Helping Others to Help Others

Hewo, Dawid! Wets go see the cats! (Translation: "Hello David, let's go see the cats!")

We have been having many visitors in our London Centre these past months. Often, Volunteers from other countries stay with us for a time while they take care of business in London, or visit relatives. They come from diverse far flung countries and we are happy to help with food and accommodation, transportation to airports or train stations and often other business that they need to take care of, especially if they are not familiar with London, as often is the case. Here we have photos of a few of such visitors.

Shown above is 2 year old Julien. Sweet Julian livened up our house, as he stayed for some weeks with his parents. They have been doing Missionary work in Mexico.




Sherly, mother of 7, does missionary work in India. She stayed with us for one month as she took care of business here. She also participated in many of our projects and is sorely missed!



Crystal arrived from Ghana, where she has been doing missionary work for several years. She is still with us, helping us with our work here!

Community Service in Stanmore, North London

The main building and area

Our neighbour, Dave, who is a landscape gardener, asked us if we would like to help him do some volunteer gardening at the RAF Bentley Priory in Stanmore, Harrow, NW London.

This is a historical site famous for its pivotal role as the Headquarters of Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain in 1940. A trust has been set up to ensure that Bentley Priory is retained as a permanent living memorial to those who served in the Royal Air Force and
fought in the Battle, and to acknowledge and recognise the sacrifices made by them and others to ensure the freedom of Europe and the World.

On a walk some days ago David and I went to the surrounding park and caught a glimpse of the Priory through the bushes. It has a large majestic building with beautiful gardens around it. However, it was off limits to visit, and in fact, has been closed to the general public for the past
80 years. I thought it would be very interesting to be able to go on the grounds and see inside the building.

So I eagerly volunteered to help Dave. Our son Jerry and Sherly (who has been visiting us from India where she works with the Family International) also came along. The Bentley Priory Battle of Britain Trust were hosting a picnic concert and afternoon of popular classics with an aviation theme on Saturday 13 June 2009. The music would be provided by the 'London Amenda String Ensemble' a group of talented young music scholars from London Music Colleges. The area needed some sprucing up, and that's what we were helping with.

It was a fun afternoon spent weeding, digging, fixing the fountain and meeting new friends.

We feel priviliged to be able to help our local community with this noble cause and hope that the needed funds will soon be raised so that the beautiful area can be turned into a museum and the general public able to enjoy it.

If you are interested in learning more, here are links you can follow:

http://www.bentleypriory.org/

http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/bentleypriory/4438437.Picnic_concert_at_RAF_Bentley_Priory/

Many hands make light work.

Teamwork.L-R: Sherly, Jerry, Dawn, Dave and Joy

Jerry got a lot of exercise that day and was a big help!

Weeding the fountain.

People with learning difficulties, from the Stanmore branch of the Shaw Trust, in Clamp Hill, also volunteered.

Inside the building, Sherly imagines what it was like at one of the balls held there by the RAF.

The beautiful grounds.

The fruit of our labours--enjoying the picnic concert.