Report on the work of Christian Aid

  Over the past year, several Christian Aid (CA) church organisers felt that they could not continue in that role.  The committee also heard that Carol Baughan, who had run the Christian Aid 'house to house' collection so well for many years, would be leaving St Albans.  So we had to fill a particularly large vacancy.

  I am delighted to report that Caroline Williams, also a member at Marshalswick Baptist Free Church, has agreed to join the committee and take over that responsibility from Carol.

  Christian Aid Week in 2007 went smoothly and the house to house collections raised a grand total of £29,478, which was forwarded to CA headquarters.

  Individual groups also raised money in various ways.  One church gave us an individual donation and Churches Together in Marshalswick (CTM) raised £800.48 at their stalls held in Christian Aid Week.

  As ever, St.Paul's church hosted and organised the annual concert which, for the first time, included Marshalswick Baptist Free Church’s Angharad Little as a soloist.  As well as raising £470, there were people present who were visitors to Britain - so the concert's fame must be spreading. St Pauls was also the venue for a 'Christmas Café'.  CA took a stall there and, in a few hours, made £84.00 from the sale of Christmas presents.

  As part of One World Week, CTM held a 'Rich man, poor man meal' in St John Fisher School.  Supporting the event was a Traidcraft stall with goods for sale as well as stalls displaying the work of CAFOD and CA.

  In 2008, Christian Aid Week will be 11th to 17th May and the service will be from 7pm on 11th May at St.Bartholomew's, with the Rev Simon Carver from Dagnall Street Baptist Church as the preacher.

By Valerie Chapman, of St Albans’ Christian Aid Committee.

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News from Diptipur

  In Diptipur, West Orissa, the eye work is expanding - with two eye camps being held. Both had visiting eye consultants working with Dr Paul.

  The first was on 9th and 10th January, when some 65 eye surgeries were held.  Then, from 15th to 25th January, an eye surgeon - Dr Jacob Koshy - worked with Dr Paul, teaching him new techniques (small incision cataract surgery) and over 100 eye surgeries took place.

  The need for a full time residential surgeon in now urgent - because patients are going to other places.  Please make this an urgent matter for prayer.

   The weather has been bad for two weeks.  Not only is the weather chilly and wet but the electricity supply has suffered breakdowns.  The small babies in the nursery have suffered - although things are now almost back to normal.

   During February, the hospital celebrated the Healing Ministries Week of the Christian Medical Association of India.  Discussions centred on ‘Let not your heart be troubled: a call to positive thinking’.  The staff prepared and held a special Sunday service in the church.

   The latest news to come by email is that Second Sight trust has donated a new vehicle to Diptipur Hospital.  This is an answer to prayer and will be used mainly for the eye work activities.

  Those who know the situation are praising God for this wonderful gesture by Second Sight.

  Moreover, Second Sight’s Dr Lucy Mathen will be in Cuttack and Diptipur from 2nd to 6th March.

  You can see details of the Trust's work on its website at   www.secondsight.org.uk

  Thank you to all who pray for the medical work in West Orissa.

  I am greatly encouraged by the interest shown by many friends.

 Aileen Hagen.