Meeting Reports:
July Meeting: Mercy Ships:
It is a pity that more publicity is not given to Mercy Ships, which has performed 89,000 life changing surgeries in 592 ports around the world, many in Africa where there is little or no medical help in many places. The ship, which has 50 operating theatres, 82 ward beds, a scanner, a lab, a pharmacy and a dental facility, stays in each country for ten months. All kinds I of deformities are treated, also cataracts and growths which have been allowed to develop to a very disfiguring sire because of lack of proper treatment. All the surgery and treatment are free of charge. All the staff are volunteers and there arc sixteen countries involved, with national offices around the world. Training is given to staff if needed, and they in turn train the people of the countries they visit to be able to help themselves. Don Stephens is the president and founder of Mercy Ships, and the idea came into being because of his vision and the people who guided him in his mission of mercy, including the birth of a special needs son, and a meeting with Mother Teresa. Our thanks to Jill Pearce who was a very eloquent speaker and showed us many pictures of the valuable work they do. You can visit the website at www.mercyshipsglobal.org where you can make a contribution to this very worthwhile cause.May Meeting: The Bedford Street Angels
We were very pleased to welcome Steven Elphick who is one of a number of volunteers - Bedford Street Angels - the organisation, that has recently celebrated it's 1011, anniversary , was first started by Francis and Fred Gill after their son, Robert, was mugged and murdered on the streets of Bedford. It is manned by a number of men and women from all the churches in Bedford, who seek to live out the parable of the good Samaritan, and who patrol the town centre in groups of three every Saturday night between the hours of 11.00 pm and 4.00 am to offer support and help to people out enjoying the clubs and bars, many of whom have expressed their appreciation of the support offered. Steven kept us amused with a number of stories of his experiences, including having to wake a gentleman at three o'clock in the morning to ask him if he would like to come and collect his daughter from outside Debenhams as she was very drunk! Not hard to imagine what Dad had to say to his daughter the following morning! Some people just like to talk, and sometimes appreciate a prayer, and the `angels' will listen for as long as it takes. Because of the help they give, they are accepted, and have built up a good relationship with the other bodies who patrol the streets of Bedford on Saturday nights, including the police and ambulance teams. Also, the jackets they wear are very distinctive and give them a certain amount of authority with the people they help. The volunteers also carry a back pack containing amongst other things, a bottle of water, foil blankets and pink flip-flops for anyone with bare feet- in case of broken glass. We were impressed by the courage that it quite obviously takes to walk the streets of Bedford on a Saturday night, especially in these days of so much knife crime. Steven was convinced their faith and the power of prayer helped to protect them and as they have been doing this worthwhile job for ten years it must surely have played some part.Contacting the Mothers' Union
The Ouse Valley Deanery Group of the Mothers' Union extends a warm welcome to members and non- members alike. If you would like information about joining the group or future meetings, please contact Hazel Scott on 01234 781 559 or Jackie Biggs on 01234 782 517.
