Page 50 - link magazine

50 swindonlink.com • May 2008

We believe that Jesus Christ is able Return to Belarus
to forgive our past, give meaning to
the present and hope for the future The Link has covered the work of Chenobyl Children’s Lifeline, which is dedicated to bringing children out of
the high radiation zones for respite care in England, since Easter 2006. Here Swindon CCLL branch chair-
woman Gin McGiffi n from Oakhurst outlines her third visit in February, taking her daughter Kaysha, 14, to
meet many of the children that Swindon families have hosted over the last two years.
The fi rst time I went to Belarus in children, meeting new
2006, seemingly at every turn, the children proposed for
contrast to our way of life was quite sponsorship, family vis-
overwhelming. This time visiting its, distribution of aid,
Sunda
Sunday services are at y services are at y services are at Ozarichi, the village which we are time spent with social
Sunda
10am & 6.30pm linked to, knowing what to expect workers and teachers in
and with a lot more understanding, the village school.
For further information you can
it was possible to absorb more detail Words cannot describe
either ring (01793) 873050; and the people we met were more how it feels to meet a
e-mail: offi [email protected] [email protected]
e-mail: offi
e-mail: offi [email protected]
relaxed and open with us. mother who cries with
or visit: www.freshbook.org .freshbook.org
or visit: www There is always plenty to do: gratitude to us for the
or visit: www.freshbook.org
“the gift of God is Eternal Life” (Romans 6 v23) getting updates on sponsored sponsorship which means
everything to her family.
Some of the photographs Kristina and Sasha and their grandmother
we bring back graphically illustrate Kristina returned to the cancer
the conditions some families are hospital in Minsk for further tests
enduring. in April, and sadly we have heard
Join us in worship on Sunday mornings One of my most profound memo- that Sasha has contracted TB.
Westlea Church, Westlea School: 10am ries from this trip is of a woman Everything we do in CCLL is
St Mary’s, Lydiard Tregoze - the church in the park: 10am who had returned from Ukraine focussed on benefi ting the chil-
where she was unable to fi nd work. dren, directly or indirectly. I was
All Saints’, Lydiard Millicent - the church in the village: 10.30am Prematurely aged, thin and with particularly pleased to visit the
Holy Trinity, Shaw: 10.30am desperation etched in her features, kindergarten and special needs
Toothill Church: 10.45am she stood trembling with her little school and hospital again. Apart
For details of these and our other services girl waiting to meet us. When I from discussions about the proj-
promised to fi nd sponsorship for ects the heads of these institutions
call the Partnership Offi ce on 874221 her child, the tears of relief and the invariably have a ‘list’ of essentials
Email: partnershipoffi [email protected] glimmer of hope that sprang into they are desperately in need of. It
www.wswinlyd.org.uk her eyes were unbearably heart was immensely sad and humbling
rending to witness. that these dedicated professional
Anglican • Baptist • Methodist • United Reformed Church I want to remind everyone who people are reduced to the embar-
sponsors a child just how much rassment of having to ask for help
their generosity is appreciated, in this way.
On Thames Avenue and needed - it is quite literally All too soon we said goodbye to
next door to life-saving. Ozarichi. It’s impossible to pick any
Many people will remem-
moment from such a trip, they just
Morrisons ber Kristina Yezhenkova who came stack up. It’s wonderful when the
Contact: to Swindon in 2006 and received a end of lesson bell sounds in school
Revd Raymond Adams lot of publicity when we sought to be mobbed by ‘our children;’
treatment for cancer detected on or just being on hand to help out
Tel: 634258 her visit. She lives in very poor individuals where possible.
St. John’s Haydon Wick conditions and we delivered a large If you would like to sponsor a
food parcel funded by her sponsor child for just £10 a month or feel
family Toby and Amanda Richards you may be able to provide a loving
Sunday Services from Abbey Meads. I knew this home environment for two children
9am Traditional communion service would see them through the rest for one month please call me on
11am Eventful, contemporary worship of the harsh winter. Her mother is 07753 662891 or mail: ginmcgiffi n@
with children’s groups meeting still drink dependent and Kristina aol.com
is cared for by her grandmother and http://swindon.ccll.org.uk
www.stjohnshaydonwick.org.uk her 14 year old sister Sasha, who •See more of Gin’s pictures at: www.
has also been to Swindon. swindonlink.com

Sunday Worship 10.30am
Sunday School and Creche
Meeting at Abbey Meads
Community School

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