article submitted by Val Orange
Together we’re stronger than the storms
This year’s event was held as usual at Wickhambrook Methodist Church as a Sunday afternoon joint service at 3pm and was organised by Wickhambrook Churches Together.
This service followed a successful Bring and Buy and coffee morning the previous week. There was a great time of fellowship enjoyed by villagers and friends from other local churches and around £105 was raised for the work of Christian Aid
Christian Aid Volunteer Chris Wilkes gave a informative address, illustrating with actual cases how that even after 60 years they are still working around the world.
With hurricane season just a fortnight away, thousands of displaced Haitians could be in grave danger, Christian Aid are asking everyone to Stand Together and help families like those of, Marcelin and Vilia to weather future storms.
Marcelin lost his home, livestock and possessions when Hurricane Matthew struck. Now his family live in a disused concrete shower block, a tiny space he shares with his teenage daughters. There are no windows or doors, and the only furniture is a single bed that the girls sleep on.
Vilia lost her mum and her home when the earthquake struck Port-au-Prince in 2010. Bereaved and homeless, she went back to her home town with her husband and children. But life was a struggle, and they had nowhere safe to live. Christian Aid partner KORAL built her a new home that was strong enough to stand up to natural disasters. On the terrifying night when Hurricane Matthew hit, Vilia’s neighbours fled to shelter with her. As the storm raged, she shared her home with more than 50 of her neighbours for several days. Despite the ferocity of the hurricane, which swept away surrounding homes, her house was barely damaged. Vilia allowed her home to become an emergency shelter when Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti. She is incredibly grateful for the help she’s received but worries about those without a secure home.
Christian Aid know how to make it happen – of the 700 houses Christian Aid built after the 2010 earthquake, just one needed to be repaired after Hurricane Matthew. But they are relying on the kindness of people like us to be able to do what they can and reach more of our global neighbours in their hour of need.
It is tempting to think what difference can be made by our small fundraising efforts but by helping through Christian Aid, vital resources can be directed to the areas of most pressing need. Chris explained the variety of work being done every day and encouraged us all to keep positive and supportive as Christian Aid and its local partners around the world have helped millions over the past six decades and will continue to do so if there are people in need. This was a worthwhile service reaffirming the positive effects from collecting Christian Aid’s immediately recognisable red envelopes, during this week, across the country for this very worthwhile and vital organisation. A final total for Christian Aid’s work will be made known later.
Grateful thanks are expressed to all those taking part in the service and especially to Wickhambrook Churches Together for organising the event and the Methodist’s for hosting such an important afternoon for this global organisation.