The Leek and Meerbrook Team Ministry

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Paul's Sermon at St Edward's on 27th July 2008

May we bring to your attention as we approach the Christmas season the needs of some of our most vulnerable people within Kandy? In Sri Lanka it has been a time honoured tradition for children to look after their parents. In the context of society today, this situation has changed for many and many elders are not able to maintain a home and care for themselves. There is thus a great need today for homes for elders. At St Paul's, we have a growing number of our own congregation in need of supported accommodation and a steady stream of requests from people of all communities unable to care for themselves or their parents any longer

We were gifted with a beautiful large house last month. It can accommodate about 12 to 15 persons but there is room for expansion.

The home will be run with a distinctive Christian ethos, reflecting the love of Christ in word and deed. The home will be open to both paying and non-paying elderly people from all communities and all religions.

Our appeal to you is firstly to join us in prayer as we step out in faith on this much needed venture.

Secondly, can we ask you to prayerfully consider supporting this project financially? Due to the increasing cost of materials as a result of the tsunami and the conflict, we are in need of others to help us - even in a small way - to complete what we will start.

Ina and I have decided to try to raise around £8,000 towards the cost of completing the renovations and employ staff and get the home started. We realise there are many demands on your resources, especially as we approach Christmas but if you would prayerfully consider helping in some way we can assure you that it will make a big difference to people who are in real need.

Paul and Ina

About Paul and Ina ...

Paul and Ina work as CMS mission partners in Sri Lanka with the Church of Ceylon. They live in Kandy where Paul is curate of St Paul's Church in the diocese of Kurunegala. Ina is a qualified councillor in group and individual therapy and has a counselling centre called Shakthi Nikethana and a wide ranging training role.

Abi (11) and Hannah (9) enjoy school at C. I. S. (Columbo International School) Kandy.

Ina and Paul were married in 1990 and moved to Glasgow as staff workers with Friends International where they worked with international students. Over the next nine years they saw the work grow and become well rooted among local churches. From 2000 Paul was a curate in the multicultural Glasgow parish of St Ninian's and Ina was working part-time as a cognitive behavioural therapist in the Eating Disorders Unit at the Priory Hospital, Glasgow.

Since their arrival in Kandy in April 2004 they have become thoroughly involved in their respective fields of work. St Paul’s is a large congregation within close proximity to the Temple of the Tooth, one of the main Buddhist shrines in the world which draws pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands.

Paul's work is primarily in the spiritual nurture and discipleship of the congregation so that they can effectively witness in their communities. He is increasingly involved in developing an outreach programme from the church and a work amongst the youth and has recently completed a rehabilitation programme in one of the areas worst affected by the tsunami.

Ina's role has evolved from one of primarily counselling individuals to training and equipping others to do this. She has initiated schools training programmes, training in the diocese, the training of volunteers in the post tsunami period and now is teaching a Diploma in Counselling course. She has also opened a centre for counselling and training called Shakthi Nikethana (shelter of Strength) in partnership with the Diocese of Kurunegala. With the help of volunteers the centre offers not only counselling but also health education, and English language and maths classes.

"We are very thankful to God for bringing us to Kandy has not only do we have much fruitful work to be involved in but as a family this is a truly blessed place to be".

When time a house they are able to explore parts of this beautiful island and spend time with the many friends they have made here.