MISSIONWITHOUTBORDERS
February 2017
Vlada, Maxim & Daria
Throwing out a Lifeline of Hope Vlada has faced rejection and cruelty all of her life. She grew up in a Roma gypsy family and at the age of 12 her parents abandoned her at a railway station in Chisinau, Moldova’s capital city. After three years of living alone on the street, she was picked up by a man who abused her in every way imaginable. Moving from one desolate shelter to the next, life was terrifying. “I have never been loved,” she shared, tearfully. “I felt like there was no hope. Many times I tried to kill myself, but I am still alive.” After having two children, Maxim, 9, and Daria, 3, Vlada lived with them in a disused cellar, but because it was so cold, she was forced to put them into an orphanage. “I missed my children so much. My son was so brave. Each day after he finished school he went to the streets to beg – this was our only income.” continued on page 2
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A year ago, Yilesha, a church volunteer, came across Vlada and invited her to the StreetMercy shelter in Chisinau. There, Vlada not only received clothes, shoes, hot food and medicine but she also heard about Jesus Christ and how He could change her life.
Enjoying a ‘StreetMercy’ lunch together
my children and give them a decent life.”
“I struggled to overcome my past, but after discovering what Jesus did for me and how much He loved me, I want to change my life, find a job and live in a nice place with
Like Vlada, everywhere on the street, people face rejection, discrimination, temptation and addictions, which prevent them from breaking out of their misery. They have only ever known sadness, loneliness and abuse – there are so many barriers that hope often feels impossible. The Mission’s StreetMercy project is one of the only lifelines to those living on the streets – and it offers people like Vlada the opportunity to start again. It is carried out in partnership with the local church and a Food Bank ministry that provides extra volunteers and any additional food that is needed.
StreetMercy friends - Romania//A nutritious Meal
“Those who wait for us to serve them and help them are the addicted, the rejected, the lost, the downcast and the diseased. It is our job to love and provide for them. Please pray that we can meet every hardship with joy and that we can be guided in everything that we do.” Yulian Atanasov, StreetMercy coordinator, Bulgaria “Every day before distributing the food, I read a small Bible passage and give a short explanation about it. In my conversations with them, I try to direct their thoughts towards the hope God has given us - to find His way of resolving their problems.” StreetMercy Coordinator, Anna Atanasova, Bulgaria 22
MWB in FOCUS
Some who benefitted from StreetMercy last year
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5 1. Miroslav, Bulgaria “We all come to receive the food and say thanks. If you didn’t come I would be begging for hours as often I have no money to buy food. I have a child who is with my ex-wife; I cannot provide for them. Here I receive help and understanding for my situation. Life is still tough, but this project gives me hope to have a second chance at life.” 2. Elka, Bulgaria “Six months ago I was doing okay, but during winter life is so hard. I collect rubbish for recycling to make a little bit of money. I usually sleep in this park but at present I am in a shelter. The Mission helped me to get the necessary identity documents so I would be accepted. They have also made me an appointment at the hospital so I can have my infected foot treated. I’m very grateful for all this help.” 3.Ilie, Moldova “I see life differently since coming here. I used to argue with everyone, now I don’t. I believe God is helping me through these good people. When I first started going to church, I enjoyed it so much. When the service finished I walked for miles and miles; I felt like I was in a new world. I will be 50 this year and I want to live, I don’t want to die.” 4. Mitko, Bulgaria “Not only have you given me food and shoes, but you have also helped me find some work. You care for me no matter what my background is or what I believe.” 5. Mother of Seven, Bulgaria “We have always lived in a shelter; life is very difficult but we try to rely on God. I first heard about StreetMercy after I went to churches looking for help and we have been coming here for over a year. Recently we managed to find an apartment. Anna from the Mission helped us get mattresses, clothes and food.” 6. Evgeny, Bulgaria “I’m so grateful because we are given food, clothes, shoes and medicine when we need it. I’ve been given medicine for my ulcer each time it flares up. I’m asking God to help me find a job when it gets warmer. I want to work and not be on the streets. My background is in cattle breeding and if I can get a job like this, accommodation would come with it. Without this food I would go hungry, so I would be forced to steal and become a criminal. May God bless you!” 3
UPDATE: CHRISTMAS LOVE BOXES Snow is falling and it’s well below zero in Sloviansk, a town on the edge of the conflict zone of the war two Christmases ago. The immediate focus is now on the needs, fear and hopelessness of those who have stayed behind in this bombed out city. They are part of the 1.7 million that have been displaced, 900,000 of whom are women and 236,000 children. Mykola, Ukraine’s field manager, visited many struggling families here, one of which was a single-parent family Mykola (left) and a pastor visiting a needy abandoned by their father during the fighting. “We have family not had flour for weeks,” the mother exclaimed, as the children looked on nervously with a hint of joy and hope in their eyes. “Thank you so much, now we’ll be able to cook something tasty and celebrate Christmas.” As usual, it is the children who suffer the most and as a result there is a generation of Ukrainian children in this region growing up traumatised, isolated and often forgotten.
“My trip coming here was difficult but my difficulties are nothing compared to what these families are experiencing. Through the Christmas Love programme we are able to offer them some help, encouragement, and a listening ear. Please remember to pray for them and this region this Christmas.” Mykola Bohdanets, National Manager of MWB Ukraine
UPDATE: WINTER RESCUE We have had a generous response to our Winter Rescue appeal so far – many thanks to all those who have given. Here is one family where Operation Winter Rescue is already making a huge difference. The Kharchuk family are a poor Christian family living out in an isolated rural area in Western Ukraine. Maxym and Dina, who are both unemployed, have four young children. Maxym, the Dad, suffers from dangerously high blood pressure due in part to the stress of having to provide adequate heating for the plummeting sub-zero temperatures.
Annual donation receipts are sent out in April. If you aren’t already on our list, please let us know. If you would like to “re-invest” your refund into our work (great!), nominate Mission Without Borders and our bank a/c when filling out your IR520 form.
2017 CALENDARS We have about 70 left. These are now half price at $6 each (p & h included).
If you would like to help – Direct Credit Payments: Our bank account is 06-0185-0122206-12, or pay by credit card through our website: mwb.org.nz If you would like a receipt, please include your supporter number (if you have one) and reference code SM: StreetMercy
MISSIONWITHOUTBORDERS (NZ) PO Box 56264, Dominion Road, Auckland 1446 Email nzadmin@mwbi.org
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Website mwb.org.nz
Reg. Charity No. CC37218
Phone 09 309 6969 0800 469 269 facebook.com/MissionWithoutBordersNZ
2017
The Kharchuk family
“Thank you so much for the firewood, the food and kindness. I don’t know how we would survive otherwise and I can’t tell you how much it means just to know that someone cares.”