be at Greenbelt this summer, we would love to meet you!
 
Come and visit our stand in the g-source – or if you see anyone wandering around wearing a BibleLands’ t-shirt, please stop them and say ‘hello’ (especially if they look lonely or lost).