Morley Update 2012 #35

Everyone,

"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the Way...." This is Ana Cami's new favorite song and while it is adorable to hear her sing it in her little lispy voice, I'm sure by the time Christmas rolls around her mother is going to be very tired of hearing it. Who can think about Christmas when we are just beginning to revel in Fall Leaves, Cooler Weather and Football. The team here has been thinking about Christmas for some time now. Instead of writing my usual update I am posting our newsletter about our upcoming Christmas parties. Please take the time to read it - It gives you a good idea of what it looks like to have a party for 650 of your closest friends. It also gives you a chance to share in this special day. Thanks for taking the time to read it.


Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It’s hard to think about Christmas when it is still in the 80s and 90s but believe it or not our Christmas parties the first week of December are only two months away. Once again we are planning 4-5 parties for 130 people each.

This is always such a special night for our refugee friends and we spend months preparing. Gifts are bagged and waiting to be handed out. The room is decorated and the tables are set. The delicious smell of food fills the room. We welcome our friends who come dressed in their best. During the evening, each family is escorted into another room where a family portrait is taken. When everyone is seated we have a puppet show telling the Christmas story and how Jesus understands what they are going through because He too was a refugee. Our teammate Aziz will also share a message in Farsi. After the program we will serve a special meal of Salad, Chicken, Persian Rice, Pita Bread and Dessert. When the meal is finished each person receives a gift – the little ones delight in their new toys as well as warm gloves and scarves. The adults receive more practical things: shampoo, razors, lotion and other hygiene items. They also receive a scarf and gloves. Inside each adult’s bag is a one of the Gospels in Farsi. The children’s bags include a coloring book with the Christmas story in Farsi and a package of brightly colored markers. It is an evening filled with special memories for the team and for our guests.

We are blessed to partner with several local churches that prepare food, decorate tables and help serve. We also have a local school that helps out with donations for our gift bags. This is a big help but even so, putting on Christmas parties for up to 650 people can be a bit of a financial stretch. We estimate it will cost us around 20 Euros per person. Would you consider joining with us? Any excess money that is collected above what we need for Christmas will be used to buy sleeping bags. For refugees sleeping in the parks this time of year the nights can get very cold and a sleeping bag makes quite a difference. The cost of one sleeping bag is 15 dollars (around 12 Euros). This year instead of getting Aunt Matilda another knick knack for her collection or buying Uncle Harry yet another tie you might want to consider giving them a card telling them that a refugee child will have warm hands or a young man sleeping in the park will no longer have to shiver in the cold night air. Thank you for caring and thank you for sharing.

You can give by check—make out to International Teams and Designate Helping Hands Christmas:
Mail To:
International Teams International Teams International Teams
411 W. River Rd. 1 Union Street P.O. Box 11
Elgin IL 60123-1570 Elmira, Ontario N3B 3J9 Brecon, Powys
USA CANADA LD3 9WJ GREAT BRITAIN

If you would prefer to give online go to:
www.iteams.org click on your country and follow the directions for giving.


THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVESTING IN THE LIVES OF REFUGEES. Please pray for our Christmas Programs — God is at work and we are privileged to be a part of it.

On behalf of the whole team of Helping Hands,
Nikos Stefanidis
Director