Exams over!

After much hard work by students and their teachers we wish all who have finished their Tawjihi exams good results, a restful holiday and a happy and fruitful future.

Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation

The last few days have involved visiting homes in the Ramallah, Bethlehem and Hebron areas to see some of the children with whom we have been working. I am very happy to say that all are well and in some cases looking forward to new schooling and medical care. Today, I had the privilege of being with the outreach team from the Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation Hospital. We travelled to one of the villages outside Bethlehem to visit children, all with quite severe physical handicap. Assessments were made by the social work and physiotherapy team and wonderful care was given. The children we met today all come from incredibly difficult situations and poor families who are normally unable to access good medical care because of the cost of treatment.

Belfast fundraiser. Please support this if you can.

With many, many thanks to Anne Deighan for organising and arranging this event.

I would like to invite you to a get together at the new and lovely Duncairn Cultural Centre (formerly 174 Trust) at 174 Antrim Road, Belfast on Tuesday 24th June from 6pm - 9pm.  this will also give you an opportunity to see inside this wonderfully refurbished cultural centre - formerly a  Presbyterian church.

The idea is you bring a few books/CD's/DVD's that you are finished with and hopefully see some books/CD's/DVD's that you would be interested in and would give a small donation to this very worthy cause below.  ALL funds raised will go directly to the children in need.

There will also be some refreshments and a chance to catch up with some friends.  Please feel free to circulate to anyone you think would be interested in supporting these children.

Welcome

Today, we can welcome our third child into sponsorship. We have been so careful to investigate each case thoroughly to ensure that we help only those in the most need and those who will benefit from a ‘helping hand’ with their educational and medical needs. It has been, so far, a slow process but with the fantastic help of advisors both in the Holy Land and in the U.K., we are making good progress. We ask you, also, to pray for and think of the other children with whom we have been working, for their welfare and in some cases as they finish their government exams and prepare to move on from secondary education.

A quiet faith

Daily, I witness the pain of many, both young and old. I was talking yesterday with a psychologist friend who said that he felt that there was a collective depression here, a tiredness. Through this shadow I see glimpses of light in the humour and stoicism of many of the people. It is, for me, a constant learning curve to find a way to dig beneath the surface to find the young people who need help. The kindness and goodness of some here that advise and share in this search is humbling indeed. As I watch some within the church excluding and ignoring those in need, I equally see those with such a quiet faith, giving of themselves so selflessly.