The role of Assistant Director is a
varied one, perhaps more varied than you, dear reader, may imagine. In the last
week I have carried out the tasks essential for managing the appeals process
(church appeals being one of the main sources of income for the Association), been
on hand to assist the auditor (who spent two days in the office carrying out
the annual audit), had a meeting with the Chair of Trustees, been to the local
£1 shop to buy cleaning products and replaced the vacuum bag! The last two
tasks were in preparation for the office spring-cleaning, and, this morning, I
have had a chat with the office cleaner, Michael, to ensure that he has all the
tools he needs to get the job done.
In many parts of the world, a means of
transport is an essential tool to allow the Church’s healthcare and pastoral
support work to be effective. For example, in Chililabombwe,
Zambia, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Franciscan
Missionary Sisters of Assisi are engaged in essential humanitarian work. Sister Superior Josephine Mulenga wrote
to SURVIVE-MIVA to give details of their activities and to explain how a
vehicle would enable them to do their work more effectively: “Because of the political instability in
the DRC, many refugees, street children and the homeless come to our town, and
this adds to our work. We deal with the problems of prostitution, child
trafficking, widows, single mothers, teenage pregnancy, non-school-going children,
and the many cases of HIV. We are only ten miles from the border, and currently
we look after more than 400 widows from the fighting, and we feed more than 300
children who are chronically malnourished when they reach us. We aim to take
integrated health outreach work to the outlying communities, and a vehicle,
which would enable us to do this, would fulfil the role of emergency ambulance
as well as to transport the produce from our small scale farm work into the
market.”
Thanks to the generosity of SURVIVE-MIVA’s
supporters we were able to provide the Sisters with a grant of £27,900 to
purchase a Toyota Hilux. Sr. Josephine wrote to us again once the vehicle was
in action to say: “On behalf of our community, nutritionist, 500 widows, 150
HIV and AIDS patients on ARVs [antiretroviral drugs], 400 orphans, 100
undernourished children, and on my own behalf, I am traditionally on my knees
thanking God for the gift you are to us. This vehicle will go a long way in
helping the poor and all those who need our services. Please pray for us as we
will do the same for you.”
It strikes me on reading Sister Josephine’s
words that another essential tool, for all missionary activity, is prayer. So,
next time I am on my knees changing the vacuum bag, I must remember to pray for
all those involved in working for the welfare of others (especially those who
are feeling overwhelmed (clogged up) and short of energy (suction power)), and
ask the good God, that they may be given the tools they need to carry out their
work.
Theresa Codd
Assistant Director (Development), SURVIVE-MIVA
