In His Hands

IN HIS HANDS How your church can help bring health and hope to families who’ve lost everything Tearfund, with the help of funds from A place of shelter Toilet Twinning, began to work in Ericaine’s camp to provide latrines There are more displaced people in the world today than at any other and safe water. Crucially, Tearfund time in history. (UNHCR) also taught people about hygiene and how to keep the new toilets and Stories from around the world tell This booklet tells Ericaine’s story and handwashing areas clean. Ericaine of families forced from their homes shows what it’s like to live in one of the volunteered to lead the team which by conflict, natural disasters or hardest countries in the world: monitors the toilets and ensures they’re persecution. Often, mothers and Central African Republic. kept clean and safe... children have to seek shelter in the bush while they wait for the fighting ‘I know how important the toilets are for to die down. There is no state help, our health, not just for myself and my no food or water, no sanitation. And, children, but for everyone in the camp. sometimes, no hope. Things were so bad before: now, they’re so much better. I can’t thank you enough for When displaced families find their way This is a story of a mother’s love, helping us.’ to a camp, they are exhausted and a wife’s resilience and a woman’s frightened. They have spent days on determination to make life better – for Harvest or World Toilet Day the run and are longing for a place of her family and her community – with safety. Finding refuge is everything. Toilet Twinning’s support. (19 November) Could you and your church stand But, sadly, camps are not always safe Ericaine’s youngest child was born alongside displaced people such as places. Families may have found in the bush. She and her family were Ericaine and help provide a refuge from shelter from bullets and brutality – fleeing from militias who burnt their sickness and diarrhoea? but they face other threats: poor community to the ground. sanitation, unclean water, overcrowded conditions where disease Now Ericaine and her children are spreads fast. living in a displacement camp - and have been there for more than three years. At first, there were no toilets and everyone was going to the loo in the open. This caused serious health problems, especially for young children. ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.’ Some even died. Women were forced to venture into the bush at night, Psalm 46:1 risking attack. What’s the big idea? Presentation notes Hold a special Sunday service on the theme of being held in God’s hands (for Encourage your church to think about refuge and safety. harvest or World Toilet Day on 19 November) and take a collection for water At harvest time in particular, and 3. Trust – ‘For in the day of trouble he and sanitation projects so that people can be set free from fear and disease. throughout the year, we celebrate will keep me safe in his dwelling; You might also like to involve your young SENDING US YOUR DONATION God’s provision. In our thanksgiving, he will hide me in the shelter of his we recognise that we are called to people or the whole church in some If you wish to donate directly into the sacred tent and set me high upon a be his hands and feet in the world, fundraising. Below are some fundraising Toilet Twinning bank account, our rock.’ (Psalm 27:5) bringing help to those who are ideas and details of our resources. details are: experiencing ‘times of trouble’. As we acknowledge God’s all- PUTTING THE FUN INTO Account name: Toilet Twinning sufficient provision for us, we are IN THEIR SHOES FUNDRAISING! Sort code: 20 00 00 prompted to help those around Account number: 53798860 Consider times in our lives when we Hold a ‘Do for a Loo’ event – such the world who seek shelter from feel afraid as a harvest meal or coffee morning. Cheques can be made payable to the storms of life – so people Ask us for a Make-a-Stand ‘Toilet Twinning’ and sent to: Think about how we find our way like Ericaine survive to fight kit for a display at the Toilet Twinning, through such times another day. back of your church 1052-1054 Christchurch We are not alone: God is always with RESOURCES – a sale-or-return Road, Bournemouth, us, whatever our circumstances - Go to YouTube, look for fundraising kit with Dorset, BH7 6DS protecting us and sheltering us Toilet Twinning, and play the Toilet Twinning certificates, If you donate by bank Talk about the concept of ‘home’ film that features Ericaine’s story: loo rolls, gift soap, info transfer, or by cheque, please – IKEA slogan: ‘Home is the most sheets and more! Toilets = Hope for war torn email or ring us to tell us how many important place in the world.’ communities Ask your youth and uniformed certificates you’d like for your church IN HIS HANDS groups to hold toilet parties – cloakrooms! From our website, toilettwinning.org, God removes fear, and brings a place of download our simple PowerPoint to we’ve lots of fun ideas including DON’T FORGET GIFT AID loo roll activities and costumes. trust and love: use at a special service. Please ask us to send you Gift Aid They might like to hold a ‘Blue for 1. Fear – ‘For I am the Lord your God envelopes for every member of your IDEAS the Loo’ day or take on a sponsored who takes hold of your right hand congregation. We’d also be very happy to Use a tarpaulin or blanket to challenge such as sleeping out and says to you, Do not fear, I will send you an info leaflet for every seat. illustrate shelter under tarpaulin help you.’ (Isaiah 41:13) ASK US FOR RESOURCES Email us at [email protected], 2. Love – ‘There is no fear in love. Link the hymns and song choices posters and leaflets or call us on 0300 321 3217 to let us But perfect love drives out fear.’ with the topic of fear, love, trust story postcards know how many you’d like. (1 John 4:18) a DVD of short films A forgotten country Life in Central African Republic is tough. Few people in the West have heard of CAR, and fewer still know about the conflict that has led to almost a million people being forced from their homes. In the popular quiz programme Pointless, Central African Republic is judged to be the most ‘pointless’ country in the world, due to people’s lack of awareness of CAR. CAR has been unstable since its AT A GLANCE independence from France in 1960. Its most recent crisis started in early 2013 Population: 4.6 million when tensions between rival militias turned to violence. Despite elections More than 900,000 have fled their home and are displaced in 2016 and the inauguration of a new or refugees president, the violence continues. Life expectancy: According to the UN, more than 54 (women), 900,000 people have had to flee their 51 (men) homes. Only 35% of the population have access to safe water and only Diarrhoeal diseases are the 27% have proper sanitation. second leading cause of death Tearfund has worked in CAR for 39 Only 27% of the population years and, in more recent years, has have access to proper sanitation been providing safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene training. In parts of the country that are stable enough, volunteers educate communities about health and hygiene through public (Sources for stats as at May 2017: meetings and drama. Tearfund, UN OCHA, WHO) WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER If you’re looking for more ideas or resources, please ask us! ‘You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm.’ Isaiah 25:4 0300 321 3217 www.toilettwinning.org /toilettwinning @toilettwinning toilet_twinning Toilet Twinning is part of Tearfund. Registered Charity No. 265464 (England and Wales) and No. SC037624 (Scotland). Photos: Ralph Hodgson/Toilet Twinning..

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