All the World (April-June 2020)

Hard work pays off SELF-SUPPORT IN BANGLADESH

Fighting AUSTRALIA’s bushfires Signs of recovery in INDONESIA Ministry to WOMEN in pictures

OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2010 APRIL–JUNE 2020

VOL 58 48 NO 2 4

Welcoming refugees in BRAZIL

CONTENTS

APRIL–JUNE 2020

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Visit ALL THE WORLD at: www.salvationarmy.org/alltheworld

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UPFRONT From the Editor

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BANGLADESH Visitors witness hope through trade

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HOME AND AWAY Thoughts from here and there

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BRAZIL Welcoming refugees from Venezuela

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OLDER PERSONS’ MINISTRY Preparing for an ageing population

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INDONESIA Long-term support

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AUSTRALIA Bushfire ministry

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SNAPSHOTS News from around the world

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A spirit of THANKFULNESS FOR Lent this year I decided to try something different. Rather than giving up chocolate or coffee, I made a conscious effort every day to share on my Facebook account something for which I was thankful.

The first few days were pretty simple – nice weather, interesting work tasks, fun family events and good food were all easy to give thanks for. But then the clouds gathered, literally and metaphorically ...

My youngest son injured himself, my own health dipped, the weather seemed to be turning into a never-ending soggy gloomfest, work felt overwhelming and even my football team went from bad to worse! Being thankful was not in the front of my mind. In my downcast mindset I could only see negatives, not positives; problems, not solutions.

This was probably a good time to be working on this issue of All the World, because it contains many reminders that I have a lot to be thankful for. I live in a country where there is a safety net for people who fall on hard times, I don’t have to fear for my safety and livelihood just because I disagree with my government, earthquakes and tsunamis are things that happen elsewhere and

the damp conditions and relatively mild temperatures mean that bushfires are not going to threaten my home.

My ‘normal’ – even my ‘not great’ – finds me in a much better place than a large proportion of the world. This is definitely worth being thankful for!

What is humbling, as I read through stories of people who have been helped

by The Salvation Army, is the thread of thankfulness that ties together everything in this issue. People who have lost loved ones, homes and possessions in Indonesia, Venezuelan refugees in Brazil, firefighters in Australia, artisan workers in Bangladesh – all are facing greater difficulties than I am, yet all are still thankful.

These people are not ‘victims’ (and you won’t see them described this way in this

‘I need to give thanks to God for all that I have – and I also need to look out for people whose lives are much more difficult than mine’ EDITOR Kevin Sims

GENERAL Brian Peddle

DESIGN AND ARTWORK Berni Georges

Published by Brian Peddle, General of The Salvation Army

EDITORIAL OFFICE The Salvation Army International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom Tel: [44] (0)20 7332 0101 Email: IHQ-alltheworld@salvationarmy.org FOUNDER William Booth

Kevin Sims, Editor

ai t e faaf

UPFRONT

FROM THE EDITOR

magazine). They are strong and resilient, fighting through difficult circumstances with courage and, yes, thankfulness.

They are thankful to The Salvation Army for offering a helping hand and thankful to God, who gives them strength.

I’m not keen on the phrase ‘there but for the grace of God go I’. To me, this suggests that people in worse situations than me are there at God’s choosing, which seems unjust – and we know that God loves justice! Instead I look at it this way: I need to give thanks to God for all that I have – and I also need to look out for people whose lives are much more difficult than mine. I need to ‘learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow’ (Isaiah 1:17). Because I have been given much, much is expected of me.

And so I will continue with my Lenten discipline. Through it I will seek to develop a spirit of thankfulness that enters every area of my life. I may even learn to thank God for the rain – but also, in the interest of balance, I will definitely be thankful for umbrellas!

© The General of The Salvation Army 2020

Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd The Salvation Army International Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (no. 1000566) whose sole trustee is The Salvation Army International Trustee Company, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales (no. 02538134) at 101 Queen Victoria Street, London ECV4 4EH

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TRADE FOR HOPE

BANGLADESH

Artisans from Bangladesh with their embroidered coin purses

Building relationships and strengthening ties Others – or, to use its full title, Others: Trade for Hope – is The Salvation Army’s global social enterprise, partnering with more than 1,000 artisans in Kenya and Bangladesh.

Others works with the most vulnerable members of society, creating opportunities for economic development to those who would otherwise be marginalised. Since it began in Bangladesh in the 1990s, Others has focused on using traditional skills to make high-quality items that can be enjoyed around the world. The current range of products includes travel accessories, kitchen and home interior items, scarves, stationery and seasonal holiday products.

The Salvation Army’s USA Eastern Territory has supported a full-time employee to increase brand awareness and engagement with Others since 2014. Part of this strategy includes building up a pool of ambassadors across the territory who have first-hand knowledge of the story and 4 | ALL THE WORLD |

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impact behind each product. In 2019, a team of six territorial representatives spent 10 days in Bangladesh, visiting five production units to see how products are made.

The most meaningful encounters happened when the team members were invited to visit the homes of the men and women who produce Others products. Stories of how Others is changing lives, families and communities were shared, prayers offered and relationships developed between those who make products and those who sell them.

This experience was a great eye-opener and allowed for each ambassador to become even more effective upon his or her return to the USA in sharing the story of Others and encouraging more people to get involved.

Over the past five years, three teams from the USA Eastern Territory have travelled to Kenya and Bangladesh, building relationships and strengthening ties.

BANGLADESH

DORIANEH STANFORD Our time in Bangladesh included a visit to a small village called Shankarpur.

From the closest main city, Jashore, we drove an hour and a half, boated across a river and walked just to get there. It’s not a place easily located on a map.

I vividly remember being welcomed by the whole community, who came to greet us at the shore with floral garlands and small bouquets. With the community behind us and the corps officers (Salvation Army ministers) before us, we walked to the Salvation Army corps (church) and gathered there – Muslims, Christians and Hindus.

Lieutenants Tushar and Shipra Biswas, who were first appointed to the community five years ago, say that, when they first arrived, Shankarpur was a place of division and extreme poverty.

It was hard to imagine the same group of people I had met being so divided just a few years ago. I personally had never been to a place like this, where people with different beliefs not just tolerated each other but behaved as one community.

Lieutenant Tushar explained that, in addition to people coming together, families went from struggling to have one or two meals per day to being able to save and invest in assets. Shankarpur is now seeing its first generation of female bread-winners.

This transformation began with Others. The lieutenants saw that many

people in the community were skilled sewers and proposed a partnership.

As you may imagine, it was a tough journey to get people on board who weren’t already involved with the church, so they started with only a handful of women. The women began secretly sharing the production of orders with their Muslim and Hindu friends until the community mosque leader announced that any husband who allowed his wife to continue associating with the Christians would be ostracised.

But Lieutenant Tushar continued ‘bumping into’ husbands in the market – since he couldn’t do home visits –and Lieutenant Shipra continued to invite all women to home league women’s group outings. And eventually, once people saw the earnings and life improvements of their neighbours, perceptions changed. The mosque leader even came around. He does construction work and, when the corps needed work last year, he offered to do it a discount.

The Shankarpur community has undergone a beautiful transformation.

‘The women began secretly sharing the production of orders with their Muslim and Hindu friends’

Above: Carpenters with their wooden kitchen items

It’s an example of what social enterprise can do not only for individuals but on the communal level as well.

What a privilege it is to be connected to their story and legacy!

MEREDITH JOHNSON Back in my room after our visit to Shankarpur Corps, after we had returned to the guest house, eaten, debriefed, and prayed, I texted my sister, saying: ‘I have never been more remote than I was today.’

Boy was that true! We had already flown from the capital city of Dhaka to the more rural Jashore the previous day; then that morning we drove another hour and a half to the water’s edge to take a ‘ferry’ (a man paddling a skiff) to the shores of Shankarpur. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the lieutenants and a group of women from their community who welcomed us with marigold leis and then walked us back to the Salvation Army compound. We were ushered into the corps chapel area and many of the women joined us. This, we soon discovered, was significant. At least, when considering their uncertain beginnings in that community.

Five years ago, the lieutenants entered a faith-diverse, mainly Muslim community, representing the standard A P RI L – J UN E 2020 | ALL THE WORLD |

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BANGLADESH

Right: a hand embroidery group; below: an embroidered heart decoration

Bangladeshi fraction of a per cent who are Christians. They were not warmly welcomed. They weren’t even sure what they could offer this community that would create a bridge and potentially open the hearts and minds of Shankarpur to the message of salvation.

So, they got to know the people. They joined them in the community centre and heard their stories and asked about their needs. Their concerns. Their hopes and dreams.

The Bangladeshis are a demonstrably hard-working people. Rather than pleas for gifts or money, I consistently heard the desire for more work. This was what the lieutenants heard as well. Enter Others: Trade for Hope.

By introducing this programme to their local women – and some men – they provided self-sustainability and, further, the opportunity to save for ‘luxury’ items or advanced schooling for family members. The women simply applied their honed skill as embroiderers to supply crafts that have been successfully sold through The Salvation Army around the world.

On this amazing excursion, where we were accustomed to perhaps three or four home visits per day, we visited a record 11 homes. We were all happy to do so, because this community is proud of its success.

The people wanted to host us in their homes with local treats and tell us their personal stories. We met Shuborna, who laughed that she was probably the slowest seamstress but wanted to let us know that she had managed to save 15,000 taka of the 20,000 needed to

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‘The income from Others brings hope and dreams into her life’ purchase a freezer. Later we met her husband, who also occasionally sews when his business is slow, and they asked us to pray over them as they hope to start a family.

We also met Onita – and her cow!

Onita purchased the cow as an asset that cost 20,000 taka but which can be resold in a future emergency for upwards of 60,000 taka.

It truly felt to me like Lieutenants Tushar and Shipra Biswas had channelled their ‘inner William Booth’ (the Founder of The Salvation Army) and determined that the way to secure the interest and emotional and intellectual investment of their community was to meet its primary needs.

Their version of Booth’s ‘soup, soap and salvation’ is ‘supplemental and sustainable work and salvation’ – and it’s working! It’s a slow process, but the women are attending meetings, they are learning and singing worship songs, soliciting prayer and participating in corps activities. The Lord will have his way, and the Biswases are patiently holding the door ajar.

So, it’s true what I said about being remote that day. But that was just distance. In every other way, I felt completely connected and at home in this community of empowered women who are serving and being served through Others.

CAPTAIN JIN LEE When I was asked to join the Others trip to Bangladesh, I could not imagine what kind of experience God had in store for me. I knew that many Others products were made by vulnerable women in Bangladesh but I wondered how a person’s life could be transformed by the Spirit of God through Others.

Preparing for my trip, I prayed for God to open my eyes and heart to humbly hear the stories of the artisans, and to find God’s love and grace in their lives.

The first place we visited in Jashore was the Salvation Army Economic Development Centre that was renovated in 2018 with generous donations from USA Eastern and other territories. We encountered men and women artisans

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This page, from top: Monira, the production manager in Jashore; the Jashore sewing group; members of the visiting group from the USA Eastern Territory with the officers from Shankarpur Corps

working there. About 15 women produce tea towels, pouches, bags, heart-shaped ornaments and many beautiful handmade products in the sewing room.

One of the women was in tears as she shared her story with me. Since her husband passed away a few years ago, she explained, it was impossible for her to raise her son by herself. She desperately searched for a job, but there were very limited opportunities for women in the area.

Thankfully, a group of Salvationists regularly reaches out to the community.

One day she met a Salvation Army employee and heard about a job opportunity. The Salvation Army trained her to develop her skills in sewing and embroidery.

She has proudly and joyfully worked in the centre for six years, and the income from Others brings hope and dreams into her life. She is still poor, but she can prepare meals for her small family. She can send her only son to school and purchase medication for her younger sister, who is struggling with a tumour. She asked me to pray for her son to grow healthy in body, mind and spirit, and for her sister to overcome the painful tumour.

In the woodworking room, about 10 male artisans make products such as wooden spoons, nativity sets, star ornaments, trivets, cutting boards and rolling pins. They are very proud of their work and most of them have come to faith in Christ. The income from Others enables them to educate their children and provides hope for the future.

We visited individual homes in Jashore as there are many women who work individually at home. I met a group of women gathering together on the floor under a dim light. They were making embroidered hearts and Easter eggs.

I sat next to a woman and started a conversation. About 20 years ago, I discovered, her father and uncle died, so there was no income any more for her family to survive. Her mother has been very ill since then. She was the oldest sister so she dropped out of school so her other siblings could carry on their education.

Culturally, being a single woman is considered shameful, but she had to give up getting married because her family can’t help themselves physically and financially without her support.

She never had a regular job, she told me, so it was a daily challenge for her to

feed her big family. One day she heard about The Salvation Army from her neighbour, so she immediately reached out and began working for Others.

She is thankful for the job opportunity The Salvation Army has provided for 10 years. She can buy medication for her mother, and groceries for her siblings, nieces and nephews. Her dream is for her family to be healthy and happy every day.

She didn’t mention her own dreams, but I prayed with her that God knows her unspoken hopes and dreams and he will provide what she needs as she trusts in him.

Each person I spoke to had a different story, but the common thing I found was that they were all talking about hope.

Through Others, The Salvation Army brings hope to the lives of producers and their families. This hope is derived from the love of God.

The team from the USA Eastern Territory that visited Bangladesh in 2019: Meredith Johnson – Director of Planned Giving, Massachusetts Division Dorianeh Stanford – Others Consultative Group Member, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Major Richard Starkey – Corps officer, Connecticut Captain Jin Lee – Women’s Ministries, Southwest Ohio & Northeast Kentucky Division Major Beth Muhs – Adult Rehabilitation Center, Manhattan, New York April Foster – Others Director

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HOME AND AWAY

A SERIES LOOKING AT THE THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE SALVATION ARMY IN THEIR COUNTRY OF BIRTH AND OTHERS GIVING SERVICE ABROAD

SAMUEL GAKINYA INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (IFAS) Photos show Sammy addressing (left) and in discussion with (below) other IFAS team members at a conference

Sammy Gakinya works for The Salvation Army in Kenya, his country of birth What is your role in The Salvation Army?

I am currently an International Financial and Accounting Standards (IFAS) Training and Deployment Technician. I’ve had this job since March 2019, before which I was Chief Accountant at the Kenya East Territory for more than 11 years.

What would be your typical day?

After morning devotions, I engage with implementing territories around the issues of data collection, accounts cleansing, support and staff training.

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

In 2008, I learned through the external auditors working with The Salvation Army in Kenya that the then-Kenya Territory was being reorganised into two administrations. Each of the new Kenya East and West Territories would need a qualified accountant so I applied for the position of Chief Accountant and was hired in April 2008.

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’?

King David. His life is a study of break and renewal. As a boy he was a strong and brave shepherd who struck down the giant Goliath. As a teenager who knew the throne of Israel was to be his, he never once lifted a hand, even as King Saul tried to kill him. Instead, he showed Saul that he had spared his life.

As an adult, even in his sin as a king he confessed and wept.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

James 4:10: ‘Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up’ (New International Version).

What is your favourite Salvation Army song?

Number 959 in The Song Book of The Salvation Army, ‘I’ll Go in the Strength of the Lord’ (played very well by the band!).

How do you think that working in Kenya differs from working elsewhere?

Despite the notion that the cost of living is low in developing countries, as a professional – and having mingled with other Salvation Army colleagues – I have come to realise that Kenyans are highly taxed but that technological advancement is still wanting and people suffer more for basic amenities.

What do you like most about Kenya?

Being my motherland I feel at home working in Kenya. Also, the wildlife experience in Kenya is second to none!

If you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change?

I would let spiritual leaders deal with spiritual matters and allow professionals to deal with other aspects of The Salvation Army like

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investments, property management and general financial growth.

I would ensure I put the right people in the right jobs.

What skills do you use most in your work?

Accountancy and people management.

What skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more?

Financial management.

How would you like to be remembered?

As being able to bring financial discipline and internal control of finances, and as an effective trainer.

What’s so special about The Salvation Army?

The non-discriminatory service to the community in Kenya is so special.

The International Financial and Accounting Standards (IFAS) team has been set up through The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters (IHQ) to monitor, review, upgrade and enhance worldwide Salvation Army financial systems. The IFAS Project team is implementing new financial standards around the world, increasing the Army’s financial accountability and transparency.

Over the coming months, training and deployment personnel will be needed in several new countries, particularly across Africa. Any suitably-qualified people interested in joining the IFAS team should write to: IHQ-IFAS@salvationarmy.org to register their interest.

&

away

MAJOR DAVID KINSEY Born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and having served in the United Kingdom and at International Headquarters, Major David Kinsey took up his current appointment in Taiwan in September 2019.

What is your role in The Salvation Army?

My title is Regional Commander of the Taiwan Region. My role, along with my wife Diane, is to lead the region, which involves supporting and enabling what is, and encouraging what could be.

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

I am a child of Salvation Army officers. My faith development as a child was in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and I first responded to a ‘tug on my heart’ at a Billy Graham crusade aged about six or seven.

Do you have a ‘claim to fame’?

As a soldier in Her Majesty’s Forces, I was once inspected by the Queen as part of a guard of honour. We didn’t speak!

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’?

As someone attracted to faith in action, Ghandi is my hero of ‘a’ faith (he famously said: ‘Be the change’). A hero of ‘the’ faith would be anyone who is out there today, bringing about change in ways I couldn’t imagine. These people inspire me to be a better officer.

&AWAY

What is your favourite Bible verse?

Mark 15:37: ‘Jesus breathed his last’. At a time of crisis in my life, when I watched my newborn son take what seemed to be his last breath, I questioned how God could understand my situation. This ‘lightning strike’ of a verse reminded me, and still reminds me, that he did and does.

What is your favourite Salvation Army song?

Song 30 in The Song Book of The Salvation Army: ‘He Giveth more Grace as our Burdens Grow Greater’ (‘... His love has no limits, his grace has no measure’).

How do you think that working in Taiwan differs to working elsewhere?

Clearly language and culture is different from anywhere else I’ve been.

Having said that, people are people wherever you go in the world.

Parents care and worry about their families. People get sick. People face challenges in life. People mourn. People express joy. People need Jesus. Mostly, language and culture has taken the biggest adjustment for me.

What do you like most about Taiwan?

Taiwan is an amazingly beautiful and interesting place. In 1544, a Portuguese vessel passed by Taiwan, and one of the passengers called it ‘Ilha Formosa’, meaning ‘beautiful island’. And it is. It has some stunning scenery, interesting culture, food for every taste and welcoming and friendly people with a very strong identity. Taiwan is one of the most progressive of Asian countries. Come and visit!

What do you most miss about the UK? Family and familiarity. And my beloved football team, Sunderland.

Major David Kinsey (centre front, crouching down) with Salvationists and friends in Taiwan

&AWAY

What would be your typical day?

As we live in the same building as regional headquarters, our commute to work involves an elevator journey of one floor. Apart from the commute, no two days are the same. They can involve difficult decisions, balancing finances, proposing projects, inspecting buildings, visiting mission on the ground, pastoral support, gentle encouragement, saying ‘no’, saying ‘yes’, networking, preparing to lead meetings, leading boards and councils, understanding a complex legal system, embedding governance, implementing Netsuite, HR, etc. Topically, there is an increased focus on the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus), with 175 people affected and one death in Taiwan as at 19 February. We continue to monitor and respond as appropriate.

Every day will include what I consider to be the region’s – and my – most important need, which is my own spiritual development and holiness.

What aspects of another country’s culture do you wish were present in Taiwan?

In the six months Diane and I have been in Taiwan, we have not felt that we have missed anything (apart from family).

If you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change?

Ah, is this part of the new General’s Governance Board that the Chief of the Staff mentioned? To be serious, though, my experience of the movement is that it is continually changing. Change adds as well as takes away, and is OK. I’ve also learned that effective and lasting change often happens locally. I would change nothing about the DNA of the Army and allow the continuation of local change that enables us to remain relevant to where we are.

If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere else, where would you choose?

Diane and I never applied for international service as, for us, we felt that availability and trusting leadership with our future was sufficient. We still do. Having said that, I grew up in what was Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and, when Africa is in your blood ... I always thought that, if anywhere called, it would be Africa, but I am so pleased it was Taiwan.

What skills do you use most in your work?

My spiritual gifts, when I use gift discovery tools, always show as leadership, teaching and administration (not paperwork, I might add, but the ability to see and plan the big picture). I have found that I have used these gifts in all my appointments and, in the current appointment, leadership and administration seem to be vital.

Understanding finance is a skill I pray for often!

How would you like to be remembered Redeemed. Restored. Forgiven. Made a difference.

What’s so special about The Salvation Army?

The 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in the USA; the Indian Ocean tsunami which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 227,898 people in 14 countries; a 1999 earthquake in Taiwan that took 2,415 lives, with more than 100,000 buildings damaged and destroyed. In all those situations, and many others around the world, The Salvation Army has been able to respond immediately as there are already people ‘on the ground’. That the Army exists in 131 countries and yet retains its identity as ‘One Army’ is special. But what makes The Salvation Army truly special is our standing with God; committed to being a holy people. Lose that, lose all!

&AWAY

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REFUGEES

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Displaced David Giles, IHQ Communications Manager, reflects on The Salvation Army’s response to Venezuelan migrants fleeing economic and political turmoil to seek refuge in northern Brazil.

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HE hairs on the back of my neck pricked up. I was talking to Carlos, an eloquent, up-and-coming film producer. Or he was until the hyperinflation afflicting his native Venezuela meant the job he loved was no longer viable. In fact, the country’s whole film industry was no longer financially stable.

Carlos had put on his best shirt to come and speak to me. He wanted to share his story. He wanted people to understand that refugees heading desperately across the border into northern Brazil were not benefit cheats, scroungers or here just to make a quick buck. The infrastructure in Venezuela was failing, he told me.

There were no jobs. Law and order were breaking down.

I was there with colleagues to make a film about the refugee response, but it had got personal. Carlos was about

the same age as me. He had a family like mine. He had been employed in a similar profession to me. He was talented, hardworking and diligent. And we were now both in the same place – a United Nations-run temporary shelter on the outskirts of Boa Vista. It could so easily have been the other way round – Carlos behind the camera, me the refugee. It’s only really a quirk of geography that means it was not. It’s manifestly unfair.

Carlos’s story was far from unusual.

We met Yulimar, a technical operator for a TV station in Caracas. We met Julio, a nurse. We met Maria, whose career was in disaster and risk management.

A social worker. A perfumier. Mums.

Dads. Children. All away from their homes, their jobs, their circles of friends and connections.

The International Monetary Fund forecast inflation reaching 10 million per cent in Venezuela last year – prices of

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Above: Carlos, a Venezuelan film producer who fled to Brazil

everyday commodities like food, water and electricity doubling every 19 days.

Essential services such as healthcare, education and the judiciary severely affected or curtailed. And that’s why more than four million Venezuelans have fled the country since the troubles began in 2014 – not far short of the entire population of New Zealand.

In preparing for the week-long shoot, we’d enjoyed excellent cooperation from The Salvation Army’s Brazil Territory, which has risen admirably to the challenge of meeting refugees’ needs in this part of the Amazon basin. We were all keen to share the narrative as authentically as possible, but couldn’t quite be certain what access we would have, given that The Salvation Army is but one small part of a massive response.

We discovered that a palpable sense of unity existed across the Brazilian government, military, police, United Nations agencies and many other international non-governmental organisations to more local charities, foundations and church groups. Most filming requests, we were told, had been

BRAZIL

turned down. But we need not have worried, as we were afforded almost unrestricted access to people and facilities, with a generosity of spirit and time.

We crossed over into Venezuela so we could retrace the journey being made by hundreds of would-be refugees arriving in Pacaraima, Brazil, every day. Even as we recorded the typical shots of flags and border crossing paraphernalia, the footfall was constant.

We were welcomed by Captain Bosch, the Brazil Army officer responsible for overseeing the whole humanitarian response at the border crossing. A warm, affable gentleman, Captain Bosch

explained in detail what happens to Venezuelans crossing into the country.

Operação Acolida – Operation Welcome – strives to ensure that all migrants are dealt with professionally, holistically and with compassion.

Our unfettered look around the facilities confirmed that this was a clean, efficient and well-organised camp on the scale of a small town. Some migrants had been waiting here for a few days or weeks, while paperwork was put in order. Others had just arrived, grappling with a heady mixture of exhaustion and relief. Many were keen to talk with us and share their experiences on both sides of the border.

We were especially grateful for the soldier who was assigned to carry our heavier pieces of equipment in the humidity. He, too, exuded a gentle, calm authority and a caring spirit that I’d not previously associated with members of the armed forces – perhaps to my shame.

In many ways Pacaraima is the start, rather than the end, of the journey for Venezuelan refugees. A small settlement, there is little opportunity for employment or accommodation. So the majority of Above: Lieutenant Jacqueline Silva, manager of The Salvation Army’s Bridges Project, with some young refugees; left: David Giles shares some freshly-captured footage with a young refugee

arrivals sooner or later have to embark upon the 200-kilometre journey to Boa Vista, the regional capital.

There is a bus service, but many people are unable to afford the fare and so there is no option but to set out on foot. This is an arduous, undulating route through tracts of rainforest, with hazards that include the very real risk of human trafficking.

As we travelled along State Highway 174 in air-conditioned comfort, we observed numerous individuals and groups making the journey. But we were particularly struck to encounter Pedro, Stefani and their four young children, including one clearly affected by a disability.

They were shattered, nightfall was less than an hour away and – although they’d been walking for hours – they were only 20 kilometres into their journey.

Immediately, The Salvation Army’s connectedness demonstrably came to the fore.

Once the local team, headed by Lieutenant Jacqueline Silva, had arranged for transport and emergency overnight accommodation for the family in Boa Vista, work was underway to identify a longer-term solution.

Within half an hour of The Salvation Army’s Bridges Project centre opening the following morning, a suitable residential A P RI L – J UN E 2020 | ALL THE WORLD |

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placement for children with disabilities and their families had been found.

Result!

But it’s not always that straightforward.

Most migrants arriving in Boa Vista register at a military-run ‘triage’ centre.

All humanity is here, and it’s another well-resourced hub where the various agencies work closely with each other to ensure that as many needs as possible are met. Despite more than 10 large temporary shelters having been set up around the city, demand considerably outstrips supply.

Gustavo, a bright, 20-something perfumier from the Venezuelan coastal town of Carúpano, shares with us that he’s living on the street, sheltering in a building that is still under construction.

Although he’s busy working – washing

cars and undertaking gardening odd jobs – it’s not sufficient income to pay for rent.

It’s barely enough to eat.

Yet, despite the obvious hardships, Gustavo strikes me as an optimistic man with a positive outlook. He first encountered The Salvation Army when a team started language lessons in the shelter where he was washing his clothes.

Keen to integrate better into Brazilian society, he felt it was important to learn Portuguese.

Such is his gratitude towards The Salvation Army and the Brazilian community that has welcomed him, he has joined the volunteer team. On the day we first meet, he’s co-leading a workshop on mental health and well-being, which includes practical tips such as aerobic exercise.

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I meet him again painting children’s faces into a variety of animals, birds and superheroes at a special National Children’s Day event held by The Salvation Army’s Bridges Project. To me, Gustavo is a superhero: Selfless-Man. In the city’s Latife Salomão shelter, a group of young people we subsequently meet are among the most vulnerable of all the refugees. Identifying as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans), life on the streets had been especially dangerous. ‘We were ill-treated, beaten,’ says one of the group, the others nodding in agreement.

Her friend adds: ‘We are discriminated against; there is always hush-hush, murmuring; this is my feeling.’

Providing extra support to the city’s transient LGBT community is one of The Salvation Army’s specific objectives in Boa Vista. And the group we’re chatting with has integrated well within the shelter, often taking on childcare duties in the evenings so that parents can take a little time out or engage in work to earn some money.

It’s shocking to hear from group members that employment is not always an option for them. ‘We could only work in hairdressing,’ one transgender person tells us with sadness, ‘or be a prostitute in the evenings. We could not work in shops ... we were attacked by people who cannot accept us as we are.’ Just as that sinks in, she adds: ‘They believe we are an illness.’ A pause. A mental regrouping.

‘Sexuality is not an illness.’

Quite.

BRAZIL

Joseph Halliday, a member of the IHQ Communications team who worked with David Giles to record The Salvation Army’s work in

Brazil with Venezuelan migrants, recalls one person whose story had a particular effect:

Within hours of arriving in Boa Vista from London, and with no time to recover from the journey, we were out and about in the city meeting people affected by the situation in Venezuela. One of the first migrants we spoke to during an intense few days was Yulimar (pictured below, with her young daughter), who we met at The Salvation Army’s Bridges wProject centre.

My Spanish is rusty but, as she spoke, it was clear what she had been through, not only from her words but from the feeling in her voice and through her body language. I was taken by the velocity at which different emotions lit up her face: from joy and mirth to sorrow in seconds. This was a woman who was being incredibly strong for her family but, as tears flowed, it was clear how the situation had affected her.

Our translator generously paraphrased Yulimar’s story as we heard it, and my heart began to race as I heard how she and her husband had been forced to separate in Brazil to improve their prospects. It had been a source of amusement within our team that the visit to Brazil happened Opposite page: Pedro, Stefani and family join in Children’s Day celebrations; above: LGBT refugees at the Latife Salomão shelter in Boa Vista; below: Venezuelan perfumier Gustavo (in green shirt) supports Bridges Project staff serving cake to celebrate Children’s Day

to be just a few weeks after my wedding. My wife was either very understanding of my time away, or blessed by the scheduling – perhaps both! At this point, Yulimar had not seen her husband, nor two of their three daughters, for several months – and not through choice. How unjust life can be.

I have often thought of Yulimar and her family in the months since

In all, I spoke to more than 50 refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants. All were keen to share their experiences. All were grateful to Brazil for allowing them to start a new phase of their life, either temporarily or permanently. All were working hard to recover financial independence, to support themselves and their families – some of whom are still in unimaginably difficult conditions in Venezuela.

And all of them, I felt, could easily be me. In sharing time getting to know these people, it felt like ‘disaster roulette’. Where is the justice, I wondered, and how can God let this happen?

In the middle of a communal tent within the Latife Salomão shelter, far from the public gaze, a simple hand-drawn poster proclaims: ‘Deus es amôr’ [‘God is love’]. This is echoed by many of the individuals who took time to speak with us. ‘I thank God for…’, ‘God provided…’, ‘Thanks to God…’ were repeated refrains.

we met. I am blessed to make many decisions each day – on timing, on travel, on work. Yulimar, and so many other displaced people globally, get no such choice. They do what they have to in order to survive and to care for their family. I pray that those who hear their stories and the authorities who have the power to help have open hearts and understanding minds.

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BRAZIL

‘Refugees and migrants are not “other”, or to be considered a threat.

It’s not them and us.

They are us’ There is gratitude and faith where, frankly, it would be wholly understandable if these qualities had been eclipsed. Verses in Isaiah 53 are called to my mind, and I apply them to the people I’ve been sharing with.

‘Despised’ – check. ‘Rejected’ – check.

‘Suffering’ – check. ‘Familiar with pain’ – check. The Salvation Army does not proselytise in humanitarian relief work. It does not need to. The ‘man of sorrows’ at the very heart of our faith identifies strongly with the injustices experienced by our brothers and sisters experiencing hardships of every type. It’s our collective responsibility to do something about it.

‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:40).

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focus here is on vulnerable women, families and members of the LGBT community. ‘We help with psychological assistance, emotional health [and] strengthening resilience,’ she tells me.

By providing access to social worker expertise, hands-on assistance with paperwork, practical tips on self care, language learning opportunities, as well as a safe place to just be and take stock, Venezuelans moving into the area are helped to take the next steps in their new life in Brazil. The centre has become a hub, with many people who pass through speaking of it as a place of ‘family’, ‘belonging’ or ‘community’.

It’s not (yet) a Salvation Army corps, but spiritual needs are also addressed: we were warmly invited to a dedication service for two children, including worship, prayer and – naturally – more cake. One woman I encounter while here talks of previously feeling ‘sosinah’ (alone), and speaks emotionally about how The Salvation Army has walked with her and given her love and support to deal with the challenges she has faced.

No longer sosinah.

For me, it was genuinely enriching to meet so many people from so many different walks of life and to understand

Above: Face-painting at the Bridges Project to celebrate Children’s Day

their worldview – and their ‘not a victim’ mentality – a little better. Not everyone has the privilege of access to UN refugee camps, but perhaps there are opportunities closer to home to meet the ‘hungry’, ‘thirsty’, ‘naked’, ‘sick’ and ‘prisoner’.

I hope our film cements the fact that refugees and migrants are not ‘other’, or to be considered a threat. It’s not them and us. They are us. We must love without limits.

Displaced – a 50-minute documentary exploring how The Salvation Army is working alongside other national and international agencies to meet the needs of migrants both in Brazil and around the world, is available on YouTube and Vimeo: sar.my/displaced

OLDER PERSONS

COMMUNITY Getting ready for the silver tsunami

A

cross the globe, many regions and countries are witnessing unprecedented growth in their ageing population. Popularly dubbed the ‘silver tsunami’, adults aged 65 years and older are the fastest-growing age category.

The speed of change is startling. In 1980, the number of children aged under 10 was almost treble the total number of adults aged 65 and above. By 2030, the United Nations predicts that the number of people aged 65-plus will have caught and overtaken the under-10s. Today, one person in 11 (nine per cent) is 65 years or older but this is predicted to rise to one in six (16 per cent) by 2050.

The increase in numbers of older people in the Western world has been well documented, but the greying landscape is continuing to expand, with projections that by 2050 there will be a doubling of older persons in northern Africa and western Asia, central and southern Asia, eastern and south-eastern Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

And not only are more people reaching ‘old age’, they are also living longer. Japan has more than 70,000 centenarians (people reaching and Above: Glenda, from the William Booth Special Care Home, Regina, Canada, plants flowers with the help of a member of The Cooperators, a local community group whose volunteers offer their services on an annual ‘day of caring’

by Dr Maribeth Velazquez Swanson passing 100 years) and in the USA the number of centenarians grew by 44 per cent between 2000 and 2014. In the United Kingdom there were 2,300 centenarians in 1980 but government figures predict that, by 2050, more than a quarter of a million people will reach their 100th birthday!

A variety of factors have contributed to this worldwide ageing phenomenon.

Reduction in child mortality rates, improved sanitation and nutrition, along with wider access to better healthcare and medical technologies, have extended life expectancy in developing and developed regions. The proportion of older people is then heightened by the continuing trend of low birth rates in developed regions.

This leads to significant economic issues. The shrinking proportion of working-aged persons to older persons is projected to be a challenging factor.

The economic and social systems established by many countries in western Europe, north America, south America, Australia and New Zealand mean that it will become increasingly difficult to support public healthcare, pensions and social services.

How well we age is dependent upon our individual and community capacity for attaining and maintaining quality health, economic resources, familial and social supports. Along with projected

increases for an ageing population come concerns regarding a rise in the number of persons suffering with agerelated conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia, with a prediction that this number will grow to 82 million by 2030 and 152 million by 2050.

As longevity well into the late 80s and 90s has become the norm in many regions, new subsets of old age categories have become necessary – young old, middle old, old and old-old. Yet these subsets cannot always be solely defined by age, but also based on the physical and social functioning of the individual.

For example, in many developed regions the ‘young old’ (55-69) are entering their old age with ever-higher levels of education, professional skills, good health and active minds. As they enter their retirement years, they have time and energy to give back to their communities, churches and families.

It is generally perceived that people moving into the old-old category (85-plus) will experience physical and cognitive limitations, be impeded by chronic health concerns or become more fragile. Yet a real-life example that defies this view has been witnessed by Salvationists and friends the world over, as they watched 95-year-old Commissioner Harry Read A P RI L – J UN E 2020 | ALL THE WORLD |

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Top left: Ninety-one-year-old Major Israel Velazquez, whose online ministry out of Chicago, Illinois, USA, reaches around the world; above left: the 20th anniversary party of ‘Good Neighbours’, a befriending project at Portsmouth Citadel in the United Kingdom; above right: a staff member at the adult daycare programme at Lakewood Temple Corps, Minnesota, USA, shares a dance with former electrical engineer Robert

parachute over Normandy to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The old-old can continue to minister and make an impact. Every Monday, more than 1,500 Salvationists, family and friends across the world receive ‘GOOD MORNING’ from Major Israel Velazquez, age 91, from his suburban Chicago home in the USA. The weekly post of a Bible verse and brief word of inspiration, in both English and Spanish, inspires prayer requests and other responses.

General Eva Burrows (Retired) continued to lead Bible studies and develop relationships with homeless young people and the marginalised right up to a few weeks before her death – or ‘promotion to Glory’ in Salvation Army terminology – in 2015 at the age of 85.

Worldwide, there are many challenges and opportunities of an ageing society on the current and future work, mission and ministry of The Salvation Army. To address these, the International Older Persons Collaborative Network (IOPCN) was formed in 2015.

The network’s members include territorial representatives responsible for the provision of services for older persons. The opportunity for international collaboration afforded by IOPCN is instrumental in The Salvation Army’s ability to build its capacity to address the increasing ageing population.

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The network has been engaged in assessing the potential impact of increased ageing demographics on corps (church) and institutional work, and challenges of dementia and palliative care. It has contributed to the development of best practice within the theological framework of The Salvation Army in relation to ‘right-todie’ legislation and broader societal influences on the belief in the sanctity of life.

Members of IOPCN have developed discussion papers and resources that have been distributed throughout their respective Salvation Army zones and territories. In addition, members of the network have coordinated presentations at conferences in the USA, Canada and Europe as well as overseeing a zonal older persons conference.

Since its inception by personnel from Australia, IOPCN has successfully transitioned to shared leadership across several territories. Membership currently includes representatives from Australia, Canada, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. Broader representation is continuing to be sought from other territories.

The collaborative work of IOPCN has energised the strategic process related to ageing ministry and programmes. To expand access to the information and resources developed by members of IOPCN, a database will be developed in 2020, with open access for Salvation Army personnel.

A brief video outlining the ageing trends and the goals of the IOPCN can be accessed at: sar.my/iopcn The coming silver tsunami is not to

be feared! What an opportunity we have to walk alongside older persons in our corps, social ministries and services to share the hope, love and salvation found in Jesus Christ.

We need to be strategically preparing our organisation to meet the challenges of an ageing society, as it will affect our ministries and service operations. We need to prepare ourselves to welcome older persons who come within our sphere of influence – perhaps during a period of loneliness – and to be able to minister to those with cognitive or physical impairments, or who are experiencing a crisis of faith as they face their last days.

How will we be like Jesus to them at their point of need? Do we as Christians and Salvationists believe that everyone is ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14)? Do we truly recognise and value the Creator’s unique design, and believe that there is sacred purpose for each stage of life?

Through our walk of faith in Christ, we can live out his hope for us and those we serve, especially older persons and their families, so that they too may experience the fullness of life promised by Jesus (John 10:10).

As General Evangeline Booth said: ‘It is not how many years we live, but what we do with them. It is not what we receive, but what we give to others.’

Dr Maribeth Velazquez Swanson is Territorial Social Services Secretary in The Salvation Army’s USA Central Territory, and Secretary of the International Older Persons Collaborative Network

EMERGENCY

INDONESIA

Still supporting Sulawesi Envoy Kevin Sandford, Territorial Projects Director for The Salvation Army’s Indonesia Territory, shares his experiences of the recovery activity that has followed the disaster that rocked Sulawesi in September 2018.

O

N the last Friday of September 2018, Central Sulawesi in Indonesia suffered massive devastation from an earthquake followed by a tsunami and liquefaction (when the ground effectively turns to liquid). An estimated 4,400 people lost their lives and a further 175,000 were displaced, making it the worst natural disaster in Indonesia since the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

Some 18 months on, The Salvation Army continues to be actively involved in supporting communities that are Above: The damaged Masjid Apung Mosque

still recovering. Sulawesi has a large population of Salvationists – around 38,000 members – attending 300 corps (churches) and outposts across four divisions, with more than 60 schools and other institutional activities. Almost one in every 500 inhabitants is a Salvationist – four times the ratio in the United Kingdom, for instance.

Many Salvationists were directly impacted by the disaster but have been engaged since the early days supporting their neighbours. Life has been challenging for many, but you cannot fail to be impressed by the ongoing sheer resilience and spirit of people who have picked up the pieces and started to rebuild their lives in whatever way they can.

The majority of the population is Muslim, but the sense of togetherness in adversity and crossing of faith boundaries is significant and inspiring – it speaks of relationships, acceptance and tolerance, the seeking of common ground and mutual respect. Our response has crossed all these boundaries, fulfilling our ethical, moral and legislative obligations.

Together with Lieutenant Leo Siwi, a projects office colleague, I have visited Palu and Central Sulawesi on numerous occasions during the past 18 months to validate project activity, providing guidance and encouragement. Managing the response from territorial headquarters some 2,500 kilometres away and 12 hours-plus travel is challenging, so we are totally reliant on those on the ground in implementing the recovery activity.

The city of Palu is bustling again as people go about their business. Every visit sees change and buds of recovery. Shops, supermarkets and roadside stalls are well stocked and doing brisk trade, but the main A P RI L – J UN E 2020 | ALL THE WORLD |

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Right: Lieutenant Immanuel Hia looks at the Ponulele Bridge, which was destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami; below: a new toilet block – one of 18 built in 16 Salvation Army schools

Palu Grand Mall was severely damaged and ultimately demolished. There is building work going on everywhere, with woodyards packed to the rafters and construction companies busy.

However, in coastal areas impacted by the tsunami there seems to have been little activity. Derelict and precarious buildings are still visible and there is rubble as far as the eye can see. The famous yellow Ponulele Bridge was destroyed by the earthquake so there is an extra 20-minute drive when going on the coast road towards Donggala. The Masjid Apung Mosque (an iconic sight in the early days after the disaster) is damaged but still remains, and people gather there for photos.

The drive out of Palu takes you across roads destroyed by liquefaction. The creviced road surface is compacted mud mixed with tarmac remnants and needs to be carefully negotiated. Rivers have taken new paths and trees and shrubs are starting to grow. In some areas semipermanent houses of all descriptions and quality are being built with the support of non-governmental organisations and donors.

We have seen momentum in our projects. One recently completed is the construction of 18 toilet blocks in 16 of our schools. These strong concrete structures, built to a good standard, have been welcomed by school staff and children. In all cases they’ve been built by local workers and provided a valuable income opportunity. Our Education Department and staff from The Salvation Army’s Woodward Hospital have coordinated to provide invaluable health and hygiene teaching to the children – simple activities around washing hands and need for good sanitation, but with life-changing implications.

Woodward Hospital, which was integral in the early days of the disaster, is returning to normal operation and the long-awaited maternity wing (opened shortly before the disaster) is now fully functioning.

Many of our corps buildings were destroyed or badly damaged, and a programme has been under way for repairs through Mission Support funding.

Grants enable this work to be done but it is often completed by corps members, giving them a sense of purpose and a joy in seeing their building restored.

The building at Salua Corps was one of a number to be totally destroyed.

Corps officer Captain Achilius Uyau and his wife Captain Nilla Damayanti have done an amazing job in rallying the troops and restoring normality. Captain Nilla says: ‘The disaster destroyed the economy of the congregation, as well as draining our mental and spiritual strength but, since the disaster, we can see God doing his miracle to recover the situation and especially his ministry in Salua Corps. God wants us here to help others (especially those who don’t know about Jesus). We give all we have to them ... they know that The Salvation Army is present with them and will help them in facing the hard situations.

‘We support with trauma counselling for the children and adults ... we pray with and for them ... we help the community. We help them to rebuild their houses too by using the

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residue from their old house and [help] to get their life back together.’

Leo and I recently spent a weekend in Salua and saw the transformation that is taking place. A corporate donor generously provided funds for a complete new compound with community facilities and a new larger hall. The building is progressing well, with a kindergarten already completed and functioning. The corps is vibrant – on our visit, 300-plus gathered in the temporary hall for Sunday morning worship. It was packed to the rafters.

Captain Susana Assah from Jonooge Corps in East Palu explains that many people lost their homes and the corps building was destroyed. ‘We survived the earthquake because of God’s amazing grace,’ she says. ‘Life must go on – we must remain strong, rise up and win with God. We pray that in living this “second chance”, God will continue to help us, [and] that we remain faithful and true.’

INDONESIA

Left and below left: a new ambulance, motorbikes and a generator will help The Salvation Army’s Woodward Hospital to increase the service it provides to the local community; below right: a project to provide new uniform, shoes and other school items will overcome one of the obstacles that could stop children from continuing their education

On my first visit to Padena camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), after the entire village had moved from the hilltop into the valley for safety, there was a desperation for drinking water and basic amenities. We took what bottled water we had in the car to help the young female lieutenant, who was ministering to 500 people.

As we prepared to leave, the longoverdue water truck arrived, and the crowds rushed to collect water in any container they could lay their hands on, including billy cans provided by The Salvation Army.

These were moving scenes, but now – after three further visits – I see the community changing and the camp transformed. The majority of tents have gone and basic government houses have been built. Community has been restored and villagers are turning their allocated houses into homes. Some are building flimsy extensions to give them individuality, while others are painting and hanging personal memorabilia outside.

A new, semi-permanent Salvation Army hall existed from quite early on in the

centre of the IDP camp and now, every Sunday, it’s full for worship. The Salvation Army has made a massive impact in this place!

As I look up to the hilltop I can see further new houses being built. For many, they return to the hills every day for farming and livelihood, but carry risks of further landslides on unstable land. The old Salvation Army hall is a sad pile of rubble at the top of the hill.

Post disaster the government made assessments of all damaged areas and some villages were classed within the ‘Red Zone’, meaning that no new building was allowed for a two-year period, until long-term decisions were made. There is the real potential that some villages will be moved en masse to safer areas, but many villagers do not want to move and so live daily with a cloud over them.

Their lives are on hold and they remain under canvas.

Capacity issues have meant we are only now starting to build semi-permanent houses. Around 200 will be built in areas where there is greatest need. We have a good robust design and, with a property

life expectancy of 15 years, the homes will provide stability and opportunity for the beneficiaries.

A key need that surfaced in the territory was for a refocusing of our emergency response activity. In November 2019 we undertook PREPARE training with delegates from every division and our medical foundation, supported by the International Emergency Services team from International Headquarters.

This has positioned the territory well for the future, with a group of younger people ready to provide assistance, all with a current understanding of practices and standards.

Already since the training there has been a number of small disasters where members of the team have responded well, with good coordination and timely intervention. The territory moves into 2020 with a strong and developing framework now in place.

Our hope as the year unfolds is that we can start to provide further support as we look at the potential of livelihood programmes and develop disaster risk reduction understanding and thinking.

Many people are still displaced, so there is still much to do!

We are so grateful for both financial and prayer support received from across the world. This has sustained us when the going has been tough and the tasks seem overwhelming. We are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel now, as we continue our recovery phase.

On a personal level it has been humbling to be involved and a privilege to witness the people of Sulawesi rebuilding their lives. I stand in admiration of my fellow Salvationists and friends, and watch as they live out Christian values and display love to their fellow man every day. These days will stay with me forever!

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AUSTRALIA

EMERGENCY

MINISTRY

‘I’m going to pray over everything’

T

hroughout Au s t ra l i a ’s unrelenting 2019-20 bushfire season, thousands of Salvationists assisted in the efforts to feed and provide comfort to firefighters, emergency services workers and the many people affected. A select few Salvation Army officers are tasked with a different role – as chaplains.

When bushfires hit, Captain Jon Belmonte wears three ‘hats’ – he is The Salvation Army’s Rural Chaplain for South-West New South Wales, based in Griffith; he is a volunteer rural firefighter in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (with the daunting acronym of MIA!); and he is an Associate Chaplain to the Rural Fire Service in the MIA. During his time as a volunteer firefighter, he has battled the 1994 Sydney

By Lauren Martin

blazes, the 2003 Canberra firestorm and served at Bees Creek near Grafton when bushfires raged through northern New South Wales in September-October 2019.

But, he says, he has never experienced anything so frightening as the bushfire that swept through the Green Hills area near Tumut in the Snowy Mountains region last month.

‘I was in the Batlow and Tumbarumba areas around Tumut,’ he says from home while on a short break between Rural Fire Service rotations. ‘I have never, ever seen a fire as savage coming up one of those ridges where we were in the Green Hills area. Our strike team was assembled for property protection to look after a farm and its houses.

‘The houses and the farm were situated in grassland and two kilometres away we had a huge mountain that was

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Above: the fires completely destroyed whole communities

covered in forest ... and we had what they call “crown fires”, where the fire burns across the top of the trees first. Some of the flames that we saw were 200 feet [60 metres] tall.’

He admits to being fearful, but says that the key is being in control of the fear: ‘It’s being competent and confident in your team and knowing where you are. If you are in an unsafe area you get out of there.’

(His favourite quote is: ‘Courage is fear that has said its prayers.’)

Jon says being a volunteer places him alongside the very people he serves in his regular appointment: ‘As a rural chaplain I’m out meeting farmers, I’m out meeting people in our regions and stations and farms everywhere. And who are our Rural Fire Service firefighters predominantly?

They are our farmers, our station owners, our farm contractors.’

The natural juxtaposition of his roles allows him to have meaningful

AUSTRALIA

Right: Captain Jon Belmonte, New South Wales Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighter and chaplain, in protective breathing apparatus; below left: a ‘crown fire’ approaches a road; below right: Colonel Winsome Merrett (Chief Secretary of The Salvation Army’s Australia Territory) serves at an evacuation centre

engagements and follow up with people he serves with during the fire season.

During the long drives to and from the fire grounds, he says he’s been able to talk about The Salvation Army’s drought relief, refer people to other Salvation Army services and personnel, and just be a friend and a support.

‘They’re looking for miracles. They may not have been to church for a long time, they might not even have a faith but, in these circumstances, they’re searching for something deeper.

‘I had one member say, “Are you going to come and pray over our trucks before we go out?” And I said, “I’m actually going to pray over everything before we go out!”’

Jon is just one of many Salvation Army officers who serve as chaplains to emergency service workers across Australia.

Majors Ian and Kerry Spall are full-time Senior Chaplains to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service. Kerry says the past four months have been ‘heart-breaking’, with

three firefighters losing their lives while on duty. The couple has been involved in ministering to the families, the brigades impacted and taking part in the funerals.

‘We have never experienced anything as intense as these ongoing bushfires,’ she says. ‘The need is just huge and it’s a very intense space.’

In Victoria, Mildura-Red Cliffs corps officer Captain David Davis also serves as a chaplain to the Royal Victoria Regiment of the Australian Defence Force. Located in Bairnsdale, he has been providing support to the Army Reserve soldiers called into service for Operation WBushfire Assist.

‘I’ve been looking after the well-being of the soldiers,’ he says. ‘Visiting their various worksites in East Gippsland, liaising with other agencies and visiting a few families directly affected by the fires.

‘Morale is really high amongst the soldiers. It’s the first or second week that most of them have been out. We’re all very privileged to be able to assist the community in this crisis. We’ve all

been watching the news as the fires have evolved so it’s great that we can use our skills to assist the community. The public has been very appreciative of the Australian Defence Force’s involvement, which has inspired our soldiers to work even harder.’

Lauren Martin writes for Others, published by The Salvation Army’s Australia Territory.

This article first appeared on others.org.au

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SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

A picture of reimagination THE Salvation Army’s ministry to and by women was illustrated strikingly through a photographic exhibition at International Headquarters (IHQ) in London. The monthlong display, called ‘Reimagining’, opened in Gallery 101 on 12 February – the day that a live-streamed meeting launched a push from International Women’s Ministries for Salvationists and friends worldwide to reimagine what Women’s Ministries means in their context.

Most of the content was the result of a photographic competition that was launched through Revive magazine at the end of 2019.

The exhibition included 41 entries out of the 130 photos that were submitted plus a handful of images previously featured in IHQ publications and as part of The Whole World Mobilising exhibition. Together, they clearly demonstrated the breadth and vitality of Salvation Army ministry to women, featuring examples of the work in 23 countries, including Poland, Kuwait, Bolivia, Papua New Guinea and India’s Andaman Islands.

Pride of place in the exhibition went to the joyful winning photo, taken by Jean Baptiste Nkuruziza, which shows Major

‘They clearly demonstrated the breadth and vitality of Salvation Army ministry to women’

Marie Grace Nsengiyaremye feeding porridge to a young child in a village in Rwanda, as part of a Women’s Ministries nutrition awareness programme.

Large-scale panels also featured the new International Women’s Ministries logo, designed by Jooles Tostevin-Hobbs, and the new Vision Statement for International Women’s Ministries, both of which were unveiled during the live-stream.

The ‘Reimagining’ exhibition, including (top) Commissioner Rosalie Peddle (World President of Women’s Ministries) with the winning photo; and (left) Jooles Tostevin-Hobbs with her new logo

The exhibition has now finished, but the photos – and the stories behind them – can be seen online at www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/reimagining-exhibition 22 | ALL THE WORLD |

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SNAPSHOTS

CANADA

Snow saves Christmas!

THE part played by The Salvation Army in a 2001 example of community hospitality in Newfoundland, Canada, has been well documented – and forms part of the hit musical Come From Away (see the July– September 2018 issue of All the World). But now, could a festive sequel could be on the cards?

At 3.30 pm on Christmas Day in 2019, Salvation Army employee Brian Snow discovered that a plane carrying around 75 travellers had set out for St John’s, Newfoundland, late on Christmas Eve before bad weather got in the way. The flight was diverted to Deer Lake, Newfoundland, and the passengers were sent to the Holiday Inn Express where they received breakfast at around 5 am. The Salvation Army wanted to assist in any way it could, so Brian reached out to the community on Facebook.

‘Merry Christmas everyone,’ he wrote.

‘We pray that you are having a wonderful Christmas but wondering if you might be able to spread some Christmas spirit. There are 75 to 80 passengers who have been stranded at the Holiday Inn with little to eat. Since nothing is open and there is no restaurant at the Holiday Inn, we need sandwiches, leftover turkey and food items to help these passengers. They do have a flight at 9 tonight. Can you please help???? ... Let’s show the true Christmas spirit.’

Before long, Salvation Army members and other residents of Deer Lake left their families

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Brian adds: ‘I felt compelled to help out.

It turned out to be my best Christmas Day ever! That’s the only way I can put it.

Within 45 minutes of my call for help, the hotel dining room was full of food. People brought in turkey dinners, rabbit stew, salads, sandwiches, cakes, cookies and pastries.’

Karen, one of the passengers, recalls: ‘The Salvation Army and the people of Deer Lake

left their own Christmas dinners ... to give us one. I stood there and bawled.’

And the help didn’t end there, as another passenger explains: ‘When The Salvation Army realised there weren’t enough taxis to get us back to the airport for our flight, they organised a motorcade of 30 vehicles to get everyone there. Hats off to the wonderful people of Deer Lake.’

(Story first reported on salvationist.ca)

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and headed to the Holiday Inn, bringing more than enough food for an impromptu Christmas meal.

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Twenty-one international leaders have steered The Salvation Army through a rapidly-changing landscape over its 155 years of existence. Each has followed the calling to – in the words of their Methodist predecessor Charles Wesley – ‘serve the present age’. Under their leadership, care and vision, The Salvation Army has been transformed from one man preaching in an open-air meeting in the East End of London to a worldwide movement with more than 1.8 million members in 131 countries.