December 2008 Sponsored Paddle, Iraq Family, Sister Raisa
Brother Sam Bradley plans to do a sponsored paddle on his surf board on December 16, God willing, to raise funds towards the Carelinks Winter heating appeal. He plans to cover 40 km. in 8 hours, which seeing he will be standing up paddling all that time... will be quite a feat of endurance. He tells us he's already in training for it. He plans to paddle from Queenscliff to Paramatta, through Sydney harbour, in Australia. He writes as follows:
"On the 16th December I am going to paddle from Queenscliff to Parramatta on my SUP board - a distance of approximately 40 kilometers, as I plan to go via The Gap at South Head (across then through the Heads). I really have no idea how long it is going to take me, but am going to hazard a guess of 8.5hours - 5kms per hour and 30 minutes to see how far I can get into Kirribilli House...To make it interesting, and in a sense productive, I would like you to consider making a donation - one that will have a three fold outcome. For $20, 50% will go towards the Carelinks Winter Appeal (www.carelinks.net) - this is run by my friends to help those in need in Russia and Eastern Europe who lack adequate heating to get through another Winter. 25% will go towards my education fund. And 25% will go towards the Prize.
The Prize: Guess how long it will take me to get from the beach at Queenscliff to the Ferry Wharf at Parramatta, and the person closest to the actual time will win the nice little kitty.I'll publish the names and times guessed the night before, and let you all know the time that evening.
Please deposit $20 into my bank a/c, notify my by email or sms and you are in the running. Or when next you see me, just slip me a red-back [=Australian 20$ bill].
Samuel Bradley, A/C #154977068 BSB: 112879"
Sam's email is: samb73@hotmail.com
Here's a picture of Brother Sam, a typical SUP board of the kind he'll be paddling, and a photo of the area he'll be paddling through in Sydney.
You can also sponsor Sam by PayPal
- just click on https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=1635499
SISTER RAISA
We're received news from our elderly sister Raisa in Russia that her home has been completely flooded, and she had to be rescued from the very high water which rose to over 1 metre. Her home was left not only dirty and soaked, but her furniture, precious sewing machine, books etc. are all destroyed. She has been ill since this happened, and is trying to rebuild her life. Some assistance has been given, but we're hoping to get to be with her shortly, God willing. She is a very dear sister- her late husband, daughters and grandchildren all accepted the Truth, and she has been a regular attender at our Bible Schools, where last year her sister too was baptized. Please pray for our traumatized sister- here are some file photos of her at previous Bible Schools:
Meanwhile, we continue receiving vitamins and other medications from you, and Cindy is busy distributing those at the moment. Here's sister Tanya with her calcium tablets- she was previously making calcium for her osteoporosis by crushing eggshells:
IRAQI FAMILY
We reported in a previous carelink about our brother Sirwan, his wife and two daughters, who fled to Turkey. We're delighted to report that they have been given final acceptance by the UNHCR at a meeting today, and should soon be flying to a Western country. Our brother is overjoyed at this speedy response, brought about surely by your prayers and humanly by our attempts to intervene with the powers that be. He shared with us today in very elated terms his sense of the power of prayer and God's active care for His children.
He, his wife and children have been granted the coveted clearance documents- here's one of them, which we just received by email:
So we give thanks for this and seek your continued prayers for our work. There have been a number of positive moves forward for some of our refugee brethren recently; one senses very much the Angelic activity for "those who shall be heirs of salvation" which goes on behind the scenes all the time.
With love from your brothers and sisters of Carelinks
ps UK readers, don't forget the Carelinks Weekend planned for January! Register now! More info at http://www.carelinks.net/doc/events