The tailoring course has been functioning for only a few months but it is at the centre of attention in the small community of Katund Sukth in Albania. The ladies enrolled are as enthusiastic and motivated as they were the first day the course started.

Isma is the youngest in the course. After her father abandoned the family about 5 years ago, her life was limited within the four walls of the house. She was allowed to continue to go to school, but spent all her free time caring for her younger siblings. As she cared for her brothers and sisters her dream of becoming a tailor was born. She started by making ‘dresses’ for the modest, improvised dolls she made for herself and her sister, but never thought she would be able to seriously learn the skill of tailoring.

The professional tailoring course, created, supported and organized by Mission Without Borders Albania and the local church, offers the course for free, and this was a dream come true for Isma. If the course attracted any price it would have simply been out of her reach. Isma has successfully finished her first creation, the dress for her end of high school prom party.  “The first of many” she shares, shyly but proudly. Now she knows that she is doing something that will help her build a better future, to do something useful and above all, something she enjoys.

This experience was not only a great blessing for her and the other ladies who attended the ourse, but also for their families. The most wonderful blessing is that the ladies are learning more about the immense and unconditional love of God for all His children, which includes them, too. Many of these women, for one reason or another, do not feel loved or appreciated at home. However, but under the care of the Mission Without Border’s Family-to-Family Coordinator for the area, the church volunteers and those involved in teaching this vocational training course, their lives are gradually changing for the better.

We are happy to report that our Summer Camps are in progress in Ukraine! 120 Family-to-Family children have already enjoyed 7 days of happiness. 250 Children’s Homes children are still in the camps. Our God blessed Ukraine with wonderful, hot and sunny weather from the start of June, which was perfect timing!

The children have been able to enjoy outdoor games, sports, swimming and bathing in the sun. Apart from this, the children have thrived under the care of the staff and volunteers who are providing care for them 24/7. They are also loving the accommodations, food, activities, games and worship sessions.

This year nearly 900 Ukrainian children will experience the fun, love and care in the Summer Camps. We are thankful to God that He has protected the health of the children so far and hope the rest of the summer camp progress injury and illness free!

Please join us in our everyday prayers for the success of the Summer Camps in all six field countries: Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine.

If you would like to make a donation toward this great project, please donate now (securely through our website) or contact us and we would be happy to take your credit card donation over the phone (Monday-Friday 9am - 5pm on (02) 9647 2022)

 Thanks for your support!

On June 6 Mission Without Border’s summer camps started in Moldova! This year 1100 children from Childrens’ Homes, CRI Communities and our Family-to-Family projects will enjoy the friendly and peaceful atmosphere of 3 summer camps throughout the country. They are located in the middle of forests and the kids will enjoy the birds’ singing, breathe the fresh air and have fun with their old and new friends.

This year’s summer camps’ theme is Joseph. The children will find out more about Joseph, about his faith in God and the way God worked in and with his life. Each day the children will learn new things about Joseph, with lessons including:

-          Joseph in his father’s house

-          Joseph in Potiphar’s house

-          Joseph in prison

-          Pharaoh’s dream

-          Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt

-          Benjamin and Joseph

-          Jacob and Joseph

-          No cross – no crown

Each child who attends the summer camp will receive a booklet which contains the summary of each Bible lesson, crosswords, questions, many interesting pictures to color and key Bible verses.  After the morning chapel, the children will gather in small groups and have discussions around the message they have just heard. So far, the kids have loved the lessons,  asked lots of questions and eagerly wait for the next instalment.

We pray that the seed planted in the small hearts of the summer camp attendees will grow and be helpful for their future life. 

May God bless the kids in the summer camp this year!

 Recently, our Mission Without Borders Coordinators, together with the Christian Input volunteers from the local churches organised a program for former Mission Without Border’s Beneficiaries in Southern Romania. It’s been 10 years since they last met and now, many of them are married and have their own families. It was hard to make contact with every one and tell them about this special meeting, because many changed their phone numbers and moved far away. Still, God made this meeting possible and they came together with their spouses (and children). The joy was even greater!

We welcomed them all and prayed together just as we used to 10 years ago. After that, we sang many songs and we were all amazed to see that these young men and women did not forget the words of the songs.  They were so enthusiastic-especially that these songs brought back wonderful memories.

Eugen Macavei (MWB Romania’s Country Manager) shared a message about MWB’s current programs and encouraged every one present. Another volunteer shared a very wise sermon about number 2, that they should never serve 2 masters, that there are 2 kingdoms, 2 ways, 2 gates (narrow & wide one), 2 kinds of people (sinners, forgiven sinners), 2 destinations and that they should be wise and choose the right one and serve the Lord for all their lives.  

It was a blessed time and after they sang a few more songs, they went and socialised in the basement of the Church. There they had lunch and made contact with each other as they had lots to talk about. The MWB Coordinator, together with the volunteers, shared some presentations and movies from the MWB summer camps they participated in, and were all very happy to see themselves in movies from 10+ years ago! They were all smiling; some were even crying tears of joy and expressed their thankfulness for all the work that the coordinator and volunteers have done over the years. They were also full of gratitude for every little thing MWB has done for them, for investing in them and loving them just the way they were. They said that they appreciated the fact that we never gave up on them and continued to meet with them, offer advice and tell them about God and His plan for them.

Two of the volunteers who were former beneficiaries shared their testimonies about how they got to know Christ and decided to make a good change in their lives. Now they are volunteers for MWB. It was a great encouragement for every one in the room. At the end of the meeting, every participant received a Bible and some gifts from the warehouse (according to their needs): shoes, clothing, shower gel and baby prams. Again, they were wonderfully impressed by the our gesture and thanked every one involved in organising this wonderful event- which turned out to be like a wake-up call for them. They took some photos and every single person said that if such a meeting will ever be planned, they will do everything within their powers to be there.

God is good to us and once again, He showed us that He controls everything and that if we put our trust in Him, He will never disappoint us.

Shared by Lavinia Campean from MWB Romania

PS This great ministry is thanks to the long term support of so many in Australia and further afield who have been moved with compassion to help the poor of Eastern Europe - thanks for your support!

God bless, 

Michelle Dorey

National Director

MWB Australia

On Sunday Albania went to the polls for local government elections. After 40 days of campaigning, characterized by violent clashes in hot spots across the country, polling day was unexpectedly peaceful.  Watched by thousands of international observers, voters were dignified and composed.

But the vote-counting has been less peaceful. So far, the opposition Socialist Party has gained a majority of seats. They’d been held tightly by the Democrats since 1992. But now there’s a big change in the city halls, which is a clear ‘slap in the face for the governing party.’

However, people are restless at the counting delays in the two main cities, Tirana and Durres.  Only 35% of the boxes are counted and it’s impossible to predict when the process will be completed. Unusually, the prime minister Sali Berisha has not appeared on TV, and even the international observing bodies have not issued any official conclusions or comments.

Read about MWB’s work in Albania.

We are thrilled to announce a new initiative of MWB Australia - our new Gift Catalogue! If you would like to make a concrete difference to the lives of the children, families and elderly we serve, our new catalogue gives you many options! What’s more, it can solve your present buying dilemmas for family and friends! You will be providing a gift on their behalf  that will make a difference long after the birthday dinner or Christmas festivities are over! 

Please click through for more details! 

MWB Australia Gift Catalogue 2011/12 - give a gift that makes a difference!

Survivor of Chernobyl nuclear explosion remembers rebuilding ruins 

On Ukraine’s 25th anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear disaster, Stepan, now 68, shares his memories of rebuilding the remains of the Chernobyl power plant.

Stepan only learnt of the Chornobyl blast in May, 1986, almost two weeks after the tragedy.  A year later, in August 1987, he was ordered to go to the disaster site. He was a building foreman who lived in Sarny, just two-hours’ drive across northern Ukraine from Chernobyl. For 50 days Stepan and his building crew of 20 men worked to rebuild the ruined power plant’s blocks 3 and 4.

Little protection from radiation
The builders’ daily shift lasted two hours. They lived 30 km from the station and a bus took them to the plant and back every day. The group had practically no safe clothing nor shoes. For protection, they were given fabric overalls, casual boots and a piece of gauze to ‘protect’ the lungs. No one explained the dangers of radiation.

The only surviving liquidator
Of the six men in his Chernobyl building gang, Stepan is the only one living today. He’s a pensioner who keeps busy on his farm plot. But Stepan has health problems. He suffers from heart and neurological disorders. Why- he can’t explain. He thinks that nuclear power is a caged animal – it can break loose at any time and bring a lot of suffering. Stepan follows the damage at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear reactor very closely. He prays for everyone there.

Mission Without Borders works with different types of people in Ukraine who remember Chernobyl. Find out how they benefit from MWB’s programs.

As the world commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster this week, Ukraine reflected on how the lives of hundreds of thousands who have been afffected - from death, to poor health and relocation to areas outside the exclusion zone.

Having recently returned a few weeks from visiting Ukraine, and experiencing the very eery and moving Chernobyl Museum whilst in Kiev, I can say the legacy remain today. Regardless of media reports, the incidence of poor health, including thyroid problems and unusual cancers is at such levels, we simply cannot sweep it under the carpet. Please pray for this country as well as our vital ministry to children, families and the elderly whose lives bear the marks of this tragedy…. Please click on the link  if you would like more of an insight into the realities faced today by the hundreds of thousands who have been exposed to radiation - http://www.boingboing.net/2011/04/25/chernobyl-disaster-2.html 

Thanks for your support of our ministry,

God bless,

Michelle Dorey

National Director

Our new 2011 ‘Overcomers’ magazine is hot off the press and ready for your enjoyment.

We hope it provides not only a good overview of our ministries, but the good picture of the challenges facing each field country.

It is also jam packed with the wonderful personal stories we know you enjoy!

Please feel free to download a copy of the magazine here:

Mission Without Borders Australia 2011 Overcomers Magazine

If you would like a hard copy for yourself and any additional copies of the magazine to pass onto family, friends and churches, please let us know. This continues to be one of the most popular ways to spread the word about our ministry, so we are more than happy to send copies to you.

God bless and thanks for your interest and support of our ministry!

Michelle Dorey

Mission Without Borders Australia

Please pray for the Sponsor Tour that departs Sydney on Saturday March 26 for Bosnia and Ukraine. We have no doubt the Lord has prepared much for us to see and be challenged by. We are excited and our field staff cannot wait to share their beautiful countries and great ministries with us. We hope to keep you updated frequently through this website and also our new Facebook Page: Mission Without Borders Australia - subject to Internet access of course!

For those who would like to pray specifically:

We will be touring project in Bosnia  from Monday 28 March until Friday 1 April

We will be touring projects in Ukraine from Saturday 2 April until Saturday 9 April before returning to Australia.

We arrive back in Australia on April 11

God bless and thanks for your prayers

 Michelle Dorey

National Director

Mission Without Borders Australia