SUMMER ’18
WWW.TEARFUND.ORG
ROHINGYA AND FLOODS: SIX MONTHS THAT BATTERED BANGLADESH
POLLY AND SYLVIA
STAR MAN
FOOD WASTE SUCCESS
Lives you transformed in Malawi
Tearfund super fundraiser Dave
Supermarkets respond to your demands
2 . TEAR TIMES
WELCOME HERO OF THE FAITH ‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.’ Hebrews 11:1 As part of a joke that’s too long to explain here, Jacob Sarker – Tearfund’s Bangladesh Country Representative – calls me, ‘my hero’. It started when I went to visit Jacob and his team in Bangladesh earlier this year, and seems to have stuck! But I think it should be the other way round. Now, of course, Jacob would never describe himself as ‘a hero’ or claim to have carried out heroic deeds. But he has coordinated Tearfund’s work in Bangladesh over the last year when the country was hit by two major crises: the South Asia floods and the influx of 700,000 forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingyas). Astonishingly, this was in his first few months in the role. You can read the full story on page 8. Jacob and his dedicated Tearfund team, along with our partners in Bangladesh, had to hold on to their faith over the last year. There were times when what they hoped for – for the communities and people they serve – were totally out of sight. Their confidence had to come from God because there seemed to be no earthly way to respond to these huge challenges. Thank you for your prayers and support for all our teams responding in often challenging circumstances. But particularly for Jacob and the team in Bangladesh who are faithful and determined not to stop until poverty stops.
Peter Shaw, Editor twitter @TearTimes | email editor@tearfund.org
Photo: Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund
TEAR TIMES . 3
04
CONTENTS NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES 04 News Match Funding success and more updates 16 Come on and celebrate Dates for your diary
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25 Get your church behind Tearfund’s 50th Order your 2018 church resources
FEATURES 08 A tale of two floods Two emergencies in six months that hit Bangladesh 14 Hunger stole... you gave Encouraging update from Polly and Sylvia in Malawi 18 Wish you were here... Family fun catching catfish in a muddy pond in Thailand
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20 Your lifeline to hunger-hit East Africa Thank you for your generosity 22 Bin us our daily bread How you're helping stop supermarket waste 26 Why we put Yemen on our wedding list Pledge your big day and support families in poverty
REFLECTION 30
28 Star man Meet superstar fundraiser Dave 30 Faith that moves mountains Finding hope in every circumstance
Copyright © Tearfund 2018. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for the reproduction of text from this publication for Tearfund promotional use. For all other uses, please contact us. Cover image: Anuwara and her daughters Mumtaz and Razia who fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh Photo: Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund
4 . TEAR TIMES NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
IN THE
NEWS ‘I want to give thanks to Tearfund’
A PERFECT MATCH We are immensely grateful to all of you who donated to our Match Giving Appeal which ran from 1 November to 31 January. Your gifts were doubled by the UK government, making twice the difference to women and their families in the Central African Republic (CAR) and across the world. Over the three months, we shared with you the stories of people like Sorella, Yolande, and Geena. These women live in one of the poorest countries in the world – a nation that has faced conflict and unrest since a coalition of armed groups seized power in 2013. They are a testament to how Tearfund and our partners can help transform lives, through training, literacy and by bringing families and communities together. Geena from the Mbaiki area was forced to flee her village when it was attacked. She lived in the forest with her family for almost four months. But, when she
returned to find her house destroyed, Tearfund staff were able to give her tools and help train her in better farming practices. ‘I want to give a lot of thanks to Tearfund,’ says Geena. ‘May God who has blessed you remember us, and continue to help us to help ourselves.’ In total we received more than £5 million – far more than anticipated. We will use these funds to expand our work considerably in CAR. It remains a challenging place to work, but we are committed to following Jesus and helping the people who need it most. ‘We are overjoyed at the incredible response to our appeal for the Central African Republic,’ says Levourne Passiri, Acting Country Director. ‘We would like to thank each of our supporters for their generous gifts and prayers which will make a huge difference in bringing restoration to families across CAR.’ Above: Thanks to you, we can help more women like Geena in CAR Photo: Hazel Thompson/Tearfund
NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES TEAR TIMES . 5
FIGHTING LEAVES 400,000 CHILDREN HUNGRY IN THE DRC Waves of violence erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in February causing devastation across communities. The latest fighting in the central Kasai region left three million people without enough to eat – including 400,000 children. Clashes between the army and rebel groups has meant farmers have been unable to plant crops for several years. Violence also broke out between Lendu and Hema communities in the north-eastern Ituri province. Villages have been attacked and burned, with many women and children killed. Tearfund’s partner in the province said that 400,000 people have fled their homes in the Ituri province without anything, leaving behind their food supplies, household goods, fields and livelihoods. In total, seven million people are in need of humanitarian support across the DRC. Tearfund and our partners have been reaching out across the ethnic divides, inviting leaders from opposing groups to reflect on the escalation of tensions, and seek peaceful solutions. Above: Dorcas who fled with her family to escape attacks in her village in the Djugu territory, DRC Photo: Ben Anguandia/Tearfund
SHINING GOD’S LIGHT ON BURUNDI Burundi continues to struggle following President Nkurunziza’s decision to stand for a third term in May 2015. Hundreds of thousands of people cannot access food and clean water. Tearfund has worked in Burundi for many years alongside local church partners, but it’s a challenging country to operate in. Last year the UN reported that the political crisis continues to affect millions of people. An estimated 200,000 are internally displaced and more than 400,000 have fled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The UN reports that the vulnerability of Burundians has worsened. Now 3.6 million people need assistance, one in four are affected by food insecurity, cholera, malaria and malnutrition. Vulnerable people need basic necessities, access to social services and protection.
‘Hundreds of thousands of Burundians cannot access food and clean water’
6 . TEAR TIMES NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
IN THE
NEWS JESUS, JUSTICE AND JUBILEE The Justice Conference which takes place on 2 and 3 November, is a global movement that encourages Christians to live out the message of Jesus and to transform their communities, by making justice a way of life. Already taking place in six countries around the world, Tearfund is hosting the conference in the UK for the first time. Over two days of worship, talks, creative sessions and discussions, we’ll explore the theology of justice and wrestle with the burning issues of our time. As we reflect on Tearfund’s 50th year, we remember the year of Jubilee for Israel, the promise of restoration and God’s will for justice. We’re selecting partners to be involved, widening our focus from international development to shine a light on other injustices – both global and closer to home. We’d love you to join us. To find out more and to book visit: www.thejusticeconference.co.uk
SAMMY’S DONATION IS ROBBED THEN REDEEMED Staff from Tearfund’s Supporter Care team swung into action when ten-year-old Sammy’s hard-earned donation was stolen. Sammy, from Hampshire, had spent a whole year fundraising with a group of friends he calls ‘the redeemers’. As well as giving from their own pocket money, the friends had been selling balloon models, loom bands and coloured rocks. Together, they managed to raise £114.
They were hoping to make the donation in time for Christmas, but then part of the donation was stolen. Heartbroken, Sammy wrote to Tearfund, explaining the situation and offering the money that was left. ‘I’m sorry if I can’t get the right amount of money to you before Christmas,’ wrote Sammy. ‘But I’ve done my best.’
‘Part of Sammy’s donation was stolen’ Tearfund’s Supporter Care team, moved by the children’s generosity and Sammy’s letter, banded together and gave from their own pockets to make up for the missing money, plus a little extra. The final total stands at £157.60. Thank you Sammy and the redeemers!
Above: The Justice Conference in Australia, November 2017 Photo: Jacob Dyer
Above: Letter from Sammy, aged 10 Photo: Margaret Chandler/Tearfund
NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES TEAR TIMES . 7
WHERE THE FUN IS IN TENTS We need 500 volunteers to join us at some of the biggest and most fun UK Christian festivals – Big Church Day Out, New Wine, Focus, Wildfires, CreationFest and David's Tent. One volunteer from last year said, ‘I loved sitting round the campfire at the end of the day talking with Christians from around the world. Good friends made, good conversations had – we had an all-round good time.’ You get free entry, accommodation, food and time to enjoy the festival. If you are over 18, you could serve in a café, on Tearfund’s stand, or out and about in the audience. Don't worry if you have never volunteered before, you’ll receive full training and support. We’re looking forward to an extra special summer this year, as we celebrate 50 years of Tearfund following Jesus where the need is greatest. For more information and to sign up visit www.tearfund.org/events
Giving thanks for The brave work of Tearfund partners in Yemen who are helping to build tanks to capture rainwater and provide muchneeded clean water. Tearfund partners in Mali who work to prevent female genital mutilation and reach out to those affected. More UK supermarkets committing to halving their food waste by 2030 – Co-op, M&S and Tesco have already made the pledge.
PRAYER
PULSE
Praying for More rain in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger where drought has caused a major shortfall in cereal and pasture production, leaving many without enough food. Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is experiencing increased tensions, particularly in the Kasai region where more than three million people are in need of food assistance. For the protection of our colleagues and partners in Honduras where a disputed election has led to protests, and for the political crisis to be resolved peacefully.
Above: Tearfund volunteers at the Big Church Day Out Photo: Tom Price/Tearfund
8 . TEAR TIMES FEATURE
ROHINGYA REFUGEES AND MONSOON RAINS:
A TALE OF TWO
FLOODS Written by Peter Shaw
On 4 May last year, Jacob Sarker started his new role as Tearfund’s Country Representative for Bangladesh. On 30 May, Cyclone Mora hit the south of Bangladesh. On 12 June, monsoon rain triggered landslides and floods in three districts in the south-east. Later in June, more rains caused devastation and a further eight northern districts were flooded. The conditions triggered mudslides in southeastern Bangladesh. The rain intensified over the next month – across India, Nepal and Pakistan as well as Bangladesh. By 2 September an estimated 45 million people were affected. During the
worst days of the floods, more than one-third of Bangladesh was under water. ‘The floods were terrifying – we worried about saving our children,' says Azam, who had to flee his home carrying his son Montu, who is blind. Meanwhile, a different flood was coming to the south of Bangladesh – a surge of people. Myanmar families from the Rohingya ethnic group were forcibly displaced by violence in Northern Rakhine State. By October, an estimated 700,000 people fled to escape appalling atrocities, including having family members killed before their eyes.
Staff member from Tearfund partner Lamb Hospital carrying food to stranded families in the flood Photo: Tearfund
FEATURE TEAR TIMES . 9
Exhausted people faced perilous journeys. Most arrived in Cox’s Bazar, a town on the south east coast, desperately needing food, water, sanitation, shelter, medical and trauma care.
and wisdom.’ Tearfund was one of the first international organisations to respond to the crisis in Cox’s Bazar.
This was the background to Jacob’s first six months at Tearfund. ‘I always do a lot of hard work, but last year was harder,’ he says.
But that’s not to say there hasn’t been a huge cost to Jacob. ‘One day in September, while visiting the displaced Myanmar nationals in the camps, I spoke on the phone to Steve Collins [Tearfund’s head of the Asia region]. Steve suggested I take a break. I told him I would rest when I knew that we were responding to the Rohingya people. It was painful to see their situation. I was in tears.’
CHRISTMAS IS CANCELLED It was a further blow when Jacob’s wife Nova fell ill over the Christmas break. ‘I arrived home and got a message,’ says Jacob. ‘My wife was in hospital and needed surgery. That was a big shock.’ Thankfully, she made a good recovery and was soon home. ‘I was able to give proper care and support to my wife. Her illness took over everything from when I left for Christmas until returning to work on 1 January 2018.’ For Tearfund, that date marked the start of our 50th anniversary year, which we’ve declared a year of Jubilee. In the last Tear Times we invited you to be part of our campaign to mark this special year: We won’t stop until poverty stops. We want to reflect on God’s favour, to draw near to Jesus to renew our strength. But we can’t and won’t pause in our calling to follow Jesus where the need is greatest. But what does that mean for Jacob? ‘It's amazing,’ he says. ‘I have worked in international development in many different organisations. But, as someone relatively new here, I can say it is totally different in Tearfund. ‘At Tearfund, our journey is to follow Jesus. If you don’t keep your eyes on Jesus you will lose him. It doesn’t matter in some ways how long you have been in the role. If God has called you, he is ready to use you from day one. ‘God was with me and my team through the flood and the Myanmar crisis. My supportive team at Tearfund provided resources Jacob Sarker, Tearfund's Bangladesh Country Representative Photo: Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund
UNDER PRESSURE
It was a huge privilege for me to visit Bangladesh in February. I saw the results of your giving and prayers, combined with the hard work and determination of Jacob, his team and partners responding to the floods and the crisis in Cox’s Bazar. ‘When we went back to the camps it was such a relief,’ says Jacob. ‘I felt so much peace in my heart to see the progress. I still saw a lot of pain but I was thankful to know that we were able to help.’ Tearfund now has two partners responding in the Kutupalong-Balukhali expansion site: Coastal Association for Social Transformation (COAST) Trust and Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB). But when the Rohingya crisis began to unfold, we had no established partners in that area of Bangladesh.
10 . TEAR TIMES FEATURE
UNPRECEDENTED SCALE OF THE ROHINGYA CRISIS ‘I did not realise the crisis was going to be that big,’ says Jacob. ‘I could have decided that because we have no partners we would not respond. But I never thought like that because I was depending on the Lord. If you follow Jesus, he will provide for you.’ Jacob, his team and partners' face huge challenges in the months ahead. Bangladesh experiences floods every year, but the flooding in 2017 is thought to have been the worst for 40 years. The International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCD) stated that they believe the floods were exacerbated by climate change. The changing climate means it is likely to be less than 40 years before another flood on the scale of 2017. It could happen again this year. Meanwhile, the approximately 700,000 Myanmar nationals who were forcibly displaced since August 2017 still live in the camps. A complex political situation between Bangladesh, Myanmar and the international community means that while there is broad agreement that the displaced families should return home to Myanmar, this is very unlikely to happen for months, or most likely years. ONE FAMILY TORN APART In the Kutupalong-Balukhali expansion site, Jacob and I met with a young mother, Anuwara, who was forcibly displaced from Myanmar. She now lives in a flimsy bambooand-plastic-sheeted shack with her two young daughters, Mumtaz, aged four, and Razia, aged three. People are desperate to tell their stories. Before I even ask a question, Anuwara tells me, ‘My husband was killed. He went to collect food and he was shot. So we just fled that day.’ Anuwara is sitting in front of me cradling her two children – their faces have a look
somewhere between vacant and traumatised. Not an expression I can connect with my own two lively and happy children back home. ‘The children are used to people being killed,’ Anuwara continues. ‘When people ask where their father is they say he’s been shot.’ So many of their friends have experienced the same – it is normal for them. BRINGING CHILDHOOD BACK But, thanks to your support, Tearfund’s partner CCDB are building child-friendly spaces – protection facilities for children – so that mothers like Anuwara can take their children to rest and enjoy being children again. ‘When we arrived in Bangladesh we had nothing. I carried Razia for four days and Mumtaz when she was too tired to walk. We drank canal water because we had no food.’ My encounter with Anuwara helped me understand why Jacob was so desperate to help these forcibly displaced families. And it gave me an insight into the huge pressures his team have been, and continue to be, under. ‘The biggest strength of Tearfund is the prayer support from around the world – the support staff in the UK, and all those praying for us around the world. It has a very big impact. I felt it. ‘For many years, I was a Christian working in development but for secular organisations. I do not have the words to explain the difference I've felt. But at Tearfund I always feel blessed and inspired.’
'THE CHILDREN ARE USED TO PEOPLE BEING KILLED' Anuwara with her daughters Mumtaz, aged four, and Razia, aged three, who arrived with nothing in Bangladesh. Photo: Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund
TEAR TIMES . 11
12 . TEAR TIMES FEATURE
GIVING TO THE GREATEST NEED Just like Jacob, we won’t stop until poverty stops. But it’s not always possible to know where the greatest need will be. Of course, fragile states such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, where violence has reignited this year, will continue to need huge support. But each of the 50 countries where we work – and potentially others – could be hit by disasters and emergencies in the coming months. That’s why we need regular support to go to where the need is greatest – so that our staff and partners can be ready to respond as soon as a crisis happens, and continue to provide relief in the long term. We also need to help communities like the flood-hit regions in Bangladesh to be more resilient and prepared for when disasters strike.
£15 a month could provide two weeks' worth of emergency food for a family. Your generous support and prayers today can help more families like Anuwara's across the world facing hunger, poverty and disaster. Thank you.
Daily life is a hard slog in unimaginable conditions in the Rohingya camps Photo: Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund
TEAR TIMES . 13
'I WOULD NOT REST UNTIL I KNEW WE WERE RESPONDING TO THE ROHINGYA PEOPLE'
14 . TEAR TIMES FEATURE
HUNGER STOLE Written by Peter Shaw Last year in Tear Times and across Christian festivals, events and in churches, we shared the stories of two amazing women from Malawi. Polly and Sylvia live just 70km from each other, but their lives were very different.
drought conditions – an innovative technique known as Foundations for Farming.Thank you for your generous gifts and prayers for Sylvia and the millions of people like her facing hunger. Your support for our Hunger steals… The church gives campaign has enabled us to release many thousands of families from hunger. Including Sylvia’s…
Sylvia endured a daily struggle to provide for her four children and elderly mother – her husband abandoned the family. At that time, Sylvia had one bag of maize to last five months before the next harvest. ‘All my life I have struggled to feed my children,’ said Sylvia. ‘I am desperate for change.’
Last year AG Care set to work in Sylvia’s community. She joined the churchbased self-help group and started using the conservation farming techniques. Her first harvest with Foundations for Farming provided enough food to feed her whole family for a year.
In contrast Polly – farming the same soil in the same weather conditions – harvested nine bags of maize. It was enough to feed her husband, three children and disabled grandmother with two bags left over to sell.
SYLVIA’S ABUNDANCE
‘I STARTED UP A NURSERY’ The difference was the training and support she received from Tearfund partner Assemblies of God Care (AG Care). They offered Polly and her community expert advice about how to farm abundantly even in
Despite drought conditions in the Salima district last year, Sylvia has cultivated 1.5 acres of maize and another acre of groundnuts (a new crop for Sylvia). She is expecting to harvest three times more than she did the previous year. Alongside this, she has branched out into poultry farming with 15 chickens. ‘I would like to thank AG Care for teaching me new farming skills and knowledge,’ says Sylvia. ‘My life has changed so much. Thanks to using organic fertiliser, I have
FEATURE TEAR TIMES . 15
YOU GAVE enough maize to feed my family. This year I plan to sell my harvest of groundnuts and build a better house – just like Polly.’ Thanks to the many good harvests she has enjoyed over the last three years and income from her pig-rearing business, Polly has now built two brick houses. One she lives in with her family, the other she is using as a nursery school for local children. Polly’s kindergarten welcomes 12 pupils. As well as providing extra income, it’s also a vital service for local children, many of whom cannot read or write.
‘I PLAN TO SELL MY HARVEST AND BUILD A BETTER HOUSE – JUST LIKE POLLY’ ‘I saw that illiteracy levels are high in my community,’ says Polly. ‘So I started up a nursery.’ Polly also teaches children about how to live life as a Christian, based on the Bible. She is also part of a self-help group supported by AG Care. ‘The group helps us a lot because we discuss development problems facing the community.’
HUNGER FREE This year Malawi is expected to have a reasonable harvest, but the impact of prolonged dry spells and pest infestations are likely to lead to a lower than average yield. So, please keep praying for good rains at the right time so that poor families produce enough food to last the year. Hunger is a thief. It robs people of their freedom, ruins their self-esteem and wrecks their dreams. But there’s one thing that hunger didn’t count on: the church. Together, we have pushed back against poverty and hunger. All around the world, local churches are leading their communities out of lives devastated by hunger and into lives filled with dignity, opportunity and strength. Thank you for joining us as together we empowered local churches to release more people from hunger. You helped us provide training in innovative, sustainable farming techniques that have enabled thousands of families like Sylvia’s to secure a hungerfree future. Photos: Thanks to your support and training from Tearfund’s partner, Sylvia’s harvests have been transformed Photos: Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund, Aaron Lewani/Tearfund
16 . TEAR TIMES NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
COME ON and CELEBRATE This is Tearfund’s 50th year and there’s plenty of ways for you to get involved: running, celebrating, baking and much more… so save these dates and sign up to get involved.
RUN TO BEAT POVERTY You can run and raise vital funds to help end extreme poverty at nine half marathons across the UK with Tearfund. Achieve a personal fitness challenge by being part of a team of runners at one – or more – of these events: Reigate Half Marathon
SUNDAY 16 SEPT
Bristol Half Marathon
SUNDAY 23 SEPT
Belfast Half Marathon
SUNDAY 23 SEPT
Ealing Half Marathon
SUNDAY 30 SEPT
Great Scottish Run in Glasgow
SUNDAY 30 SEPT
Bournemouth Half Marathon
SUNDAY 7 OCT
Cardiff Half Marathon
SUNDAY 7 OCT
Great Birmingham Run
SUNDAY 14 OCT
Manchester Half Marathon
SUNDAY 14 OCT
‘It was a great occasion and a good result for Tearfund,’ says Simon Lythe who ran last year’s Ealing Half Marathon As part of Team Tearfund you’ll get all the kit and support you need to finish the race and achieve your fundraising and fitness goals. For more information or to sign up to join the team at any of these events visit: www.tearfund.org/run
NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES TEAR TIMES . 17
JOIN US FOR TEARFUND’S AGM
TEARFUND’S BIG QUIZ NIGHT
We have our Annual General Meeting in Teddington, south-west of London, on 27 September and SEPT we have availability for 100 supporters to attend. We'd love some of you to be there to celebrate our achievements this year, and for the last 50 years, as well as make plans for the future. Please RSVP to info@tearfund.org or call 020 3906 3906.
We’re looking for churches from across the UK to join us on Saturday 17 November for a huge NOV interactive nationwide quiz night. We plan to create the largest multi-venue quiz ever and in the process raise vital funds to help end extreme poverty. All churches great and small are invited to take part: see page 24 of this Tear Times for more details.
THU
27
SAT
17
GET BAKING!
JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS To mark Tearfund’s 50th year we are hosting a series of Jubilee events 2019 2018 across the UK. This month we celebrated in Coventry Cathedral with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, Worship Central and the GospAbility Choir – look out for a full report next issue. We are planning our next celebration in Liverpool, October 2018 and the final celebration in Bristol, March 2019. More information, including how to register, will also be in the next issue.
OCT MAR
Sign up for Tearfund’s Big Bake and help fight poverty. Hold a bake sale or coffee morning to raise money and help people in greatest need. You can hold your Big Bake any time throughout the year. For resources, recipes and to sign up visit www.tearfund.org/bigbake
Above: Tearfund staff and volunteers at events and gatherings across the UK
Photos: Margaret Chandler/Tearfund, Chris Hoskins/Tearfund, Clive Mear/Tearfund, Tom Price/Tearfund
18 . TEAR TIMES FEATURE
Wish you were here... Written by Susan Murray I watch as my four children climb over a stone wall into the shallow, muddy pool filled with catfish. Buckets in hand, they have one aim: catch the fish and transfer them into a new pool. It takes ages, but my children love it. This may not sound like a normal family activity. But for me, my husband and our kids, it was the perfect way to spend our holiday. We’d always wanted our family to experience work on a development project, somewhere very different from our life in the UK. Last year we volunteered with Tearfund’s partner in Thailand, Upland Holistic Development Project (UHDP).
These activities help farmers to provide for their families and communities, and it’s how UHDP demonstrate that God loves them and has a plan for their lives. They also encourage the hill tribes to gain Thai residency and request land rights. It’s incredible, varied and inspiring work.
‘THIS WAS NOT A NORMAL FAMILY ACTIVITY BUT IT WAS THE PERFECT WAY TO SPEND OUR HOLIDAY’ MIND-BLOWING
UHDP partner with hill-tribe farmers being pushed out of their homes by large tangerine growers. They teach and encourage farmers to adopt organic methods to help their businesses become sustainable – such as planting crops and storing seeds, establishing beehives for honey, and raising frogs, catfish and pigs.
Last time I volunteered overseas with Tearfund in 1989, I was single and a student – a very different experience to travelling with four kids. But those six weeks gave me a wealth of experience. Now, it was my family’s turn.
FEATURE TEAR TIMES . 19
Our youngest is seven and we were concerned whether he’d cope with the food and the heat. But he loved it. There were so many highlights. The scenery was breathtaking and Thai culture is fascinating. But, above all, we loved making friends with the people at UHDP. It was incredible to learn about UHDP’s holistic and sustainable programmes. I learnt more in two weeks about sustainability than ten conferences could ever teach me. Meeting the Christians in Thailand was also a highlight. Only one per cent of the population are Christian. We went to church with Thai Christians who had a solid and faithful commitment to Jesus. For me, it seemed miraculous there were Christians there at all.
‘THE EXPERIENCE MADE US FOCUS MORE ON KEEPING GOD AT THE CENTRE OF OUR FAMILY’ GOD AT THE CENTRE Volunteering as a family made it very special, and UHDP took great care of us. They believe that exposing children and young people to development work sows vital seeds for the future. Our kids loved feeding the pigs and chickens every day. One time they caught ducks, frogs and catfish, and foraged for bamboo, banana leaves and limes for a celebratory meal. They had the full experience of working on the UHDP project. We expected there would be communications challenges, but it was fantastic that we were all able to help teach English as a foreign language. I loved seeing my children grow in confidence as teachers, alongside the students. These two weeks massively changed us. Tui, the leader of UHDP, has an amazing and inspiring faith in God. He taught us so much about how love can be used to prevent conflict. The experience made us focus more on keeping God at the centre of our family. We’d love to go again. Until then, we thank God for this opportunity. If you are thinking of volunteering overseas with your family, we’d say go for it! Whatever your age, to find out more about volunteering overseas with Tearfund Go visit www.tearfund.org/go2
Photos of Thailand courtesy of the Murray family
20 . TEAR TIMES FEATURE
Written by Andrew Horton It’s more than a year since we launched the East Africa Crisis Appeal – thank you for your generous response which is saving lives. ‘Water is very scarce here, wells are shallow,’ says Waris. ‘We haven’t encountered a worse drought than this one.’ A mother of two young boys, 30-year-old Waris lives in the Sool region of Somaliland. With very little rain over the last two years, more than 90 per cent of her cattle have died. In this part of the world, life revolves around livestock. People are nomadic farmers, moving from place to place, seeking out good pastures for their sheep, goats, camels and donkeys. ‘Families are dependent on regularly selling their goats and camels to buy the food they need,’ says Tearfund’s Andy Morgan, who visited Somaliland in 2017. ‘If you lose your livestock, you don’t have anything to sell. You have no livelihood, no income, and no food.
‘Livestock are used like bank accounts – exported, sold, and the money used to buy imported staple foods like rice and spaghetti. With no livestock, livelihoods – even lives themselves – fall apart.' CATASTROPHIC EFFECTS Across Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan the effects of a changing climate are visible and deadly. Known as the El Niño climate cycle, it’s either too dry or too wet at unpredictable times of the year. This is proving to be catastrophic for millions of people, particularly the majority of communities that rely on farming. As many as 19 million people in East Africa currently face crisis levels of food insecurity – a 30 per cent increase compared to a year ago. In February 2017, famine was declared in parts of South Sudan, and the world’s youngest nation continues to suffer from the deadly combination of drought and conflict. Compounding the hunger crisis, an infestation of the fall armyworm has devastated maize fields – a staple food for many. As well as being resistant to common pesticides, the fall armyworm eats practically anything, females lay thousands of eggs and the moths can fly up to 100km a day. Meanwhile, outbreaks of cholera in parts of Kenya and South Sudan affected more than 8,000 people.
FEATURE TEAR TIMES . 21
THE RESPONSE On 15 March 2017 Tearfund, together with the Disasters Emergency Committee, launched the East Africa Crisis Appeal. At the time of writing a total of more than £64 million has been generously donated – a fantastic response, thank you. These funds are making a life-saving impact. Working through a network of local partner organisations we have been able to attend to the immediate emergency needs. We’re providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene services, food assistance and cash grants. We’re rebuilding livelihoods through training and self-help groups, making sure that communities are more resilient when facing future crises.
Elizabeth and her ten-month-old daughter Anouk at a Tearfund feeding centre in South Sudan Photo: Tom Price/Tearfund
In South Sudan we also have Tearfund teams running nutrition clinics for malnourished children, and pregnant or new mothers. ‘As we support these children they are able to grow healthy, to develop and attend school,’ says Titus Lolmuget from Tearfund partner Food for the Hungry in Kenya. ‘That’s important as they will become the future generation who will help to transform this community.’ The need across the region is still great, but the response so far has provided: • Food assistance to 56,000 people • Water provision for 42,000 people • Hygiene and sanitation for 21,000 people • Malnutrition treatment to 10,000 people
‘CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO GROW HEALTHY, DEVELOP AND ATTEND SCHOOL’
WHAT’S NEXT? Tearfund and our partners will continue to work in these communities. We’re here for the long haul. We’re also campaigning on climate change, one of the root causes of this crisis, as part of the Renew Our World campaign. Find out more: www.tearfund.org/eastafrica
22 . TEAR TIMES FEATURE
B IN U S OU R A L D IY
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Written by Clare Lyons Last year, you called on supermarkets to help people in poverty by halving their food waste. Clare Lyons reveals the top shops that have pledged to Renew Our Food in response... In June last year, Jack, Antony and myself, from Tearfund’s Campaigns team, went to an underground car park and loaded 12 shopping baskets high with bread. We were a strange sight, hurrying through the streets of London then dropping bread off at St Paul’s Cathedral. We weren't loafing around – the baskets were full of 'waste' bread. We were echoing Jesus’ call in John 6:12. Once he’d fed the 5,000, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ They gathered 12 baskets on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and so did we at the front of St Paul’s. It’s shocking that every day households in the UK waste enough bread to fill that mighty cathedral. Flanked by a bishop, Ric Thorpe of Islington, and a baker, Tom Herbert, we launched Tearfund’s Renew Our Food campaign – calling on the church to challenge supermarkets to reduce waste.
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TOO MUCH ON OUR PLATES Nearly a year on, we’re delighted that almost 10,000 of you pledged to cut your food waste, and asked your supermarket to do the same. Renew Our Food featured on BBC Radio 4, in The Times, Christian Today and The Grocer – and was mentioned at the Church of England General Synod’s food waste debate. Many of you organised Food Waste Feasts in churches across the country to raise awareness. It’s an outrage that a third of food produced in the world is never eaten. UK food waste emits 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This contributes to climate change, which leads to more floods, droughts and less reliable rain. Which means it’s harder for poor families to feed themselves. It’s such a big issue that the United Nations have set a Global Goal to halve food waste by 2030. The majority of food waste is preventable – and we can all play our part. In the UK, most food is wasted at home, so personal pledges make a real impact. Supermarkets are at the centre of our food system and are able to cut waste from farm to fork. A Tearfund survey found that four out of five people would consider switching supermarkets to one that does more to tackle food waste. But customers can’t choose a supermarket that uses less waste because they all report in different ways. Our campaign asked ten UK supermarkets to make two clear Renew Our Food commitments: halve their food waste by 2030 – in line with the UN target – and publish a plan to show you, their customers, how they’ll do it. GOING GREEN The campaign has now closed and the results are in. We’ve assessed how these ten supermarkets responded – rating each TV baker Tom Herbert and Bishop Ric Thorpe outside St Paul's Cathedral to highlight the scale of food waste Photo: Clive Mear/Tearfund
retailer green, amber or red based on what they committed to. Top of the shops are the Co-op, M&S and Tesco with a green rating for meeting both Renew Our Food commitments. For an idea of the impact: Tesco’s pledge alone will be the emissions-saving equivalent of taking 50,000 cars off UK roads. Four other supermarkets committed to halving their food waste by 2030 – Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Spar NI and Waitrose – so have an amber rating. Sadly, Asda, Lidl and Morrisons have not yet committed – but we hope Renew Our Food has spurred them on to do so in the near future.
‘TOP OF THE SHOPS ARE THE CO-OP, TESCO AND M&S’ If your supermarket was rated green or amber, do write to thank them. If yours is stuck on red, let them know you’d like them to do more at: www.tearfund.org/foodwaste Thank you for taking action to Renew Our Food – together we can take many steps in the right direction to renew our world.
24 . TEAR TIMES NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES
QUESTION 1 Tearfund has a brand new, exciting, innovative fundraising opportunity coming to you soon…is it ? A
A mass baked bean bath A sponsored silence
B C
The biggest ever multi-venue,
nation-wide quiz night Answer: ...coming soon SAVE THE DATE
17/11/18 www.tearfund/BigQuizNight
NEWS & OPPORTUNITIES TEAR TIMES . 25
YOUR PACK INCLUDES...
PRAY Organise gatherings to pray with churches around the world. Download prayer station ideas written by 24/7 Prayer, as well as liturgical prayers and blessings to speak over your community
ACT Use your voice to speak up for people living in poverty and call on the World Bank to commit to invest in clean, local, renewable energy – including resources to help you hold a Light Service
GIVE Show our inspiring new film about Birungi from the Democratic Republic of Congo, give a short talk and hold a collection. Download resources, including children’s activities and a model talk
...AND MUCH MORE
This is no ordinary year for us, and our new church pack is no ordinary resource. In 2018, Tearfund are marking 50 years of restoring lives, giving a voice to the voiceless, and empowering churches to lead their communities out of poverty. We believe that the church is the greatest force for good on the planet, and that, together, we can end extreme poverty. But we can’t do it without you, so please join with us this year.
There are a number of different ways in which your church can respond to this call, by praying, acting or giving – or a combination of all three. We won’t stop until poverty stops. To order these life-changing resources please complete and return the pull-out form above, email churches@tearfund.org or call 020 3906 3366. All these resources are also available at: www.tearfund.org/ churchresource
26 . TEAR TIMES FEATURE
WHY WE PUT YEMEN ON OUR WEDDING LIST Written by Gideon Heugh
The big day: Phil and Emily make their wedding vows Photo: Jordan Mary/Tearfund
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Romans 12:15 encourages us to ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.’ Phil and Emily – now Mr and Mrs Keen (as they are quite keen on each other) – decided their wedding was an opportunity to do both: to celebrate their love, but also reach out to families devastated by the conflict in Yemen. The couple met through church and their friendship began to blossom into something more. ‘Our house groups meet weekly to read the Bible and pray,’ Emily tells us. ‘Once a month we have dinner together as well, so we got to know each other properly through that. It still took us about 18 months before we started going out!’ Phil popped the question during a walk on Ranmore Common, near Dorking in Surrey. ‘It was a complete surprise,’ says Emily, ‘I’d been wondering why he was complaining about not being able to find any benches, when we really hadn’t been walking very far. But I said yes, so it was all all right!’
many people gave so generously to the appeal on our behalf.’ A PICTURE OF CHRIST’S LOVE The day itself was a huge success. ‘It was so lovely to be surrounded by so many people we love, and the congregation’s singing was amazing!’ Emily says.
'WE WERE DELIGHTED SO MANY PEOPLE GAVE GENEROUSLY' The couple tell us that they would definitely encourage others to donate their weddings. ‘It’s a wonderful thing to do,’ they say. ‘It’s such an easy way to share some of the generosity and kindness you receive. It is really helpful in stopping the day becoming all about you. Marriage is a wonderful picture of Christ’s love for his church. That love overflows and reaches out, so it’s great to reflect a tiny part of that on your wedding day.’
SHARING THE LOVE PARTY WITH A PURPOSE Although overwhelmed by the excitement and generosity shown towards them, something didn’t feel quite right. ‘As we began to think about a gift list, we started to feel a bit uncomfortable about receiving so much “stuff”, and about that amount of money being spent on us – we wanted to share some of it.’ So they gave their guests the option of donating to charity on their behalf. ‘Phil’s sister, Alice, works for Tearfund, so we already knew about their amazing work,’ Emily explains. ‘We wanted to choose a charity that promoted the gospel, but also one that our non-Christian friends and family would feel comfortable giving to. We chose the Yemen Appeal because it is such an awful situation that needs so much light bringing to it.’ The response they received was amazing: ‘We had lots of positive comments. Quite a few people split what they wanted to give to us between the Yemen Appeal and something on the gift list... We were delighted that so
For anyone thinking of donating their wedding – or any other special occasion – to Tearfund, we have lots of resources to help out, and our fundraising team will be on hand to answer your questions. ‘Tearfund made everything very easy for us,’ Emily says. ‘They communicated so well at every point. Knowing that the donations would be going to help people in real need made the day even more joyful than it already was.’ To find out how to turn your special occasion into a party with a purpose, visit www.tearfund.org/occasions or contact teamtearfund@tearfund.org Whether you’re celebrating your birthday, wedding or anniversary, the funds you raise will make a huge difference in the fight against poverty.
28 . TEAR TIMES REFLECTION
S T A R M A N Meet Dave from Hull. His mate became a rock ‘n’ roll legend. Dave, meanwhile, has become a Tearfund legend – and much more besides...
Mick Ronson, who joined David Bowie’s band The Spiders from Mars. But Dave never wished he could swap places with Mick. ‘I never wanted to be a pop star.’
Written by Ben Cohen
LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
Imagine you’re sat on the sofa watching Top of the Pops. You see an old friend playing guitar alongside the latest pop sensation. You and your mate had played together in bands for many years, mostly just pubs and clubs – never anything like this.
His first love was always music, though. ‘When I was about nine, I began learning classical piano,’ says Dave ‘Then I started listening to The Shadows and decided I wanted to be a drummer.’
Your friend was touring the world. Meanwhile you had a desk job, only playing music in your spare time. You might be tempted to feel a twinge of jealousy. But when this happened to long-term Tearfund supporter Dave Bradfield, he didn’t mind a bit. ‘Mick wanted to make it big and I was happy for him,’ reflects Dave. ‘Mick’ was guitarist
'CHRISTIANITY IS ABOUT PRACTICAL LOVE' As a teenager, he was overheard rehearsing with his first band and was invited to join a professional group to tour Europe. In the years that followed, Dave slogged around the tiniest of venues in a succession of bands – including The Mariners and The Voice, along with his mate Mick.
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‘I THINK TEARFUND STANDS FOR PUTTING WHAT JESUS ASKED HIS FOLLOWERS TO DO INTO PRACTICE’
However, in spite of the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, Dave was on a spiritual search; ‘I made a promise to a God I didn’t know existed. “Dear God and Jesus – if there is a Jesus – show yourself to me and I’ll follow you.”’ God honoured the deal, and Dave’s rebirth as a Christian took place in 1968 – the same year that Tearfund came into being. He became one of our first supporters. ‘Christianity, as I understand it, is about practical love. I think Tearfund stands for putting what Jesus asked his followers to do into practice; I can do it locally, and they [Tearfund] can do it globally.’
We must have raised £2,000 with all our birthdays and anniversaries.’ FANTASTIC VOYAGE ‘People get conned and trapped,’ he says. ‘You need a new car, a new holiday... It’s a lie; you just need food, water and enough to pay your bills. I’d say, “open your eyes – go to a food bank and see what’s really going on.” There’s so much need and there’s so much you can do.’
LOVE IN ACTION
Dave was recently diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, but his desire to live a generous and positive life is undimmed. And, yes, he’s still making music. ‘Music and Christianity are my life. Christ directs my life, but music will always be there.’
He became a regular fundraiser, having founded a musical gospel ministry with his wife. ‘We always gave our gospel cassettes away and people could make an offering. Any money we raised was sent to Tearfund.
Mick Ronson died in 1993. They remained friends to the last and, at the height of his fame, Mick made a remarkable admission to his old mate. ‘He said “you got the better deal, doing the gospel thing.”
‘When we have a big celebration like our 45th wedding anniversary, or last year my 70th, we always have a Tearfund display and a bucket with a big sign saying “dig deep and fill it up.”
‘I’ve seen too many people going on to be famous, and they end up nowhere. I have absolutely no regrets.’ Photos: Josh Monie - Explore Impossible
30 . TEAR TIMES REFLECTION
FAITH THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS Written by Angie Sahe-Lacheante ‘Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.’ Psalm 36:5
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Faithfulness means being steadfast, constant, unwavering. I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how faithful God is and what it means for us to be faithful, even in the most difficult times.
‘We have to have courage’. As a mother-tobe myself, her bravery and hope in the midst of heartache really challenged me.
Last May I found myself in thirty-degree heat, up a mountainside in Nepal trying to figure out how a ‘ten-minute walk’ ended up a 90-minute hike down a steep mountain. Nepal is a diverse, sprawling and beautiful country. It’s bursting with an abundance of colour – everyone greets you with a smile.
‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’ Lamentations 3:22-23
Home to almost 29 million people, many areas of Nepal are still recovering from the devastating earthquake of April 2015. It killed nearly 9,000 people, left 22,000 injured and millions more homeless. But amid the ruins are people whose stories of courage are testimony to God’s faithfulness. FAITHFUL FRIENDS ‘He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.’ Psalm 91:4 I stood on the ridge of a hillside talking to Prabin, a passionate 18-year-old search and rescue volunteer who helped when the earthquake hit. He felt called to serve people, without thought to the danger to his own life. Then there was Rajan, a stone mason who lost everything in the earthquake but, thanks to learning from his Tearfund-trained neighbour, built a safe new home for his family. In the process he also helped others in the community to construct earthquakeresistant houses. Alina, an inspiring woman determined to lift herself out of poverty by learning new skills, now runs her own business selling delicious Nepali delights. But the most touching moment was when Samjana, a mother who lost her 16-monthold daughter in the earthquake, said to me,
IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE
Hearing these stories left me with a feeling that the world seemed out of kilter. My home in the UK felt a million miles away. It was challenging to meet people who have faced such tragedy and hardship, yet are still determined to cling tightly to God.
‘WE HAVE TO HAVE COURAGE’ My time in Nepal will stay with me for many reasons. Despite our jam-packed schedule, it was refreshing to also slow down and witness life through a completely different lens; to reflect on stories of joy, provision, hope in loss, and peace amid heartache. Many of the people I met attested to God’s faithfulness: how he provided, rescued or gave comfort and peace. Even in the face of uncertainty, God was – and still is – faithful. I love that Tearfund is faithful in the call to follow Jesus where the need is greatest – seeing people changed as they step into God’s calling, lives restored and lived to the full. So, with a bag brimming with stories to share and a couple of mosquito bites in tow, I came back stirred and challenged: to be faithful in prayer, hope and expectation. And to trust more in God’s unending faithfulness, whatever the cost, no matter the circumstances. And, yes, we made it down the mountain. And back up again. Angie meeting children in Nepal Photo: Abigail Drane/Tearfund
‘I CARRIED RAZIA FOR FOUR DAYS AND MUMTAZ WHEN SHE WAS TOO TIRED’ Anuwara arrived in Bangladesh with her two children and nothing else. Unimaginable violence – including her husband being shot dead – forced her to flee. In just a few months her life, and the lives of more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees were torn apart. But that was not the only disaster to hit Bangladesh last year, heavy monsoon rains left one third of the country under water. Read the full story on page 8. www.tearfund.org/anuwara
£15 £15 a month could provide two weeks' worth of emergency food for a family. Your generous support and prayers today can help more families like Anuwara across the world facing hunger, poverty and disaster. Thank you.
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