In Canada and around the world,the
past few months have brought many changes to our “normal” way of life. The COVID-19 global pandemic has moved us into uncharted waters and left us with a sense of vulnerability and uncertainty about our future Yet, in the midst of all these troubling times, we stand together We are in this, together
Many of the individuals we are privileged to serve through The Salvation Army experience feelings of vulnerability and uncertainty caused by circumstances well beyond COVID-19. Food insecurity, lack of clean water, and limited access to medical care and education are just some of the needs faced each day in the developing world.Through your generous support, we can ease the burdens carried by so many. With your help, we can provide holistic support to bring about transformation, one person, and one community, at a time
As you read this issue of Global Link, you will see how your donations are making a difference in Taiwan, Bangladesh and Angola. Each story highlights how individuals are changed, redeemed and transformed because you care. Thank you for standing with us.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank Major Donna Barthau for her tremendous passion for children around the world during her tenure in the world missions office. Major Donna has received a new appointment at our international headquarters as The Salvation Army’s international sponsorship co-ordinator Donna, you will be missed in the world missions department, but we are very happy that you will be using your gifts and skills to further support children around the globe
Sincerely,
A CELEBRATION OF HEALTH AND HOPE: FIVE YEARS LATER By Manjita Biswas
In2013,Ivisitedthecommunitiesin Polonnaruwa,SriLanka,andheard thesincereprayersoftheelderly. “Wewantourchildrentobehealthy,” theysaid.“Wedon’twantthemtodieor losetheirpotentialbecauseofunsafe water.”Manyofthefamilymemberswere sickwithkidneyandwaterborne diseases Theywereinfearandin desperateneedoflife-savingsupport
Asaresult,theCanadaandBermuda Territoryimplementedthefive-yearSafe WaterandLivelihoodDevelopment (SWALD)project.
ThroughSWALD,weestablished18 boreholes,providingcleanwatertoover 6,800familiesinPolonnaruwa.More than3,000farmersreceivedagriculturetrainingandlivelihoodsupport,benefitting135families andbringingsustainableincometothemforyearstocome.
OnFebruary5,2020,ItravelledtoSriLankawithLt-ColonelBrendaMurray,directorof worldmissions,andCommissionersFloydandTraceyTidd,territorialleadersforCanadaand Bermuda,toattendtheSWALDprojectclosingceremony.Morethan160participantsattended theprogram,includinglocalcommunities,religiousleaders,localgovernmentrepresentatives, projectstaffandofficers Itwasatimetoreflect,givethanksandcelebrate
“Cleanwaterchangedourlivesforever,”saidSunilShantha,abeneficiaryoftheproject
“Ourvillagedidnothaveanysourceof drinkingwater,”saidMrs Sepalika, anotherbeneficiary “Wearegratefulto TheSalvationArmyandsincerelywish thatGodabovewillblessyoutodomore”
IwasmovedasIlistenedtotheir storiesandlife-changingexperiences GratitudeforTheSalvationArmyfilled theroom,notjustforthewells,butforthe provisionoftools,skillsandlocalcapacitybuilding
In2013,Iheardtheirprayerforclean water Throughthehardworkofthe projectteam,bothlocalandabroad,the determinationofcommunityleaders,the tenacityofthebeneficiaries,andthe generosityofourfaithfuldonors,their prayerswereanswered
World Missions Director
Lt-ColonelBrendaMurray
FROM SPONSORSHIP TO OFFICERSHIP By Major Sara Bapari
In131countriesaroundtheworld,TheSalvationArmycontinuesto growandflourishthroughthehardworkanddedicationofsoldiers, officersandadherents Whetheryou’rewalkingintoanArmy headquarters,counsellingcentre,healthclinicorcorps,youwillfindan officerwhohaspledgedtheirobedienceandsacrificetothechurch. Behindeverypledgecomesatestimony anawakening,momentor naturaljourneythatsummonedtheircalltoofficership ForMajorSara Bapari,programofficerintheBangladeshCommand,sheknewshewas destinedforofficershipatayoungage,anditstartedwiththehelpofThe SalvationArmy’ssponsorshipprogram
“WhenIwasachild,myfatherpassed awayandIwastakeninbymygrandfather. Inordertogainstabilityandagood education,mygrandfatherdecidedtoenroll meinTheSalvationArmyGirls’Homein Dhaka aboardingschoolthat’ssupported throughthesponsorshipprogram OnceI enrolled,therewasnodoubtthatIwanted tolivealifededicatedtoGod
Besidestheacademicstudies,wewere taughtextracurricularactivities,suchas singing,dancing,arts,sewingandBible studies.Igainedthedesiretoworkforthe LordthroughmySundayschoolteachersandpastors Ioftendreamedthat IwouldbecomeapastorandIknewthatoneday,attherighttime,He wouldfulfilthisdream.
AfterIgraduated,IbeganteachingatTheSalvationArmyGirls’ Home,whereIwouldservefornearly10years,teachingchildrenwhosat inthesameclassroomsIoncelearnedin However,Iyearnedtodomore
TRANSFORMATION THROUGH EDUCATION IN ANGOLA By Kathy Nguyen
Meaningfultransformationisamulti-prongedprocess.In
ordertounlockone’sfullpotential,thereneedstobea strongmindset,awillingnesstoactandanopportunityto pursue.Forthesereasons,qualityeducationandlifelonglearningis oneoftheUnitedNation’ssustainabledevelopmentgoalsaswellasthe worldmissionsdepartment'smainprioritiesininternationaldevelopmentprojects.
Asaresult,youwillfindTheSalvationArmy’sshieldbrandedon schools,colleges,daycaresandvocationaltrainingcentresaroundthe world.WhenCanadaandBermudahelpedtosupportMoxico Children’sEducationandProtectionPrograminLuau,Angola,nearly 60vulnerablechildrenandtheirfamiliesbenefitted
Thepurposeofthisprogramistoprovidevulnerablegirlswitha safeenvironmentwheretheycanreceiveaneducationandlearn
WhenmyhusbandandIlookedbackonourlives,wewereassuredof God’slove Healwaysgaveuseverythingweeverneeded wewantedto pledgeourcommitmentinreturn,sowefinallyansweredourcallto officership
IamsothankfultoserveinTheSalvationArmy,theplacewhereI grewup Mylifebeganwithoutaparent,butthroughGod’s graceandguidance,andthroughthemissionofTheSalvation Army,Igrewuptobeanestablished,well-educatedandproud mother,wifeandofficer”
importantlifeandvocationalskills.Thegirlsreceivelessonsin personalhygiene,health,foodpreparation,aswellastutoringlessons inliteracy.
DonaMarquezdaSilvawas10yearsoldwhensheattendedthis program “WhenTheSalvationArmyinLuauopened,thatwasthe firsttimeIwasinaclassroom,”Donasays.“Wewerewelcomedbythe lovingstaff,foundasafeandcaringenvironment,receivedfoodfrom thehomeleague,andreceivedreadingandwritinglessons”
Donaisnowsettograduatesecondaryschoolthisyear,ahuge accomplishmentforayoungwomanwhocomesfromthispovertystrickencommunity
ThankyoutoourdonorsacrossCanadaandBermuda Your supportcontinuestoleavealastingandtransformativeimpacton childrenandcommunitiesaroundtheworld
A REFLECTION AND THANK YOU WhenIbeganmyappointmentassponsorshipco-ordinatorfor theCanadaandBermudaTerritoryin2014,Ihadfeelingsof inadequacyforthenewjob Despitemymisgivings,Ifelta strongpassionwithinmetohelpvulnerablechildrenandyouthinthe developingworld.
TheSalvationArmyhasappointedmeallovertheworld Fromthe hillsidesoftheCzechRepublictotheislandsofIndonesiatothevillagesof KenyaandAfrica,Ihaveservedstudentsandsponsorshippersonnel.Ifell inlovewiththeministry,thestrongadministrativesupport,andhada visiontogrowCanadaandBermuda’ssponsorshipintoamorevibrant andexcitingprogram.
Overthelastsixyears,I’veenjoyedsharingstoriesandthe transformativebenefitsoftheBrighterFuturessponsorshipprogram aroundtheterritory It’sbeenapleasurehelpingdonorsandministryunits understandtherealimpactoftheirassistance,andthegreatthings happeningaroundtheworldthankstotheirfaithfulsupport
Oneofmytruedelightshasbeenmytraveltoseveralterritoriestosee theworkfirst-hand.Thetoursofthefacilitieswerealwaysenlightening, buttherealjoywasthepersonalinteractionwiththeyoungpeople teaching,singingandlisteningtotheirstories,hopesanddreams ThesearemomentsIwillneverforget.
Ihavelovedmytimeinthisappointment Iamsadtobeleaving,butI knowthatmynextappointmentasinternationalsponsorshipco-ordinator atinternationalheadquartersisdulyneeded.Iwilldomybesttocontinue tohelpvulnerablechildrenaroundtheworldwiththisnewposition
By Major Donna Barthau
Thankyoutoeveryoneinthisterritoryandaroundtheworldwhohas giventheirpracticalassistanceandencouragementoverthepastyears Let uscontinuetoworktirelesslyforthechildrenGodhasentrustedtoour care.
FINDING REDEMPTION IN TAIWAN By Kathy Nguyen
“Ihavesweptawayyouroffenseslikeacloud,yoursinslikethemorningmist Return toMe,forIhaveredeemedyou”
WhenWilliamBoothfoundedTheSalvationArmyin1865,hedidso withthevisionofprovidingpracticalandtransformationalsupportto thedestitute,whilepreachingthegospelandsharingtheloveofJesus Christ.Sinceitsinception,TheSalvationArmyhasprovidedlife-changingsocial servicestothevulnerableandcontinuestodosoinmorethan130countries. InTaiwan,thereareveryfeworganizationsthatcatertoyoungoffenders,which iswhyTheSalvationArmyPuliYouthServicesCentrewascreated.Thiscentre helpstoensurethattroubledyoutharegivenanopportunitytorehabilitate,redeem andreintegrateintosociety.
Mostoftheyoutharereferredtothecentrebythejuvenilecourtswhentheyare discharged Manyoftheyoungpeoplelackfamilysupportandhavenowheretogo Forothers,returninghomecouldleadthembacktoalifeofcrime
Thecentrenotonlyprovidestheyouthwithshelter,butanetworkofeducational,physicalandspiritualsupport Here,theyreceivecounsellingand mentorship,aformaleducationthroughpartnershipswiththelocalschools,aswell asjobopportunitiesandinternshipswithlocalbusinesses
“Alloftheyoungmenhavegonethroughgreattransformation,”saysMajor DavidKinsey,regionalcommanderoftheTaiwanRegion “Manyofthemwere acceptedbackintotheirhomes,andtheirfamiliesareverygratefultoTheSalvation Army”
WilliamBoothoncesaid,“Thegreatnessofaman’spoweristhemeasureofhis surrender”WhentroubledyoutharegiventheopportunitytosurrendertoGod andletgo,realtransformationcanhappen. TheSalvationArmyPuliYouthServices Centreisatestamenttothat.Thankyouto ourdonorswhocontinuetohelpussupport theselife-savingandtransformativeprograms.
—Isaiah44:22(NIV)
