BMS World News
Issue 5/17
UGANDAN CHURCH BRINGS LIGHT TO MOUNTAIN
COMMUNITY
Installed three years ago and funded by BMS World Mission, solar powered light has transformed the life of Kayanji Baptist Church. Nestled in Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains, Kayanji village used to be plunged into darkness when the sun went down, but now the Baptist church is sharing the light.
“The Bible says, ‘Let there be light,’” says Isaiah Thembo, a local BMS worker who helped to install the solar panels. “Through the project, people are coming to see that God is love, because the church is connecting the community to God.”
The church opens its doors every evening for people to come and use the light to read and to study – the whole village is welcome. Church membership has risen from 30 to 80 people since the panels were installed.
The pastor also uses the light to run a morning Bible study. Solar power is used for people to charge their mobile phones, at a small but affordable cost. And the money raised is used to maintain the church and to help struggling people in the community.
Only seven per cent of the whole of Kasese District has reliable electricity. For the vast majority of these people, the only source of light is by burning kerosene lanterns or candles, which is expensive and dangerous. These light sources produce a dim light and toxic smoke, which irritates the eyes and skin and is a major cause of both respiratory diseases and harmful CO2
emissions. Solar power has changed all that for Kayanji village. Children can now safely prepare for school each evening.
In a country that is in darkness for nearly 12 hours a day, a safe source of light can completely change people’s quality of life. Kayanji’s community is transformed.
Support BMS projects like this across the world today. Donate here: bmsworldmission.org/donate
THAILAND: LAUGHTER AND FAMILY IN HOPE HOME
Yim comes to the BMS-supported project Hope Home, a refuge for children with disabilities in Chiang Mai, every day. It is here that she receives the care that enables her to stay with
her family and enjoy her childhood.
An infectious laugh erupts from the ball pool. Mum Sor and sister Yam throw colourful balls up in the air and they come tumbling down, as Yim’s tummy shakes from giggling. Yim’s name means smile – and hers is so lovely.
Yim has slow development. She only started walking, unsteadily, aged four and- a-half. She’s seven now and has never spoken. Sor, her mum, hasn’t been able to get a diagnosis to help her understand why. The family have been coming to the BMS World Mission supported team at
Hope Home for help since Yim was two.
There’s a lot of stigma surrounding disability in Thailand, and the fact that Yim is still living with her family is unusual and rather wonderful. Without the work BMS supports, Sor might have given up on Yim a long time ago. “Because we keep supporting her she comes through those
times and says, it’s okay, I love her too much,” says Judy Cook, a BMS nurse and founder of Hope Home.
Yim comes to Hope Home for respite care while her mum is at work. For the last five years, Judy and the team have been helping Sor to care for Yim and have been providing milk for both her and her five-year-old sister, Yam. Judy’s team drive Yim to and from her classes and pay her school fees, as well as looking after her every afternoon.
Sor says that much of Yim’s development has come from the activities Judy and the team at Hope Home encourage her to do. “By having this help, I now believe that Yim can learn,” Sor says.
This wonderful girl is able to grow up with her sister, raised in love, thanks to the support you give through BMS. Thank you.
Looking to support our work in Chiang Mai? Check out Wonderfully Made, our new harvest appeal resource for churches. Available here: bmsworldmission.org/wonderful
THE ACTION TEAMS CHURCH TOUR
One sleepy afternoon in September 2016, the BMS International Mission Centre was loudly invaded by a group of youngsters – the Action Teamers. They trained for a month, spent six months serving all over the world, then spent two months touring wonderful UK churches. Here are some of their highlights of their church tours…
NEPAL –
Jenny, Kali, Rachel and Sarah
We spent our evenings on tour eating with many different families, and getting to know lots of people in the churches. We’ve been involved in a variety of different things, from pizza to presenting, painting to preaching. We’ve really enjoyed tour, and have been overwhelmed by what God has done over these last two months. Now onto what happens next!
THAILAND –
Annie, Jenn, Matt and Ollie
Leaving Chiang Mai felt like leaving home. But we’re excited to be back, and have been blessed by visiting our supporting churches. We were slightly nervous about bits of our tour, but our expectations were greatly exceeded! Our hosts have been amazing. We’ve taken part in some outreach, including handing out booklets to encourage people to pray. We want to say a huge thank you for all the help and guidance we’ve received.
ITALY –
Finlay, Jess, Lauren and Sarah
Our church visits were an amazing opportunity to get some great conversations going! We’ve heard some great stories about people coming to church cafés and hearing about Jesus and lives changing, which is, in our opinion, absolutely incredible! Isn’t our God awesome? Now we’re finishing our time as an Action Team – crazy, right? – we just want to thank you now for all of your continued support and prayers!
KOLKATA –
Carys, Rebecca, Reuben and Toby
Since being on tour, we’ve had varied weeks of activities including school assemblies, lessons, adult home groups, children’s youth groups, women’s meetings and much more. Through this we’ve really got to know the church communities. We’ve talked about Kolkata, why mission
is important and how our faith has changed over the year. It’s been incredible.
Want to host an Action Team next year? Contact the Church Relations
Team on or 01235 517600.
Tel: 01235 517619
Email:
BMS World Mission, PO Box 49, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8XA
Tel: 01235 517700 Website: bmsworldmission.org
Baptist Missionary Society: registered as a charity in England and Wales (number 233782) and in Scotland (number SC037767)