This year has brought a time of great uncertainty, high levels of poverty, abuse and neglect, and families fighting to survive on a daily basis to provide a meal for their children. It has been difficult to understand the reason for this global pandemic and God’s purposes have, at times, been hidden by this great darkness. Yet, like in all the darkest times of history, His powerful love has shone through and He is using His people to reach out to those in need to remind them there is still an everlasting hope.

Thank you very much for your generous response to the piece in the last magazine. We want to share with you how this support has been used by our partners as they have responded to the crisis and show how it has touched many lives for the glory of God. Please continue to pray for them.

RICD - Thailand

The RICD Wheelchair project in Thailand has been functioning for over 20 years to support those with disabilities. When COVID-19 hit, the economy became unstable and workplaces shut, forcing those with a disability to survive on an income well below poverty level. RICD were able to provide basic food items to these families in desperate need. Their aim was to reach 1,000 families through the local churches.

New Hope Clinic

New Hope Clinic was built by ImagineIf Trust in 2018 to reach displaced people in North Eastern DR Congo. When COVID-19 hit, those in Kasindi had not only been forced to leave their homes due to infighting, they also encountered immense flooding. During these devastating times, ImagineIf Trust worked with local churches to distribute food, bedding, farm equipment and face masks.

“Our ‘Love Congo’ initiative has been partnering with churches to develop projects that meet the practical and spiritual needs of the people in Kasindi. The town has received over 10,000 displaced people, many of whom fled their villages with nothing. Our health centre is treating 300 patients per month, our feeding programme provides meals three times a week for 100 malnourished children, our primary school now has 300 pupils and the land we bought is providing allotments for 80 families.

When Kasindi was hit by a flood in May, we quickly mobilised some emergency funds to help those who were worst hit and with the help of MMN we have sent two further payments to provide emergency provisions for 200 families.

Not only are the local pastors’ faithful stewards of our donations, they also provide pastoral support to those who have lost loved ones or experienced traumatic situations. In all that we do, our prayer is that these people who have suffered so much will find their ultimate faith and hope in the life-giving gift that is Jesus Christ.”

Wukwashi - Zambia

Wukwashi wa Nzambi exists to support children with disabilities and their families. In Africa, those with disabilities are marginalised and neglected, so Wukwashi offers them an education and skills training to give them a valid place in society. The majority of the families supported by Wukwashi are extremely poor and could not afford necessary items to protect them against the outbreak of COVID-19. Wukwashi gave around 500 families soap and bleach, as well as basic food packages. They also ran sanitisation programmes to show how to reduce the spread of germs. All of these opportunities opened up ways to share the gospel with these families in need.

Shelter of Hope

Shelter of Hope, Kenya, provide access to affordable quality education, and run two community health facilities that offer medical care at a subsidised fee for those who cannot afford basic healthcare. During the pandemic, they have reached out to the most vulnerable to provide food parcels while sharing the message of Jesus.

“Our relief efforts have touched the lives of about 600 households. Nyora residents were faced with the double tragedy of Covid-19 coupled with floods, as over 300 people were displaced when streams and rivers broke their banks. Our priority target groups include: local community, church community, orphans, and vulnerable children households, who benefited from food basket gifts.

As parcels are distributed the village chiefs have allowed us to share the gospel with villagers and we thank God that some have put their trust in Christ. We long that more will as we continue to help these communities.”

RAPCD - Uganda

Accomplish Children’s Trust seek to support disabled children across Africa. Rwenzori Assocation of Parents and Children with Disabilities (RAPCD) provide an education to those who are blind or deaf to open up more opportunities to them in society. In May, Uganda was hit by floods which destroyed many homes and most of the families supported by RAPCD are farmers who rely on the land to provide both food and income. RAPCD have provided basic food necessities to these families while sharing God’s love.

“At a time where the coronavirus has brought hardship to people all over the world, the effects of lockdown were heightened in East Africa by many devastating floods. In the Rwenzori region of Uganda these floods have left hundreds of people displaced and gardens have been destroyed leaving people with no way to feed their families. Thanks to the generous support of MMN, RAPCD have been able to work with 75 families who were affected by the flooding: providing them with mattresses, Bibles, hoes and some beans to enable them to start rebuilding their lives.

Please pray for families affected by flooding as they rebuild their lives, for the impact lockdown is having on children being able to receive ongoing rehabilitation and epilepsy medication. Please also pray for relief of malnutrition caused by the effect of lockdown.

Healthcare Centre - Tanzania

This Dispensary & Palliative Care centre offers service to those who are bedridden at home or who need medical attention at the centre for wounds. With the added pressure of COVID-19, their care for these people did not stop.

Dr Pully reports: “We offer home visiting to those who are bedridden and we have about 15 palliative-care patients. For those who are not aware of COVID-19, we explain how they can take care of themselves and provide them a bucket and soap so they can wash their hands when entering their home. We advise people to continue praying, and give spiritual and psychological counselling to those people who have lost someone close to them or have been affected in other ways by COVID-19.”

CMI Aid - Moldova

CMIAid provides practical care for those living in the poorest part of Europe. When COVID-19 hit the country, they provided food parcels and support through their Soup Kitchen to reach many families. The economy in Moldova could not sustain lockdown so many businesses reopened despite rising cases of the coronavirus. The needs in this country grow daily and many have become dependent on the support of CMIAid.

ABC Foundation

The ABC Foundation, Albania aim to provide affordable and quality care for those who would otherwise not have access to the healthcare they need. The foundation offers basic health education programmes and offers training for doctors and nurses. Although other healthcare services closed due to COVID-19, ABC found ways of reaching its patients through phone and video calls, providing online medical support and even providing food for some of its patients. They were also able to continue their free care for palliative patients to ensure they received the support they needed.

“Through God’s providence, the state institutions required us to keep our doors open and provide care for people in our community. Even though it meant uncertainty, putting their health at risk, and facing their own fears, our team wholeheartedly continued to care for patients’ physical health as well as their mental health. While the staff was not able to treat patients in person, you would find them speaking on the phone with patients who needed medical advice or a comforting word. The team went above and beyond their means to also meet basic daily needs of our patients living in poverty.”

Redemption Village

Redemption Village supports marginalised groups in the remote parts of Malawi through the provision of Bible teaching, medical camps and meeting the basic needs of the community. There are increasing cases of COVID-19 in the country and many have to walk for miles to provide food for their families. Redemption Village have provided families with flour as there has been no harvest, so having access to food has been near impossible. These families can barely source enough to provide food for their families, let alone protect themselves against the threat of COVID-19.

Emanuel Clinic

Emanuel Clinic provide around 18,000 consultations in Moldova every year and, through its mobile clinic, has provided free treatment to over 1,000 people a year who live in remote areas. During this pandemic, they have provided food packets, medicines and mental support to vulnerable people. They also provide training and support to medical staff serving through mobile clinics in the more remote villages via video conferencing.

Yemen

H, a trained nurse, has been supporting local people in this extremely poor country for a number of years. He provides medical care and support to all those that he can, but food and medicine is scarce, especially with the added pressure of COVID-19. He has received support to reach as many people as he can, to provide the support and encouragement they need during a time where numerous Yemeni’s are losing their lives to this virus.

Lifeline Malawi

Lifeline Malawi health centre serves a population of around 200,000, most of whom are dependent on farming or local fishing to survive. There has been a surge in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19. Lifeline Malawi has endeavoured to teach the community how to protect themselves and others against the virus.

Dancu Village

Breadline supports a number of churches across Eastern Europe, particularly in the poorest country of Moldova. Dancu Village is one project that supports those living in incredibly poor conditions who barely have enough to survive. Pastor Slavic and his team have provided relief to many families who were distressed, grieving, hopeless or forgotten by the authorities. The team have distributed food parcels or taken the elderly a hot meal.

Bethany Hospital

Bethany Christian Hospital serves in one of the largest slum areas of Thane, near Mumbai. When COVID-19 hit, Bethany were forced to close its doors, but were able to reopen in May.

“It has now been three months since we opened our hospital to COVID-19 patients, and we have seen how the Lord has led us step by step, at first reluctantly, to what is now a fully-fledged COVID-19 hospital. We have a total of 60 beds, of which 15 are ICU beds have been set aside for COVID-19, with around ten patients at any given time on the ventilator. So far, we have treated 462 COVID-19 patients. The area of Mumbai and Thane has been the most affected, with one of the highest number of cases in the country. The challenges are colossal, but so is the God that we trust in. However, often, at a human level, it has been quite daunting and depressing. Please do pray for: wisdom for our core management team of 6 people and safety, commitment for our health care workers. We have spent the last four months digging into the reserves of the hospital. The costs of treating a COVID-19 patient is substantially higher due to barrier nursing and the use of PPE’S.”

The needs are still enormous globally due to the effects of COVID-19, so please continue to pray for these projects who are striving to improve people’s lives and offer them a hope that transcends all understanding.