Overcomers 2018 by Mission Without Borders International

Overcomers 2018

Annual Magazine of Mission Without Borders Australia

Overcomers 2018

Statement of Faith We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe in the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose in dwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ. Editor In Chief Tanya Pinto, tpinto@mwbi.org Graphic Artist Karen Power, karen_power@hotmail.com Mission Without Borders Australia ABN 38 000 827 798 is independently audited annually. Financial Statements are available upon request. Street Address 49/8 Avenue of The Americas, Newington, NSW 2127 Postal Address P.O. Box 7533, Silverwater, NSW 1811 Phone 02 9647 2022 Email australia@mwbi.org Website www.mwb.org.au

Reaching people for Christ Throughout the past twelve months, we have seen much change in the life and ministry of Mission Without Borders. Through the discontinuing of our Gift-in-Kind program in Australia and with our time at our Silverwater office coming to an end - in many ways it has been a sad ending to a season of our ministry. But we are also excited to journey with you into a new season of reaching the people of Eastern Europe in bigger and bolder ways. Firstly, I must express my sincere gratitude towards the commitment and faithfulness of our supporters through this period of change. To those who have stepped up to the calling of our Father and given your time and finances with such willing hearts despite great sacrifice, I pray that God will bless you abundantly as you have blessed the needy in Eastern Europe. As Jesus taught us in Matthew 25:14-21, we need to be accountable to God for the gifts and talents that He has entrusted to us. Through your incredible support, Mission Without Borders is able to help individuals to identify their God given talents, skills and abilities, and teach them to use attributes so they become empowered with the life skills to become self-sufficient. By providing the means to fund the purchase of tools and raw materials which, in turn, demands their time and labour, people are seeing that they have a purpose in life and hope for the future. This is one of the many ways we are Reaching People for Christ. We have heard some amazing testimonies from our Field Country Managers - featured throughout this year’s Overcomers – celebrating the families, children and whole communities who have reached a point of sustaining self-sufficiency. Not only are they able to survive and thrive using newly acquired skills, tools and resources, but they are also empowering and equipping their younger generations to break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness. I encourage you to read the compelling story of Oleh Bublyk (see page 8) who, unlike many fathers “now has the joy of being present as a dad to his 10 children, whilst also providing for his family”. This is just one of many stories that exemplifies the life changing opportunities that MWB is bringing through our self-sufficiency ministries. I pray that you will find the Hope and Fruitfulness that you have given to these people inscribed in every story written in this year’s issue of Overcomers. That you will feel informed and encouraged by the work that is being done through your giving and through God’s Grace; bringing His Word to people who may otherwise never hear of His Love. Thank you and God bless you,

Facebook @MissionWithoutBordersAustralia Instagram mwb.au David Turner, National Manager

CONTENT 04

Love in the Midst of War The ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Family Sponsorship Mirela’s Story – A different life.

Self-Sufficiency

Oleh’s Story - A father and role model.

What Our Supporters Say Some words of encouragement from around the world.

Operation Christmas Love A joyful Christmas for a hardworking mother.

Operation Winter Rescue Giving warmth to the destitute.

Child Rescue International

Giving children a chance in life.

Soup Kitchens Caring for the elderly.

Education & Scholarships Arjola’s story – Overcoming the past through Education.

Prison Ministry Working with patience in Bulgaria’s prisons.

Summer Camp

Ela’s story.

Street Mercy Fighting isolation and poverty on the streets.

Humanitarian Aid “The only hope we have”.

Gifts in Will Changing lives for generations to come. Front and back cover images: Two of Oleh’s children featured in the Self-Sufficiency story on page 8.

Love in the midst of

2017 – The Deadliest Year •

2017 was the deadliest year in the region since the outbreak of violence three years ago.

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Between August and November 2017, there were 15 conflict related civilian deaths and 72 injuries. Not to mention cases of enforced disapearances, torture, conflict related sexual violence and severe deprivation of liberty.

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60% of the people living along the ‘contact line’ are affected by shelling regularly almost every day.

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As of August 2017, the number of conflict related missing persons is between 1000-1500.

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3.4 million require humanitarian assistance and protection.

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Food availability has halved since 2016, with 1.2 million people not able to sufficiency feed or nourish themselves on their own.

of war

A family surviving in Ukraine’s conflict zone On 20th February 2014, Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, experienced its worst day of protests and violence for almost 70 years. At least 88 people were killed in 48 hours. Four years on, the war in East Ukraine has killed more than 10,000 people, wounded 23,000 and displaced 1.8 million people. Ukraine has lost 7.2% of its territory and peace remains a distant prospect. Even though the media have become quiet on the issue, the war in Ukraine is NOT over. Both young and old continue to die and there seems to be no solution and no prospect of peace. Thousands of people are still suffering today. The small town where Yana lives has been caught between two warring sides since the conflict began. All around her are destroyed buildings and the sound of machine gun fire. A fragile balance between life and death exists here. “Missiles constantly hit houses,” Yana said, recalling when the fighting began. “It was dangerous to go outside and for weeks we stayed indoors, often with no electricity or water. We ran out of food as well and had no opportunity to get it. We survived through the help of our neighbours.” MWB has been working with the local church, who are doing everything possible for those suffering here. Due to compassionate people sending in donations from around the world, an Operation Christmas Love (OCL) food parcel was delivered to the door of Yana, 60, and her family last Christmas. Inside Yana’s home, the furniture is worn, and the walls and ceiling are in need of repair. In a tiny bedroom, her husband is bedridden after a spinal injury. There are scattered photos all over the bed that show him and his wife: when they were young, beautiful and healthy. Holding Yana’s hand and looking into her eyes, her husband suddenly said, “Here is the love of my life.” Suddenly, the gloomy surroundings seem unimportant in light of this strong, invisible connection between two people. Danylo and Maksym, Yana’s two grandsons, also live here. “Before the war, the boys’ parents had divorced,” Yana said. “Their father went abroad and has never returned. Their mother moved to another town with her sons and remarried. Then the war started, and we were separated from them, as they lived in the occupied zone.” Yana begins to cry, but her grandson, Maksym said again and again: “Don’t cry granny, everything is okay now.” Yana continued, “The boys’ mother was diagnosed with blood cancer. She passed away in a couple of months. The stepfather was treating the boys badly and we were so afraid for them. I knew I had to do something.” Maksym hugs his grandmother again and said, “When granny came to the occupied territory to take me back, she was risking her life. On the border we waited for hours in the line on our way back to Ukraine. We were absolutely unprotected and vulnerable.” Yana’s words of gratitude for the help she has received from MWB are heartfelt and sincere. She is so thankful to the Christian volunteers who have supported her family for a long time, and her grandsons have now started to show interest in the Christian faith. This war is almost an invisible emergency – a crisis most of the world has forgotten. The vulnerable, men, women and children in Eastern Ukraine have been living under the constant threat of unpredictable fighting and shelling for the past 4 years. Please pray, give and support them as they continue to silently suffer daily.

Family Sponsorship Communications Writer, Tanya Pinto had the opportunity to visit this family in Albania, whom she also sponsors. We are pleased to be able to share how things were when she met them and how the family are progressing today. In September 2016, I was fortunate to be able to visit my sponsor family - Mirela, a single mother and her three girls in their home in the swamp community of Durres. This family had suffered horrific domestic violence from their estranged, gambling addicted father and when Mirela finally was able to escape, they were left with nothing. F2F Coordinators Arian and Kosta organised a lovely afternoon visit for me. I was greeted on the street by Mirela and her youngest daughter Melisa, who both embraced me the moment we made contact. There were tears from Mirela, she was very overwhelmed by my visit, as was I, and Melisa immediately took me by the hand and led me proudly to their home. I was led up an unfinished staircase where I was greeted by the remainder of the family - Kleandra and Adelaja. We walked into their home together and the first thing I saw was a photograph of my own two sons sitting in pride of place on the shelf. Mirela told me that she thought of them as her children also. She sat close to me and although there was an obvious language barrier, we had an understanding. We are both single parents with similar struggles, dealing with abandonment and heartache, raising our children alone, and wanting so much for them. I was completely overwhelmed by Mirelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grace and generosity, even though she herself had so little. Through translation assistance from Arian I was able to pray with Mirela and her daughters and tell them that I felt as if I had finally met the rest of my family- and although they are

so far away from me, they are constantly in my prayers. I told them how much of a blessing it was to be able to support them financially and to see them flourish. I shared with Mirela that I believed God had brought us together because He knew we needed each other. That our journeys were similar and this connection we have will never be broken. I would always be there for her. My life was forever changed after meeting my now extended family. It is one thing to pay a monthly sponsorship, send a gift and write a letter now and then, but reality really hit home when I saw first-hand how hard life is for this family, but more importantly, how utterly grateful they are for the support they receive from all of their sponsors. We are so far away and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to comprehend the devastation and hardships these families endure daily, but just being there for even that short amount of time, made everything so evident. Their struggle is real, and even though life is so very hard, they smiled and laughed with me as if there was not a care in the world. For just that brief moment, they were able to enjoy the blessing of my visit and laugh and share some special memories with me. This experience will be with me for a lifetime. I may not ever have the opportunity to visit Mirela and her girls again, but the love I have for them will always remain. Tanya Pinto, Co-sponsor of the Kajmaku Family

Mirela’s Story A different life - 18 months on

Mirela’s family has been supported by MWB for two years, and now they have joy and hope for the future. They know that there is a God who loves and cares for them. “I’m still unemployed but I’m not alone. The Mission and some beautiful people are supporting us to go ahead and feel free to live,” said Mirela.

A blessing of hope. Not long ago, Mirela’s whole world changed when she received a sewing machine from MWB. Although a regular household item in our world, in hers it was something she could never dream of buying. To a woman like Mirela, it is an opportunity for independence, and potentially the beginning of a bright future for her and her daughters. Not only will she use it to mend clothing for her family but also to begin to earn some money and start her journey towards self-sufficiency.

A Corner Turned. Looking at her daughters’ faces while they talk and smile, Mirela’s face brightens. Kleandra is achieving excellent results at high school, and her ambition is to study law at University. “It’s my dream to be part of the justice system,” she said. “And I want to be a singer,” added the youngest, Melisa, breaking into a loud cheerful song. Arian said, “We are on a mission to care for this family, helping them to experience God’s love and to move towards self-sufficiency. We started off by meeting their basic needs – emotional and material. The family are hungry spiritually too. We are helping each member of the family to know and feel God’s love, step by step. We are helping them through a process of healing by being close to them, listening to them and counselling them, and leading them towards a different life.”

When you become a sponsor, just $40 per month provides food and hygiene parcels for the family, plus clothes, shoes, blankets and other practical support. This lessens their financial burdens and means they can begin to save money to support their children rather than falling further and further into debt. 7

Self-Sufficiency Oleh’s story - A father and role model In the Sarny region, western Ukraine, many parents leave their children and go abroad in search of work. Children often grow up with one or both parents absent, leaving them emotionally vulnerable, and sometimes neglected or abused. The Bublyk family have been determined to avoid this fate, and Oleh Bublyk now has the joy of being present as a dad to his ten children, whilst also providing for his family, thanks to the support of Mission Without Borders (MWB). Oleh said, “I always wanted to do my best and work hard for the family. What I found from the experience of my friends who had gone abroad to work, was that the family needs a father more than money. I could not leave my family & wife, who needed me so much”. With a small plot of land, Oleh has done his best to provide for his family but despite always finding solutions to problems, providing for his family has always been a struggle. After Oleh and his family started receiving support from MWB through Family to Family sponsorship, he became eager to help change his family’s situation himself. He said, “The Mission workers’ vision is absolutely the same as mine: they would rather give people a rod and teach them how to fish,

than just give them a fish.” The desire to work and provide for his family was there – all Oleh needed was a little help to start the journey to become self-sufficient. “I’d been thinking about starting my own small business for quite a long time. Our region is agricultural and most people have some land and each spring they need a lot of seedlings. So I thought, we can build a greenhouse and grow seedlings for the area. Also, we could start growing raspberries, which grow perfectly here.”

MWB worker and family Coordinator Sergiy Soroka said, “Oleh came to us with all his ideas and we proposed that we would support him. Together we chose the best possible option: purchasing a mini tractor for many uses, from transportation to cultivating. The Mission paid half the price through Self-sufficiency Projects, and half the money, Oleh found himself.” He also received a water pump and building materials with the aim of setting up a greenhouse to plant, grow and sell vegetables locally for a profit. Oleh said, “I felt strongly motivated. It was a wonderful supplement to the resources we already had. We have land, we have working hands. All of my children are willing to work according to their age and strength. I want my whole family to be involved, so they can learn and we can work together. Without your help, we could not do this or even think about this. When you first started helping us, we did not even have a table, proper furniture or even a fridge. Today, I see your help in every part of our lives”. Oleh’s children listen attentively to his words, their bright blue eyes just like their father’s. Svitlana, their mother, smiled as Oleh spoke, and said, “I believe that every family needs a father - his strong hand and wise mind. Their father is a role model they need to see and follow daily.” Oleh added, “Working abroad is not an option for me. I do not want to pay later with the lost future of the children due to their bad choices. We are deeply thankful to the Mission, but not only for the tractor and all their other help, but for inspiring and enabling us to become self-sufficient. We also want to pass on these opportunities to our children.” “We will grow food, but also we will build their characters, giving them the best of our love, experience and wisdom.” Through family sponsorship, MWB supports many families like Oleh’s on a path towards self-sufficiency. Whilst self-sufficiency doesn’t happen immediately, the journey is just as important. With your support, we can bring hope to more and more families throughout Eastern Europe to stay together, empower them with dignity, and to know God’s blessing and provision through a self-sufficient life.

“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.” 2 Corinthians 3:5

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA The migration of refugees throughout the world this past year reminded us of our nations own conflict and times of escaping from war. Today, our countrymen are escaping hopelessness and lack of jobs, as they migrate again to various “promised lands”. According to statistics, at least 5% of the population of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) has left the country in the last three years. In spite of negative trends, it has been a wonderful year for MWB with lots of victories behind us. We are supporting 130 families in our country towards self-sufficiency, which helps restore communities to wholeness. To prepare families for that step, we make sure that they receive spiritual and emotional support, as well as material support and help with their basic needs, with education, or help when urgent situations arise. Our Soup Kitchens in partnership with churches, and “Help to the Elderly” are ministries that are recognised throughout the country, and commended by local and national officials, as well as by the media. Practically speaking, they provide food for 250 people daily. For many of them, that is the only help they receive. Our long-term commitment makes our beneficiaries less stressed, and our ministry is growing toward mutual help and partnership. We organised events like the Alpha course where we could grow together in knowing the will and grace of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect example of a friend to all people, especially to the needy. One of our partnering churches, at the east side of Mostar, closely works with us in rebuilding this community, proclaiming reconciliation with God among war torn people. The church is involved in our work with children, helping us to organise Summer Camps and follow up events, as well as regular weekly work with young people. They have, with other evangelicals, organised events to commemorate 500 years since the Protestant Reformation, in this way raising awareness of church ministry, presence and heritage. BiH is the least evangelised country in Europe, but believers, even though they are few, are strong in faith. The message of the Gospel and revival is much needed. More than anything, this country needs people who will pray and fast for it and seek the outpouring of the Spirit to heal the land. Listening to our church partners is very important and it is important for us to help strengthen them. From both sides, we share the same vision, we have a lot of experience and hope to find humble servants to join us in our mission. Both the families we serve, and our team, who are brave and tireless, are fighting relentlessly with a holistic approach to restore our nation. It seems like it will not get better soon, but we do not look merely at the physical reality; we look with a heart of faith. We are to trust that the One who has started the good work in us and around us, fulfils His promise. Our Mission is not about barely surviving, but with deep desire and compassion, making people’s lives better. Thank you for contributing in bringing change and hope into many lives in Bosnia - Herzegovina. God bless, Dalibor Kojic, Field Country Manager in Bosnia-Herzegovina

OPERATION CHRISTMAS LOVE Mara’s Story Glamoc, in southwestern Bosnia-Herzegovina was once crowded with people going about their business and children shouting excitedly to each other as they played outside. Now the streets are empty, many houses are demolished, and only a small number of children are seen walking to the local school. Most of the town’s residents are elderly, as young people continue to leave their hometown and country in search of a better future abroad. Mara Katic, a single mother, grew up in Glamoc and remembers its busy, noisy days. In 1991 there were over 12,500 people in the town, but because of the war and unemployment, the population is now only 3,860 – a number that continues to decline. The war drove out most of Glamoc’s residents, including Mara, who endured a harsh refugee life when she fled to a town where she did not know anyone. There she gave birth to her only son Dusko, who is now 22 and has special needs. Mara is the only one who can earn a living, and as the only available work is hard manual labour, that is the work she does. She said, “My son stays at home and I go out looking for some work – that’s our daily routine. I don’t mind working; it’s God’s plan for me. He blessed me with strength and good health so I can do hard manual work and earn money for the two of us. Honestly, I do not like remembering my harsh, refugee life. I was alone with a baby- a very frightening period because I couldn’t work and provide for us. As soon as I could, I returned to Glamoc.” Mara and her son attend the Soup Kitchen in Glamoc regularly, and are thankful to MWB for the support they receive. Last Christmas, Mara and Dusko received their very first Operation Christmas Love food parcel. Her reaction – Priceless! “What can I say? You don’t know how much this means to me. I’m going to use this food to make our first Christmas lunch in many years. Through MWB, our Lord provided me with all I needed to celebrate the birth of His Son. My heart is joyous, filled with the love that I’ve received through this box. Thank you for the best gift I could ever receive this Christmas.” The Operation Christmas Love campaign in Glamoc – as well as the Soup Kitchen – is managed by MWB Coordinator Blazenko Soldat. He said, “Most of the time it’s overwhelming listening to people and their heartbreaking stories, especially the elderly who speak about being hungry and not able to heat their houses. For this group, the biggest challenge is whether to spend money on food or on firewood.” Having a table laid with delicious food to celebrate Christmas is something that they can only dream and pray about. However, these faithful people are not left alone. Our heavenly Father always finds the way to help those who need Him. Psalm 34:15

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayers.” 13

MOLDOVA

Moldova continues to struggle with political and economic uncertainty and turmoil. Politicians rise and are gone overnight, amidst the fighting between various groups driven by greed, corruption and desperate fights over power and money. People are tired of a seemingly hopeless trend of lack of jobs, expensive living costs and never ceasing poverty. Young people stop having dreams for tomorrow due to a non-effective education system and are fleeing the country in great numbers. Rural regions are most affected by all the above factors. In a society where many dream of becoming someone important, we are granted by God’s grace, opportunities to be part of something important and valuable - and to truly have an impact on the lives of many that are in desperate need of help. Our biggest joy is the opportunity to connect those without hope to the source of hope, love, joy, peace and life – Jesus Christ – and to share with them Christ’s love in action. Along with our financial donors, we’ve invested whatever resources we had available – funds, time, energy and empathy, which materialized through food, hygiene items and scholarships (to over 6000 children and adults in our Family to Family and Child Community based programs). This has brought a solution to some immediate needs, but also given our beneficiaries a sense of hope, gratitude, faith, and a renewed desire to build a life – and all of that makes us “people created in the image of God”. We face the usual challenges – the need for human resources, the challenge of administrating the donated funds wisely, the efforts to build effective relationships with the Mission’s beneficiaries, the difficult economic and political realm, and spiritual battles. We were encouraged, knowing that we weren’t alone as we continue to be supported by the local churches that provide us with human resources and support us in their prayers. We at MWB in Moldova are filled with hope and good expectations for 2018, hoping that the Mission will continue to be a blessing and a guiding light to the living Christ and many more people in the years to come. Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? James 2:15-16 (NIV) The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:45 (NIV) Best regards, Tudor Lungu, Field Country Manager in Moldova

OPERATION WINTER RESCUE

“I felt like I didn’t have any strength,” said the mother of seven. “The roof needed to be fixed, the children needed clothes and shoes, the firewood was essential for winter time-I was terrified as to how we were going to make it.” Svetlana’s life has been in turmoil ever since she gave birth to her son Petrea who was born with a serious health condition. “I can still hear the doctor’s voice as he pronounced the diagnosis. He said that my boy was born with a severe form of spinal hernia – and most probably he would not survive.” Svetlana and her family have continually struggled. The little money they were able to earn went primarily to medical expenses. “I remember that during the autumn I would leave the children at home and go and pick walnuts from the hill,” she said. “I would do one round, go home and check on them and then go again back to the hill. Selling them in the winter was the only way I could provide firewood for my family.” Their earnings allowed them to buy firewood in small amounts, keeping their home warm for a few days until they would need to find a way of buying more. The Cucereanu family are typical of Moldovan villagers, whose only source of income is working on the land. “My parents were farmers,” said Svetlana, “We used to help them in the field from a young age. After finishing school, all I knew was how to work the land so that’s what I continued to do.” The Cucereanu children are no exception, “After school lessons, our children work in the field with us.” As temperatures fall and winter sets in, the Cucereanu’s have found hope instead of fear – and the warmth of others love and care as Mission Without Borders (MWB) has stepped in to provide them with firewood and warm clothing. “We have never been helped by anyone in this way!” said Svetlana, “After a lifetime of struggling with freezing temperatures every winter and trying hard to put a piece of bread on the table, it seems unbelievable that there is someone who still cares.” Svetlana and her family are delighted with their delivery of firewood to keep them from freezing. “Every winter, we struggle to survive, but the gifts we have received today are beyond precious to us. Thanks to your help, we will be able to pay for medical treatments.” The winter season is often a time of great fear for families such as the Cucereanu’s as there are very few job opportunities, no fields to work in and no gardens to eat vegetables from. MWB’s Operation Winter Rescue project provides basic items for destitute families such as firewood, warm shoes and clothing. These bring relief and warmth to families, helping them to be safe and sheltered within their own homes.

Please help more families survive winter this year. Just $50 could provide a month of firewood or $500 could provide warm clothing and shoes to enable a family to survive the winter months. 15

ROMANIA Romania has been part of the European Union for ten years but has struggled to move forward. People have lost hope that their social and spiritual conditions will improve. This is particularly true of rural communities, where often most of the people are unemployed and waiting for the first opportunity to leave the country to find a job – when they do leave, many don’t return. Romanian wages are some of the lowest in Europe but the cost of living and prices for essential items increases every year. Corruption remains the number one political issue in Romania, with a criminal justice system not functioning to accepted standards. Reforms are needed to improve transparency, safeguard human rights, strengthen judicial independence and remove the covert influence of intelligence officers. Thousands of people in Romania recently went out on strikes and held protests as they were furious about the self-serving, corrupted nature of the government’s plans. Their placards mostly said: “We want a hope and a better future for our children”. Even in such hopeless conditions, our MWB team in Romania believe that God is with us, and together we can bring light and hope to the minds and hearts of discouraged people in our country. Through our programs we had the opportunity to help thousands of children and hundreds of families that struggle with diverse needs. A considerable number of families, before leaving the F2F program, had the opportunity to receive a Self-Sufficiency Project, which offers them the possibility of having a stable income. We continue to offer a daily warm meal to children from four different communities through our Soup Kitchen projects. Afterwards they are helped by volunteers with their homework. In partnership with a local organisation, MWB Romania are supporting two shelters for senior citizens. Last year, we began a prison ministry in a women’s prison, where we opened a tailoring workshop, equipped with sewing machines, textiles and other necessary items. The women now have the opportunity to learn new skills from our volunteers, which will be of significant help to them when they are released from prison. During the lessons, we share the Gospel, and through accepting Jesus as their personal Saviour, they can come to know freedom despite remaining in prison. In three different communities we continue to run Community Projects: a laundry facility offers many families the opportunity to wash their clothes: a greenhouse provides needy people with new opportunities to grow various crops and enjoy the results of their labour: a bakery allows local people the opportunity to take home a big loaf of bread three times a week, which they have prepared and baked themselves. We continue to support almost 200 students through our Scholarships, as we believe that once finishing their studies and working, they will bring change to their country. Last summer, we organised Summer Camps for about 1000 children. Leaders and volunteers ensured that every day at the camp was different and interesting for the children. The most important time, besides competitions and games, is when the children are presented with Bible stories which show how much Jesus loves them. The month of December is the busiest time with many different activities and the whole MWB Romanian team works tirelessly to achieve our goals. Through all the things we do, offering to almost every family and child a personal Christmas present or distributing 7,000 Operation Christmas Love food parcels, and warm clothing, boots and firewood through Operation Winter Rescue, we can really show to our neighbours the love of Jesus in a tangible way. From all our team and from all the people we serve, please accept our gratitude for your support, materially and prayerfully. With big respect, Alexandru Danilenco - Field Country Manager in Romania.

Child Rescue International

Giving children a chance in life

Before Sebbie began attending the After School project at MWB’s partner church Community Centre in his village, he was noisy, constantly fighting and could not read or write. “I did not know how I was going to deal with him,” Dorina, his teacher, said. “There were signs that he was experiencing trauma at home, so I knew I had to pray for him. While praying, I realised I had to fight for him. Romanian society gives up so easily on boys like Sebbie, but I decided that I would work harder for him.” MWB supports vulnerable children from struggling families through its Child Rescue International sponsorship program, to provide for their material and emotional support, as well as giving them opportunities through education and faith in Jesus Christ. Today, as a result of Child Sponsorship, Sebbie and other children from poor and deprived villages, are able to attend the Community Centres. Without it, these children would not go to school and would be trapped in poverty without any hope of being able to realise their potential or talents. Dorina said “In rural areas of Romania, there is so little access to education. Often, parents leave their children to go abroad to find work, and sadly, some do not return.“ When each child arrives at the Community Centre in the afternoon, they line up, wash their hands and then sit at their desks. They pray, sing songs, have lessons on reading, writing and maths and then have the only nutritious hot meal they will have all day. After this they go out into the church grounds to play football, skip and have fun. As part of the project they also receive clothing, shoes and school supplies, such as books, pens, pencils and a backpack, which gives them the dignity and confidence to keep going to school. “They are not encouraged by their parents at home,” Dorina said, “so having them here for a few hours is very precious. Their self-esteem can be very low, but they have so much potential. Another special part of this project is celebrating their birthdays with them. They receive a cake, a present, and love and attention which they have never had before.” The poverty that affects these vulnerable children is so deeply entrenched that only God can set them free to fulfil their true potential in life. And as our MWB workers step out each day to meet these youngsters’ needs, the help they give is just a mirror of the sacrificial love that Christ shows us. There are too many children struggling to survive and be educated in rural Romania. Your commitment to sponsor a needy child can help us reach them and give them a chance in life, which otherwise they would not have.

Sponsor a child today for $40 per month to change their life, to give them hope for a future. 17

UKRAINE

During the last 25 years, since the Mission was officially registered in Ukraine, we have been continually bringing hope to the helpless. In 2018, our Christian team will continue supporting children, families, the elderly and refugees. We aim to provide material relief and help to the needy as well as emotional, educational and spiritual support. Our motto has been the same over the years: “Reaching people for Christ” and it is weaved throughout all our programs and projects. Ukraine is going through a very difficult period of its history. Our war-torn economy has been plunged into crisis following the Euro Maiden Revolution and the following conflict with neighbouring Russia. Last year’s inflation reached 16.4%, and the 2018 forecast is 12%. Consumer prices, medicine and utility costs are constantly rising. The current political uncertainty adds to the overall difficult situation, stalling the much needed political and economic reforms. In such times, MWB Ukraine continues to offer hope, love and support. In 2018 we plan to continue supporting 500 poor, large families and around 7000 children living in 50 state-run Children’s Homes. The administration of these Homes rely on us to help them meet the children’s basic needs with items such as food, hygiene, medicine, clothing, shoes, and school supplies. Our Coordinators are trained to offer material, spiritual, emotional and educational assistance. Among our regular programs and projects I would especially like to highlight the following: Summer Camps have a tremendous impact on children’s lives. Thanks to our generous supporters, we were able to send 800 children into our five rented camp sites last year. Additionally, 520 children enjoyed our Day Camps in some of our key communities. The same numbers of campers are planned for summer 2018. The Mission’s Vocational Training Centre in Sarny is providing very popular, government-approved courses in sewing, cooking and computers for hundreds of students from poor families. This enables them to have a chance at getting a job, to earn a living and become self-sufficient. Relief trips to the war zone in east of Ukraine have reached many in need for Christ. In 2017, together with the local churches, we arranged two relief trips with various materials for the needy people in the suffering east. The delivery trucks contained food, furniture, clothing, mattresses, roofing materials and 2,000 Operation Christmas Love parcels for the needy families. All delivered items were distributed through our local partner churches in Donetsk and Luhansk areas. We are confident that with God’s help and our generous supporters, we will continue doing good works in 2018. We will continue to have a strong focus on helping children in state-run Children’s Homes as well as supporting needy families. Please continue praying for Ukraine and for the Mission in Ukraine. May God richly bless you. Mykola Bohdanets - Field Country Manager in Ukraine

SOUP KITCHENS Caring for the Elderly

“All our friends and

family are gone… We belong to the past, we are not needed anymore.”

An elderly man, Vasyl (pictured right) once enjoyed a well-paid and respected career – now, his State pension is so meagre, he and his wife struggle daily to survive. Housebound, his wife (pictured in the second image) is unable to walk or speak, but she waves her hand weakly in agreement with Vasyl’s words. “The pension is barely enough to pay for adult diapers for my disabled wife. All my life, I have worked in many high positions on the railroad and now I live like this.” Vasyl struggles to remain composed. “All our friends and relatives are gone, we are alone, we belong to the past, and we are not needed anymore.” Now the couple rely on the Soup Kitchen in Sarny, western Ukraine, run by Mission Without Borders and serving 38 households of elderly and disabled people who are housebound and alone, with a hot meal every day. Vasyl said, “The only people to visit us regularly are volunteers from MWB. The hot meals they bring are not something that we could cook ourselves. Their presence and care make a big difference.” Mariya, another elderly beneficiary (pictured bottom right) said, “The last years have been very hard. I have been praying with tears daily in my loneliness and disability. Soon I will have to face my Maker, so I can only ask Him for His forgiveness now.” Mariya has only one hand and suffers from a broken hip bone. She lives alone in poverty with her cat, who provides her with much needed warmth and companionship. Mariya and the others were once young and worked hard for many years. Now they are old and in failing health - many feel the world has lost interest in them and has no more use for them; they are invisible. “The caring people from the Soup Kitchen have become the way God has comforted me. I receive food every day and the chance to have fellowship with Christians.” Volodymyr, who delivers the meals, has devoted many years to supporting the elderly. He said, “One Sunday, the pastor preached about hidden talents and two words struck me: ‘You knew’. “Winter was coming and I knew a lonely old lady, who had to go around searching for wood so she wouldn’t freeze.  Her belongings were stolen by thieves. The realisation that I knew her need moved me to do everything possible – and the next day we were cutting firewood in the ladys yard.” The elderly and disabled in Sarny feel invisible to the rest of the world – but MWB is showing them that God sees them and loves them, and that through His people He will take care of them. With your help, we can provide practical and spiritual love and care to more people who feel as though the world has forgotten them.

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” Proverbs 3:27 19

ALBANIA

The Lord has been very good to us; we have seen the impact and the fruits of our ministry. We are grateful and thankful to God for all our sponsors and donors – without them we could accomplish very little. The real impact of our projects goes beyond numbers because our ministry, above all, is about people and relationships. In 2017, we had 85 new enrolments and closed the year with 321 families enrolled in the Family to Family program - the highest so far. We have 25 young beneficiaries receiving University scholarships this current academic year. This may seem insignificant, but we cannot forget that every day we struggle to lower the rate of early school abandonment and illiteracy among the children in our programs. We were able to implement 12 Self-Sufficiency projects and out of the 98 families withdrawn, 69 families were categorised as Self-Sufficient. We also carried out 79 Gift in Kind distributions to families, churches and other needy communities, managing about 50 tons of humanitarian goods. Our Christian Input activities have been more intensive, both locally and nationally. We held 24 activities with a total of 5,250 participating people, and 22 Christian puppet shows for 1,060 young beneficiaries during the past year. The most important news is that within our F2F community, 26 people were baptised in 2017. 2018 is foreseen to be a difficult year: the political situation is aggravated and beyond tense. The involvement of political figures in corruption and trafficking scandals as well as the deplorable judicial system are matters that keep Albania’s future with the EU pending. Consequently, social policies are not among the priorities of the current government. This makes our presence more relevant than ever! In 2018 we shall focus more in two communities for better impact. Our new centre in the outskirts of Durres will serve as a small Community Centre. Many activities will now take place in the area where 143 F2F families live, rather than somewhere else in the city. It will be the location for the ladies’ awareness meetings, Bible studies, English language course and also for the After School project that will see 40 F2F children assisted every day by volunteer teachers to overcome learning difficulties. We shall also offer a multifaceted service to the families of the Swamp area community and address more the “sit and wait” or “surrender” mentality that is very common and difficult to change. Let us all take a moment and count our blessings - those simple blessings that at times we so easily forget or often take for granted, but make a difference for us personally and above all for the people we assist through our joint ministry. We should not forget that there is need but there is also generosity, kindness and dignity in offering help and addressing those needs, and there is humility and gratitude in receiving help. These values make a difference. We are ready to continue, to face the tasks and also the challenges that lie ahead, always relying on each other and above all, on the guidance and grace that comes from God. None of us can do anything alone, all things are possible in cooperation and unity, as it says also in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 God bless, Monika Qeremi - Field Country Manager in Albania

Education and Scholarships

Overcoming the past through education - Arjola’s Story. Thousands of young Albanians have decided to leave their country in search of hope and a better life, but Arjola has stayed. When she was 12-years-old, Arjola’s father found out that court bailiffs were going to re-possess their family home. Already living well below the poverty line, in despair, he committed suicide, and today bailiffs still come to the house each week asking Arjola and her family to leave. “We still feel his absence a lot,” she said. “He took out a loan from the bank and invested it in a business with a friend, but the friend disappeared with all the money leaving him and us with less than nothing.” Mission Without Borders’ local team in Albania were alerted to the family’s struggles and enrolled them in the Family to Family sponsorship program. As a result of support from donors, the family receive monthly food and hygiene parcels, plus clothes, shoes and furniture, which began to ease their financial burdens. As well as providing regular emotional and spiritual support after such a tragedy, MWB also looked for opportunities to invest in the children’s education. It is hard to imagine what it must be like having officials come to your house each week trying to take your home from you. But instead of despairing, Arjola was motivated to break through these struggles by pursuing an education. Achieving high grades, she had the chance to go to University to study finance and banking, but without help there was no way she could afford it. Again through support from a sponsor, for the past three years she has studied at University for a degree and has had her tuition fees, transport costs and school supplies covered. “The Mission and sponsors are my heroes,” she said, “You helped me to start re-building my life, to attend University and to have goals. I’m finishing my degree and I would like to study for a Masters. When I begin working in this sector I want to help those in need who approach banks for money. I want to inform them about the hidden consequences and rules when borrowing large amounts of money. Many just don’t understand. I want to help my family and learn from the past. My goal is to become a Bank Director - I will do it.” There are too many bright and talented teenagers in Albania and across Eastern Europe in the countries we serve who have no hope of pursuing an education and reaching their potential. By supporting a young person with a scholarship, you not only make a difference to their lives, but you will also encourage them and help them to make a difference in their community. Change a life today through education and bring hope for a brighter future. Call our office for details of available scholarships that you can support - 02 9647 2022

BULGARIA

In the past year, nothing new has happened in the real, daily lives of the ordinary people in Bulgaria. As the Bible says: There is nothing new under the sun. The problems are too many: low salaries, slow reforms in education and health care, bloated administration, red tape, corruption, an ineffective judicial system, a large and non-integrated Roma minority, growing nationalism, new increased costs for water, electricity and basic foodstuff. From January 1st 2018, Bulgaria started its time of Presidency of the Council of the European Union, for a six month term. But Bulgarians do not believe this will change anything or improve their lives. As a result of the despair in the nation, Bulgarians (young students and workers) are leaving the country in search of a better life, and the population in Bulgaria continues to decrease, leaving a greater proportion of elderly people. In 2017, the number of Bulgarians was reduced by almost 1% to 7 million. The number of people employed in Bulgaria is less than the number of those that work abroad. Our nation is divided. Most people suffer from lawlessness, corruption, and criminality. 40% of employed Bulgarians remain poor. Bulgaria remains the poorest country in the EU, with every fifth Bulgarian living in poverty. Only God has the power to change the situation and He says, “I am making everything new!” These words are trustworthy and true. Our hope is directed to Him, who alone can change the lives of everyone and who can seat us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Knowing this, MWB in Bulgaria works to help and improve people’s lives, showing God’s love and giving them hope. We help young vulnerable families, the homeless, people with disabilities, students and even prisoners. We continue to develop two communities in Krupnik and Gotse Delchev in the south-west of the country. Last year we started After School clubs for children who are struggling with education in both of these areas. With God’s help we achieved very good results, and their teachers in the school expressed their gratitude and admiration for the work of Mission Without Borders. The vocational, educational and literacy courses are also an important part of our strategy to assist people in learning and improving their skills. Praise the Lord, some of our beneficiaries found a job after they finished our professional courses. We plan to build a greenhouse to increase the impact and sustainability of our agriculture project. We also plan to build a pig farm to help the families from our communities achieve a certain level of self-sufficiency. New self-sufficiency projects will be implemented for families in the Family to Family (F2F) program; several families have already reached self-sufficiency and after the monitoring period, were withdrawn from the program. Our efforts are always aimed at raising the quality of our activities and programs, training people in different skills, and monitoring the projects’ results. We will not forget our work with the disabled, lonely, abandoned children and the homeless, and thus we will serve our Saviour. We thank our Lord for the wide doors He has opened for us in Bulgarian prisons. The people there are rejected by society and badly need God’s grace and love. We praise God for His abundant blessings and mercies. There is still much work to be done as we seek to change and improve our ministry but again, we trust in the Lord and go ahead with His guidance. Sarkis Ovanesyan - Field Country Manager in Bulgaria

PRISON MINISTRY

Working with patience in Bulgaria’s prisons “I used to be a painter,” Pastor Rumen Bordjiev said, sitting in his church office on the wintry outskirts of Sofia, Bulgaria. “A few months after Communism fell in 1990 I became a pastor. The spiritual battle was over. We were free and we had a tremendous opportunity to tell the Gospel to many for the first time in our country. We thank the Lord for the freedom we have now, whereas under Communism, religion was banned and atheism permeated every part of society.” For the past eight years, Mission Without Borders has been working in partnership with Pastor Rumen and his church supporting his ministry in the prisons of Bulgaria. There are 10,000 prisoners in Bulgaria and Rumen and his team work in 19 prisons across the country.

Behind the prison walls one of the biggest emotions Rumen and his team face when they enter is anger. ‘If there is a God, why am I here?’ they say. “To overcome this mentality it is all about our approach. We go in and we relate to them and point out that we could be in prison too if we made certain decisions in our lives. They see that we go in to speak to them out of our own free will, and that we show compassion by offering material and emotional support. When we gain interest and trust we can then share what we have to say about Jesus. Often at the end of conversations they break down and say: yes, I deserve to be here.”

“Our aim is to share the Gospel and to Lives changed as a result of this ministry, show these people include prisoners of Roma origin, who returned to their villages after being that someone cares have released and planted churches. There are about them when others who have returned to their homes “God pushed us in to the prisons,” he and restored their broken families after said. “They are not places that you they feel that there hearing the Gospel. would choose to go, but He created the is nobody left who Rumen said.” We who work in prisons opportunities and delivered the support thinks or knows about Pastor need so much patience. It is so easy for to make it happen. Our aim is to share the inmates to fall away.There are so many the Gospel and to show these people them.” that someone cares about them when they feel that there is nobody left who thinks or knows about them.

”Prisons in Bulgaria are overcrowded, dilapidated and their facilities in general do not meet European human rights standards. In this highly challenging context, results take time,” Rumen said, “Prisoners have no confidence, no selfesteem, no education and no hope. Being there at Christmas and Easter is crucial in this respect so they know they are not alone.”

temptations behind the prison walls and on the outside waiting to trip them up. But my belief is always that if we serve in the name of Jesus, in the end, we will see results. This is my encouragement to everyone involved. We work with you MWB because you come and support with the right intentions.” Pictured above: Pastor Rumen with some of the inmates who also have become his friends. They welcome his visits and him sharing the Gospel.

SUMMER CAMP

Ela’s story

“My mother left me,” Ela said, “But it’s ok because she used to yell at me and even beat me. She left one night. In the morning, my father would not let me go to school because he had to tell us the news. I did not feel angry or sad. I just wanted to go to school as quickly as possible. It frustrates me when I fall behind my classmates.” Ela rarely opens up her emotions to others and keeps the pain about her mother hidden, but there is often a sad look in her eye that gives it all away. Living in a forgotten city in Romania, Ela is a member of one of the 80% of families who live on or below the poverty line here. Her father can only find occasional work and the family home is small with no bathroom and a shared kitchen. There are too many children suffering with abandonment and poverty in Romania and across Eastern Europe, but this year you can make a difference to one of them. You can help to send a child, like Ela, to Summer Camp in each of our six Field countries. Here they experience ten days of joy away from the daily struggle of their lives. Many have never been on a holiday before and most do not have regular nutritious food - some even go to bed hungry. At camp they have good food each day, they take part in sport, games and crafts and they also learn about Jesus’ love for them, often for the first time. These children have very few positive role models in their lives, but at camp they are lead, encouraged and accepted for who they are by our passionate Christian staff and volunteers. Last year, Ela went to camp: “I made a lot of friends,” she said. “They make me happy. I know everyone! I took long walks with my friends and we talked about everything. It’s a lot of fun and I was happy until I had to leave, then I felt like I could cry.” MWB Summer Camps are a great place for children to experience joy and happiness, and for the seed of God’s Word to be planted in their hearts. Summer Camps are an experience they will take with them for the rest of their lives.

When a child is offered a placement at Summer Camp, it is an investment in their future. For as little as $20 you could transform a life by giving them the gift of hope and knowledge of God’s unconditional love. 24

STREET MERCY

Fighting isolation and poverty on the streets

The needs of the homeless are growing. Just $100 can feed a homeless family like Vlada and her children for a month. Vlada has faced cruelty all her life. Growing up in a Roma family, Vlada’s parents abandoned her at a railway station in Chisinau, Moldova’s capital city. She was just 12 years old. After three years of isolation and rejection living 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 for her was terrifying. “I have never been loved,” she said, her eyes swimming with tears. “I felt hopeless. Several 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 desolate cellar, which was so cold. ”My son is so brave. He goes to school, and when he finishes he goes to the streets to beg – this is our only income,” Vlada shared. A year ago, Yilesha, a church volunteer, discovered Vlada and invited her to the Street Mercy project which supports the homeless in Chisinau. Here Vlada and her children, received clothes, shoes, hot food and medicine, and was encouraged to learn about Jesus Christ and how he can change her life. “I struggle to overcome my past,” she said, “but I know how much Christ has endured for me. I want to change myself, I want to find a job and live in a nice place with my children and give them a decent life.” For Vlada, on the streets there is only rejection, discrimination, temptation and addictions, which prevent her from breaking out of her situation. She has only ever known sadness, loneliness and physical and emotional abuse – there are so many barriers, that hope often feels impossible. MWB’s Street Mercy project is a lifeline that can help homeless people, like Vlada and her children, start again. Street Mercy hot meals are delivered 5 days a week to homeless people living on the streets in Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria. The beneficiaries can also receive some medical care, clothes, shoes and blankets, as well as the friendly care, counselling and love shown by the MWB volunteers. Street Mercy literally saves lives and gives hope to those who have been abused and neglected.

Humanitarian Aid “The only hope we have”

“...When you did it to one of the least of these, you were doing it to me.” Matthew 25:40 About 400 Roma people live in the suburbs of the city of Shkodra, Albania. They live in substandard housing, no running water, and trying to survive with insufficient food, clothing or hygiene items. Pastor Zef has started a ministry among the Roma people living in a small village across the river from Shkodra, in partnership with Mission Without Borders (MWB). He regularly brings them dried soup bags, hygiene items, clothing, shoes and blankets. Everything is welcomed in this Roma community: even having a new knitted blanket means a lot to them. “During the day we keep warm by moving around, but the winter nights are so long and cold,” said Time, a mother of six. “I’m so happy to receive these blankets, socks, scarves, hats and shampoo. My children will sleep more warmly this winter. They will no longer walk with bare feet. They will be cleaner. It’s not the first time that Pastor Zef has helped us. He often visits us and brings fun into our village. We love him!” Pastor Zef and his church, Biblical Baptist Church, works to support this community throughout the year with the help of MWB. They also work with 55 families in the community of Tejbuna, across the river. Pastor Zef said, “Helping them materially gave our church the opportunity to start children’s services and recently adults’ services too: Bible classes, sports and artistic activities and a summer Bible school.” “We began with a service to provide much needed food and other goods to those in need. Before long, we had an opportunity to teach a Bible lesson to the children of the village. We are so thrilled at the way this new ministry has thrived and we are beginning to see a population, entirely unfamiliar with the Gospel, open up to the love and message of Christ.” MWB aims to meet the basic needs of destitute families, strengthening the partnership with local churches and institutions such as the local government, schools, women’s and children’s associations, and associations for the disabled. Whilst the Gift in Kind ministry in Australia has ceased, we are happy to report that the aid has definitely not stopped! MWB is still providing through local purchases, warm clothing and blankets, school supplies and other necessities to help improve the lives and opportunities of those living in poverty. And, through this ministry we have the wonderful ability to share the message of Christ’s love with them.

GIFTS IN WILL It is through the generosity and compassion of our supporters like you, that Mission Without Borders has been able to reach people for Christ in Eastern Europe for over 50 years. You can ensure that your passion for the lost in our six field countries will continue by leaving a Gift in Will to Mission Without Borders. When you have passed the final border of life, you will not only continue to help the poor, but will be remembered for your lifelong compassion and care for others in need.

CONNECT WITH US

Leaving a Gift in Will can make sure that you will still be there for the children, families and communities we serve for years to come. The needs in Eastern Europe are real and there is still a lot of work to do to bring people out of the poverty cycle and into self-sufficiency. Whether you are writing your first Will or amending your current one, you will be assuring that the next generation will benefit from your care and support and that lives will be changed for a brighter future in Eastern Europe. After providing for your family first, please prayerfully consider leaving a Gift in Will for the ministry of Mission Without Borders. Contact our office today, to express your interest to leave a Gift in Will and to receive the wording you will need to give to your lawyer.

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I would like to be a part of God’s work through Mission Without Borders! I would like to sponsor a family through your Family to Family program ($40 per month/$480 per year). Albania Bosnia Bulgaria Moldova Romania Ukraine Name Address Suburb

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I would like to receive your newsletters and Bridge of Prayer. Send completed form to: Mission Without Borders PO Box 7533 Silverwater NSW 1811 For more information please phone: 02 9647 2022

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I would like to be a part of God’s work through Mission Without Borders! I would like to give a general donation to your ministry and work. I would like to give a monthly donation to your ministry and work. I would like to give a monthly donation to Vocational Scholarships. Name Address Suburb Email Mobile

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I would like to sponsor a Child ($40 per month/$480 per year). Please see over for my details. I enclose my first sponsorship pledge of $________ by the following method. Payment Options: Cheque/Money Order (payable to Mission Without Borders) Credit Card Amex Visa Mastercard Credit Card Number _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ /_ _ _ _ /_ _ _ _/ _ _ _ _ Exp _ _ /_ _ Name on Card: ______________________ Signature: _________________________ I wish to make regular automatic direct debits from my credit card/bank account. Please send me an Authorisation Form to complete and return. (Form can be downloaded from www.mwb.org.au\giving\regular-giving\) Direct Deposit to our bank account: Mission Without Borders Bank:Westpac BSB: 032061 Account: 350625 (Ref—Donor Number or email us at australia@mwbi.org to inform us you have made a deposit)

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I would like to sponsor a Family ($40 per month/$480 per year). Please see over for my details. I enclose my first sponsorship pledge of $________ by the following method. Payment Options: Cheque/Money Order (payable to Mission Without Borders) Credit Card Amex Visa Mastercard Credit Card Number _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ /_ _ _ _ /_ _ _ _/ _ _ _ _ Exp _ _ /_ _ Name on Card: ______________________ Signature: _________________________ I wish to make regular automatic direct debits from my credit card/bank account. Please send me an Authorisation Form to complete and return. (Form can be downloaded from www.mwb.org.au\giving\regular-giving\) Direct Deposit to our bank account: Mission Without Borders Bank:Westpac BSB: 032061 Account: 350625 (Ref—Donor Number or email us at australia@mwbi.org to inform us you have made a deposit)

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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. I would like to give a monthly donation of $______ to Vocational Scholarships Please see over for my details. I enclose my first payment of $_______as nominated above. Payment Options: Cheque/Money Order (payable to Mission Without Borders) Credit Card Amex Visa Mastercard Credit Card Number _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ /_ _ _ _ /_ _ _ _/ _ _ _ _ Exp _ _ /_ _ Name on Card: ______________________ Signature: _______________________ I wish to make regular automatic direct debits from my credit card/bank account. Please send me an Authorisation Form to complete and return. (Form can be downloaded from www.mwb.org.au\giving\regular-giving\) Direct Deposit to our bank account: Mission Without Borders Bank:Westpac BSB: 032061 Account: 350625 (Ref—Donor Number or email us at australia@mwbi.org to inform us you have made a deposit)

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PO Box 7533 Silverwater NSW 1811 49/8 Avenue of The Americas, Newington NSW 2127 Phone: 02 9647 2022 Email: australia@mwbi.org Website: www.mwb.org.au