Leslene in India

(Leslene pictured with Mr Sugamani, a visitor to the Guest House. Leslene was a participant in the Short Term Exposure Trip (STET) to India in late 2006).

'We had one funny (sort of) experience while we were in Chennai. Sandy and I had to meet other members of the group who had gone up country and were returning by train, supposedly at 5.30am. So we were up at 4.30, and made a mad dash to the station to meet the train. It got in at 20 to 8! As we all had mobiles, there were several frustrated calls from the group along the lines “we are stopped; we don’t know why;” then another call “We have started again; here we come.” Then later “We’ve stopped again.” And so on. After a full night on the train, the poor things were exhausted by the time they did arrive. But I must admit waiting at the station was fascinating, watching trains come and go, porters rushing around, and an entire microcosm of Indian life unwinding. Old station, very “British Raj-ish” with arrivals and departures in both English and Tamil, which could make for tricky reading.
I did have one very interesting experience during a church service in Tamil at one of Chennai’s suburban churches. The only place for me to sit was in a small group of pews in the very front of the church reserved for the local poor. Yes, all the 'yuppies' sit in the body of the church while the lower castes sit in this front section. So there am I, quite happy, along with these old ladies who I think must all have been born during the latter days of the British Raj. You could see from their faces the hard lives they had all had. Somehow, and I can’t say why to this day, it made the service very special for me. Perhaps because for just a short time I shared their lives. I felt part of this little group. Sandy, from People in Mission in Adelaide, is a minister, and I managed to get to her side of the altar to receive communion from her. That also made the service special for me.
For more information about People in Mission and STET opportunities, contact Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au, 02 8267 4230

Danny cooks up a feast

Rev Danny Paulraj is a pastor from Church of South India - Diocese of Madras. He is studying at UTC (Sydney) to complete a Masters degree. Danny loves to cook for people, and he had the opportunity during a short visit to Adelaide. He cooked an evening meal for the people doing the People in Mission pre-service training. It was just great to share such great food and to enjoy fellowship around the table.
To find out more about People in Mission, contact Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au, Ph 02 8267 4230

People in Mission training - visuals

Participants in the People in Mission pre-service training share in many practical sessions. One of the creative avenues explored is the opportunity to paint - basically to use it as a process to 'mull over' issues, feelings, responses to sessions, etc. Geoff Boyce, chaplain at Flinders University and an occasional painter himself, introduces this session, laying out the canvases side by side and painting a multi-coloured line along the length. Each person then takes one section of the line (a canvas), knowing that it is both individual and communal, linked together. The participants use time during the training weeks to paint, and share what they have done in one of the final sessions. The paintings are always interesting, especially when they are all laid side by side to re-connect the multi-coloured line.
For more information about People in Mission, contact Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au, Ph 02 8267 4230

People in Mission training

Six people gathered in Adelaide for the People in Mission pre-service training, prior to commencing placements with partner churches as volunteers. (from left) Nikko (SA) going to India, Nicola (Vic) going to the Pacific, Paul (Vic) going to India, Rebekka (Vic) going to Tonga, Chris (Vic) going to India and Nita (SA) going to Vellore Christian Medical College as part of the chaplaincy team.
The next PIM pre-service training will be in July for people preparing to serve as volunteers from the second half of 2007 on. For more information about People in Mission, contact Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au, Ph 02 8267 4230

Fiona (SA) in Mwandi - update

(Photos: top bakery oven and below: World Aids Day celebrations)

1st of December is World Aids Day held all over the world. I hope that you remembered this day back in December and shared a prayer for the people who have passed away and for the people who are affected and affected because of HIV/AIDS. We made hundreds of red ribbons and distributed them to people all over the village to wear on the day. There was a march from the village down to the OVC Drop in Centre where the children performed dramas. The children wrote the play from their understanding of HIV/AIDS. The Pastor from the Baptist Church shared with the children the Christian understanding of HIV/AIDS and how they should help others that are sick.

Our vegetable garden continues to grow well. During the rainy season we are able to grow eggplant, watermelons, cucumbers, okra, beans, maze, rape and some varieties of tomatoes.
We have employed some piece workers from the community to come and help with the weeding. Mubita seems to be spraying a lot to keep away the red spider mite on our tomatoes. We hope that this year with all the spraying the insects will keep away. We have ploughed up a ¼ acre of sand to plant maize and beans to put nutrition back into the soil. The soil has no substance and I think we are doing pretty well with our vegetables with the lack of goodness in our soil. This year Mubita (the gardener) will start spending time with the children teaching them about the importance of vegetables in their diet and how to look after them.

Bakery – At last the Mwandi UCZ OVC Project Bakery is open for business. Very exciting!!! Our dream of opening a bakery is a reality and the people of Mwandi are enjoying fresh loaves of bread that come out of our wood oven. Our bakers are Kennedy and Mavis, they both live in Mwandi with their families. Kennedy starts work at 3hrs each morning and the wooden stove takes about 2 hrs to get to the correct heat and that’s when Mavis starts work.
We have been selling up to 30 loaves per day, but Christmas Day they sold 130 and New Year’s Day they sold 173. Our customers are from all over the village, but schoolteachers, nurses, police and shop owners are our main customers at this stage. The bread really does taste good; it’s hard to stop at just one slice. We hope that more people in the village continue to buy the bread and this will improve their daily diets.

Electricity for Mwandi UCZ OVC Project – is very close to becoming a reality. We are looking for a further $2000 and then we will be able to have power connected at the Project. This will be fantastic for security purposes, but mainly in the kitchen and bakery. In time we will be able to stop using firewood to run the ovens and use power. We are hoping that we will receive funds to purchase industrial electric cooking pots to use in the kitchen and a bread oven for the bakery and electric mixing bowl. (If any one has any of these items lying in their shed please let us know)

Clothes distribution continues each month since the container arrived. Our children are looking so smart and have a nice outfit each. The clothes are being distributed to all of the Mwandi village plus 2 small outlying villages. Both of these new additions to our Program are very pleased with the support to their orphans.

Another container for Mwandi Mission – The Port Lincoln community are currently working on sending another container of much needed items to Mwandi. The plans are to send this container mid year. Another very exciting project organised by the Support Team and Port Lincoln Uniting Church. God continues to supply us with generous people who are willing to spend their time and efforts to help the Orphans and Vulnerable children of Mwandi.

We are looking for some educational toys to send to the children in Mwandi. If you can help with the following items, we would be very happy. We would love to be able to purchase 5-10 of each of the items. Tupperware make a toy called Shape –O; Fisher Price – activity boards (pre–battery); Plastic Hula Hoops, Soccer Balls and Quoits

Sports for the children of Mwandi – Here in Australia we have all been enjoying the clash of the Ashes between England and Australia held every two years. Australia has won this series with a clean sweep. (Yippee) I’m very keen to teach the children of Mwandi cricket. While I have been home, I have been able to contact some cricket clubs asking for second hand cricket bats, balls, pads and hats. Cricket is already played in schools all over Zambia, but not in Mwandi. The children would love it and it would give them another sport to learn new skills and team work.
I would also like to encourage the children to play football and soft ball. So if you have any cricket items, footballs or softball mitts etc that are no longer needed, and could send in the container, contact redfred1972@yahoo.com

Nurse Jen

The Short Term Exposure Trip (STET) to India in late 2006 included an opportunity for participants to experience a short term volunteer placement. Jen (SA) is a nurse by vocation, and chose to spend time at Ikkadu in the hospital for a few days. While very different to her work in Australia, she greatly enjoyed the experience. She even wore the white nurses sari - beautiful! Jen is pictured here with Sandy Boyce (People in Mission Coordinator) and Dr Cornelius, Honorary Director, Ecumenical Relations, Diocese of Madras.
For more information about STET's, work parties and volunteer placements, contact Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au, Ph 02 8267 4230.

Note: Sandy has concluded her role as PIM Coordinator and is now working as the National Faith Development Consultant in the Uniting Church (senior youth and young adults), http://www.nyyam.org

Fiona & Heather (SA) in Mwandi - new website!

More exciting news for the OVC Project – we have a web site http://www.mwandiovc.com/
Thank you so much to friends who have set this wonderful website up for the project.

Comments from Heather about the importance of the Mwandi UCZ OVC Project:

“A child writes about how excited he is to go school and study his subjects; a 13 year old girl experiences joy as she plays with a doll for the first time in her life; a little boy runs around with loads of energy playing ball and having fun when 3 months ago he was barely able to walk due to lack of food, an orphan feels part of the OVC family, it gives her the feeling that she matters to someone. These are the significant things that make the Mwandi UZC OVC Project important to Mwandi. The Project provides hope and promise to those in most need in the Village. It provides a safe and secure environment where children can come and just be children, away from the pressures of daily life (that often include caring for younger siblings, looking after the family herd of cows, working to provide an income for the household). It provides an education for those who may never have had the opportunity if it wasn't for the Project. It provides spiritual and emotional support for those who have had too many losses in their lives. You only have to look into happy smiling faces of the children on the programme and the students who are studying towards a better future to know what the Project's importance to Mwandi Village is.”

It's a baby girl for Gethzi and Samson

Samson and Gethzi Devasahayam are Church of South India pastors from the Diocese of Madras. They are in Australia to complete a Masters in Theology. On December 10th, they celebrated the birth of their first child, Hanukkah, a beautiful and contented little girl. Congratulations to Samson and Gethzi!

Heather (SA) in Mwandi - Christmas at the OVC

Christmas Day with the children on the Feeding Programme was a really great Day and the kids really enjoyed it. The members of the Social Support and Nutrition Committees gave their time to serve the children so that they could have this special day.

We started off with the story of the birth of Jesus - the reason for Christmas. Paul - one of the church volunteers from the UCZ gave the Message. We had a really nice lunch of chicken, tomatoes and rice with Christmas Chocolate Cake for dessert. The older children had put together a Sketch on the birth of Jesus, which they presented on the day - they had Everything in it - the journey to Bethlehem, no room at the inn, shepherds and sheep, King Herod, the three wise men and of course baby Jesus lying in a manger. One of the highlights of the afternoon was the dancing competition. The children danced to Zambian music and it was great to see the smiles on their faces and the fun that they were having. The adults even got into the spirit and had a dance competition themselves.

Presents were given out in the afternoon - each child received an OVC T-shirt, toy and bag of sweets. The joy on the children's faces as they opened their presents just warms your heart. It’s hard to describe the feeling but watching the children during the day, helping each other out, singing their hearts out about Jesus, sharing their food, encouraging each other in the dancing competition and just enjoying the day was incredible.

Rev Graham at Vellore CMC

Graham is a retired minister from SA. He spends time at Vellore Christian Medical College each year, offering pastoral support as a volunteer chaplain. Here he is pictured with a friend, who has a prosthetic leg due to leprosy, and spends time in the workshop working on shoes for other people in a similar situation.
Vellore CMC began with a big vision to provide medical care to those who had no access to such help, as well as training local people to provide the care, and has now developed into a large complex treating thousands of people each year. A truly inspiring story, and wonderful ministry. There are many Australians, including medical personnel, who visit Vellore each year to support the work.

Fiona (SA) in Mwandi - reflection on 2006

The Feeding Program continues to grow and it amazes me to see where we are today.
Just over a year ago we started with only 20 children, now we are feeding 140 kids, Monday to Saturday. When volunteers read stories to the kids after they eat their meals, the older boys take on the responsibility and read to the rest of the children. The older boys are helping with teaching the younger ones correct manners and also helping with the bible studies on Saturday. This brings promise that in the future our men will take on the correct
fatherhood role.

The Health checks for the children are nearly complete and at this stage 20% of the children who have been tested are HIV/AIDS positive. The hospital is sourcing for free Anti retroviral syrups for the children. We may have to employ a Nurse to make sure that all the children on ARVs receive their medicine at the correct time each day. There are only a few children who still need to be tested.

Volunteers from the Mwandi community make a huge contribution towards all of our Programs we run at OVC project. The Mwandi community has really taken the Project into their hands and this is a great relief to me. People want to help their orphans, and understand that the children are the Village’s and Countries future, and we must cherish them.

As soon as I get back to Mwandi we are going to build a Counselling Centre for the Orphans. We really need to start helping the children with their inner feelings and help them to share the grief for the parents they have lost and how to deal with life after losing loved ones. We are going to select a female and male from the community to send to Lusaka for training. I am very excited about this Program and can certainly see a vast need for counselling with the children. We trust that we are able to support some of the Churches to send people to each Church headquarters to become Spiritual Counsellors. We pray that when this Program is up and running our Children will be able to deal with life situations more clearly and positively.

Pre-school had a great party to close up the year for the students. Quite a few children will move onto grade 1 and new registrations for 2007 were many. We look forward to Lyn (a volunteer from Australia who came to work on the year program) to return early Jan 2007 to arrive and help with the 2007 program for the pre-school.

During the school holidays there have been many activities running at the OVC Project. The Sesheke students have been helping run and supervise silent reading, soccer, volleyball, and playground for all the children in the village. Many children have enjoyed movie screenings and colouring in during these holidays. We try to encourage all the children from the village to come and spend time at the Drop in Centre having fun and just being kids.