4180 overcomers 2014 (f) lowres r r r

overcomersAnnual Magazine of Mission Without Borders New Zealand

Mission Without Borders is an international Christian organisation, founded in 1960, dedicated to serving the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those suffering the effects of poverty or persecution.

MISSIONWITHOUTBORDERS From the Director’s Desk

Overcomers magazine is published annually and distributed to everyone on the Mission Without Borders NZ mailing list. Extra copies are also available free of charge on request for distribution to interested groups, such as church Missions groups, craft and knitting circles, schools and youth groups. If you would like more copies, please telephone the office on 0800 469 269 (AK 309 6969).

Overcomers is published by Mission Without Borders (N.Z.) a charitable trust registered under the Charities Act CC37218

Contact Details:Freephone: 0800 469 269 Phone: 09 309 6969

Editor: Andrew Wilks

Send all correspondence to The Editor, Overcomers, PO Box 56264, Dominion Road,Auckland 1446

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.mwb.org.nz

www.facebook.com/MissionWithoutBordersNz

Contributors/Photographs: Andrew Wilks, Liz Wilks, MWB Australia staff writers, Liz Clarke, Andrea Treasure, Judy Osborne

Design: Husk Creative, Mt Albert, Auckland

Printer: Broderick Printing & Design Ltd Glenfield, Auckland

© 2014 Mission Without Borders (N.Z.)

Bank Accounts for Online Banking:General donations and sponsorships06 0185 0122206 12Bibles and literature06 0185 0122206 25

Cover Photo: Children in a sponsored family in Ukraine (pages 12-13): What will life be like when they grow up?

Visiting my sponsored family’s community in Romania with some of the tour group.

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Content4-5 Ukraine Update Ukraine is in crisis – our MWB director in Ukraine

gives us his update

6-7 StreetMercy and Soup Kitchens Feeding the hungry

7 PrisonCare Reaching into the prisons with God’s love –

Stefan shares

8 Child Rescue The changing scene and a new logo

9 Child Sponsorship Allan shares his experience as one of the

Mission’s most senior sponsors

10 Summer Camp Meet Romina, who went to camp last year

11 Emotional Support The amazing transformation of an orphaned

Romanian boy

12-13 Family Sponsorship A Ukrainian family tells what life is like now

they get Mission help; and a Kiwi sponsor shares about meeting her family in Albania

14 Seeds of Hope The Tatu family share how they got a bumper

harvest

15 Operation Winter Rescue A Moldova winter overcome with help to keep

warm

16-19 Field Updates Recentreportsfromourfieldcountrydirectorsin

Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania

20-21 Operation Cover Up A letter from Liz Clarke, information and Thanks

from the children and families helped

22 New Zealand Activities News and ideas from around New Zealand

about Kiwis getting involved

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12

15

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Ukraine UpdateNot since the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster of 1986 has Ukraine featured so often in the TV news and daily papers in New Zealand.

Leaders from all the churches lead prayer for Ukraine

Each coloured dot on the map represents where our various projects are implemented.

CRI F2F Communities Summer Camp sites Vocational Training Centres Community Centres

LEGEND:

Black Sea

The Ukrainian government’s refusal to sign an association agreement with the European Union in November 2013 resulted in massive protests in Kiev and across western Ukraine and led to the ouster of President Yanukovich and his Russian-leaning government in February 2014. As this magazine goes to print, the world’s media focus is on Crimea.

CrimeaCrimea is a peninsula in the Black Sea at the south of Ukraine, connected to the Ukraine to the north and across a narrow strait from Russia at its east. It was given to Ukraine by Russian President Nikita Khrushchev in 1954, and has been the subject of many changes of political governance ever since. It has since 1991 functioned with a large degree of autonomy. It hasmajorstrategicsignificancetoRussia because Russia’s Black Sea navalfleetisbasedattheportofSevastopol. About 60 percent of the population of Crimea is of Russian ethnicity.

East-West conflictPres ident Put in ’s Russ ian government has annexed Crimea, at the invitation of the Crimean government and majority Russian population. Many Ukrainians are concerned that Russia does not make further incursions into Ukraine.

Ukraine is a buffer between Western Europe and Russia. Its people split more or less geographically and ethnically into those who support alliances with Russia in the Eastern and southern parts; and those who support union with Western Europe in the west of Ukraine.

The constant political tension in Ukraine has recently boiled over into violent protests by both East and West-leaning groups in Eastern c i t i es such as Donetsk, Kharkiv and

Dniepropetrovsk, and in Crimea.

Where we workOur work is based in the western regions, and our headquarters is in the city of Rivne. The map shows the main areas where we work. Our Family to Family work with families like the Romanyks (pages 12-13) takes place in poor communities near Rivne or near Sarny a little to the north. Our Child Rescue work with State Homes is widespread across western Ukraine.

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“If you came to Rivne or any other western Ukrainian city today or even to Kiev you would probably be surprised to see that life is calm and everything seems normal. Schools and kindergartens are open, shops are trading, people are working, cars are on the streets. However there is a sense of deep concern in the air. The situation in Ukraine is critical indeed. Now, these few days after the so-called referendum in Crimea will be crucial for the whole country. All Christians, all churches have been praying for peace! It is noteworthy that many squares of the Ukrainian towns see massive joint prayer meetings where the members of different denominations get together for special prayer. Yesterday such a night prayer was held in the town of Sarny (where MWBU has a lot of its activities). It’s really encouraging to see that in the face of danger, Christian denominations demonstrate a spirit of unity!

Every morning we have a special devotion with all the staff in the Mission office where we meditate on God’s Word and raise our hands in earnest prayer.

It is clear that Russian Federation has big interest for Ukraine and wants to keep us in their orbit. And we don’t know how far they will go in doing that. Yet, we hope for a good and peaceful future. In terms of the Mission’s activities, I see the fullest possible cooperation from the new government and all doors seem to have been opening. The economic situation is nearly catastrophic and therefore all our support, for State Homes and poor families is very much welcomed by the officials. They want us to continue providing help through our programmes and gifts of aid as much as possible. We will surely try to use these ministry opportunities and assure all our beneficiaries that the Mission will do all in its power to continue giving support as planned – and even more if we can.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, please continue standing with us in prayer for the nation of Ukraine. We are sure that only God’s grace through the prayers of Christians in Ukraine and all over the world hinders Russian forces from starting the fire and levying a real war. We still hope for God’s miracle and believe He will stop the escalation of this conflict and won’t allow a real war to start in our country. Thank you for your concern and prayers! Please, keep on praying for Ukraine! We need your prayers badly now!”

– Your friend in Christ, Mykola

A letter from MWB Ukraine Director, Mykola Bohdanets

Public, open-air interdenominational prayer meetings

Mykola BohdanetsDirector,

MWB Ukraine

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StreetMercy

ABOVE: The only thing they can be sure of is a hot meal from the StreetMercy van at the same time every day. RIGHT TOP: Ada and friend.

RIGHT LOWER:Ionuţwantstogetthemoffthestreetsandintolife.

Feeding the hungry

In October last year, Andrew and the sponsor tour group arrived in Craiova, Romania on a chilly autumn day.TheymetIonuţandhiswifeAdaoutsideabusydowntown train station. They work for StreetMercy. This committed Salvation Army couple are here each day of the year, providing meals, blankets and warm clothing as a blessing to the homeless people of Craiova.

Their presence is questioned by the local authorities, who believe this partnership between the Mission andalocalnot-for-profitorganisationencouragespeople to stay homeless. But homeless men and woman often don’t have a choice.

The state of the economy in Romania provides them with limited options. Without the faithful service of this couple and their diligent young volunteers, the homeless in Craiova would either starve or freeze when the temperature drops to minus 30° Celsius – two options that are unacceptable to us.

As a Mission, we are expanding our local partnerships withothernot-for-profitorganisationstoprovidehelp in more communities across Romania. These partnerships mean that every dollar you donate to MissionWithoutBordersismultipliedinthefieldcountry to provide more services for every dollar we spend in these communities.

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Soup KitchensA community hub

Stefan D— isfiftyyearsold. He has spent the last three years in prison in the town of Pazardzik, Bulgaria.

Over the last two years, he has regularly attended the weekly meetings for Bible study, singing and sharing. These meetings have had a great impact on his life.

“There I learn new things about God, about life and about relationships – to know how to

relate to the other prisoners. I have learned a lot of things about God’s character – that He is both holy and loving. I have come to know that we as people cannot live apart from Him.”

Stefan shared that the Bible lessons brought positive changes in his life; he became more humble and patient and he realised that he should take into consideration other peoples’ opinions and feelings.

“Though I am in prison, this is a good opportunity for me to sing, to pray and listen to God’s word together with other people. Some

of the prisoners mock me for that, others don’t care but for me it is like attending a church.”

Every few months his son or some of his relatives come to visit him but they cannot meet all his needs. He doesn’t work in the prison so he has no money of his own.

“I am very thankful for the soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste and other essential items which I get from the Mission as I cannot buy them. It’s not just the things you bring that are important but it’s the feeling that I am not forgotten.”

Prison Care

In Berat, a small town in Albania, the New Zealand tour group arrived to join the group of people, mainly elderly, but also mothers with pre-schoolers, all without paid work, all lunching on traditional pasta, soup and bread at the soup kitchen run by the Mission and a local church. We met two key volunteers, Jetnor and Razarta Nazeraj, who have Kiwi sponsors and have recently made Christian commitments and their three children have been to MWB summer camp. The whole atmosphere was very loving and accepting, and young children played happily outside.

In another soup kitchen in Victoria, one of the kitchen staff, a humble older lady, was introduced and we were toldhowshehadfirststartedcomingasabeneficiaryin dire need of help, and now she works there and attends the church.

In several places the soup kitchen functions as a community centre, enabling children to have an after-school programme including homework support, computer lessons, sports and games, Bible lessons and singing, and of course a hot meal.

TOP RIGHT: Victoria community centre,

Romania. LOWER RIGHT: Children

play with balloons given by the Kiwi ladies.


We have a new logo for our child sponsorship programme in 2014. Child Rescue operates in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. It started after the Communist government ofNicolaiCeauşescuwastoppledin1989 as a project to help thousands of Romanian children abandoned to State orphanages. The scene in Romania has changed since then, with the closure of the State orphanages and placement of children into foster homes.

However, our work with children still continues. In Romania and

increasingly in Moldova, children formerly from State Homes are sent back to their extended families – but these folk are seldom equipped to deal with the challenges of looking after the extra children placed in their care. Often parents have migrated to findworkinEurope,takingadvantageof their EU passport, leaving children to live and do their schooling with grandparents struggling to look after their own needs. This is where our community centres come in. Children are enrolled in our sponsorship programme while

living in the community. When the NZ tour group visited Romania and Moldova, we found enthusiastic children who clearly felt loved by the staff running the centres.

In Ukraine, where until recently some 100,000 children were in institutional care, changes are afoot. EU membership, if it eventuates, will likely require social reforms, and the closing of the State Homes. In the meantime, our work continues as before.

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Hi Allan, can you tell me how you got to know the ministry of Mission Without Borders?I think Mission Without Borders found me. I received a letter back in 1991, and I actually put it to one side for future destruction but my sweet wife said “If the Lord wants us to be involved, how else could He do it? Experience taught me not to argue, so here I am 23 years later.

What prompted you to take on the sponsorship of a child in Eastern Europe through MWB?A push from the Lord, and genuine concern for the lost, under-privileged people in Eastern Europe. I was also confident Mission Without Borders had a sound evangelical programme and responsible attitude regarding the spending of funds.

What does being a sponsor mean to you?It’s simply a rewarding way of serving the Lord.

I understand you recently went on a MWB sponsor tour of Eastern Europe. What was the highlight of your journey?To meet my sponsored child and to witness his parents make a Christian commitment while we were there.

What advice can you give to others who are considering becoming a Child Rescue sponsor, like yourself?I’d like to encourage them that through sponsoring they are showing the love of God to people who are largely despised by the more affluent members of society.

Child Sponsorship

You make the difference...

It was a privilege to have on our October tour last year a young-at-heart 92 year old, long-time supporter of the Mission, Allan Wright from Brisbane. Old age has certainly not dulled his sense of humour or his love for God and others less fortunate. Allan sponsors a 12 year old Romanian boy by the name of Illie through the Child Rescue International programme.

Illie is being sponsored because his family simply cannot provide for him and his younger sister. They live in an old, damaged, one-room,convertedbarnwithadirtfloor,norunningwateror electricity, no bathroom and an outside toilet. To get water they must walk to the village well. The whole family share one bed which also doubles as their only place to sit.

Here’s some of what Allan has to say about his experience as a Child Rescue sponsor:


Romina is 12 years old and lives and studies at the Leova Children’s Home in Moldova. She and her two brothers, Nicolae (16) and Adrian (14) have practically grown up in the Home and the directors have been like a mother and father to them

Romina is an intelligent girl and full of life. Even though her life has been difficultshehasbigdreamsforherfuture.“I would like to become a good mother. I do not want my children to experience what I have been through. I will do my best to give them the love and affection that I missed out on in my childhood. I also want to work in the medical profession helping others”.

She was able to go to a Summer Camp and had the time of her life. “I really enjoyed the sports and games where I ran and jumped, and I had lots of fun with new friends. I liked to attend the Bible lessons and the meetings in the chapel the most. At Summer Camp I discovered a very important thing – that Jesus is my best friend! I thank God and the Mission for offering me the chance to come to the camp. I would like to be able to go to another Summer Camp…to have one more chance to live as a family,” Romina said with a big smile.

Editor’s note: I met Romina in Moldova on our sponsor tour last year. Sheislively,self-confidentandintelligent(picturedatrightpresentingthetraditional welcome loaf to visiting MWB Australia director Craig Tobler who travelled with us).

Summer Camp

Romina’s Summer Camp memories will be with her for a lifetime.

I didn’t ever imagine that this summer, I could be so happy. The Summer Camp is the most beautiful experience that I enjoyed this summer holiday!” – Romina

Summer Camp provides physical, emotional and spiritual nourishment for children every year.

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Florin, a 14 year old, spent most of his life growing up in orphanages in Romania. He was put into State care at the age of 6. Then Florin’s father died and his mother remarried but his new step-father did not want Florin or his younger brother in the house.

Florin grew up very angry, rebellious and disillusioned. He carried a deep sense of rejection and abandonment and would lash out at anyone who tried to get close to him or help him. He was in a constant state of anxiety and was always causing trouble.

Georgeta Enuca is an emotional support co-ordinator with MWB Romania. Florin was placed

under her care. Georgeta told us, “During my weekly visits to the home where Florin lived, I knew that before I could help Florin I just had to listen to him, to encourage him to open up and share his inner struggles. After a while, through life skills lessons and counselling, he started to trust me and slowly started to talk and to express his feelings, his past experiences. We made a nice practice of reading the Bible together, and after going to meetings at the Salvation Army, we both could see God was healing his heart bringing peace and self-confidence. Florin’s roommates and his supervisors are thrilled with the change in him.”

Florin now says, “So far I have lived like a blind person, but now I can see and I understand more about the true meaning of life. Now, I know that I cannot live without God because only when you choose to live with Jesus, do you have peace and joy and you even see people with different eyes. Now, I can say that I do not hate my mother anymore. I hated her because she abandoned me, but now I pray for her. I like the verse that says ‘With God everything is possible’ and I even wrote it on my T-shirt to remember all the time”.

Emotional SupportSo far I have lived like a blind person but now I can see”

Florin with Georgeta Enuca (MWB Romania)


Petro and Olena Romanyk and their children are very poor. The Ukrainiancouplewithfivechildren(one is married and has left home) lives in an old three-room house. Small with crumbling plaster walls, rickety,worn-outfurniture,barefloorboards, and dim electric light bulbs, the interior is dark and gloomy.

The family bought the house 13 years ago hoping to renovate it. The family draws water from the well in the yard. Cooking is done on a gas stove, and wood and coal heats the house. There is no bathroom, just an outside toilet. The yard is small but the family has a small garden

where they grow vegetables. Pigs and a horse are in an outbuilding. They have no farm machinery.

Money is always short. Petro is a mechanic by profession, and adriver,butat55itisdifficultforhimtofindagoodjob.Soheworksas a night watchman in Rivne, 10 kilometres away and earns $155 per month. Olena stays at home with toddler Yaroslav, 18 months, and the children and gets a monthly familybenefitof$290.

They tried hard to save so they could renovate, but the building materials were too expensive. Their sponsors however, intervened and offered

them help to buy materials: building blocks, cement, insulation and GIB board. Petro has already poured a new foundation around the house and in the springtime, he plans to start work with what they have.

In spite of their housing conditions anddifficultfinancialsituation,thefamily is surprisingly positive. The children are active and content and overall the atmosphere in the family is loving and caring. The older children help with household chores. Apart from renovating the house, Olena’s greatest desire is to see the children healthy and have a good education.

Family SponsorshipMore than survival

Petro and Olena say that they cannot imagine their survival without the Mission’s help. As a sponsored family, the family regularly receives parcels with food and hygiene items. They have also been given clothes and shoes, tableware, bedclothes, mattresses. Their sponsors also bought them a new gas stove.

We only wish that their sponsors could see the deep appreciation in their eyes and hear the Romanyk’s gratitude, “We were in a very unhappy and poor situation and had nobody to help us. We cannot tell you how much your help means to us. Thank you so much for your kindness and love. May God bless you with every possible blessing!”

RELEASE FROM POVERTY∙ REPAIR THE RUINS∙ REBUILD THEIR LIVES

A family Sponsor shares:Back in the ‘70s when I was a young teenager, Underground Evangelism had a slot in our Church service to heighten our awareness of the plight of Christians behind the Iron Curtain.

This obviously impacted me, as from then until today, my interest and support of the now ‘Mission Without Borders’ has been a very important part of my global awareness particularly in the support and aid it provides to the needy individuals and families in Eastern Europe.

I have prayerfully and financially supported two Albanian families at different times for many years, and had the absolute privilege to meet one of these families, on a supporters’ tour in October 2013.

This wonderfully emotion-charged meeting of my beautiful family that I share with 3 other Kiwi sponsors, confirmed to me that my regular financial support HAS reached this family, and IS making a huge impact and difference in their day to day life, along with the continuing support from the local MWB Co-ordinators.

For less than the price of 10 cups of coffee a month, will a family’s sad existence become a hopeful life? There is no question in my mind as to the answer.We are a blessed people and nation… Can you make a difference in another person’s life?” – Andrea

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The Tatu family live in Sibiu, Romania, and have four Kiwi sponsors. They don’t own much land to grow their crops but are enjoying abundant harvests. The family are used to growing vegetables and appreciate home-grown produce. This season’s crop came from the box of high quality seeds provided by the Mission.

“This year we were abundantly blessed by God. We are so thankful! Since summer began we have been eating only the vegetables that have come from our garden. We have had onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, salad, carrots, garlic… Some I made into preserves – vegetables and pickles for the winter time. From the tomatoes I made tomato juice and we still have tomatoes in the

garden. We had plenty of salad vegetables so I shared them with some sisters from the church. If God blessed us with plenty I think we should share with others too,” Mrs. Tatu said with a smile on her face.

Mr. Tatu summed it up. “The harvest is big even though the garden is not. But we know that it was big because our God is big! All the vegetables were so tasty and good that we don’t have words to thank God and Mission Without Borders for their involvement in our life. If we didn’t have all these seeds and help it would have been hard for us to have such a harvest. It really does make a difference to our lives. Thank you so much for everything! God bless you.” The harvest is

big even though the garden is not. But we know that it was big because our God is big.”

Seeds of HopeHelping families to help themselves.

Please help us provide seeds for every family in our Family-to-Family programme. $25 will buy one parcel of good quality seeds for a family. Please use the coupon at the back of this magazine, call us to make a credit card donation on 0800 469 269, or go online www.mwb.org.nz – thanks for your support!

WOULD yOU LIKE TO BE INvOLvED IN THIS FANTASTIC PROJECT?

15OVERCOMERS 2014

Marina lives with her elderly grandmother (both pictured at left). Tragically her mother passed away and, at 14, she now runs the house as well as trying to attend school. They live in a one-room shack in rural Moldova. It has two beds, a wooden stove and an old table. There is no electricity or running water. She struggles daily to keep the room warm as there are large cracks in the door where the heat escapes.

Marina speaks openly about her daily struggles…“ It is difficult to do everything. I have homework but I cannot do it. After school, I come home to care for my grandmother.

She is very old and ill. I chop firewood to keep warm, then collect water from the freezing well. I also have to prepare a meal for us, it isn’t much, and it’s our only hot meal in the day. I have dreams of becoming a pastry chef one day”.

With your support of the Operation Winter Rescue appeal, Mission Without Borders can provide warm clothing and fuel to families like Marina and her grandmother, during the harsh winter. With your help, the opportunities are endless for Marina and many families just likes hers.

Operation Winter Rescue reaches poor and needy children, families, elderly and the homeless in desperate need of help over the winter season. Many families struggle to survive. With the average income around $60 a month, onecanonlyimaginehowdifficulttheirdailylivesare,especiallywithwintertemperaturesreachingbelow-30°Celsius. Electricity, running water and heating are luxuries many cannot afford.

Operation Winter RescueAfter school I come home to care for my grandmother.”


Field Updates

Last year, our Family-to-Family (F2F) program expanded with 22 families in the town of Berat and we now have an F2F community of 288 families with about 1500 people. MWB opened our second Soup Kitchen, operating in cooperation with another local church that expanded our ministry to the outskirts of Tirana, thus bringing a total of 29,040 hot meals served in our Community Centres.

About 1900 children were recipients of summer camps, excursions, Christmas parties, vocational & educational courses, and school materials. More than 1200 women participated in joint MWB and local church activities throughout the year, including the inmates of our newest project “Prison Care”.

Over 4500 Operation Christmas Love (OCL) parcels were distributed to poorandneedybeneficiariescountry-wide.

A single mother of three says: “We did not feel or receive love from any of our family members or relatives and maybe that is why we were also unable to show affection at times, even to our own children. You taught my children to be good people; you taught them about the love of God – because you have that love, and you shared it unconditionally with us.”

Isn’t this the greatest blessing that God could bestow upon our ministry?

Sincerely,

Monika Qerimi Director

RomaniaMoldova

Ukraine

Bosnia

Albania

Bulgaria

Poland

Germany

Belarus

Czech Republic

Austria

Slovakia

Hungary

Serbia and Montenegro

Macedonia

Croatia

Slovenia

Albania

Russia

Sea of Azov

17OVERCOMERS 2014

Borders and barr iers are being broken down every year by MWB; the number of beneficiariesin

our three existing Soup Kitchens has increased, and a fourth kitchen has also been opened in Vares, bringing thetotalnumberofbeneficiariestoalmost 200. The Family to Family (F2F) program has expanded to another town, where we also have a new Coordinator. The number of Bibles distributed this year has doubled, so more than 40,000 Bibles have come into the hands of Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens.

The greatest progress has been seen in spiritual work, both with parents and children. Twenty of our adultbeneficiariesarecontinuingwith Christian teaching in the form of a course which we have entitled “Second Chance.” Children attended summer camps in a new location, in the beautiful forest landscape of Central Bosnia. We have many invitations to open Soup Kitchens, and these have proved to be particularly effective for cooperation with the local churches, and as a witness to local communities, who are generally rather sceptical of Christian fellowships.

Behind us is a year full of challenges, which have given us the opportunity, with God’s help, to achieve more than we expected or planned. It has been clear to all those we serve that Christ is behind all we do, guiding and supporting us by His grace.

Sincerely,

Dalibor Kojic Director

Bosnia


Glory be to God for the past year of service to people in need in Bu lgar ia ! In spite of the continuing

recession in Europe, we thank the Lord for His faithfulness and guidance.

Last year we managed to open a Soup Kitchen in the small town of Gotse Delchev where the percentage of unemployment is very high and more than 60 people were enrolled. They received not only hot lunches but, compassion and acceptance.

In the capital city of Sofia we launched the StreetMercy project – delivering hot soup to the homeless. In one year, MWB managed to reach 1900 homeless. We are grateful to the Lord for the doors He opened for us in the prisons in Bulgaria and we are glad that we managed to share God’s love in places like that due to the PrisonCare project. Through the Operation Christmas Love campaign we delivered parcels with basic food products to 2000 needy families. The Seeds of Hope project provided 120 families as well as orphans raised in state institutions with fresh vegetables.

Thus far the Lord has helped us and we will continue to trust and believe in God’s providence. We believe that with His grace and strength we will be able to develop what we have begun. God’s thoughts and ways are unsearchable and incomparably higher than our expectations and plans. That is why He is worthy of all the glory!

Sarkis Ovanesyan Director

Field UpdatesBulgaria

19OVERCOMERS 2014

We have seen another year pass by at Mission Without Borders Moldova, and we are happy to report last year we noticed a number of traditionally state-supported Children’s Home being closed in accordance with Government policy, and we were able to further develop our work in communities with children and families. In spite of these changing circumstances, the Lord is guiding

us towards people who need to be helped both spiritually and materially by our MWB Coordinators.

Our vision for the coming year is to continue to follow God’s guidance in supporting the roughly 5000 Children residing in 58 Children’s Home and communities through our Child Rescue programme, 500 Family-to-Family families in 23 communities, and over 150 elderly and homeless people attending our four Soup Kitchens and two StreetMercy venues. We would alsoliketocontinuetobuildupthebeneficiaries’capacityforself-sufficiencythrough the various scholarships and vocational training.

In light of the above, I would also like to strengthen the important role our supporters play in this work – only with your help are we able to reach the disadvantaged Moldovan people.

Sincerely,

Anatoly Kirillov Director

Moldova

Romania

We see MWB’s efforts greatly appreciated and welcomed byallourbeneficiaries.Everysinglechildandfamilygreatly values the sponsor’s effort in supporting them through our programmes and projects. Through these projects, not only did we support the beneficiaries spiritually, emotionally and materially, we also provided educational support by teaching them life skills.

God has blessed us with new projects such as focusing on agriculture and our greenhouse - which was built in the yard of our MWB headquarters. Allthe324familiesintheprogrammebenefitedfromcarrots,potatoesand corn and 50 families from Sibiu also received eggplants, tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers and herbs. The greenhouse is a place where families can come together and learn agricultural skills. If they learn this, then they can do the same thing on their own little piece of land, and thus benefitfromhavingfreshvegetablesmanymonthsthroughouttheyear.They won’t have to go to the market and pay for it, and even more, they can save money for other expenses.

MWBs greatest goal is to serve people regardless of their background. We pray that everything we do, through our actions and programs, shows our love and care for the needy. We want to address our warmest greetings and appreciation to all our faithful donors and supporters, whom God in His kindness will reward more than we will ever be able to.

Respectfully,

Eugen (Jimmy) Macavei Director


Operation Cover Up

Liz Clarke

Margaret Ward and her Onerahi group and their 2013 display. Alwyn Paterson and Carol Davies with their group of Hamilton knitters.

Bev Cullingford (Thames) in the MWB Romania warehouse with

Canterbury jerseys.

21OVERCOMERS 2014

Getting involvedIf you would like to know who your nearest coordinator is, knitting patterns, or information on gatherings please contact:North Island Coordinator: Mrs Liz Clarke, Phone (07) 378-9171 South Island Coordinator: Mrs Alison Jarvis, Phone (03) 688-0680

What is needed• Knitted, crocheted and handmade woollen

blankets and other clothing items• Items for sewing, embroidery, knitting and craft

activities• Bed linen, towels, personal hygiene items

Funds for shipping costsThe Mission needs help to cover the costs of the project including freight and shipping the knitted goods to Eastern Europe. One shipping container costs over $16,000 to get to Romania or Moldova so as a guide we ask for a donation of $4.00 per blanket. Payments over $5.00 qualify for a tax rebate receipt (your name and address are needed). Payments can be made:• in cash (to your local coordinator)• by cheque made out to Mission Without

Borders, PO Box 56264, Dominion Rd, Auckland 1446

• by direct deposit or online banking payment to Mission Without Borders ANZ Bank account:

North Island: 06 0185 0122206 04 South Island: 06 0185 0122206 05

ALL ITEMS MUST BE NEW, PLEASE, NOT SECOND-HAND. For more details, please contact a knitting Co-ordinator before you start.


Fund-raising initiativesHere are some examples from around New Zealand.

• In Nelson, Anne Bolton and her team of volunteers have for severalyearsrolledandsoldchocolatetrufflesforChristmastime to raise money for families, summer camps and other projects.

• In Rangiora, Maureen McQuarrie and her team ran the Operation Cover Up garden party, where money was raised for the project and for shipping goods to Eastern Europe.

• In Thames last year, MWB Ambassador Bev Cullingford and her group held a garage sale to raise money for shipping.

• In Wanganui, MWB Ambassador Jenny Whitlock held a garden at her home to help raise money and promote child and family sponsorships.

• A very successful and also touching fundraiser was a sponsored fun-run by a prisoner who has raised money to help two families in Bosnia.

New Zealand Activities

If you are on Facebook, please go on and Like us and keep up to date with news on our page or write a comment: www.facebook.com/MissionWithoutBordersNz

The 2013 tour group visiting the Eni family in southern Moldova

Sponsor tourLast October, a group of 9 Kiwis, 4 Aussies and one American visited families, children and work-in-action in Romania, Moldova and Albania. (To see comments from the group about the 2013 tour, go to our website or to our facebook page. The next tour is planned for September-October2015.ThetourmaybetoUkraineandoneotherfieldcountry(depending on the political situation and demand for places). Costs will bearound$7000includingflights,mealsandaccommodationforthe2-3 week trip. Please register your interest with us as soon as you can.

Reps neededAlthough the number is growing, we need more Ambassadors and local representatives around the country who can share about the good work that is happening in Eastern Europe. If that sounds like you, we need to hear from you!

Help needed!We would love to hear if you have an idea for a fund-raiser to support ourwork.Pleasecalltheofficeand let us know how we can help you. We have materials available. Please also let us know if you can help with displaying or handing out brochures and newsletters, this magazine and information about how to become a sponsor for Child Rescue or Family to Family. Phone (free) 0800 469 269.

Speakers availableIf you need someone to speak to a group, we have a growing number of volunteers who can show pictures or a PowerPoint presentation and talk about our work in one or more ofourfieldcountries.Pleasecalltheofficeifyouneedsomeonetohelp.

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I would like to sponsor a Child ($45 per month). Please see over for my details.

Ienclosemyfirstsponsorshippledgeof$________bythefollowingmethod.

Payment Options:

Cheque (payable to Mission Without Borders)

Credit Card Amex Visa Mastercard

Credit Card Number Exp______/______

NameonCard_________________________________Signature______________________________

Iwishtomakeregularautomaticpaymentsfrommycreditcard/bankaccount. Please send me an Authorisation Form to complete and return. (AnAutomaticPaymentformcanbedownloadedfromwww.mwb.org.nz/giving)

Direct Deposit to our bank account: Mission Without Borders Bank: ANZ Account Number: 06 0185 0122206 12 (Please use your name, supporter number

and CRIasthepayerreferenceoremailconfirmingthesedetailstonzadmin@mwbi.org)

Donate online at our website www.mwb.org.nz

I would like to sponsor a Family ($45 per month). Please see over for my details.

Ienclosemyfirstsponsorshippledgeof$________bythefollowingmethod.

Payment Options:







and F2Fasthepayerreferenceoremailconfirmingthesedetailstonzadmin@mwbi.org)

I would like to give to help (project) _______________________________.

I enclose my payment of $__________. I would like to give a general donation of $__________ to your ministry and work. I would like to give a monthly donation of $__________ to your ministry and work.

Please see over for my details.

Payment Options:







and Donationasthepayerreferenceoremailconfirmingthesedetailstonzadmin@mwbi.org)

Yes – I would like to help change lives in Eastern Europe! I would like to sponsor a child through your Child Rescue International programme. Moldova Ukraine Romania

Boy Girl

Name Supporter Number

Address

Postcode

Phone Email

I would like to receive your newsletters and Bridge of Prayer. POST TO (no stamp needed): Freepost Authority Number 229442 Mission Without Borders, PO Box 56264, Dominion Road, Auckland 1446

For more information please freephone 0800 469 269 OR phone 09 309 6969.

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Yes – I would like to help change lives in Eastern Europe! My gift details are on the reverse.


Address

Postcode

Phone Email



Donate online at our website www.mwb.org.nz

Yes – I would like to help change lives in Eastern Europe! I would like to sponsor a child through your Family to Family programme. Moldova Ukraine Romania

Boy Girl


Address

Postcode

Phone Email



Documents

4180 overcomers 2014 (f) lowres r r r