MISSIONARIES OF AFRICA Province Ireland Flash

Every now and again we hear from our missionaries on the field. They tell us of the work they have been able to do because of the support they receive from home. Here is an example of one Missionary’s story of how benefactor’s help was used to relieve distress.

A young woman in Tanzania, aged 25, with three children, suffered a terrible catastrophe. She had gone to the fi eld with her husband to cultivate with hoes. Suddenly there was a violent thunderstorm, so they ran for shelter under a tree. Lightening struck. The husband died instantly and the wife was paralysed on one side.

In hospital she partly recovered and delivered a baby by operation. However she would not be able to cultivate or do heavy work again. As she had no means, the Hospital costs were paid from money donated by benefactors.

When she returned home from hospital she was astonished to fi nd that the relatives of her deceased husband had taken over her house and property. They made it very clear to her that she and her children were not wanted there anymore. So she went to live with her sister but her sister’s husband kicked up a row and she had to leave. She was now homeless, penniless, unable to work and left with four small children.

Good Samaritans:
We arranged with the local people to build her a house. The people agreed that they would mould bricks and do the building work if we would pay for the beams, door, windows and the tradesman’s costs. This again was paid for from gifts received from you our benefactors. The
local Christians agreed that if we would buy a plot of land, they would cultivate, supply seed and give food to the woman and her family
until the harvest. Here again, the benefactors met the cost as well as the cost of school uniforms and copybooks for the eldest child.

The woman is happy now. She has security and is able to do light work in the fields and at home.

Many More:
This is but one example of how our benefactors help us. We could mention the poor sick people in hospitals (there is no free medical service), lepers, refugees, people with special needs and old people living alone.

We say a very sincere THANK YOU to you our supporters.
You are sharing with Jesus Christ in his love and compassion for all – especially the poor and deprived.

Paradoxes of Our Time
• We have taller buildings but shorter tempers
• We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less
• We have bigger houses but smaller families
• More degrees but less sense
• More knowledge but less judgement
• More experts, but more problems
• We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life
• We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space
• We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice
• We write more, but learn less
• We plan more, but accomplish less
• We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait
• These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes
• We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our value

A POEM TO PONDER

I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do. I had to hurry and get to work for bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer, and jumped up off my knees. My Christian duty was now done; my soul could rest at ease.

All day long I had no time, to spread a word of cheer. No time to speak of Christ to friends, they’d laugh at me I’d fear.

No time, no time, too much to do, that was my constant cry, No time to give to souls in
need, but at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with downcast eyes. For in his hands God held a book; it was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said “Your name I cannot find. I once was going to write it down… But never found the time”