Tear Times Spring 2013

teartimes Spring 2013

She’s one in 900 million It’s time to end hunger ‘See change as it happens!’

Follow a community in Peru

A picture of progress Haiti three years on

Be part of a miracle | www.tearfund.org

welcome

Clive Mear/Tearfund

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remember being at a wedding buffet a few years ago where a magnificent spread was laid out. Some people rushed up to the table and piled their plates high with food. Others – parents with children and older people – held back to avoid the initial rush. But when the final few approached the table, they were greeted with very little food and very little choice.

Some people got nothing. Others tucked in to generous helpings, either eating more than their fill or picking out just the bits they wanted and throwing the rest away.

For me, that’s a picture of an enormous injustice that’s happening across the Peter (right) with Dr David Golding. world. ‘There is enough food for everyone.’

You will hear that phrase a lot this year, and it’s true. Poor communities need you to keep saying it until people, particularly people in power, are outraged enough to do something about it. Let’s join together in this year of action on food – please start by completing and returning the campaign card you’ll find on page 8.

Above, you’ll see a photo of me with Dr David Golding, a remarkable campaigner for Tearfund and an amazing disciple of Jesus (see the full story on page 12). One of my aims this year is to keep in closer contact with you and other Tear Times readers.

One way you can do this is by following me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TearTimes – here you’ll see regular updates about the magazine and me. I hope you find this issue enjoyable and challenging. Please keep in touch.

Peter Shaw, Editor editor@tearfund.org

Tearfund We are Christians passionate about the local church bringing justice and transforming lives – overcoming global poverty. And so our ten-year vision is to see 50 million people released from material and spiritual poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches.

We can support you if you want to encourage your church and others to get involved with Tearfund. And if you have any questions, we’d be delighted to talk to you.

Editor: Peter Shaw News Editor: Mark Lang Design: Premm Design Print: The Artisan Press Copyright © Tearfund 2013. All rights reserved.

Permission is granted for the reproduction of text from this publication for Tearfund promotional use only. For all other uses, please contact us.

Cover image: Across the world 2 million children die each year because of malnutrition. Clive Mear/Tearfund

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CONTENTS 4

News – West Africa latest, and updates from across the world

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If we choose to act – How you can help end hunger in 2013

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Giving it back – Campaigner David Golding on a life dedicated to justice

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Worldview – A river with no life in Zimbabwe

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Someone like you? – Get closer to people living in poverty

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When listening is not enough – Putting scripture into practice in Nigeria

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Why I don't give a goat – Interview with Dr Brian Fikkert

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Going the extra mile in Haiti – Progress report three years on from the earthquake

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The road to Kathmandu – A Tearfund family move to Nepal

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There is enough food for everyone – The outrage of hunger in a world of plenty

‘My country was party to this great injustice.’

Dr David Golding

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Clive Mear/Tearfund

Thanks to Tearfund Partner Foundations for Farming more poor communities in Zimbabwe grow enough food to eat. teartimes spring 2013

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NEWS

Richard Hanson/Tearfund

Leatou Oumarou from Niger is one of many thousands who can feed their families thanks to food distribution from Tearfund.

‘Thank you for giving us food’ One mother’s response to your generosity to West Africa

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eatou Oumarou was one of 18 million people across West Africa last year who were struggling to find food to survive.

Today, instead of being forced to eat wild leaves, Leatou from Mailo, Niger, has proper food to give her five children because of an extraordinary response to Tearfund’s West Africa appeal. Generous giving enabled Tearfund partner UEEPN to do a food distribution in Leatou’s village, coming at a time when rising food prices meant she was unable to buy food with her wages.

‘This support has filled our hearts with joy and pride – thank you.’

‘Thank you for giving us this food,’ said Leatou, 35. ‘Please continue to pray for me and my family and that I’ll be strong in my Christian faith.’

Strengthened by the food supplies from Tearfund, Leatou is now planning to learn from UEEPN how to do market gardening which will decrease her reliance on traditional crops. Many other villages in southern Niger have similarly benefited from food distributions, such as Kaiwa Ganwo. The local chief said, ‘This support has filled our hearts with joy and pride – thank you. May God bless you. We’re very satisfied and happy with your unforgettable offerings.’

As well as Niger, Tearfund partners in Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali are assisting people 4

who’ve been hit by drought, high food prices, flooding and conflict. Help comes in many guises, including cash-for-work, land regeneration schemes, livestock replenishing, credit schemes and grain banks.

A key emphasis is on building people’s ability to support themselves by developing new ways of growing food, for example by introducing drought-resistant crops, improving farming techniques and water sources.

Tearfund partner ACCEDES in Burkina Faso has proved a lifeline for Toe Harounou Alexis, who has a paralysed son to support. ‘They have given me much help with agricultural material,’ he says, adding that he’s looking to do market gardening and chicken breeding to boost his income.

In Mali, civil conflict has accentuated the need for basic essentials. Some 412,000 Malians have fled their homes in the country’s north following the insurgency of the Ansar Dine last January and many are now living in tough conditions among southern communities.

Four partners have formed a consortium to respond more effectively to the needs of displaced families and host communities, by improving people’s access to food, promoting public health and by running catch-up classes for children who’ve missed out on their education. spring 2013 teartimes

Shocking link between sexual violence and drug abuse in Russia revealed

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to substance abuse, HIV and mental health issues like depression.

‘Sexual abuse is clouded by stigma and fear, which keeps reporting of this crime extremely low. Faced with a double whammy of drug addiction and sexual abuse, their predicament is a sad one indeed.’

Tearfund has been working with Protestant churches in Russia for ten years, supporting people affected by HIV, which is largely transmitted through sharing needles and risky sexual behaviour linked to substance abuse.

Behind Closed Doors: the hidden story of sexual violence and substance abuse in Russia marks the tenth anniversary of the partnership between Tearfund and their local church partners, who have been providing local community-based services for more than 20 years to people who use drugs.

‘There are hardly any specialised care services for women who are sexually abused in Russia.’

Kieran Dodds/Tearfund

The extent of the link between sexual violence and drug abuse in Russia has been revealed for the first time in research by Tearfund.

A report called Behind Closed Doors: the hidden story of sexual violence and drug abuse in Russia highlights that one in five women who takes drugs was sexually abused as a child.

Russia is the world’s highest consumer of heroin and home to more intravenous drug users than the whole of the EU. HIV is growing rapidly in Russia as HIV services are not yet reaching those at the highest risk of infection: injecting drug users.

Galia Kutranova, Tearfund’s Russia Country Representative, said, ‘Given the number of people using heroin and the high numbers – around 40 per cent – of drug users who go on to contract HIV, that’s a lot of people.

‘Alarmingly, there are hardly any specialised care and support services available for women who are sexually abused, despite the clear evidence that for many Russian women experience of sexual abuse is likely to lead

Few women in Russia report sexual abuse because of stigma and fear. teartimes spring 2013

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news

10,000 loos linked

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Simon Henderson/mustardseedcards.co.uk

imon Henderson from Cornwall has become the 10,000th supporter of Toilet Twinning, the joint Tearfund and Cord venture to tackle poor sanitation.

The scheme enables people to twin their loos with ones in Africa and Asia – and the money raised is used to improve toilets, hygiene education and water supplies.

Simon said, ‘You pay a one-off £60 to twin your toilet and that supports water and sanitation projects overseas. I didn’t realise that such a vast number of people had no access to proper toilets and the problems this can cause, particularly for girls who often miss school.’

Worldwide, 2.6 billion people – 40 per cent of the global population – don’t have somewhere safe, clean and hygienic to go to the loo and nearly one in five child deaths each year is due to diarrhoea.

Find out more at www.toilettwinning.org

Jane Robertson/Tearfund

George (7 years), Alice (5) and Hannah (2) deciding where to put their Toilet Twinning certificate.

‘I didn’t realise that such a vast number of people had no access to proper toilets and the problems this can cause.’

‘Simon Henderson, Cornwall

Pam power: Prolific baker Pamela McDowell (left) has raised more than £4,000 for Tearfund over the last decade by selling her tasty treats, with the help of her friend, Pamela Acheson.

The pair, who worship at First Carrickfergus Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland, offer scrummy scones at a regular coffee morning.

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Funds raised from the dead

Tearfund corruption campaign success beckons

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Jay Butcher/Tearfund

The tens of thousands of Christians who took part in the National Day of Prayer and Worship at Wembley Stadium last September Our supporters who’ve so far raised more than £1 million for our West Africa food crisis appeal The 8,000 people who follow @tearfund on Twitter and use it to support our work alleviating poverty

PRAYER PULSE Prayer is the heartbeat of Tearfund

GIVING THANKS FOR

s we go to press, our Unearth the truth campaign is on the verge of a major victory in Brussels – thanks to your support.

The EU is set to pass new laws requiring large oil, gas and mining companies to be much more open and transparent about the payments they make to developing country governments – helping poor communities to benefit from the wealth beneath their feet.

Campaign leader Andy Wilson said, ‘Thank you to everyone who’s supported Unearth the truth. These new laws will help us take a significant step forward in the fight against corruption and poverty.’

We’ve all heard of families having skeletons in their cupboards – but Miriam Evans found a real one.

While she was clearing out prior to moving house, she discovered half a real human skeleton which had been used by her husband, Wynne, years ago for his medical studies. With the skeleton now surplus to requirements, Miriam enlisted the help of specialist auctioneers to flog it and the sale raised £300 for Tearfund.

Burry Port-based Miriam said, ‘We were very pleased with what they got for it, so a skeleton in the cupboard is not necessarily a bad thing after all!’

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Continued recovery for the people of Haiti, three years on from the earthquake

1.7m people who continue to live in camps for the displaced ten years on from the start of the Darfur crisis Tearfund's Unearth the truth campaign calls on the EU to make sure extractive companies publish what they pay for oil, gas and other natural resources. teartimes spring 2013

PRAYING FOR

This year’s elections in Zimbabwe to pass off peacefully and for the safety of Tearfund staff and partners there

Latest prayer news at www.tearfund.org/pray 7

IF campaign

ice about just e t a n io s s hat’s pa I’ve only a church t rising that w always in rp u p s u ’s g it in , Grow people I someho ing young , aged 27. ctober a ic fr A n and releas But last O hara . a ll S a b w u rn s o d C ok just visite missions in bwe, prepared to lo h c a e b n o rt, Zimba ended up rare Airpo a H t a d e e...

I arriv in the fac ly t c e ir d und poverty ear/Tearf s: Clive M rd Photo len Crawfo e H s: rd o W

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passed rows of jacaranda trees, monkeys crossing the road and even a Santa-clad Christmas tree before I stepped into my first rural African village. Sat opposite a remarkable 70-year-old lady, I heard about the impact of Tearfund partner, Foundations for Farming (F4F). Working through local churches, F4F shares the gospel as it teaches

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alternative farming methods that help the farmers adjust to the changing climate.

Three years into the project, Farasi, our host, can now not only feed herself and her grandson, she can also send her grandson to school by selling surplus maize. ‘There is no more hunger because of this way of farming,’ she says. ‘As we get surplus, we spring 2013 teartimes

give to others who are poor and do not have enough food.’ Now an elder at the church, Farasi also trains local farmers. ‘We feel very happy and we are encouraged to go and educate others.

When we preach the gospel to people, some of them repent.’ There is now a new church in the community. Lives are being changed. teartimes spring 2013

Helen Crawford 9

IF campaign Three years of suffering Travelling south, we met a community at the very beginnings of the same project.

The people were hungry. Despite their best efforts to farm, sell and search for food, they were eating just one meal a day. ‘Three years we’ve been suffering,’ a young lady told me, and patted her stomach.

That evening we sat down with a bowl of sadza and maize, Zimbabwe’s staple food.

in eight orld, one w e h t s s , and Acro ed hungry b o t o g each people ildren die ition. h c n o li il 2m lnutr use of ma year beca

‘What’s the staple food in the UK?’ I was asked. I thought for a moment and suggested potatoes. I later wondered if I should have said bread. The problem was that I had no real idea, because we eat such a variety of food from all over the world.

A hungry world Across the world, one in eight people go to bed hungry, and 2 million children die each year because of malnutrition. Faced with these facts, I could feel overwhelmed, apathetic or guilty – none of which motivates you into action. So what is the answer? Supporting projects like Foundations for Farming is a much more considered response. But there’s more.

Tearfund partner Foundations for Farming teaches methods that help the farmers adjust to the changing climate.

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‘There is n o more hu nge of this wa y of farmin r because g. surplus, w e give to o As we get thers who poor and a do not ha ve enough re food.’

Hunger is no longer a problem in this village, thanks to the work of Tearfund's partner. Foundations for Farming.

Climate change, global markets and taxdodging all contribute to the suffering faced by people in hunger. We can’t carry the weight of all these things on our shoulders.

But there are people who can.

This year, powerful world leaders are gathering in the UK for the annual G8 summit and a group of charities, organisations and churches have joined forces to raise the issue of global food insecurity. Tearfund will play a huge part in the IF campaign and we invite you to be part of it too. As we raise our voice, dig into our pockets and come to God in prayer, we will stand up for people suffering from lack of food.

If you will join us...

I couldn’t eat my meal on our last night in Zimbabwe. It wasn’t because I was facing my 17th dish of sadza – we were in a hotel restaurant – it was just because I felt ill.

Sometimes we can’t finish the food in front of us. teartimes spring 2013

A line, or an article, about ‘starving children in Africa’ isn’t going to change that. The fact than one in eight people in the world go to bed hungry, even though there’s enough food in the world for everyone, shouldn’t make us feel guilty. It should make us act.

It seems appropriate that it’s called the IF campaign – it reminds us that it could go either way. Things could be different, but only if we act.

Be part of IF Please make sure your church is part of the solution. Order a church pack to help and inspire your congregation to be involved.

Please complete and return the form between pages 8 and 9 or visit www.tearfund.org/IF

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campaigns

1997 Tear Times, spring: ‘What struck me most about that particular Tear Times was the story of Elinata and the fact that my country was party to this great injustice – complicit in perpetuating the debt slavery of poor countries. The following Sunday, preaching at Whitley Bay Baptist, was one of the most notable events of my life. I had never previously gone into the pulpit with such a sense that the Spirit of the Lord was upon me. The church responded positively and encouraged me to take it forward.

My university, Newcastle, has also been extraordinarily supportive.’

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1998 Jubilee 2000 (now Jubilee Debt Campaign, JDC) G8 demonstration, Birmingham: ‘Tearfund called for 5,000 supporters and I decided to deliver one per cent of that total – 50 people – or die in the attempt! [laughs] I booked two coaches and we filled them – 100 people, including many from Whitley Bay Baptist Church.

We actually took twice that number and I always say that we completed the ‘human chain’ – there was a 100-yard gap and our party filled it.’

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Main image: Aaron Koch/Tearfund

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GIVING IT BACK:

a life dedicated to justice David Golding is a remarkable man. A representative for Tearfund for most of his adult life, he has committed the last 15 years to demand justice for poor people in Jesus’ name. Living out this calling, he has mobilised and addressed thousands, taken up running in his 70s, met the Queen and encountered ambassadors, prime ministers and presidents.

But the moment that moved him most was when he found himself sitting on a straw mat in Zambia with Elinata, the lady whose story first galvanised him to speak out for poor communities in the name of Jesus. Here, David looks at a series of images that capture key moments in this incredible journey...

Interview: Peter Shaw

‘I had never gone into the pulpit with such a sense that the Spirit of the Lord was upon me.’

1999 Campaign rally outside Hexham Abbey: ‘I started to get invitations to speak at Jubilee events and here I’m standing on my soap box – it’s a picture of me in “campaigning mode”, looking characteristically pugnacious! [laughs] It’s one of my favourite pictures.’

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200 5 2005 Make Poverty History G8 rally, Edinburgh, July: ‘This is me with my wife, Veronica, and I have to say that her patience and support have been invaluable.

I must have had a sudden rush of blood to the head – I booked 1,000 coach places for the event and the coach company was so concerned they called me in to meet the managing director! But we filled them all and another 400 besides.’

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Aaron Koch/Tearfund

BCA Film Ltd

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201 1 2008 Buckingham Palace: ‘This is the Queen, not a cardboard cut-out! Veronica opened the letter and was utterly astonished, as was I. In receiving a CBE [for services to the World Poverty Campaign], I felt I was representing all those thousands of dedicated grassroots campaigners.’

2010 Great North Run: ‘I started organising teams for the run in 2002 and the funds we raise are divided between JDC and organisations involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I’d never taken part before, but to celebrate my 70th birthday, I decide to do the run for the first (and last!) time. Taking up running when you are 70 is not very sensible and I had some injuries, but I finished the course and raised quite a lot of money.’

2011 Tearfund visit to Zambia: ‘People were always asking me why I hadn’t visited the countries for which I was campaigning. My answer was that I would only go if I could be of use to the people there. Then someone argued back, saying that I really should go, ‘just to be with the people’, and that struck home. So I became determined to go, just once. As a result, Tearfund set up a visit with Elinata.

‘Sitting on that mat with Elinata – sorry, I’m finding it emotionally difficult to speak 14

as I think of it – I had a real feeling of incredulity, but also of immense privilege. With the benefit of debt relief and development, her grandchildren have been vaccinated and go to primary school, and there is a local clinic offering free treatment and basic medicines.

Her valley now has clean water from pumps and boreholes. The sense of wonder and gratitude was almost overwhelming.’

‘Receiving a CBE, I was representing thousands of dedicated grassroots campaigners.’

‘I urge all of you reading this to join the IF campaign [see page 8]. With the blessing of God, campaigning makes a huge difference – I have seen it for myself. We have made enormous progress over the last 20 years, but immense challenges remain. Please join Tearfund in supporting IF. No one on this earth needs to go hungry – there is enough food for everyone.’ Dr David Golding, CBE You can watch a short film about David’s visit to see Elinata in Zambia here: www.tearfund.org/golding

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THERE ARE MOMENTS IN LIFE THAT CHANGE THE WAY WE SEE THE WORLD www.tearfund.org/transform Registered Charity No. 265464 (England and Wales) Registered Charity No. SC037624 (Scotland)

worldview

Tearfund photographer Clive Mear says: ‘A river with no life, flowing nowhere. Due to lack of rain, infertile, dusty red soil covers the landscape in this very remote area of Zimbabwe. Living on hand-outs and only one meal of maize a day, the community here are really feeling the effects of climate change at first hand.’ Photo: Clive Mear/Tearfund

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Haiti – three years on

Dirk-Jan van den Aardweg/Tearfund

Going the extra mile in Haiti

'Tearfund is determined to reach those in most need.'

In the midst of a global recession, you gave an incredible £7 million, and countless heartfelt prayers, to support the people of Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.

We used your gifts to support some of the communities which were hardest to reach, in Jesus’ name. Three years on, thanks to your support, Haiti is looking to a better future...

Words: Mark Lang ew year, new start, really had meaning for school boss Louis Jacques Prospère in January 2010.

His optimism was irrepressible. Once roofing work was complete, he and his 225 pupils would be moving into new classrooms, heralding an era of improved education for the rural community of Labriyette. Or so he thought…

Then, just before 5pm on 12 January 2010, those hopes – like the school itself – lay in ruins. Haiti’s earthquake was the worst natural disaster in the country’s history. Like the rest of the population, Tearfund staff and partners in Haiti faced damage to lives and property but their Christ-filled compassion was far from flattened. They soon began responding and over the past three years haven’t stopped doing so – rebuilding homes, livelihoods, infrastructure and, most importantly, hope.

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‘I’m thankful for the classrooms and the toilets.

It makes me happy to study here now.’

Louis’ school was near the quake’s epicentre, an area that received little aid due to its mountainous geography. Rural communities like Labriyette are exceptionally poor and extremely vulnerable to natural disasters.

The earthquake left them at increased risk.

Assessments by Tearfund teams concluded that the region badly needed help and that its inaccessibility should not be an obstacle to providing that help, whatever the logistical headaches. We were determined to reach those in most need. spring 2013 teartimes

‘Cholera cases went down here and everyone practises what they’ve learnt.’

Tearfund rebuilt their school in Demier, a two-hour hike up a mountain from the nearest road. We also installed a raincollection tank to solve their water supply problem. School director Nelson Espère says, ‘We can use the water to wash our hands, clean the school and no longer have to go down to the river.’

Pupils there are among 25,000 children nationwide to receive hygiene training from Tearfund, which has proved invaluable since the 2010 cholera outbreak claimed 7,000 lives. Nelson adds, ‘Cholera cases went down here and everyone practises what they’ve learnt.’ Church leaders too have received training about cholera and health education, so they can share knowledge with their congregations.

Haiti looks to the future In 12 other highland communities in Citronniers district, Tearfund’s been tackling water problems of a different kind. Heavy rain here can cause flooding, destabilise ravines and trigger landslides. Our disaster experts have been working with villagers to address this issue by, for example, building stone walls two metres apart down a ravine to slow water flow.

Kristie van de Wetering, Tearfund’s Haiti Programme Director, explains, ‘We’re equipping teartimes spring 2013

Richard Hanson/Tearfund

A beacon for the community Buoyed by your generosity towards our Haiti appeal, we worked with Louis and the community to build four classrooms and toilets. ‘It’s a magnificent building,’ says Louis.

‘We’re very happy. The community is delighted. People see it as a beacon, a symbol of progress.’ Pupil Marie-Ange Paul, who’s 12, adds, ‘I’m thankful for the classrooms and the toilets. It makes me happy to study here now.’ Nearby are 130 other children who feel the same.

Haitian woman and her child near a toilet built

by Tearfund's disaster team in Léogâne.

communities with knowledge, understanding and a basic capacity to reduce risks using their own resources.’

Trees are vital for soil protection and reducing landslides. In Lazile, 300 coffee, mango and citrus seedlings have been planted, not only boosting soil stability but also creating food and income-generating opportunities.

Elsewhere, livelihoods have been re-established by small business grants for people like Marie Carmelle Larose, who started a now thriving poultry breeding enterprise with 27 other women. Together, they now boast 400 birds.

Like Marie, the people of Haiti are looking to the future. But given the scale of the earthquake, there is still much work to do.

About 40 per cent of the rubble remains uncleared and 370,000 people are still in displacement camps. Yet, while Haiti’s recovery has a long way to go, it has travelled far too.

And Tearfund remains committed to supporting Haitians on their journey, as we have for the past 40 years.

A picture of huge progress At the end of 2012, Tearfund completed the ‘disasters phase’ of its work in Haiti following the earthquake. But we will continue to support the recovery through our long-term development and disaster risk reduction work with local partners. Over the page you can see a picture of progress so far, and a big thank you to you for your prayers and support for the people of Haiti over the past three years.

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2010-2012

HAITI In the thr three ee yyears ears since the Haiti earthquak earthquake, e, T Tearfund’s earfund’ e s disaster rresponse esponse experts have have been assisting the recovery recovery effort emote effort,, often working in rremote and har d to access places wher hard wheree few others hav havee operated. As their work comes to an end, we rreport eport on how they ’ve helped surviv ors. they’ve survivors.

EARTHQUA W H AT T H E

10 million people beforee the earthquake: befor earthquake: living in poverty poverty

77%

K E D ID .. .

293,000 Homes destroyed destr oyed

300,000 Dead

2 MILLION

Homeless

300,000 Injured Injured

AL COST TTOTAL OTA COS = £5 -7 BI L L I ON £5-7 BILLION

WH

75,000

AT

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Trees T rees planted

FU

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...

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1,026

Goats distributed

Mountain springs captur ed and captured protected pr otected

3,689

Farmers Farmers given given seeds

ÂŁ7

MILLION

40

Donations from Tearfund fr om T earfund supporters

Schools built

59,000

Bags giv given children eturning en to childr en rreturning to school

57,000 57 7,,000

People P eople received received training prevent to pr event cholera

9,000 Children provided Childr en pr ovided emergency with emer gency latrines

1,296

Teachers T eachers trained in providing providing psychosocial psy chosocial support

Geoff Crawford/Tearfund

see for yourself

Left to right: Olinda, Julia and Nilda spinning wool and tending the animals in El Tambo, Peru.

SOMEONE Get closer to people living in poverty Tearfund supporters Alice and Elizabeth now have a cutting edge to their poverty prayers and support. They have regular contact with families and church leaders in Peru. ‘You see the change as it happens,’ says Alice. ‘It’s an incredible privilege,’ says Elizabeth.

Words: Amy Church

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lice Cane, a graduate intern from Canterbury, and Elizabeth Mitchell, a part-time planning consultant from Portsmouth, joined Tearfund’s See for yourself programme more than a year ago. They both chose to follow the Peruvian community of Cajamarca. I caught up with them to find out how they were getting along...

Spending time with Alice and Elizabeth – two very different and equally wonderful women – I was quickly struck by their commitment to Tearfund and to the wider fight against poverty.

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‘It’s great to hear from different people around the community, young and old, and see change as it happens!’

See the big picture close up Elizabeth has been volunteering for Tearfund in a number of ways for 30 years. For her, the appeal of See for yourself was in seeing the change within one community, as representative of Tearfund’s wider work. spring 2013 teartimes

LIKE YOU? ‘The updates help me to pray – they give me specifics, real people to pray for.’

A window into another life Both Alice and Elizabeth talked about feeling humbled by people living in poverty day in day out, and by people such as Miriam and Miguel from Warmis dedicating their lives to ‘For me, this shows the big picture,’ says Elizabeth. ‘Tearfund recognises the deep-seated helping others.

‘It’s a window into life in another part of the and complex problems brought on by poverty – world,’ says Alice. ‘In the UK, you take for analysing and addressing them, rather than granted things like education. It seems applying sticking-plaster solutions.’

Alice, on the other hand, is excited by the ‘up- shocking that, almost by chance, you could be born somewhere like Cajamarca and not learn close and personal’ aspect of See for yourself. to write your name until you’re 75!’

Having visited Cajamarca a few years back as But they also feel empowered and inspired part of a Tearfund Transform team, she was that they can do something about poverty. keen to reconnect with Cajamarca and ‘Imagine, if we can encourage and support Tearfund’s local partner there, Warmis.

Warmis and the community with our gifts, ‘I was very excited when I received the that’s an incredible privilege,’ says Elizabeth. welcome pack,’ Alice told me. ‘I loved the ‘Yes,’ says Alice. ‘As you give money each community map, and the photos. And I’ve really month, you also receive the monthly updates enjoyed the email updates – it’s great to hear – you literally get to see some of the from different people around the community, difference you’re making.’ young and old, and see change as it happens!’ teartimes spring 2013

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Cally Spittle/Tearfund

Amy Church (left) meets with Tearfund supporters Alice Kane (centre) and Elizabeth Mitchell to discuss their experience of See for yourself.

see for yourself

‘You get feedback, so you know your money is making a difference.’

Get closer to people in poverty When you give an amount of your choice monthly through See for yourself, you’ll receive regular updates and prayer points from a community in Peru, Uganda or Nepal (you choose which!) Like Alice and Elizabeth, you’ll get to know the community, and be inspired by the difference you can make.

And, whilst you’ll follow one community, your gifts will go to help many others. ‘You have the relationship with a community, but you know Tearfund is helping communities around the world – the benefits are being felt far and wide,’ says Alice.

Please sign up today using the card here, or visit www.see-for-yourself.org for more information.

When it comes to prayer, the consensus was that it’s not easy to pray about poverty, but that See for yourself does help. ‘Poverty is so complex,’ says Alice. ‘There are no “easy prayers”, but the updates help me to pray – they give me specifics, real people to pray for.’

Elizabeth agrees: ‘Specifics make it possible to pray, even about something as seemingly overwhelming as poverty.’

A two-way process On the other side of the world, Miriam, Miguel and the rest of the small team at Warmis know there are people such as Elizabeth and Alice here, giving sacrificially each month to support the work of communities like theirs across the world.

Layton Thompson/Tearfund

‘Miriam and Miguel’s love spills out into the whole of Cajamarca.’

‘We are very grateful to God that people in other parts of the world are showing compassion towards vulnerable people here in Cajamarca,’ says Miriam.

‘We say that what they share with their fellow man and woman through their gift to

Miriam and Miguel, two of the leaders of Warmis, Tearfund’s See for yourself partner in Cajamarca, Peru.

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spring 2013 teartimes

Cally Spittle/Tearfund

Seeing for themselves: Alice Kane (left) and Elizabeth Mitchell share their experiences of following Cajamarca.

Tearfund is an example that in their hearts is God and his love. Your offerings make the difference between the happiness and sadness of many families here.’

Please join us today Alice and Elizabeth are in no doubt that they think others should sign up for See for yourself.

‘With this, you can have confidence in your giving,’ says Elizabeth. ‘People sometimes find it hard to trust charities – but this programme gives feedback, therefore you know your money is making a difference.’

And, although they’re on a good path towards change, the people of Cajamarca have a long way to go, and they need your help.

‘Miriam and Miguel from Warmis care so much about Cajamarca.’

Climate change has brought erratic weather and new crop diseases to Cajamarca, meaning farming – the traditional way of making a living – is not providing families with enough food and income.

Love spills out The team from Warmis is helping farmers adapt, and teaching the women skills to make and sell handicrafts to supplement the family income. But they want to do more. With your support, they can.

‘Miriam and Miguel [from Warmis] care so much about the community,’ says Alice. ‘I’ve seen the way they work – their love spills out into the whole of Cajamarca. It’s a privilege to feel you can help enable them to care in practical ways, and see this through the stories of people a bit like you, living in totally different situations… ’ Please join us and See for yourself: www.see-for-yourself.org.

About Cajamarca community Farming families in Cajamarca work their fingers to the bone, yet still face an ever-harder fight for survival. Tearfund’s partner, Warmis, works alongside churches and families day in day out, empowering them for a better future. Can you help?

If you sign up to follow Cajamarca, you’ll get to know: • Evelyn – a 10-year-old dreaming of becoming a nurse.

• Miguel – a passionate farming expert from Tearfund’s partner, Warmis.

• Nélida – a mother desperately wanting a better future for her daughter.

• Olga – a grandmother facing the daily challenges of poverty head-on.

teartimes spring 2013

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church mobilisation

When listening is not enough Danladi Musa/Tearfund

How often do we casually hear scripture and just carry on as normal? The Ghumitika community in Nigeria did something different, something truly radical. They read a passage in Genesis, let it transform their thinking then put it into action. Scores of people came to Christ, a new church was planted and an outcast people were given an education for the first time ever. This is what happens when people hear and obey...

Words: Isobel Peaty

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his story was told to me by Danladi Musa, Tearfund’s Country Representative in Nigeria. Despite a faltering phone line from 3,000 miles away, it was inspiring to hear the joy in Danladi’s voice as he shared with me an incredible testimony of God moving.

For four years, Tearfund’s partner Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN), the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, has been outworking Tearfund’s church and community mobilisation process in the north of the country. EYN trains facilitators to use Bible stories to encourage poor communities to work together. Armed with this biblical knowledge, the facilitators train local churches, inspiring them to make the most of the resources they already have to lift themselves and their communities out of poverty.

Genesis of a new way of thinking One particular facilitator, Adamu Aga, went out to the church in the mostly agricultural Ghumitika community in north-east Nigeria.

Among the Kamwe people of that region is a clan called the Makeris – blacksmiths by trade and, unlike their farming neighbours, long considered to be outcasts.

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Woman testifying outside the church in Ghumitika.

It was taboo for other clans to interact or do business with the Makeris. Even the Christians in the area did not associate with them. Over time, the Makeris came to consider themselves as unworthy of any contact. So the two struggling communities lived side by side, but worlds apart.

Then Adamu introduced ‘Bible Study One’, the creation account in Genesis. It was a message as old as time, but on that day it was as fresh as a new blade of grass. It turned the Ghumitika people’s world upside down. For the first time, they heard the truth clearly: all people are made in the image of God and all people are created equal.

‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it,’ Jesus says in Luke 11:28.

The congregation in Ghumitika did what sounds simple, but what people can spend a lifetime talking themselves out of – they heard and they obeyed. They reasoned that, in view of the facts, if all people are created equal, the rejected Makeris people must be equal too. And if they were equal, how could they be outcasts?

Sowing love and concern So the Ghumitika church met with the Makeris.

‘They were received initially with scepticism spring 2013 teartimes

but later with enthusiasm. The Makeris realised that the church was sincere in its desire for a good relationship,’ Danladi says.

‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’

(Luke 11:28) It was this show of love and concern by one community, charged and changed by the word of God, that resulted in 57 people, including the Makeris’ chief and his family, giving their lives to Jesus, and new church facilities being built by the whole community.

The community – where education was regarded as unimportant – now runs adult literacy classes and basic schooling for the children. There are plans to build a clinic for both communities to use. ‘Love and concern’ have bridged the gap, and the people created to be equal are – at last – living as equals.

Caroline Irby/Tearfund

A challenge to hear and obey Getting churches active in this way is remarkable – a fantastic, effective and healing process. It helps people recognise their resources and potential and results in truly sustainable, empowering change. And yet, there’s something more. The secret weapon –

the beating heart, the lifeblood that doesn't show up on a spreadsheet – is the power of the word of God. It’s the fire that’s making miracles happen all over the world.

What’s amazing about this story is that it’s just one example of how Tearfund is working through local churches. We’ve calculated that in the past five years around 67,000 churches have been doing the same.

There seems to be something unstoppable about God’s word in an atmosphere where people are hungry to follow it for each other’s sake. We now have more than 60 projects across Nigeria and in many cases, Danladi told me, this is an entirely new way to read the Bible for the pastors. ‘The church used to only concern itself with sin; now it is learning that it needs to respond to suffering.’ The world is being turned upside down through scripture.

My conversation with Danladi left me thinking. The Ghumitika people heard God’s word and they acted on it. The result has been joy and healing of a kind they’d never known.

And yet, how many times have I read those same words from Genesis? When am I going to live like all people really are created equal, no matter what I’m scared it might cost me?

When am I going to trust that to follow Jesus is truly more ‘blessed’? When am I going to ‘hear and obey’?

‘When am I going to trust that to follow Jesus is truly more blessed?’

Through Tearfund's biblical training, churches in Nigeria are becoming more active in transforming their communities. teartimes spring 2013

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Q&A with Dr Brian Fikkert

Why I don’t give Dr Brian Fikkert is Executive Director of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development. It’s a US research and training organisation that equips churches with economic development strategies to empower in a holistic way people who are poor.

He recently co-authored the book When helping hurts: how to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor and yourself. Brian, his wife, Jill, and their three children live in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he is an active member of New City Fellowship Presbyterian Church.

Interview: Peter Shaw

Why do you put so much emphasis on local churches being the answer to poverty?

I have a deep love for the local church – it has a unique role to play. Too often, we see others working amongst poor people being disinterested in the local church. Often times, they are ‘disgusted’ by local churches – seeing them as irrelevant, often a hindrance. But I don’t believe the local church can do everything. I certainly believe in the parachurch, in Christian ministries that have various degrees of expertise and specialisation. I also agree that non-Christians have a role to play in organisations that are not explicitly faith-based.

‘Too often, we see others working amongst poor people being “disgusted” by local churches.’

What is the extra value that the local church can bring that makes it such an exceptional force for change?

We take the perspective in our book that, in the scriptures, human beings are wired 28

for relationship. We talk about the four key relationships that people have: with God, with themselves (self-image), with others (a sense of community and value), and with the rest of creation. We argue that human beings are wired for living through these four relationships in the way that God intended. If you think of poverty like this, then we need a way to reconcile relationships. In Colossians 1, Christ is stated as the one who is reconciling all things. He and he alone can bring about the restoration of those relationships to what God intended them to be. And Jesus Christ is embodied in the local church.

Your book encourages people to take a more considered approach to giving, rather than being ‘led to give’ or making an emotional response. Why should we do that?

I think there is often a tendency for us to focus on the emotional approach to giving: ‘I feel compelled to help the poor.’ I think that’s a good first step. But the scriptures call us to stewardship. And that entails thinking. It involves taking advantage of the knowledge that God has made available to us and to process through that to best steward God’s spring 2013 teartimes

Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund

a goat ‘It’s a much easier sell to say: give this money, we’ll buy a goat and all will be well.’

resources. That means, certainly, being in touch with our emotions. I don’t want to downplay that and I think we have to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. So prayer is central to this: asking God to prompt our hearts and our minds.

What’s damaging about ‘giving a goat’ in comparison to investing in a community through the local church?

How we define poverty defines everything we are going to do to try to alleviate it.

Mostly, in the West, we define poverty in material terms – poverty is fundamentally about a lack of material things. So our solutions in the West have been around providing material things and that filters into the way that organisations raise money.

It’s a much easier ‘sell’ to say: give this money, we’ll buy a goat, we’ll give a goat to somebody and all will be well. It’s a very tangible, very easily understood kind of approach that again fits in with our Western mindset that we need to provide material things. If we take a more ‘relational’ approach to poverty – as we do in teartimes spring 2013

our book – that poverty is about broken relationships, then poverty alleviation is about reconciling relationships.

It’s suddenly not so much about ‘giving goats’ or ‘drilling wells’, although those things may be important things to do. But it’s more about how the goat appeared on the scene, and how the well gets dug that matters.

Suddenly, it’s about walking in a highly relational and empowering way with poor people. It’s walking in ways that communicate to poor people that they are made in the image of God. Unfortunately, for the West, it is far less tangible, it’s far more processoriented and far less product-oriented. My view is that the primary thing that has to happen in poverty alleviation around the world is that the West needs to repent of its own worldview.

You can learn more about Brian and the Chalmers Center’s work here: www.whenhelpinghurts.org

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reflection

The road to Kathmandu Steve Collins, who oversees Tearfund’s work in Nepal, recently relocated from the UK to Nepal with his wife and two children. He explains why he decided to move and reflects on a very different life in Kathmandu...

Words: Steve Collins

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Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund

Cultural shift Workwise, I’ve been starting the process of strengthening our links with the government – registering Tearfund’s work with them – as well as catching up on project annual reports.

It’s been Dashain holiday time here – a national festival where people sacrifice animals in honour of the Hindu goddess, Durga. The vast majority of people here practise a mixture of Hinduism and Buddhism – Christians are a tiny minority.

Now Dashain is over, I’ll start visiting our partners in different parts of Nepal.

From my conversations with partners, I am hearing encouraging things about churches across the country becoming more involved in serving their communities.

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Much of this progress seems to be as a result of work that Tearfund has supported over the last ten years – praise God! Thank you for your support for Tearfund’s long-term investment here, and God bless.

‘Kathmandu – it’s a crazy city, so please pray for our safety.’

Tearfund

t was a big decision for me and my wife Jude, to leave the UK and take our children, Amy and Paul, to live in Nepal.

But we feel it was the right decision, and we’re excited about the next few years.

Living in Nepal, I’ll be able to fulfil my role better, understand the context more and deepen my relationships with Tearfund partners here. It also allows more face-toface communication with partner staff, which suits the Nepali way of doing things better than email!

Our children are settling in really well.

They have been enjoying our family cycling trips to explore Kathmandu – it’s a crazy city so please pray for our safety.

Both Amy and Paul are making some special new friends, but they still miss their old friends back in the UK. Please pray they will feel more and more settled as time goes on.

Steve, Jude and their two children, Amy and Paul, in Kathmandu.

spring 2013 teartimes

reflection Clive Mear/Tearfund

Despite what you might have heard to the contrary, there is enough food on this planet to feed every human being on earth.

No one needs to go to bed, get up in the morning or go to work or school feeling hungry. But people do. And that’s an outrage – but one that we will be confronting this year.

Words: Matthew Frost, Chief Executive

Eleanor Bentall/Tearfund

There is enough food for everyone.

(Yes, everyone!)

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’m sure you’re wondering why people are still going hungry. And the reason is that the global food system is broken.

The factors that have caused this include climate change and subsidies for biofuels, competition over land, lack of business transparency and low investment in agriculture – all of which makes it difficult for small-scale farmers to succeed. High food prices make it harder to buy more food when their own runs out. The result is that the poorest people in the world spend 80 per cent of their income on food, and 900 million people go to bed hungry every night.

‘When people are free to exercise their God-given potential, miracles happen.’

Getting smallholder agriculture working can help fix the food system and local churches are bringing hope by doing just that. Two years ago, I visited Tearfund partner Foundations for Farming (F4F) in Zimbabwe. F4F advocates a God-inspired approach to conservation farming, working through local churches, which is explained succinctly on its website: www.foundationsforfarming.org For example, its approach has led to far greater yields with zero tilling. Normally, during a thunderstorm, 90 per cent of rainwater runs off open farmland and only ten per cent is absorbed into the ground. Using F4F’s methods, the figures are reversed – a very effective means to conserve increasingly scarce water resources. teartimes spring 2013

Tearfund partner Foundations for Farming teaches producers biblical-inspired methods to grow crops.

At a local level, this works amazingly well.

But, as I said earlier, the whole food system is broken and we need changes at international levels too. That’s why I urge you and your church to offer your prayers and support to the IF campaign. We have to speak out against the structural brokenness that prevents farmers from flourishing and leaves families hungry.

Because when people are free to exercise their God-given potential, miracles happen. But the miracle of everyone on earth with enough food can’t happen without you speaking out and praying. You can read more about the IF campaign and how it’s crucial that you are part of it on page 8.

Get in touch with us! www.tearfund.org www.twitter.com/tearfund www.facebook.com/tearfund Email: enquiries@tearfund.org Tel: 0845 355 8355 100 Church Road, Teddington, TW11 8QE Registered Charity No. 265464 (England and Wales) Registered Charity No. SC037624 (Scotland)

Challenge House, 29 Canal Street, Glasgow, G4 0AD T y^ Catherine, Capel Cildwrn, Llangefni, Ynys Môn, LL77 7NN 241 Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 1AF

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Share these precious moments ............................

You can draw closer to people living in poverty and share the highs and lows of everyday life. By giving and praying you will see the result of your generosity transforming children, mums, dads, grandparents – whole communities. £16 a month could enable four children like Elena to attend a weekly children’s club to have fun, learn about God and receive extra tuition – transforming their lives in the long term.

Your regular gift will give more children a chance to realise their dreams. Start your journey on page 8. www.see-for-yourself.org We have changed the child’s name to protect her identity.

Registered Charity No. 265464 (England and Wales) Registered Charity No. SC037624 (Scotland) Photo: Layton Thompson/Tearfund 30225-(0113)