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CHRISTMAS 2009
WISHING YOU ALL A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A PEACFUL NEW YEAR
A letter from the Chair of Trustees
Dear Friends,
Having just returned from Jerusalem with Alan; I am feeling quietly optimistic that we are about to 'run the final mile' regards the new building Praise God!
We have spent 3 very busy days beginning with a 3-hour meeting at the architect’s office (during which time we interviewed the four tendering contractors). We then walked through the building shell before having two meetings with Samar (seeing the girls looking so happy was a huge bonus!).
During our second meeting with Samar, she mentioned a meeting with four people – an Englishman plus three German people. Immediately, Alan and I wondered if it was the four people who we sat next to at breakfast and guess what – it was! We met them at dinner and were about to tell them all about our charity. In all of Jerusalem, I felt that the Lord brought us together!!! My thoughts go back to the verse from the Psalms, which we have used when we first began. "Unless the Lord builds the house its labourers build in vain." Alan will summarise in his report the outcome of our meeting – our thoughts for the final thrust of fundraising. Please continue to pray for Samar and the girls that the work began with soon be completed. Thank You once again for all you are doing.
God Bless.
Kevin Dunne, Chair of Trustees
Construction Report
Following on from the September meeting with McCabe Educational Trust & McCabe Pilgrimages, it was agreed the best way forward was for a contractors tendering procedure to be initiated by selecting four (4) approved contractors to be invited to tender for the internal fitting out and the completion of the total building. Our appointed architect, Ibrahim Younan, in the presence of Samar Sahha,r opened and recorded the contents of the tenders on the charities behalf. This was to allow the architectural team to analyse the tenders prior to our meeting and interviewing programme, which was scheduled and took place on the 17th November 2009. The finishing works tender analysis documentation produced a wide cost variance. It is expected the cost to complete the internal and external for occupation will be in the region of £728,842.00 plus VAT (which may be negotiable with the statutory bodies) we have the promise of £300,000.00 from McCabe Pilgrimages. This figure does not include the £81,000.00, which is isolated in the building and clinic fund. This will leave the charity with a short-fall of £347,842.00, which equated to approximately £174.00 per square meter. It is anticipated the total works could be achieved within a timescale of 8-10 months.
Once again, may I, on the charity’s behalf, draw on your generosity in asking you all as individuals or groups to consider fundraising or purchasing a metre-age of the new home or making a contribution towards our goal which will enable the Christmas Gift of new home for the girls to become a reality in 2010?
Thanks be to God.
Alan Anderson, Vice-Chair and Building Coordinator
Sponsorship News
Liana, aged 10 years of age, is the newest arrival at the home. After witnessing server abuse, Liana has been so severely traumatised by her experiences she is unable to speak. Daily one-to-one specialist counselling is taking place in Jerusalem to assist in the healing process, which could span over a long period of time. International Standing Quarterly Order payments from the sponsorship scheme for the benefit of the girls are allowing Liana to gain the specialist counselling she needs.
Due to new legislation imposed by the Palestinian Social Services Department, the home has reached its guideline capacity of 31 girls within rented accommodation. Samar has again stressed the urgent need for the new home to be completed, as she could take in another 50 girls such as Liana.
Alan and Kevin found all the girls happy and in good health. Rana, the head teacher of Jeel Amal School, has a great impact on the girl's education and continues to assist them in their daily extra curriculum educational activities.
A Message From Samar
Today 21st November 2009, Norma will read her article in front of the Ministry of Social Services in the hope that this will help change the rights of children.
Norma, one of the girls at the Lazarus Home recently wrote this composition for her class at her school. As this is written from her heart and with no prompting on our behalf, I simply wanted to send you a copy. The title of her composition is 'Orphan' and the translation is as follows:
"I do not know why I feel that life resembles a bitter cup, that tastes bitter and sometimes I feel that it is a sweet cup with endless sweetness. Our life is like this, laughter, play and studying. The thing is sometimes you find people that do not understand you and continuously laugh at you if you say something. Being an orphan is not a word that injures me, but I do not really know if it hurts others? God has designed our lives and he has designed for me to be in a protected home because of the circumstances that have taken place in my life. But others would not accept me because I am living in an orphanage. It is not the place that is the most important but it is what I am going to be in the future.
I am an unknown girl and I live in an orphanage, but the aim is one, to get an education. I am not ashamed to be in an orphanage, to be protected, but I love to have friends that can be faithful to me. I do not understand why, if God has designed for me to be in an orphanage that people will look upon me with sarcasm? I do not understand why people start to laugh when they hear that I am living in an orphanage. I can reply and say one word, those human beings whatever life carries for them they have to be satisfied.
Wherever we are, the most important thing is to do our best and be happy. So please accept the idea that I am an orphan and do not forget my advice to you. The most difficult thing on the mouths of human beings that injures you is when somebody looks at you and says, "the orphan has come". I need to ask you one question, would you then sleep with a calm conscience or not? We pray that through good education we can change the lives of these children and we hope that this will be the last generation of abused children in this world.
Treasurers Report
We have recently become aware of fund-raising activities being carried out in the name of the Charity, but the funds have not been forwarded to us for processing.
The trustees of the Charity are acutely aware of our legal responsibilities and we feel we must point out that our website and all our literature are covered under data protection and copyright law.
Thank you for your co-operation in this and we look forward to your continued support for the girls in Bethany (who Samar describes as "Angels sent by God").
Gift Aid Donations
The trustees would like to convey a big thank you to all of you who have joined the gift aid scheme. I have, in my role as treasurer, been able to claim for the financial year 2008-2009 from the Inland Revenue £6532.05, which is such a big boost to the building fund.
As you will have read in Alan's report, the charity’s bank account has been boosted by your generous donations and fundraising efforts. During this difficult climate of uncertainty your continued support and giving overwhelms the charity’s trustees. We all extend to you our deepest gratitude, as without your help and support we would not be able to assist Samar and the girls.
Sponsorship information can be obtained by contacting the charities registered office.
Role of Honour
A BIG THANKS GOES TO:
St Paul’s Church Winlaton
for their continued fundraising coffee mornings.
Newcastle Soroptimists Club for raising £273.55
from Coffee Morning held in Chester le Street in September.
Skegby Methodist Church and Anchor Centre Coffee Morning raised £100.00.
We also extend to all those who have given so generously but wish to remain anonymous.
Love in Jesus.
Shirley Anderson, Hon. Treasurer
Prayers for the Homes and for peace in the Holy Land
They can be used as biddings in Church Services; for expansion into extemporary prayer; and as themes for meditation.
Mondays – Give thanks for the Jeel Al Amal Boys' Home and School, for its excellent education of both the boys and girls, and for the extra-curricular activities for our girls. We pray for the Head, Rana, the teachers and for impovement in the boys' accommodation.
Tuesdays – Pray for the Lazarus Home for Girls in Bethany; for Samar and the housemothers; for abused children, especially Liana, who cannot speak but who is getting counselling at our expense. We also pray that Norma’s reading of her article (v. elsewhere in this News) before the Minister of Social Service, will improve the rights of children. Pray that the cruel stigma of being an orphan may disappear.
Wednesdays – Give thanks for the completed shell of the new building for the Lazarus Home. Pray for wisdom in accepting a contract for the fitting out of the building. Pray for further fundraising, so that the residential building may be finished next year and the girls may be able to move into their new home. Pray too that grants will be forthcoming for the proposed Medical Centre.
Thursdays – For the peace witness of Samar and her Jewish women friends; for the wider reconciliation of Jews, Christians and Moslems in the Holy Land, in this country and in the USA.
Fridays – For lasting peace and justice in Israel, the Gaza strip, the Palestinian Territories and the Lebanon; we also ask for a generous response to President Obama's approaches.
Saturdays – Pray for the overcoming of problems caused by the wall and its extensions. We pray for the Prime Minister of Israel and for his response to international pressures for ending Jewish settlement on the West Bank.
David Attfield
Earlier Newsletters in PDF
Summer 2009 Newsletter [PDF]
Easter 2009 Newsletter [PDF]
Christmas 2008 Newsletter [PDF]
Summer 2008 Newsletter [PDF]
Easter 2008 Newsletter [PDF]
Christmas 2007 Newsletter [PDF]
Summer 2007 Newsletter [PDF]
Christmas 2006 Newsletter [PDF]
October 2006 Newsletter [PDF]
July 2005 Newsletter [PDF]