Ambassadors' Blog

Sam Gibson 2008 visit

I am once again visiting Asha for the 4th time and not only am I here but I have a group of friends following on the 6th Nov forming a work project team, something I never enviaged happening. Since arriving I have been with several teams some doing major project work to one just repainting a resource centre. The large group was 21 people strong and from NI some of whom were from my home church in Ballymena, I left Ballymena in 1990. They were involved ib building work, laying block paved pathways etc, but not in 1 work project they completed work projects in 3 slum communities. For me it was really good meeeting up with the Wellington St. Church team as I knew them all.

The other group were 12 students and 2 teacher and assistant head from Rainey Endowed School, Maghrafelt NI who carried out a repainting project in Kusumpur Pahadi. They also spent a great of time interacting with the slum children, playing educational games with them. They also meet with the students who are the first students to be part of Dr. K Martin's educational programme, to set up funding assistance so that young people of slum communities can go onto higher education. It was imspiring to observe the impact it was having on them.

I know that they have made their own comments and this is not why I have written this notice. I thought it relavant to mention the awsomeness of circumstances. The head teacher John Healey bumped into Fleix and me when we were in Prya commernce centre. I was introduced to John and as we talked he said that he was originally from Ballymena, as we talked more we found out that he also lived in Carol Hill where I had lived, as we talked more he mentioned going to school with Carol Gibson who he had gone to Ballymena Academy with. I had never met John before until that meeting in Prya. The second circumstance was when these groups and the group from Kent all met together at the Deputy British Comissioner's house for a reception tea held by his wife Wendy. I saw a man whose face I knew but could not remember his name and he had not been at Mayapuri when I visited. He did not remeber my face and as we talked I told him I knew his face, but could not remember his name. On asking how this was possible I told him I was born and raised in Carniney; he said so was
he. He then told me his name Peter Houston and it all clicked into place for me and when I told him my name the same was for him. He recalled that we went to school at Carnieny Primary School and he can vididly remember us sitting outside at lunchtime and me giving him my jam sandwich. It is amazing not only what as teams we do for the slum communities, but its equally amazing that sometimes in such circumstances God brings people together and renews old relationships through being prepared to follow His prompting and to go out and work im His name.

I thought this could be of encouragement to many of you all, it certainly has been for me. I cannot state that every one who comes out to Asha will have the same experiences, but I can faithfully declare that in every experience whether it as been positive or negative God is good in every circumstance.

Sam Gibson Lincoln England.

Have fun on your travels and will see you soon.

Sam.

added by Sam Gibson on 31/10/2008

Rainey Endowed School

Day 2 – Arriving in Delhi

added by Felix Jajo on 27/10/2008

Rainey Endowed School

Day 2 – Arriving in Delhi

added by Felix Jajo on 27/10/2008

Priveleges, Challenges and a Hope for the Future

Once again we were overwhelmed by coming to work with ASHA in the Jeevan Nagar slums.  We were struck by the grace and dignity with which the women deal with and overcome the conditions they have to live in.  The attitudes of thankfulness, hope and joy in the face of such extreme conditions is a huge challenge to those of us from the West who have so much, yet are thankful for so little.  It is always such a privilege to be challenged in this way.

On one level it seems strange having now been back in the UK for a month since the trip to still be missing being in Delhi. But relationships with the CHV's, the staff, the Mahila and Bal Mandals have grown and deepened over the last year to the point where we are no longer acquiantances, but friends and family.  

We have been pleased to be able to help fund a computer literacy programme in Jeevan Nagar, and are looking forward to seeing this up and running when we next visit.

Already we have a team of around 10 people wanting to come out in September...

...the future for our relationships and the potential for working together certainly seem exciting! 

added by Dan Pooley on 10/03/2008

Return visit

We have another team from City Life heading out to India in January of 2008 to work in the Jeevan Nagar slum colonies. 

It has been great to see Freddy earlier this week, and to hear from him, and see some of the stories online, of how things have been going in Jeevan Nagar since our last trip. It sounds as though the workshops that have been run there went down very well. 

We are looking forward to coming out again, and the time can't go quickly enough until then. 4 of those that were on our previous team are coming back and we have 4 first timers as well - we are hoping that they will be impacted by the trip as much as the rest of us already have been.  

added by Dan Pooley on 12/10/2007

Two things

Two things to say:

First, Having read the new Asha News, I wanted to congratulate the Team of Peer educators, CHV's and Doctors for achieving this fantastic result: Not one child has died due to diarrhoea in any Asha slum for 2 years! Alongside all the other statistics - such as perinatal and maternal mortality rates, and immunisation take-up, you should all feel immensely proud of yourselves!

(Dick Hogben - GP in Yeovil UK)

Secondly, just to let you know, that tomorrow morning, my wife Julie and I will be speaking about Asha at the United Reformed Church in Yeovil (not our church).  This wonderful group of people have adopted Asha as their Charity of the Year, and are running a number of fund-raising events over the year - including cream teas and a concert!

added by Dick Hogben on 14/07/2007

Freddy's visit

Just had Freddy over for the weekend, picked him up from the airport and brought him down to Southampton to stay for a few days.  Had a great time with him - most of the team that came out to ASHA in Jan/Feb were able to catch up with him.  

He spoke on Sunday at City Life Church and brought a very challenging message on humility that pierced the hearts of many there.  

Humility is one of the key things I was struck with whilst visiting people in the slums - that along with the attitude of Thankfulness from those who have so little touched my heart and caused me to re-evaluate my relationship with God.  

We have much to learn from those who come to God with nothing, accept his word and put it in to practice, rather than intellectualising and rationalising it away as certainly I am often guilty of.  May God deal with my pride and help make me more like those who accept and put in to practice his words, like so many of those I have been privileged to meet through ASHA.

I'm hoping to return to Delhi in September - so no doubt there will be more challenges to come.

added by Dan Pooley on 30/04/2007

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all you amazing folk in Delhi!  It's great that we can celebrate the Victory of Jesus together across the miles! 

We are looking forward to Freddie's visit to Yeovil on Thursday 10th May! It is at The Gateway, Addlewell Lane Yeovil at 7.45pm if anyone wants to come...

added by Dick Hogben on 08/04/2007

Asha update

Slight glitch with the site - the below is by Sam Gibson, and not me (Alex)!  

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Hi folks I am currently on another visit to Asha, this time as an Asha volunteer and not with a Tearfund Team, although I will be helping them out. It is great to be back within the Asha family and it feels that I have not been away. The office of course has been revamped and just looks brilliant. In raising funds personally and for Vivekanand Camp the project I will be working on I completed a fitness challenge on four different machines, 7k each on the treadmill, cross runner, rower and cycle. It was amazing how Fitness First reacted to my request to do the challenge and really encouraging how they took on board and support me in my efforts to raise the funds. With regard to the project I approached a local Indian restaurant and asked what deal they would give if I could guarantee a full restaurant on their slowest night. Again they took a grasp of my enthusiasm for Asha and what Asha does and sorted out a 3-course meal deal for 12 pound with the ticket charge 17.50, the 5.50 to the fund raising. This one evening raised 450.00. The local paper ran a double page spread, radio interview etc helped lift the profile and anonymous donations came in as well. I would just encourage everyone if they feel they have a fundraising idea to go for it, be enthusiastic and most people just can’t help becoming part of a good cause especially if there is food involved. What do you think, have you any other ideas you would wish to share?

added by Alex Arnold on 02/04/2007

asha site

wow!!! i am impressed,its a cool one.Well done

added by Freddy Martin on 12/03/2007

Asha HQ's New Decor!

Wow!  It is great to see the Asha HQ building with its new coat of paint.  It looks amazing from the photos.  Well done to those who gave of their time and skills to achieve this.  Can't wait to see it "in the flesh"!

added by Dick Hogben on 26/02/2007

Love the new website!

Well done everyone who contributed to getting this new website up and running! It is so imformative and the photos make me want to jump on the next plane to Delhi!  I am particularly looking forward to getting to know other Ambassadors and sharing ideas as well as ways in which we can all work together to facillitate the work of asha.

added by Julie Hogben on 18/02/2007

message from Paul

Congratulations on logging in to your area - hope you enjoy the website!

Paul

added by Paul Frey on 13/02/2007

Congratulations

Congratulations on this new, wonderful site!

Let's pray it leads to close communication between Asha and its ambassadors, and better fundraising.

added by Mark Baines on 13/02/2007