Landmark moment:

The Hope Centre - roof number 1:

The Hope Centre in Burundi saw a wonderful landmark event taking place this week. The first house received its roof. There is still a way to go to finish the first house and of course even more of a way until the whole project is complete but we are all very thankful for the team of planners and workers in Burundi who have reached this far in such a short time. The project still requires £20,000 to complete it and so if you can help please click here.

To see the full story please follow this link.

Premier Christian Radio:

click here to listen to the UKs only Christian radio station.

http://www.premierradio.org.uk/listen/live

Nyembuye Maternity Unit:

Mission International is raising the funds to build a maternity unit:

The urgent need for this vital maternity unit in Nyembuye has prompted Mission International to raise its profile once again. The complete unit is expected to cost around £80,000 to build and so a focused approach is necessary if we are to succeed on behalf of the very needy refugees who are returning to populate this rural area of Burundi.

Refugees begin to build simple homes for their families, but should a woman develop any complications during childbirth she has to be stretchered for 2 days to the nearest maternity centre. Many women and their babies die en-route.

To donate via PayPal please click here

To locate the appropriate printable donation forms please click here

Click here to see more information:

Refugee Homes for £8000

Refugees return home after years in refugee camps:

Many Burundians have spent years in refugee camps in the neighbouring countries to Burundi due to civil strife at home over the last 14 years or so. Now that their return home has been prompted by the end of the war in Burundi and by the closing of the camps, by the governments of Tanzania, DR Congo etc, where they have stayed for many years they have no option but to return home. As you can imagine 900,000 repatriates arriving at the same time would be difficult for any country but for Burundi, the poorest country in the world, it is a huge problem. The returnees make up about 10% of the current population and this is further exacerbated by the fact that Burundi is a very small country in terms of available land (about the size of Wales in the UK).

The border crossing can be a welcome sight for those returning to their homeland, however this is often when their problems begin. How to find a place to live, will they be able to regain their family land? What about medical care and schooling for their children?

Once the refugees find their way back to Burundi they are facesd with the difficult prospect of starting again from scratch. They return with what they can carry on theuir head and begin to rebuild their already shattered lives. This mother and her child, from Nyembuye near Rutana, faces a long hard road not only for survival but to build a future for herself and her family.

Building work going on in Mutimbuzi, Gatumba, Burundi, near the capital city Bujumbura where six homes for orphaned children are currently being built, the refugee homes would be built following similar plans. These homes are built from compressed blocks thus saving on the huge amounts of timber to make the traditional 'fired' bricks.

How can we help?
Mission International, with your help, can make a difference to these families returning to Burundi. One major issue for families who come back to their homeland after a period of war is where to stay? Mission International is partnering with REMA Ministries, an indigenous refugee support agency in Burundi, to build basic homes for refugees who are coming back into the country. The cost of each small home will be £8000. The homes will be built in such a way that they can be extended once the family manages to get on their feet.

Roof trusses being prepared for the roofs of the small homes, these will be fitted with iron sheets or clay/cement tiles to form a strong roof.

To donate to this project:

If you would like to partner with Mission International and REMA Ministries to build homes for returning refugees then please click here to find the appropriate procedure.

You can also give via PayPal

Hope Centre Burundi needs more funding:

International financial crisis hits Hope Centre:

Due to current money exchange rates the Hope Centre has hit a financial shortfall. When we started the building work the exchange rate was 2230 Burundi Francs to the pound, however the falling currency markets, in particular the pound means that now the rate stands at 1772 Burundi francs to the pound. This added to the rising cost of materials like cement means that the overall cost of completing the centre has risen considerably. We hope to find funds for this (your help would be appreciated) but if we don't then work may have to stop at the end of February until the funds are raised.

This picture shows work continuing for the time being, if you can help please click here to find the appropriate information.

To see the full story of the Hope Centre click here.

Hope Centre Burndi - News:

Hope Centre work makes great progress:

The New Year has seen some progress to the building work at the Hope Centre in Burundi. The pictures show the ring beam (reinforced concrete link surrounding the whole house) is now in place allowing roof construction to begin.

To see the full story and to see a video of an interview with Burundi's president Pierre Nkurunziza after his visit to the Hope centre site, have a look at the Hope Centre website were a pictorial record of events is held. http://www.hopecentreburundi.com/

Summer 2009 - Teams!

Reserve a place on a Mission International

summer team

between July and September 2009.

Click here to download a teams application form.

to find out more information contact us on

mail@mission-international.org

A presidential Christmas:

President put the 'icing on the Christmas cake' in Burundi:
The president of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza made an impromptu visit to the Hope Centre site on the 27th December 2008, the photos below show his cavalcade arriving and him being shown around the site by Pastor Leonard Tuyishimire.

In the mean time work continues, window and door frames are fabricated and fitted and the walls are raised to a new level.

Below the Hope Centre kids enjoy their Christmas day meal as well as have some gifts presented to them.

To see the full story visit the Hope Centre website www.hopecentreburundi.com

Carrs on Christmas Break:

Deeside Piper prints article: Click on image to enlarge

Have a look at this article:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece

Christmas in India:

The Christmas food distribution goes well:
Mission International raised funds during 2008 to support a number of Christmas time initiatives for the poor. The picture below shows the distribution at Padmanabanagar, Visakhapatnam city area Andhara Pradesh, where Pastor Nathaniel Vara Prasad and his wife Beulah distributed food and clothes to leprosy patients and their children.

To see more visit the Gideon Evangelical Ministries (GEM) blog click here.

A Christmas Carol:

Read Blow an extract from Dikens' A Christmas Carol:

The chimes were ringing the three quarters past eleven at that moment.

``Forgive me if I am not justified in what I ask,'' said Scrooge, looking intently at the Spirit's robe, ``but I see something strange, and not belonging to yourself, protruding from your skirts. Is it a foot or a claw!''

``It might be a claw, for the flesh there is upon it,'' was the Spirit's sorrowful reply. ``Look here.''

From the foldings of its robe, it brought two children; wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt down at its feet, and clung upon the outside of its garment.

``Oh, Man! look here. Look, look, down here!'' exclaimed the Ghost.

They were a boy and girl. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out, and touched them with its freshest tints, a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds. Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked, and glared out menacing. No change, no degradation, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through all the mysteries of wonderful creation, has monsters half so horrible and dread.

Scrooge started back, appalled. Having them shown to him in this way, he tried to say they were fine children, but the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such enormous magnitude.

``Spirit! are they yours?'' Scrooge could say no more.

``They are Man's,'' said the Spirit, looking down upon them. ``And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!'' cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. ``Slander those who tell it ye! Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse! And bide the end!''

``Have they no refuge or resource?'' cried Scrooge.

``Are there no prisons?'' said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. ``Are there no workhouses?''

The bell struck twelve.

Check out this website!

http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf

A container for Christmas:

Hope Centre Container arrives on site:

Click here to read more

To see a weekly pictorial update click here:

Big names raise awareness of the poor:

Paul Baloche, Steven Curtis Chapman, Stu G, Israel Houghton, Tim Hughes, Graham Kendrick, Andy Park, Matt Redman, Michael W Smith, Chris Tomlin and Darlene Zschech.

Click on the image below to see how many of the big names in the Christian music scene are pooling resources to help the poor.

Christmas Video:

Have a look at this Christmas video...
http://www.eulogia.co.uk/Christmas.wmv

...which I found on the Hope Centre Burundi website, have a look at the website when you are there, you will see the amazing developments to the project there. www.hopecentreburundi.com

Mission International Christmas 2008 e-Newsletter:

In this issue:

• Uganda
• Rwanda
• Burundi
• India

Welcome to the Mission International Christmas 2008 e-Newsletter!

Below you will find a short account of each country/project in which Mission International is involved and a link to the related blog where more detailed information can be found. Please also visit our website www.mission-international.org there you will find a link to our prayer blog, we would really value your prayers as we seek to share the Good News with many and serve God amongst the world's poor, including many Christians who are in desperate need. If you feel you would like to get involved by going on a team or perhaps you can pray for Mission International and our partners then we would love to hear from you.

If you can help support our projects/partners financially in even a small way please print the appropriate Bank Mandate (regular giving) form and GiftAid form or One-off donation Form (Includes a giftaid section), and send in your donation to:

Mission International
25 Tait's Lane,
Dundee, DD2 1DZ,
Scotland, UK.
mail@mission-international.org
+44(0)7982250514

Uganda:

This year has been busy in Uganda. Our partners there are all making progress and much has happened during the course of 2008.

Mighty Meals (Bweyogerere): Mighty Meals Blog Page click here

Bweyogerere Multi Purpose Primary School has now been running the Mighty Meals programme for over one year. Many children are receiving food every day whilst they are at school. Orphan children and those from very poor families may be able to have a place in school but the hunger pangs which they feel daily interrupt their education.

Africa Renewal Ministries (ARM-Gabba): ARM website click here

Menzieshill High School Team:

During October 2008 a team of 8 pupils and 3 staff from Menzieshill High School in Dundee accompanied Hugh Henderson to Uganda. The team was based in Gabba with ARM and travelled to Bethany Village and Namutamba to be involved with the communities there. The team were able to resource schools and medical centres as well as fund a sports field for the Bethany Village school and community. As a result of their visit to Namutamba the team has agreed to support that work with child sponsorship and the future development of the school on a new site. The team also visited some of the tourist attractions like the source of the Nile, the equator and the Murchison Falls and game Park.

Sponsorship partnerships:
Mission International has began a partnership agreement for child sponsorship with ARM. We currently have the names of 20 children who we have agreed to sponsor, please consider how you might help in this crucial programme.

Mwangaza Children's Choir UK tour:
The ARM team have asked Mission International and others to host a UK tour for the Mwangaza children's choir in 2010, we will keep you posted about this as and when all of the agreements are in place.

Parental Care Ministries: (Mbarara): Henderson School Blog

Mbarara Pentecostal Life Church

Currently the church has a piece of land for which they have made part payment. The church currently meets under polythene in the Henderson School grounds but it is hoped that funds can be found to finally purchase the church land and construct a permanent building for worship.

Henderson School
This school has developed quickly over the last few years. New government regulations have made development of the school a lot more difficult but the team there are willing to do their best to comply. After a recent UK tour by Pastor Emmanuel Nnyanzi and his daughter Grace there is now in place a draft plan for the future which UK and USA partners will adopt and work toward making the future of this vital ministry more secure in the long term Parental Care orphanage Henderson School currently educated 191 pupils all of who require some sort of care. There are those who are orphaned by one or both parents, there are those who are abandoned by one or both parents and there are those who come from extremely poor families and backgrounds. All of the 191 children fall into one of these three categories. The orphanage is designed to house and care for these children whilst they are at school.

Child sponsorship programme
The child sponsorship programme, run in partnership with Mission International, wants to bring financial support to the children of the Henderson School/Parental Care orphanage in order that their basic needs can be met. The financial support raised will make sure that the children are well fed, clothed, housed and educated, as well as provide basic medical care.

Rwanda:

Star School - Star school blog click here
Star School, the vision of Rev. Nathan Amooti Rusengo of Rwanda to provide high quality education for the children of Rwanda, is currently in need of resources to fund furniture and equipment for the school. The school need beds, and desks and books etc. If you feel you can help resource this exciting project please print off the forms linked to this message.

How about a team of carpenters and engineers heading for Rwanda for a few weeks to help put some beds and desks together?

To download a teams application form click here.

Currently Star school requires an administrator, based in Rwanda, if you would like to know more please let us know. Please contact us on mail@mission-international.org for more information

Burundi:

Rema Team - Rema Team Blog and Rema UK website

The REMA team is a very strategic resource to the nation of Burundi. Currently Burundi is the poorest country in the world, politically sensitive and financially desperate. During their time in exile a team of refugees gathered to pray for their beloved country and seek ways in which they could support those in need including their fellow refugees and those with HIV/AIDS. Their efforts have been very successful but still there is need for much more support. Mission International has entered into partnership with the REMA team to find strategic ways of supporting the team in order that they can go about their work unhindered. To date Mission International has funded income generating projects for the team so that they can commit themselves to the ministry. Your help in this endeavour would be much valued.

Burundi Summer Team - Teams blog click here and Teams application form click here

During July/August 2008 a team of five from the UK visited Burundi and were involved in evangelism, discipleship training and income generating project work in centre around Burundi. The team visited, Gitega, Rutana, Rumonge and Gatumba, their ministry, support and friendship was very much appreciated. Mission International is planning a Burundi team for 2009, if you would like to be considered for that team please complete an application form and return it to us.

Hope Centre - Hope Centre website click here or Hope Centre Blog click here

We are so grateful to God for the involvement of Charles & Val Carr and their family in the development of this project. The Carrs were seeking a place to serve God where they could use their skills and contacted Mission International to see if there was a project in which they could become involved. Of course they got in touch at the right time since a new project was about to begin in Burundi called the Hope Centre. The Carrs agreed to go, supervise and manage this project and as a result there has been wonderful progress to this heart rending situation. A weekly update is posted on the Hope Centre website so please make sure you have a look.

India:

India Village Ministries (IVM): IVM website click here

Summer Team 2008.
A team from Woodhill Evangelical Church visited both IVM & GEM over a two week period in August 2008. The team were involved in evangelism, church ministry and children's ministry, they also visited those who are suffering from leprosy. Mission International hopes to send a team to IVM in 2009.

Gideon Evangelical Ministries - Visakapatnam: Gideon Evangelical Ministries blog click here

Pastor Nathaniel Varaprasad and his wife Beulah serve in the villages surrounding the town of Visakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Currently Mission International is working with Pastor Nathaniel to develop income generating projects to provide support for those affected by leprosy.

How to send your support:
If you can help support our projects/partners financially in even a small way please print the appropriate Bank Mandate (regular giving) form and GiftAid form or One-off donation Form (Includes a giftaid section), and send in your donation to:

Mission International
25 Tait's Lane,
Dundee, DD2 1DZ,
Scotland, UK.
mail@mission-international.org
+44(0)7982250514
www.mission-international.org

The Run up to Christmas:

Did you know?
Did you know that over 15 Million children die due to hunger every year? That is over 41,000 every day. That is not counting the many adults who are struggling to survive due to lack of food and basic resources.

The BIG Meal:
You can help; this Christmas Mission Internationals 'BIG Meal' is providing a Christmas day meal for children and families in the developing world. For £3.00 per child a meal will be provided on Christmas Day 2008. The meal is not provided after a search through the local rubbish dump or even the basic porridge meal that many poor children receive when some food is available, no, this meal will have some meat and a bottle of Soda included giving those who are fed a special celebration on a very special day.


To provide a BIG Meal click here.

To see the BIG Meal blogsite click here.

Focus on prayer:

Prayer changes things:

7 days without prayer makes one weak!
To view Mission International items for prayer please click here.

Nnyanzi on Tour!

A busy schedule awaits:

Pastor Emmy Nnyanzi and his daughter Grace, who operate Parental Care Ministries in Mbarara, Uganda will be beginning a 19 day tour of the UK beginning on the 11th of November 2008. The pair will travel throughout England, Scotland and Wales taking in six centres in a bid to raise the profile of Parental Care Ministries and the Henderson School.

Animism hinders education:

Henderson School serves a very remote and poor community. The resources at hand are limited for Pastor Emmy's Parental Care Ministries. Below wooden classrooms with earth floors are home to an increasing group of children as the team endeavour to convince this animistic community of the value of education for their children.

Bureaucracy makes life difficult at Henderson School:

Building work is going on but due to the lack of resources and capital the progress is extremely slow. New government guidelines in Uganda make it increasingly difficult for schools like this to keep ahead of the ever increasing bureaucracy.

Your help is needed:

Please consider how you can help Parental Care Ministries and Henderson School become firmly established. Please consider a donation towards this worthwhile cause.

Click here to find a (regular monthly giving) bank mandate form to donate to Parental Care Ministries:

Click here to find a Gift Aid form:

Click here to find a one-off giving form to donate to Parental Care Ministries: