Kenya

 The Sky One series Ross Kemp on gangs broadcasted the plight of the glue sniffing Street Kids of the Rift Valley. c4c (Citizens 4 Change) is a charity that was set up to house and rehabilitate these children founded by two of our leaders and greatly supported by our members.  We curently have 124 cases who need help- many are children who want to go to school.  Paul & Shirley Barter and Beccy Chaplin,  trustees of c4c took a team out to visit the Street Boys of Kisumu last April.  The purpose of his visit was to see the progress made in rehabilitating the boys that were found on the rubbish dumps of Kisumu since last year.  When they arrived he was taken to one of the 5 houses that now provide refuge for up to 12 boys at any one time.

Previous money raised provided 46 boys with shelter away from the rubbish dumps in rented houses being fed with at least one square meal a day; many more were being fed three square meals a week.  Since then much more has been achieved within the last year- we have now secured a safe-house for many of the children where a feeding programme takes place for 124 children of various ages.  The same children occupy a make-shift school during the week,James Samu and his newly-wedded wife Alice run the rehabilitation centre now registered as c4c-Africa and are doing a fantastic job in assisting these boys back to mainstream living.  Many of these children are thrown out with just the clothes they stand up in!  c4c is the official charity set up to support this work. www.citizens4change.co.uk  Please follow the link to find out more on our web site. 

Macedonia-A vision for the future

Grace also has links with Jimmy a Nigerian Pastor in Macedonia who has successfully set up churches in more rural areas of the country.  he has a heart for the poor and has brought hope to many. 

We have had many mission trips to Macedonia.  Some are teaching based where we set up seminars for potential leaders, others are more practically based. 

Grace members visited Macedonia in October in partnership with Connect International and Tony Rozee organising a three day seminar and outreach mission.  We have raised money to help build church buildings in inaccesable areas, usually converting garages or other outbuildings so that communities can continue to meet throughout bad weather in winter.

  Many were healed!- Extract from an e mail

Where are the Englishmen?  That was how she breezed in to our Sunday morning meeting, not alone but with her sister on the left who had travelled over 50kms from Skopje (the capital) to Veles also with her son (pictured middle).

After the excitement settled down I gently asked her why she was looking for the English visitors.  She quickly, full of joy and excitement answered, ‘ Because I was healed!’ … Tell them thank you from me, the woman that had cancer they prayed for yesterday is healed, yes I am healed.  And this is my sister whom, when I told, decided to leave all her commitments to come and see first hand for herself- she heard the message of Christ- Praise the Lord!

A message from Solon Kortak- Napal

Dear brother Philip and members of Grace Community Church,Eastleigh,
 
This is Solon and Rebecca Karthak from Nepal.  We greet you all in the name of Jesus our Lord and Saviour.
 
Belatedly but I and Rebecca would like to thank you and all for giving the opportunity to share our God given blessing to your church members on the 19th October.  Our special thanks to brother Paul and family who kindly invited us for meal.  We throughly enjoyed our time in the church and in Paul’s place.   May God continue to give His presence to you all so the blessings be poured out all over from Grace Community Church.
 
Upon our return from UK,  no untoward incident took place in our lives.  We know the prayer said by our friends from all over made the enemies flee from our sight and presence.  We’re again back in our usual activities to make known the name of Jesus.  As we’ve shared about our future plans to move to another region,  we need your prayers.  We need to work out many issues  during this transition.
  
Our children Charisma(d-26) and Romong(s-24)joins with us in sending our greetings to you all.  Again I say, keep uplifting us in your prayers.
 
Your brother Solon Karthak

  Further support in Africa

Two of our members have links with their friend Jill Kinsley who works in Lesotho with orphans there.  Since being introduced to Jill we have also supported her work wherever we can.  Recently we sent money to provide a whole school with wellington boots as they were walking to school in the snow with bare feet!!  In November we had a very informative visit from Jill and raised some money towards her work.