MALAWI UPDATE
We would appreciate your prayers for the country of Malawi as the complicated issues facing the country continue to complicate the lives of most Malawians and those of us who call Malawi home.
In recent weeks, there have been clashes between street vendors and local police. It seems the street vendors have felt the economic squeeze and began targeting women in town who weren't wearing skirts. Women who wore trousers were forced to purchase traditional wraparounds and those who refused were beaten in some clashes a few weeks ago. As bizarre as it sounds, it did happen!
Last week, vendors were given one week to return to their designated areas for selling goods. However, this week, when the deadline was up, they began clashing with the community (women especially) and police. Women wearing trousers were once again chased. The skirmishes reached the Game and Shoprite complexes (for those of you who know Lilongwe).
I just spoke to a young lady whose friend was one of those forced to purchase a wraparound. Most of our work takes us to the village an church that aren't in the center of town, we only go to town when bills need paying or other shopping needs to be done. With our experience of working in Burundi, we know to stay away when things get stirred up. All is well with us. Please pray for the safety of women here in the country. We will update as things arise.
6 February 2012
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN 2011!
The Links International team would like to thank you all for continuing to assist us in our work around the world. We couldn't do what we do without your loyalty and it is very much appreciated!
The stories that we hear are inspiring and we love to tell you all about them. Please don't forget to look on our Facebook and Twitter (@linksintl) pages for short, regular updates!
That just leaves us to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful new year for 2012!
The Links International Team
21 December 2011
KAIROS COURSE - JANUARY 2012, MAIDENHEAD
One of our partner churches, The River Church in Maidenhead, is running an intensive Kairos week-long mission course from Monday January 30th to Friday February 3rd at the Windsor Hall.
It will cost £150 to include all materials, refreshments and meals. The days will be from 9am to around 8pm. If you are interested in this course, please contact Di Chapman at bigyear@riverchurch.org.uk
Details of this and other courses are also available on the Kairos website. A flyer is also available here.
21 December 2011
ALEX MITCHELL TO COMPLETE THE GRIM CHALLENGE!
On the 3rd December, Links supporter Alex Mitchell is going to complete the aptly named Grim Challenge, which is an 8 mile run, wade and crawl over the Army's vehicle testing tracks in Aldershot! He's doing it to raise funds for Links International.
Student Alex has already commented: "I won't be looking too tidy by the time I've finished!", but we wanted to thank him for his dedication to our work.
Alex has set up a Facebook page which has more information and a sponsorship page. You can find out more by clicking here.
We'll let you know how he gets on, but in the meantime "Good Luck and Thank You Alex!"On Sunday 13th November, Links' CEO Andy Read was interviewed by Jeff Lucas and Ruth Dearnley for their "In Good Company" programme.
Andy talked about our work and remit and you can hear the programme by clicking here to go to the Premier Radio website. Our thanks go to Premier for their support.
16th November 2011
ANDY READ ON PREMIER RADIO!
THANK YOU LESLEY!
Links volunteer, Lesley Yates, went on another trip with us to Malawi in May this year and helped teach ladies how to sew. Her sewing magazine, Flair, profiled some initiatives in Africa and so Lesley decided to write to them about her experiences.
The magazine was interested enough to publish a page story on her trip and you can read it by clicking here.
Thanks again Lesley!
1st November 2011
MALAWI UPDATE
An energetic team has just returned from a trip to Malawi where they carried out some micro-enterprise development and community healthcare training.
One of our corporate supporters of work that makes a difference, Bunches, sent a team of people to Kande for a week. You can read their report by clicking here.
19th October 2011
KENYA UPDATE
We have recently received this report from our partners in Kenya, thanking Links supporters for providing resources, including electricity, to the building that will become a cyber cafe (when further resources become available) and for more donkeys and water containers to help poor families:
"Here we are well and happy to see how beautiful our new building is and more so when the lights are on.
We were able to buy 17 more donkeys and 100 water carriers. So far in total we have distributed 41 donkeys to families.
Water tank harvests rain water from the roof. We are selling the water at 8 Kenyan Shillings per 20liters container. We hope the water kits will keep the water clean but the buyers who may not have the water kits can boil it. The tank has capacity to carry 2300litres.
We pray that you are able to visit us in the future. God bless you in every way for your support."
Paul M Titus
Joy Counselling, Kenya. 17th October 2011
MALAWI UPDATE
"Demonstrations are set to take place on Wednesday 17 August. We have taken a week to pray and fast for Malawi. Please keep this nation and its beautiful people in prayer."
Lea Peters Trinity Church International, Malawi, 16 August 2011
"Greetings all from Malawi,
I’m writing you this prayer request with a heavy heart. Malawi has been in the midst of political and economic turmoil for some months now. As you may recall, we’ve mentioned the severe fuel shortages in our newsletters in recent months. For nearly two years, the country has been plagued with ever-increasing fuel shortages. This, together with high inflation and a lack of forex in the country has given rise to violent demonstrations held in Malawi’s larger cities on Wednesday and Thursday (today). Stores have been looted, people have been shot and some casualties have been reported.
This week we celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary with some friends, Mark and Sue Protheroe and their sons Ben and Sam, by going to Lake Malawi for a few days. We left on Monday afternoon and planned to return on Thursday afternoon. The Protheroes have come to teach some community health classes at the feeding site, these classes are to begin with an HIV/AIDS seminar at the feeding center this coming Saturday. They wanted to treat us for a few days off, which we are so grateful for. What we didn’t count on was the demonstrations that took place on Wednesday and went on into Thursday (today) our date of return to the city. We got home without incident but found the city void of activity. No one is working, and from what it sounds like, there may be more demonstrations tomorrow.
We covet your prayers during this time of difficulty in the country. We pray for a peaceful resolution and a cessation of violence. God save Malawi! We cannot bear to see this nation crumble!
Thank you for your prayers."
Jamie and Lea Peters Trinity Church International, Malawi, 21 July 2011
FFSIS UPDATE sage below regarding the situation in Kenya from our partner at Joy Counselling:
KENYA CRISIS UPDATE
Our partners, Joy Counselling, report:
Regarding the situation here [Nakuru], God has been good.The weather department had issued a warning that there would be a severe famine here but God blessed us with rain which had abruptly stopped a week before you inquired about the situation. This is the month that normally determines whether we get harvest or not. Good news is that rain resumed yesterday and if it continues to end month, we will be out of danger.
Price of staple food has gone up so much that many families are unable to make ends meet. Maize crop will be ready by end month to ease the pain if all goes well. However, there are people still in make shift tents who were displaced from their homes during the post election violence. Some of them are my relatives. They are going through a hard time sometimes they spend nights without food. We have been trying to help some and we pray that God may intervene to have them resettled.
About northern Kenya, we are thinking of sending at least three guys there to do some feasibility study. Study will involve looking at situation of famine, and also seeing if there is a way we could develop a good relationship with some local people with a view to inviting some of them to our future training or conducting some training there. We need prayers to know God's will about Northern kenya. Joy is a national organisation allowed to cover any part of Kenya.
Hope that information will help you to reassure our supporters on the real situation.
Kind regards,
Paul M. Titus."
Joy Counselling, Kenya. 21st July 2011
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TEACHERS - WE NEED YOU!
Education changes lives in many ways. It's essential for self-esteem, financial security, social justice, health and, in the long run, for community and economic development.It enables people to be effective citizens and participate in community decision making. There is a need to provide children with the opportunity to be educated, and there is also a need to improve the quality of teaching in many countries.
Links International works with teachers in developing countries to identify areas of need and offer help, ideas and encouragement. Teachers are challenged to use creativity and interaction with students to enhance learning - from nursery to high school.
Teachers in Manila have received training in classroom management, handling difficult students, and teaching styles and strategies. Education consultant and Links volunteer, Janet Leeson, says, "We have worked on developings ways to incorporate more interactive and creative work into the classroom with an emphasis on Mathematics, Science and English. The work in Manila has been very rewarding and it has been good to see many of the ideas and new skills put into action."
The work in Kenya and Malawi is very different and mainly in rural areas where resources are scarce. Despite some teachers being in charge of 60 to 180 children, they are enthusiastic to learn and adapt.
Janet says, "There is much work to be done within the education remit and a further task is to recruit more teachers to join in Links' vision and help spread the work even further."
If you're a teacher with a passion to empower others, we need you. Join a Links Trip and be part of a team that changes lives and transforms communities. Contact the UK office today.
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A LETTER OF THANKS
"Greetings to Links International in the Mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I'm called Ngale Simon from Cameroon and stand on the behalf of our group to say we really appreciate God for the great works His doing through your hands, and also to thank Mr. Mike that any where he is, the people around won't wanna let him go because of his good spirit. Always happy!
We have copied a lot from you and it's helping us up to date just the short time you were with us here in Cameroon. We said we love you so much and extend our greetings to your beloved wife which you always mention Mrs. Beryl Godward, and the entire family.
We the people of Buea Cameroon really want to make a change in our lives and our community and to say Links International were just at the appropriate time. We were so happy and shared the good news to everyone, our hopes were all up, I mean right UP, our leader pastor Genesis always encourage us by telling us indeed this is a year of Divine Favour, God's visitation, but along the way we are on able to get an positive information from Links International again. Not that we have lost our faith - no we have been praying so hard for this dream to come true.
So please In the Name of our good Lord come and see what you people can do we are confidant that you people are from God and highly blessed to be a blessings. We know by your help we will become so great like Isaac in the Bible that the world will run to our light. Time is running the strength of the people needs motivation even just by WORDS.
We will be hoping to here from you people through our Daddy Pastor Genesis. May God continue to bless LINKS INTERNATIONAL SO RICHLY!"
29 June 2011F
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KENYA - CHANGING ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS
An enthusiastic team of volunteers continued training last month with community influencers in Nakuru and Miti Mingi, Kenya. They discovered that both groups had been active, teaching one-on-one, in their communities, at Chief's meetings, and even at funerals.
Martha, a young woman from Nakuru, has been teaching family planning and the correct use of condoms - courageous teaching in Kenyan society. Moses, an elder in the community, said, 'The teaching was clear and professional and people listened,' Martha and others are providing life-saving education that is changing attitudes and actions.
The Links volunteers also continued micro-enterprise development training. Two inititatives were established as a result of the last Links Trip, however they had come to a halt and the teams didn't know how to move forward. Additional training and discernment revealed the block - a serious case of 'poverty spirit'. The administrators and management team were finding it impossible to consider running the initiatives for anyone but themselves. Hours of teaching and lots of prayer culminated in our partners pronouncing the poverty spirit broken! Last week, a number of small loans were granted to some of the poorest families in the community.
Links volunteer, Janet, continued work with educators from Miti Mingi, reinforcing the benefits of outdoor play and encouraging teachers to be resourceful. This led to inventive creations using empty water bottles and a few energetic team games. The educators reported that working with the chlidren to implement class rules had had a significant impact on behaviour. The introduction of alternate creative writing tools has improved writing standards.
Finally, the Links volunteers had the privilege of seeing, first-hand, how investments in pit latrines, water-carrying donkeys and income-generating projects are making a difference. Paul, our partner in Kenya says, 'The mums who have received the gift donkeys are so grateful. Now they are smiling all the long way to fetch water for their families. Let people know that this project is making a big difference. God bless those who gave money to help mums.'
Pray, Give or Go. You can make a difference today.
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RUNNING FOR LIFE
On 17 April 2011 five friends of Links International 'ran for life' and completed the Virgin London Marathon. Their determination and sweat over 26.2 miles raised much needed funds that will enable many more lives to be changed and communities transformed.
Sam Hubbard (above) writes, 'It was so good to run my first marathon on such a nice sunny day - along with so many other people - I really enjoyed myself! I think the adrenalin kicked in and I managed the first 23 miles fairly comfortably without any injuries and at a good pace. It started to get harder as soon as I hit mile 24 and mile 25 to 26 felt like a real struggle, but I still forced myself into a sprint finish! My end result was 3.49.14, which I am really pleased with, although I feel like an old man now!'
Huge respect and a very big 'thank you' to Alison Daniels, Paul Handley-Garland, Leon Thomas, Chris Webster and Sam Hubbard. Thanks also to everyone who cheered them on and generously donated.
KENYA
Recent teaching on ante-natal care, delivery and newborns uncovered a disturbing fact - many babies die in the first weeks of life. Traditional healers teach mums that the uvula, a small piece of soft tissue that dangles at the back of the throat, causes choking and vomiting. They recommend cutting the uvula out. This procedure is often done on three-day-old babies unsing unsterilized scissors. Babies often bleed to death, stop feeding, or contract septicaemia or HIV.
Following the training one of the participants, Anastasia, proudly told us she'd saved a life. She'd intercepted a mum on her way to have the procedure done. Anastasia shared the facts she'd been taught and the mum made a brave decision to turn around and return home.
It's a daunting task but education and encouragement have given Anastasia and fifteen Voluntary Healthcare Workers the tools and confidence to teach others and begin the process of community transformation - one life, one family at a time.
Poverty was also listed as key community issue. With an unemployment rate of more than 90%, Miti Mingi residents have little choice but to generate their own income. The Links team provided Micro-enterprise training and, as a result, two management teams were established to oversee two local initiatives. Small business loans will give families a much needed 'hand up'. Additional income generating projects are being considered and local teachers were upskilled by a Links educator.
Links 'links' education to practical projects that, quite literally, save lives. Fifty clean water filter kits will be sent to Miti Mingi, ten pit latrines are being built and 100 mosquito nets distributed. We're grateful to our partners for making this possible.
Help us continue to make a difference. Please donate today.