Summer 1996
At last the dark, cold days have been replaced by summer warmth and sunshine - "The winter is over; the rains have stopped; in the countryside the flowers are in bloom. This is the time for singing...." (Song of Songs 2:11 &12) Praise the Lord for His creation!
MISSION SLOVAKIA - We thought of these verses as we travelled across Europe at the end of May. Slovakia is a beautiful country and we wished we could have seen more of it but we nearly didn't get there at all! At the last minute we got a telephone call to cancel the trip. We immediately contacted the Blowes family in Partizanske to reschedule our visit. This enabled us to spend extra time with them and visit more Gypsies than we had hoped. They are discriminated against in every way - work, education, health care, housing and even in the churches. We were appalled at the conditions in which they have to live. Many are without water, heating, electricity and gas and live in abject poverty. There is overt solvent and alcohol abuse, and drugs are a problem among the teenagers. The Gypsies belong to the Vlahi and Rumungeri tribes. They are short statured and dark-skinned and much prejudice exists against them. One ghetto we visited is regularly terrorised by skinheads who break the windows and have reduced some of the dwellings to rubble. The families live in fear, waiting to be rehoused, and the police do nothing to help them. Malcolm is involved in the setting up of Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship Chapters in Slovakia and oversees the church in Partizanske and the Gypsy work. Phyllis ministers to women, Holly (17) to the children, and Sam (18), who has mastered both Slovak and Romanese, is a wonderful interpreter. We were privillaged to work with the family amongst the Gypsies, to minister in the church and to speak at the Partizanske Chapter of the FGBMFI. We hope to be able to work more closely with them in the future to develop the outreach work to the Vlahis and Rumungeris living in the ghettos. Please pray that we will be led aright and that finance will become available; also for Sam and Holly while their parents are away in Venezuela during July and August helping to train young people for evangelism. In July we hope to attend the Gypsy Convention in Holland and in August we will be travelling in Romania visiting Oradea, Tirgu Mures, Petrosani and other towns. We now have many contacts and hope to build on the work started in 1994.
GOSPEL CARDS - Enclosed with this letter you will find two brochures and we hope you will order something from them. We have a contract with Gospel Cards for 1997 and the proceeds from the sales will go towards our special projects. Our tape and video project has been a success and we have only a few tapes and three copies of '10,000 Gypsies' left so if you haven't ordered write in before they are all gone! (Videos £9.00 and tapes £2.00 - including p&p - prices have been reduced!)
BYWAYS - This prayer ministry for the needs of Gypsy people has been set up by Penny Foster and we are grateful to her, Sheila and all our friends for their prayerful support.
NEWS FROM PAKISTAN - Basharat Ureem has written about the work being done in the Gypsy settlements around Hyderabad. He and the team travel long distances and we need to pray for their safety. Most work is done among the Jandawera Gypsies who make millstones. The other tribes they visit are the Bagri (fruitsellers), the Ghera (dealers in crockery and second-hand clothes), the Jogi (makers of split cane blinds called chicks), and the Dhakti Bheel (snake charmers). Although they are so poor these Gypsies try to earn a living in traditional ways. Bash says the good news of Jesus is boldly proclaimed and the people are responsive. They enjoy the Christian praise and worship. Please remember Bash, Sheba and the team in your prayers.
NEWS FROM THE WEST COUNTRY - Martin and Michele Gillmore continue to lead Bible studies at Cinderford and Stogursey near Bridgewater, and opportunities for evangelism have arisen at three sites near Frome where they are working with Rev Alan Hogarth, Vicar of Beckington. In August Martin and Michele will be at Priddy Fair and at Tarrant Hinton for the Great Dorset Steam Fair over Bank Holiday week-end. Praise the Lord that they now have a serviceable vehicle for their many journeys. Please continue to pray for them and the contacts they make.
NEWS FROM BUCKINGHAMSHIRE - Terry Hurst has been busy writing to the Beaconsfield & Gerrard's Cross News about his mission to stop prejudice and persecution of Gypsies. An article about his work was published in the paper. If you would like Terry to speak at your church you can contact him through Marianne Summer, Bucks Free press, Gomm Road, High Wycombe HP13 7DW. Please keep Terry and his family in your prayers. He is looking for another job.
VALDEMAR KALININ and Christina will be returning to Belarus at the end of July. Valdemar has done valuable work among the Gypsy refugees from Eastern Europe and has been in demand as an interpreter and conference speaker. Please pray that he will find the right direction for the future, and also for his family now settled in Minsk.
GIVING - All missionary work depends on the faithful giving of God's people. If you do not give to the work of GFC but receive our newsletters would you prayerfully consider sending a donation to help our workers overseas? They would be very grateful.
Thank you to The Way-In Christian Fellowship, South Woodford who enable us to send out our Newsletters.
With love from everyone on the GFC Team - Sonnie & Rosemary, Martin and Michele, Terry, Valdemar and Bash & Sheba.
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