Here is the first of your reports from our winter appeal 2018:
Today a group of South Wales "Coggers" got together to pack 20 rucksacks - 10 for men and 10 for women. We included food, toiletries, clothing and cleaning products along with a Glad Tidings mag and the "My Faith" leaflet in Farsi. In all we had about 22 bags of stuff donated by local Christadelphians.
10 rucksacks were delivered to the Caerlas Homeless charity in Swansea and 10 were collected by Wayne from the Swansea Asylum Seekers Support charity (SASS). Wayne is pictured with a couple of the packed rucksacks and Sarah Motley.
Wayne gave us a great little talk about SASS. SASS holds two drop-ins each week, offering support, company and English language classes - run by volunteers. They also help destitute refugees (who cannot work or access benefits) with temporary accommodation. This is done by volunteers offering to house refugees for a weekend or a week or two, before going on to the next safe house. If you'd like to help in any way, please go to: https://sbassg.wordpress.com/
Wayne's been involved with the charity since 1999 and has seen different waves of people from different countries: Chile, Ethiopia, Iran, Eritrea etc. Folks fleeing Iran are usually Christians fleeing persecution. Refugees from Ethiopia and Eritrea flee lifetime conscription into the army, which is tantamount to enslavement. Wayne will be giving our rucksacks to destitute refugees. Thanks Wayne!
Wayne's talk made me reflect on Jesus words: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12). If I were homeless, or if my family were fleeing persecution I'd be so grateful for those who had enough compassion to help. Thanks to God for the team who got together to show compassion to others because of the compassion that has been shown to us by our Lord.
Thanks also to COG for the grant which enabled us to put a three pack of either boxer shorts or knickers in each rucksack.
