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Supporters News

An eventful few months since the last newsletter has kept us all busy at HHI.
In May we welcomed Jonah Sialumano to the UK. His infectious sense of humour and obvious commitment to the vulnerable and disabled shone through when he addressed us in a packed supporters' evening at Mountjoy Gospel Hall. Before he left, he experienced our National Health Service at first hand when he injured his leg, missed his plane and ended up in The Royal Gwent. He kept smiling through it all and became fond of saying that he had received 'the presidential treatment.' Thanks to everyone who made Jonah feel welcome and to all those who helped in making the supporters evening such a memorable one.

How do you empty a church hall full of disability aids, bicycles, sewing machines, blankets , medical supplies and many other useful items into a giant container bound for Zambia? The answer is that you need Mike Hopkin and a small army of volunteers to work non-stop on a damp June evening until the job gets done. Thanks to all of you who gave up your time to make this annual event take place.

Now, here is something for your thoughts and prayers.
We have been grateful to Stow Park Church Centre for the use of their hall but, because the site is soon to be redeveloped, we are going to lose our storage facility there. We are hoping and praying that someone out there – one of our 2000 supporters – will know where we can find some low cost or, better still, free storage.
It doesn't have to be the Ritz, it doesn't even have to have heating or water, but it does need to be around 500 square feet and to be dry. If we cannot find storage, then we cannot collect wheelchairs and other disability aids. If we cannot collect disability aids then we cannot distribute them to Zambians like Jonah.

Since the last newsletter, HHI has learnt that a delegation funded by the Welsh Assembly will be visiting a range of charities in Zambia and our centre in Monze is one of them. Keep this visit in your thoughts and prayers that all will go well.

Thank you again for making the work of HHI possible. We try to acknowledge all your gifts personally and a little later on there are a few special acknowledgements. A particular thank you to The Rev Simon Copley who is standing down as a Trustee. He has given several years of service to HHI, but is now moving to another church in the North East of England.

John Wesley once said that we need three qualities if we are to build God's kingdom together. You probably know what these are. If you don't know then you might try a guess. Alternatively, you can look for the answer somewhere in this newsletter.
Have a good Summer.
From all at HHI