LETTERS FROM... THE UK
Freya’s incredible fundraiser Remembering Innocent I was very moved by the story of Innocent, the little Ugandan boy with Down’s Syndrome, who was disowned by most of his family and whose mother was told in hospital that he was a ‘waste of oxygen’. I work in the UK with people with Down’s Syndrome and often muse that if only more of us possessed their joy, the world would be so much happier. Why do we fear these loving people? Then I remember that here in England it is legal to terminate a baby with Down’s Syndrome up to full term. As Andrew Gray pointed out at the Church of England’s General Synod in 2018, “We live in a society that claims to value and appreciate those who are different and those who have a disability and yet what we do and what we say are two different things.” While we feel sorrow for Innocent, let us also remember Matthew 7: 5 – “First take the log out of your own eye, then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend’s eye”. Julia Goffin, Berkhamsted, Herts.
Get in touch! If you’ve been inspired or challenged by anything you’ve read in Engage, have been busy raising money for us, or have anything else you want to share, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch using one of the methods on page two!
In early September, I saw a video at my church about South Sudanese refugees. When I saw that £66 would feed a family for a year, I wanted to give all my pocket money, but me and my Mum talked it over and decided to hold a sale at our church. We told my Grandma and Pops and they got very involved, doing woodwork and sewing lots and lots of things, including bags and decorations. The day of the sale came, and we were surprised by how eager and kind people were. Things sold at lightning speed, and by the end we’d raised just over enough to feed four whole families! Freya, aged 11
A note from Freya’s mum Freya has a real heart for people and the BMS video really moved her. We also had support from Comberton Baptist Church who hosted the sale and bought lots of things we had made. We really hope this money makes a difference, and brings blessing to some friends in South Sudan. Rachel Nielsen
A window into the world Thank you very much for sending me the DVD and the magazine and all of its content. It’s much appreciated. I take a delight in reading the magazine. It’s so educational and pleasurable to read. Cecilia Brown
Editor’s Note: Thank you so much for your encouragement Cecilia! It spurs me on as I put together each magazine.
The BMS magazine
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