Sponsored Children Visited in Egypt

This news blast is written from Beirut, Lebanon, where Executive Director Dr. Paul Maxfield and COP Volunteer Tom Kumpel (New Jersey) are conducting visits of the sponsored children in the Middle East.  The trip began on April 12, with the first stop being Egypt.   Children were interviewed in both Cairo, the capital city, and Alexandria, the major city in northern Egypt, along the Mediterranean Sea.  Dr. Maxfield states, “I am especially pleased with the spiritual development of the Egyptian children.    When asked to state the best thing that has happened to them, many replied, “That Jesus came to live in my heart,” or “When I became a Christian,” or “That God loves me.”  The Egyptian church is obviously being effective in making the Gospel a reality in the lives of these children.  Another gratifying finding was that the health of the children is very good.  There  very few health problems, and those that have surfaced are minor.   We are so grateful for both the spiritual and physical health of the Egyptian children.  The children are being well cared for, and they are receiving the required benefits regularly.   (In the photo above, left, Angy Latif receives a gift from her sponsors, the Abney Street Women of the Church of God, West Virginia.  In the photo at the right, Ayman Azer receives a personalized cap from his sponsor, Paul Buford, from Deptford, New Jersey.

The team also visited the New Hope Day Care Center at the Shoubra Church of God in Cairo, also supported by COP sponsors.  About 60 children attend regularly, many from Muslim families.  The high quality of care, the excellent educational program, and the special attention given to the children have become known throughout the Shoubra sector of the city.  Dr. Maxfield and Tom were  joined in this visit by Leah Brunie  (right), sponsor of a local Egyptian child as well as a nursing instructor at a local international hospital in Cairo, and Debbie Hardman, a sponsor from Clayton, Ohio, visiting in Cairo at the time.

All were impressed with the organization, cleanliness, and spiritual training at the Center.  Tom Kumpel shares his impressions of the New Hope Day Care Center:  “The day care center is an amazing place, especially when you consider the dedication of the staff who work with so few resources.  Janette Nessim (left)and her staff are committed to meeting an important need that God has placed on their hearts.

Visitation Team Travels on to Lebanon

Dr. Maxfield and Mr. Kumpel arrived in Beirut, Lebanon, on Saturday, April 17.  They are presently visiting the sponsored girls at the Cedar Home.  This home for girls offers shelter, love, and a warm, Christian family environment for girls who come from troubled or dysfunctional homes, or situations where the families are unable to properly care for them.   Dr. Maxfield reports, “Chadi and Joyce Melki are so effective with the girls.  It is a wonderful thing to observe them caring for, loving, and managing 21 girls.  What a great ministry.  The girls attend a local Christian school and are active in one of the local congregations of the Church of God.  We also had the privilege of visiting the Lebanon Church of God campground and retreat center at Teopolis, located in the mountains above Beirut.  It has been a pleasure to meet the girls and get to know them personally. They are being so well cared for.  We are grateful that the political situation at present is peaceful in Lebanon, and that life can continue normally for the girls and the Melkis, as well as the rest of Lebanon.” 
 
First Homes Built for Children in Haiti
     
From left to right:  Sponsored boy Davidson helps prepare the site for his new home.  Home in progress.  Home nearly completed.  Davidson paints his new home.  The first workcamp built three homes during the first part of April.  More workcamps are scheduled to complete homes for more sponsored children and other Church of God families.  Contact Ruben Schwieger at 800-848-2464 if your church is interested in helping build homes in Haiti.

Prayer Requests:  Chadi and Joyce Melki (Cedar Home, Lebanon), Janette Nessim (Egypt), Safe and timely travel for Paul Maxfield and Tom Kumpel (flight travel/ash situation in Europe), Children needing sponsors, Ron and Carol Baker (new directors for Tanzania).