kingsland members around the world

remember the Jordanian widows lunch?

Dear congregation of Kingsland Church

I hope this finds you well.  I am sorry not to have updated you earlier about our progress with the shower room at the refugee camp, but the process of getting planning permission has been far more complicated than expected.  We had to change the site of the shower room construction and build a separate room for laundry.  However, I finally have good news because the planning application has been approved by the UN.  We had trouble finding a competent architect, but we now have excellent plans.  We have also chosen a local contractor from the camp.  The final bill will be more than expected and so I have been very busy fundraising here in Jordan.  We now have enough money and hopefully the construction will be completed by the end of this summer. 

I am also working on the renovation of the adjacent play ground which has further complicated matters, but the refuge camp’s population is very excited by all the changes taking place.  Some of the children even asked if they could also have a swimming pool ... so our interventions are certainly sparking hope! 

 All our other projects are running very well and we are hoping to open a new day centre for the elderly with a home help scheme for those who need it. 

My fellow members of Shams Jordanie also send their regards.

Thank you again for your support,

Regards,

Samira.

A day in the life of Alan & Beryl

Written Saturday 20th July and rested till sent.

A Day in the life.........
Well, we really did go rambling today – in the car that is, surely you didn’t think that I meant walking?? James our son is here, so to encourage him to take time off of his Busman’s Holiday at the Internet Cafe, we went to a small safari park 2 hours from our home. Lydia and Teddy came with us. Great excitement as we set out at 7.15am. (honestly.... we were awake before sunrise - Ed!)

By 8.30am our spirits were dampened as we heard the tragic news of a friend’s death. This was Winnie, who had had a terrible moped accident about 2 years ago. She nearly lost her leg then, but recovered it’s use, but never really regained her health. She died suddenly in hospital. The burial would be later in the day. After the shock of the phone call we wondered whether to turn back, but as we had nearly reached our destination we continued and planned to try to return to the burial at 4pm.

We were all sad, but brightened as we saw the animals – the various deer, wart hog, hippos and birds. The highlight was watching a standoff between a school of hippos and a large crocodile that swam slowly past them. The hippos lost interest in us, and turned to watch the silent menace glide past. We were mesmerised. Our fantastic guide threw a fish and we watched a pair of fish eagles swoop down to catch it. (they were about as good at cricket as I am though, as they did not catch a single one – Ed)

Hot from the sun, to the car – back on the dustiest road imaginable, and to the burial. At a very poor homestead we were welcomed by friends, but we were too late for the burial. Winnie had no close relatives, but masses of people had come to pay their respects to this much loved lady. It all felt so rushed and un-befitting of someone who had so much sparkle and life while alive; however some of that comes from a mixture of missing the burial itself and a comment from one of our friends here who said “That’s life”.

Back home for a quick change before meeting up with a couple who come each year to train midwives at the local hospital – new friends who were passing through.

While we were at home our newest young lady was brought to us, so we escorted her down to Hosanna House. Out then for the lovely meal, and then back to muse over the day.

Such intensity of feelings – joy, sorrow, mourning, excitement. Loss.

But last of all my thoughts are with our new, young teen, who is herself expecting a baby. I will meet her properly tomorrow. I found myself praying often during the day; questioning God, asking for comfort for ourselves and others, praising Him for the beauty of the lake, asking for safety on the roads. Thanking Him for Winnie. Then, as we plan for the new lass tomorrow, I find my prayers are for her. She looks shy, bewildered and scared. I think I would be too in her shoes. (anyone facing an interview of any sort with Mother has my compassion – even if it is one to make her welcome – Ed)

Some days are plain boring; some days are like today – full of surprises, sadness and joy. Again reminded of how brief our lives are, I plan to make tomorrow a significant day.

Have a great week Beryl

PS. Today’s ramblings contained a few editorials from our son, James...

from Kat in Cyprus

Hi Everyone
>
> Well I've arrived!!! I can't believe I'm finally here. I arrived late on Tue evening and spent the first few days trying to sort out our apartment which had no electricity supply!! Thankfully Wendy is a dab hand in dealing with people in foreign countries so we got it all sorted and finally moved in yesterday.
>
Got thrown in the deep end on Wed evening as I was put in a team who are witnessing to the cabaret girls in Nicosia, many who are trafficed in from Russia, Bulgaria, Romania and Phillpines. We only got a few  minutes with each as they were walking to work and we had to be very careful as their bosses are often watching them and don't like us talking to them. Many of our volunteers are from the countries the girls are trafficked from so it was amazing to pray and meet some international brothers and sisters. We had one chat with a young girl who was on the verge of tears asking us to pray for her as she desperately wanted to escape. The system is quite corrupt and officials are often involved in the trafficking as well. As we speak there is a court case where a girl is giving evidence against her club boss and is finding the legal system very tough. Please pray protection for these girls and that justice would be done in this situation. I'll be working on this project as well as the clubbing ministry so I will keep you  updated..
>
> I also did my first night last night in Agia Napa. It was so amazing and all the workers can't wait for the cafe to offficially open on Tue. It's great that they love the Christians who have come to support them. They are so blown away that we have a faith but look normal!!!  Please pray that we would have some great conversations on tue when the cafe called 'Rehab' opens :-)
>
> Finally please thank God for all his provision for me and all the team. It is however much more expensive for food and travel out here than I expected so please pray that those who took sponsors forms would send them back in as it is quite a struggle. I have been told by Wendy that I still need to raise another 200 pounds per month otherwise it's going to get very difficult for me. I'm trusting God though, He kept me going through Collective so pray I would see His provision in the most unexpected ways:-)
>
> Thank you again for all your support. And I'll be in contact again soon.
>
> God Bless
>
> Kat xx

from Dan

Okay, so this is the forth time that I've tried to write this email and each time the laptop has cut out or the I press send and the email suddenly deletes itself... very strange it's as if something or someone doesn't want you all to be praying for me!

So this is just and update from me at Ellel Pierrepont down in Surrey - As many of you know I have been here for the last 8 months training and well in 3 days i got to South Africa! (9th June) I'm so excited - i really can't wait, this will be my first mission trip to another country and well - im really looking forward to seeing what God is going to do, in and through me!

What i though would be good is to give you the schedule and what I'm going to be doing on those days - i and the rest of the team would really appreciate your prayers for the 15 days that I'm out there for!

So as i said i leave on Tuesday 9th June at 7:00pm - the flight is 11 hours and 20 mins long and i arrive at Johannesburg airport on Wednesday 10th at 7:20

We have a day just to rest up and we will also meet the Ellel Africa team and be shown around the Ellel Africa base in Pretoria.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday we will be holding a Pastors and Leaders conference for over 50 leaders from 5 different churches in the township of Mamelodi (which means mother of melodies :P) During the days it will be open to the leaders of the church and then during the evening sessions it will be open to the congregations of the 5 churches! wow! For these 3 days we will be staying with host families in the township which i expect not only to be a challenge and an eye opener to extreme poverty but also a huge privilege to stay with them in their homes. Over the course of these days we will be bringing teaching and ministry training, there is also going to be opportunity for people to receive ministry.

On the Sunday we will still be in Mamelodi and we will be sent out in twos like the 72 to the local churches to teach and minister! haha! Personally im really excited about this part! We've been told there could be between 50 people and 200 so it's a real adventure!

On Monday and Tuesday we are visiting prisons, the second - on the Tuesday will be a juvenile prison and that day is actually youth day in South Africa which commemorates the Soweto riots were many young people were massacred.

On Wednesday we have a day off and i'm planning to meet a good friend of mine that i made while working at Pierrepont during my first year here.

On thursday we're straight back into it again when we go to Mabopane township where we will go to a school with about 800 students there and bringing some teaching to them and also the teachers as there is a lot of division between the teachers.

On Friday we go to another township called Soshanguve where we will be for 3 days again staying with host families - i this township we will be holding a youth conference called "Moving into your destiny youth conference" This is possible the thing i'm most looking forward to - i love seeing people begin to walk into their destiny that God has for them so yer.. it's gonna be good. this township alone is home to approx. 2.2 million.

The on the Sunday we visit the local churches in twos again! :)

Finally on Monday 22nd June - who can go to Africa without trying to spot the Big 5! We go to a game reserve as our last day to relax and have some fun together! and fly back to England on the Tuesday 23rd arriving very early on Wednesday 24th

The main prayer pointers would be that the team would stay in unity, that we would be fully working in the power and anointing of Holy Spirit, that we would not just have the faith to see HIV/AIDS healed, limbs grown, miracles, but have enough faith to believe that this trip will be like a ripple affect beginning to change the nation! That health will be fine and the powers of darkness will be pushed back by the light, truth & and love of Jesus - erm anything that Holy Spirit leads you to prayer for. There are 23 of us on the team ranging from 20 year olds to somewhere past the pension mark!

I could be called up to teach at any moment during the trip - i have prepared a teaching on the truth of Jesus and the of the enemy but if someone drops out i need to be ready to go up at any moment - i've also prepared a teaching on the heart of God to restore

so please pray for me that i'll be ready in season and out of it!!

I believe that's it - there will be plenty of photo's i'm sure and i look forward to letting you know how it goes when i get back.

Love and blessings to you all - yours in Christ, Dan.