As fatalities increase during Eastern Europe’s big freeze, Mission Without Borders UK’s director recently visiting Romania to deliver warm clothes and food to families. Reports received today indicate that last week’s cold snap in eastern and central Europe has now killed more than 300 people.  At least 120 people, mostly homeless, have died in Ukraine because of the weather.  Temperatures in parts of Ukraine have fallen as low as -38C at night. But while the cold spell, likely to remain for several weeks, has only just begun, Mission Without Borders has already been rescuing those at risk of freezing. Setting out with its ‘Operation Winter Rescue’ program from the beginning of January, Mission Without Borders aims to help many of Eastern Europe’s neediest. Over 13,000 families and elderly will receive food, clothing, medication and wood for heating that will keep them alive during this winter. It costs the charity: • $25 to provide a family with extra food or clothing • $45 gives enough bedding for two children • $100 could provide additional wood for heating and cooking. National Director of Mission Without Borders UK, David Hardisty, said “I was in Romania two weeks ago at the start of the bad weather. There were heavy snowfalls and it was bitterly cold.  I visited a sponsored family living in a ramshackle building in the forest. The father was out working but the mother had spent the entire day indoors with her seven children. The children didn’t have any shoes, except for some flimsy lightweight joggers, and so could not go to school.  I visited them with two of my colleagues in the late afternoon.  We took with us a variety of shoes for the children to ensure that we had the right size of shoe for each child.  We also delivered several bags of food and hygiene items, along with warm clothing for each member of the family.  It was humbling to see where and how they lived.” Please pray for the poor suffering so much during this intense cold. Pray we can find those suffering the most and provide them with life-saving warm clothing, winter boots, heating materials (such as wood and coal), food and hygiene items. Pray for safety and strength for our field staff making the deliveries. The roads are poor at best. Add the heavy snowfall and ice to these roads and it could easily spell disaster. 

It is not too late to make a donation to our ‘Operation Winter Rescue’ Appeal. All donations large and small will make an impact! Please be encouraged if you have contributed to our ‘Gift in Kind – Operation Cover-Up’ containers of aid. Knitted items in their tens of thousands have been distributed to those most in need and large numbers of items are on their way to each field country. Pray for smooth passages through customs so we can distribute the warm items as quickly as possible. Donate to our ‘Operation Winter Rescue Appeal’ by callling our office in Sydney (02) 9647 2022 or donate securely through our website now! Thank you for supporting our ministry at this critical time! God bless, Michelle Dorey
National Director
MWB Australia

Bucur and Ana both have health problems, and Ana has severe osteoporosis meaning she is confined to her bed most of the time. In spite of all this, her face is radiant and she is full of happiness when someone comes to visit them. “Our day is so full when we have guests as we are always alone. It is a real surprise and a blessing to have you here!”

They received an Operation Christmas Love parcel and knitted blankets at Christmas: “We have never received such nice blankets before and we are so grateful for them. God bless and reward the people who thought of us and offered us this food parcel and these nice blankets!”Thank you to everyone who supported Operation Christmas Love and brought joy into so many homes this Christmas. With 30,000 OCL parcels and lots and lots of beautiful blankets delivered at this cold time of year, there was lots of love spread around!

It is often hard to fully explain the breadth and depth of our ministry to children living in Children’s Homes. Many are not orphans, and yet their needs for love, acceptance and care is without question. We would love to share Geanina’s story with you. It is a personal story, a real face to this wonderful ministry we feel privileged to support from Australia. Please pray for Geanina - her transformation into a young woman with a firm faith in God is inspirational and we are sure she will continue to share her faith with her fellow students. Please pray also for the thousands of children who will spend this Christmas in Children’s Homes. For some it will be a nicer experience than spending time with biological family - they will receive gifts and watch wonderful Christmas concerts and plays performed by Mission Without Border’s staff, volunteers and church partners. For many children however, their greatest wish is to have a family; a family to spend the Christmas season with, a family that will lavish them with love and gifts. Pray they will begin to understand the love of our Heavenly Father; a Father who will never leave or abandon them, a Father who knows their innermost thoughts, cares, and dreams and loves them unconditionally!  

This is Geanina’s story….Geanina grew up in different Children’s Homes. Her mother never legally married and soon after her birth, her parents separated. Geanina has a brother, who also grew up in a Children’s Home. His name is Mircea. Her mother was a physics’ teacher and her father graduated from university when she was young.

Soon afterwards, her parents separated and the mother found herself in the impossible situation of having to bring her children up by herself. Therefore, she was forced to put them in a Children’s Home, as their father was unwilling to help in any way. Soon after she was placed in the first Home at age 5,her mother took Geanina and her brother home for the weekend without asking the director’s permission.  After a few days of being hungry and begging out on the streets, the staff of the Home, who knew that the children were missing, found them. They were in a really bad way. The staff was shocked to see them like this and immediately took them both back to the Home. The children’s mother could have been in trouble with the law, but the director of the Home didn’t want her to be charged with anything. However, in order to ensure this wouldn’t happen again, the director decided to transfer the children to another Children’s Home the very next day. 

In her own words, Geanina continues her story…“I can say that I spent a big part of my childhood at Halaucesti Children’s Home. I had a great time here, because this was the place where I started to enjoy my studies and socialise with other people to a greater extent.  I learnt to open up my heart bit by bit. While I was at this Children’s Home, Mr. Nicu, Mission Without Border’s coordinator in this area, invited me to participate in the Summer Camp that Mission Without Borders organised that year (2001). It was the first Christian camp I had participated in and I can easily say it was totally different from the ones I had been to previously. The people there were teaching the children with dedication and love and taught us  lots of nice Christian songs and sketches. I didn’t miss any of the camps for the next three years. Then, my mother tried to stop me going and in order to make sure it wouldn’t happen, she took me and my brother to her home during the summer holidays. She treated us badly- beating us and making us beg on the streets. This made us not want to see her anymore.

Eventually, the Children’s Home closed down and we were moved to a different one in Verseni. At this new Home, I was able to go to the Summer Camp organised by Mission Without Borders Romania the following year. This made me so happy! The leader of my group was a great lady and she taught me many wonderful things. She was very patient with me. She listened to all my problems and offered advice. God worked in my heart and I learnt more about Jesus and all of a sudden, everything looked different; the sky was blue, the grass was green and people seemed nicer!

My peers began to ask me what had happened to make me so different. Of course, my bad opinion concerning “the repenters” (Christians) changed as they now became the people who were helping me overcome my fears and teaching me about God and His Son who came into the world to save us. I am now God’s child and I am happy to say it!

The educators at this new Children’s Home knew that I was a Christian straight away. I had other friends who were moved there too, and they were also Christians. The educators could see us reading the Bible together and singing Christian songs and they loved it!

After the holidays, I decided to start on the catechism course at the church because I wanted to get baptised.  At first, I thought my mother would be happy for me, but then I realised she wasn’t. Once, she came to the church where I was taking part in a course and everyone could see how much trouble I can get into just for going to church. After that, I thanked God for being able to grow up in Children’s Homes. I know this might sound weird, but I am very sure that if I hadn’t been put in a Home, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to hear the Good News, as my mother would never accept such a decision on my part. As they say, everything happens for a reason. Even though I grew up without my mother’s love and affection, which every child so badly needs, my Father in Heaven was a father and a mother to me.

Well, time passed and I finished the catechism course and the time came for me to be baptised. I was very nervous, but happy, especially as I had all my friends with me. My big surprise came when my mother appeared in the church that day. Although she was not happy that I was getting baptised, I was happy she came.

  

Geanina the day of her baptism - hs is the one holding the flowers and her Mum is the one in pink kneeling at the front.

 I am aware that only God gives me the strength to not think bad thoughts about my mum and why she abandoned me and my brother, but instead to pray for her so that she will come to know Christ one day. My mother has never been in a good financial situation and I am sure it cost her something to come and see me get baptised, but she came.  God bless her! I learnt that my father married another woman and that they have two children together. He is a paediatric doctor at a hospital in Iasi, but he refuses to be in contact with me and my brother. We will continue to pray for him, too.

In conclusion, all I can say is that without Mission Without Border’s coordinator and the dedicated people working for the mission, my life wouldn’t have been the same. Thanks to them, God is part of my life now and I would not like to do anything without Him. He is the one who gives me the strength to go on and He always takes good care of me. I am His daughter and He will never abandon me!”

This year, Geanina will receive a scholarship from Mission Without Borders Romania for the first time, to help her with her studies. She is a student at the university in Iasi, in the Mathematics Faculty. She is a good student, who knows that having a degree will increase her chances of finding a job later on and being able to live a good life.

 What an inspirational story! Thanks for making this ministry possible!

God bless,

Michelle Dorey

National Director

Mission Without Borders Australia 

As the harsh Eastern European winter grips our field countries despair is etched on the faces of children, their carers, families and the elderly… their pleas can be heard far and wide… “Daddy, Mummy, I am so cold, I can’t get warm enough…”, “But Daddy, Mummy, I know I don’t have a good coat and winter boots, but please can I still go to school?”, “Daddy, Mummy, please can we play outside…?”

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Mothers and fathers lament the crippling poverty that has once again put them under incredible stress and only enjoy fitful sleep as they ponder how their family is going to survive the harsh winter. Many children abandon school for months on end as they don’t have adequate boots or warm clothing to walk to school. The luxury of flicking on a switch to enjoy constant, reliable heat is out of reach for most families and elderly. For many of those whose houses are equipped with this reliable heat, they don’t contemplate using it because the price of electricity, gas and heating are now prohibitive.

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For Children’s Homes, the dormitories are often harsh, cold rooms and heating is extremely difficult. Buildings are old, windows often let the harsh weather in, bathrooms are drafty, and hot water is not reliable.  Directors are often forced to make difficult decisions between choosing to adequately heat buildings, nutritious food or medicines – the budget never stretches to cover all needs. Despite it being at or below freezing for half the year, many children are unable to venture outside for long periods as they share winter boots and coats with their fellow students.

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It may look like a bleak, hopeless picture, but there is hope and help during the long harsh Eastern European winter for the poor we serve. After Operation Christmas Love parcels are delivered and Christmas parties are enjoyed we launch our next vital project, ‘Operation Winter Rescue’.  Operation Winter Rescue will provide warmth to those that need it most. Wood, coal and peat for heating will be delivered alongside warm winter boats, coats and knitted items in their thousands from supporting countries like Australia. As we swelter through our long, hot summer and many of us dread the unrelenting heat, the poor we serve give thanks to God they are not forgotten in their time of need.

Please read the attached appeal to find out more…

December Focus News - Operation Winter Rescue

 

Please click on the link to watch the latest movie from our field countries - it puts a personal face to the need that exists in our field countries - 6 siblings, now orphans struggling to survive, now under the care of their oldest sister (23) - be touched by the need but encouraged that in partnership we can make a difference to those in need.

If you can help, we would love your one-off donation. You can do so by making a secure donation through our website now  - DONATE NOW or feel free to contact us on (02) 9647 2022 to make a credit card donation over the phone (our full contact details can be found here.)

Thanks for your support and partnership, we couldn’t do it without you!

Michelle Dorey

National Director

Mission Without Borders Australia

What about a gift from our ‘Present for the Future’ Gift Catalogue!

November Focus News

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MWB Australia Gift Catalogue

 

 As 2011 draws closer to Christmas, we would like to once again give you the opportunity to make a very real, lasting difference in the lives of the children, families, the disabled and elderly we serve in Eastern Europe. If you are puzzled as to what to give family or friends this Christmas, what about giving a ‘Present for the Future’ – a gift from MWB Australia’s Gift Catalogue?  Every gift represents a very real need expressed by our field staff and they are appealing for our help more than ever. As many western European countries teeter on the precipice of economic collapse, their Eastern European neighbours, our field countries, are gravely concerned their already harsh lives are going to get even harder. With the long, harsh, freezing winters descending on our field countries, they need our support to survive. In amidst this despair, comes Mission Without Borders, wanting to lend a hand. They become God’s hands and feet and can help, thanks to your support. Your financial support allows us to purchase the needed supplies and your prayer support, guides us to those most in need and gives us the wisdom to address the most urgent of needs, vital when resources never stretch far enough to meet all needs. How ‘Present for the future’ works You may be wondering how we deliver your catalogue gifts to children and families in Eastern Europe, particularly the ones of the animal variety! No, we don’t try and put the gifts into boxes and ship them off overseas. Instead, each ‘Present for the Future’ gift you buy represents one facet of our overall program, such as agricultural or self-sufficiency/vocational training that we will carry out on your behalf. If budgets for items become oversubscribed, be rest assured, your gift will go towards another facet of the same program. For example, our agricultural program is wide and varied, as each field country prefers different animals and family sizes and available land differ. Therefore, buying a pig will go toward this wonderful fund that will purchase pigs, chickens and other livestock. Their diets greatly improve and many can look to the future of having an income with the sale of future offspring. Or if you buy a Dreambus Trip or Creative Christian Outreach, you will be enabling our staff to fulfil their full program of reaching children with the love of God and the opportunity to be children for a day, to laugh and have fun, something so often denied as they languish in Children’s Homes.

We have organised the catalogue separating different areas of our ministry, such as children, families and self-sufficiency, although the very nature of work means ministries crossover. For example, our delivery of God’s Word, benefits everyone in our programs, from families, to the elderly, to children in families and Children’s Homes. We would love to send you a card to pass onto your family or friends as a token of the gift you are purchasing on their behalf. If the items you are purchasing are not to be given as an alternative gift, please feel free to also request cards and hang them in your home, on your Christmas tree to serve as a reminder for the difference you are making. They also serve as a great conversation piece, as people will often enquire as to who we are and what life is like for the poor we serve in Eastern Europe. We know this catalogue will be popular this Christmas but keep in mind it is available all year round, serving as an alternative gift catalogue throughout the year for birthdays, weddings and special occasions.  Thanks so much for your support of our ministry through this gift catalogue.

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If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office on (02) 9647 2022 or email: australia@mwbi.org

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1. Choose a gift  Browse the gifts in our 2011 Gift Catalogue, either online or contact us for a hard copy.

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2. Your Options in Completing Your Order:

1. Complete the form at the back of the catalogue and return it to us,
2. Telephone (02) 9647 2022 in business hours (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) and we will happily process it for you over the phone.
3. If you would like to order online, we require the following.
•Tally your total $ value of all gifts you would like to purchase.
•Process this payment through our Donate Now feature of our website
•Click the link to “Contact us” and provide the following details: Your name, address and contact details, list the gifts you would like to purchase, whether you would like us to send gift cards and magnets as mementos to keep or pass on to your friends or family and if you require a receipt (by email or mail) for your transaction.

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3. Receive your card(s), if requested

If you let us know that you require gift cards (as in the above instructions), we will send you a card and fridge magnet for every gift you have purchased. You simply send the card with magnet to your chosen friend or relative or keep the reminder for yourselves. Together, you can be sure that your gift will make a lasting difference to the poor of Eastern Europe. Please allow 10 days for delivery of the cards.

 Thanks for your support and God bless,

Michelle Dorey

National Director

Operation Christmas Love 2011 

October marks the special time of year we prepare to bless the poor we serve in Eastern Europe with some gifts to make their Christmas special.

Freedom to celebrate Christmas is now available in our six field countries of Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. However, in the last 20 years, since the cover of darkness of communism was swept away  - Eastern Europeans have not only discovered God and the celebration of his birth at Christmas, but the region has also been flooded with consumable goods and the media which is pushing the notion that if one truly cares for their family they will shower them with gifts at Christmas and present loved ones with feasts.

These changes have plunged those families overwhelmed by poverty into despair. They cannot provide their children with gifts and a feast at Christmas as they cannot provide sufficient basic food for survival… The despair of families is echoed in the homes of the elderly and disabled. It has become a miserable time of year.

We want to once again bring joy into this situation and need your help.

30,000 boxes will be packed and will feature such items as flour, oil, pasta, rice, canned meat, canned vegetables, jam, sweets, local festive delicacies. $40 will put an Operation Christmas Love box into the hands of someone who needs to be encouraged this Christmas.

Please read the attached Operation Christmas Love Appeal and if you can help, we would love your one-off donation. You can do so by making a secure donation through our website now  - DONATE NOW or feel free to contact us on (02) 9647 2022 to make a credit card donation over the phone (our full contact details can be found here.)

 Thanks for your support and partnership, we couldn’t do it without you!
Michelle Dorey

National Director

Mission Without Borders Australia

September 2011 Focus News - Comfort, Strength and Sustenance 

Children in Eastern Europe have many obstacles to overcome. If they have lived in poverty stricken families or families where abuse and neglect reign, they are often removed and placed in Children’s Homes. There have been dramatic improvements in most Homes in the last two decades, since the West discovered the deplorable conditions the children had to endure. Despite the improvements most children crave living with and being part of a healthy family. They have many emotional needs, many emotional wounds, often have limited self-help and social skills and therefore it is an uphill battle to prepare them for lives of self-sufficiency and emotional maturity.

 Thanks to your support we are making great progress in improving their lives and preparing them for the future - however, there is still so much more we need to do!

I hope the attached latest Focus News encourages you about the progress made - the improvements in the Spiritual, Emotional, Educational and Material Needs of the children. Improvements are possible thanks to the sponsorship of children in the Homes or in the community, as well as the one off gifts to our ministry. If you would like to support our great ministry to children you can do so by making a secure donation through our website now  - DONATE NOW or feel free to contact us on (02) 9647 2022 to make a credit card donation over the phone (our full contact details can be found here.)

If you would like to sponsor child, where you will support their practical needs and have the opportunity to correspond with them, encouraging them to reach their dreams and goals, contact us we have many children waiting for sponsors now ($40/month) or follow the link to find out more on our website, including a short list of children waiting for sponsors now.

We are excited to now have available our Mission Without Boder’s International Report for you to read. It gives a great overview of our work, as well as explains so of the individual challenges and successes of each field country.

Click on the Link to read the report

2011 Mission Without Borders International Report

Happy Reading!

 God bless

 Michelle Dorey

National Director

Mission Without Borders Australia

Our Seeds of Hope project offers a parcel of seeds to families in our Family to Family program. It enables them to grow crops of good, healthy food to supplement their diets, both at harvest and then later in the winter months when they use can preserves and stored food (like potatoes, carrots and beets).

Here is a short video showing one Ukrainian family with their crops in June 2011:

Thanks for your support of this great project!

Summer Camp 2011! 

There is no doubt Summer Camps are a big highlight for our ministry and certainly the most anticipated time of year for the thousands of children who hope that this year it will be their turn to enjoy the endless food, fun, love and care that summer camp brings.

We have just received a video that shows the Procop brothers, highlighted in this year’s Summer Camp appeal (link above), enjoying this amazing time of adventure, love and care.

Be inspired about what we can achieve when we work together! We made a commitment to sending thousands of chidren to summer camp this year and are trusting the Lord that He will bring in the funds. It is not too late to support this great ministry, if you can! You can make a secure donation through our website now  - DONATE NOW or feel free to contact us on (02) 9647 2022 to make a credit card donation over the phone (our full contact details can be found here.)

 If you can remember to pray for their strategic ministry, please do. The 24/7 constant love and care needed for the children attending is exhausting for the MWB staff and volunteers from the local churches. They do it willingly, but it does take its toll as shift after shift of children arrive.

 Please also pray for the children. For the first time attenders, many come with broken hearts and are often one of two things - they are withdrawn and lack confidence in everything or they are bold trouble makers who are masking their pain. Those who are attending for their second summer camp experience have often already overcome the initial shyness and are simply bursting with excitement to enjoy the experience again. Our hope and prayer is that healing will begin and continue, that food and fun will be enjoyed, but they would also meet their Heavenly Father, who will never leave or abandon them - a precious message we all need to hear!

 God bless,

Michelle Dorey

National Director

Mission Without Borders Australia