Colin & Christine
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To view a short DVD illustrating the wheel chairs, click here... WHEELCHAIR VIDEO
THE STORY OF AN ‘OFF-ROAD WHEEL CHAIR’
Hi there
Just thought you might be interested to hear my story – I think it’s a great tale, but then, for me it has certainly been exciting!
Some of my earliest memories are ‘old Bob’, in England, who bought me in order to help his wife who, at the time was suffering various disabilities, in addition to being old and frail. For a while I was able to help her every day to get around; then came the day she fell ill and was taken to hospital, sadly, she never came back home and I was left in the garage for a very long time. I wanted to go to another family, where I could perhaps be of help to someone else, but it didn’t work out…….no one seemed to need me or want me.
Finally I was sent (together with some other unwanted wheel chairs), in a box to a Child Care Centre in distant Kenya; very long journey, but it was worth it as I was immediately given a job to do, helping disabled Kenyan children within the Centre. It wasn’t long though, before I found I was struggling, the ground here is much rougher and sandy in places, with many stones everywhere. A matter of months later the rough treatment put me out of action. In my case, a wheel, plus part of the frame and back-rest just broke away, and I was relegated to a scrap area to join some others with similar – or worse failures. Now, if anything, I felt more discouraged than I had ever felt in my life! ‘This looks like it’s the end!’
Some time later, a man came along and took me to the workshop: he then started cutting off some parts and welding on some other bits and pieces – and that was not a nice experience! ‘What’s going on here?’ However, I soon began to realise that I was steadily becoming a New Person! I had larger, chunkier wheels and generally looked much more able for those rough, stony paths outside, plus, I now had hefty puncture-proof tyres, which seemed like a good step in the right direction, since in my brief life at the Centre I had suffered many punctures – there are thorns everywhere here! What a ‘conversion’ now I have in fact six wheels – yes SIX and they are really ready for action! The early tests out in ‘the rough’ soon proved the point; I personally was astonished to see that obstacles which would have brought me to an abrupt stop previously didn’t appear to phase anybody now – least of all me! ‘Wow, this is great!’ I feel as though I’m “Born Again”, a new person, with a whole new life! Well, now I’m thrilled to be able to cope with these arduous conditions and I am clearly able to help needy children in a whole new way! Just recently I overheard someone refer to me as “The Born Again Wheel chair”! Yep; that’s just about it. I would not wish for my old life again for anything – this is far more wonderful, I can just sense that I have a great future now!
Thank you for reading my story, although I bet you haven’t been as thrilled as I am with it – or for example, as thrilled as my new ‘family’, a cerebral palsy boy and his mum, living in real poverty in Masai land ……..my job is to help them get to the regular health clinics at the Church in the ‘local’ village; the lad previously had to be carried, dreadful! I think I can already see an improvement in the child’s health! Perhaps, just as exciting is the fact that next term his mum is hoping to enrol him in the local school, near to the Church, prior to this of course, education has been impossible for him!
I’m just so grateful to the very kind man who brought me through the transforming process, to make me into what I am now – a whole ‘new person’! I somehow believe that I too might yet prove to be really important to ‘my new family’, changing their lives – perhaps in some way, rather like my own life has been transformed.
Bless you
Willie Chaire
THE OFF-ROAD WHEEL CHAIRS
Colin’s earlier visit to the Child Care Centre was in order to introduce the Kenyan staff members to the ‘Off-road Wheel chair Project.” The project has moved forward very satisfactorily and he together with Moses and Daniel, were able to build one new ‘pushed chair’ and one new ‘self-propelled’ one. These machines are now completed and are currently being tried at the Centre and also in the villages, so as to assess their suitability and durability. The ‘Pushed Type’ are needed in order to help those children who (sadly) are not able to propel the chairs themselves. Each chair comprises mostly bicycle parts, with some steel tubing and plywood, finishing touches include plastic-covered foam rubber upholstery, the end product is quite comfortable and fairly easy to operate. The advantages become immediately apparent when the ground is sandy, soft or stony, where the conventional chair fails. Future plans include another visit and various modifications on the basic designs according to differing needs and a smaller machine more suited to the smaller children.
THE OFF-ROAD WHEEL CHAIR PROJECT
The most recent visits to the 2 Child Care Centres in Kenya, have resulted in considerable progress in the development of new Off-road Wheel chair models.
There are now 4 types which are being built. Each of these latest models starts out as a conventional wheel chair, which is then partially dismantled and rebuilt into the off-raod model required.
2 of the 4 models are intended to be self-propelled and the other 2 to be pushed. These are therefore able to cater for a wide variety of disability, and also a variety of terrain - from stony to sandy, etc.
Due to the many thorns found in the rural areas, we have developped one or 2 systems for making puncture-proof tyres. These are filled with cord or rope, instead of air.
A container has been sent from UK, with many redundant wheel chairs, used mountain bikes and other items, which will greatly facilitate the production of many more off-road wheel chairs in the future.
Daniel Sapayia and his 2 teams are very grateful to Christian friends in UK who have been giving to this project, allowing for the progress made thus far. And in the past few months, a growing number of Kenya's disabled children are being helped by these gifts and this project. They are discovering a whole new degree of mobility, previously thought impossible.
Weekly Activities
10:45am & 6:15pm
All are welcome to join us.
Recent sermons are available to download in mp3 format from the Sermons page of this website.
There are also tapes of the sermons preached in the church over the last three years. Please email Jerry Griffiths to find out more about what is available.
Sunday 10:45am.
On average around fifteen children attend the Junior Church every Sunday morning. The children are aged between three and eleven. They are divided into two age groups according to their age, meeting for news and songs at the beginning and again at the end of the meeting. There are four teachers and four helpers that work with the children.
The Junior Church aims to teach about the bible and how it can be applied to everyday life. It also enables the children to talk about their lives and how God helps and guides them, giving opportunity for them to praise and thank God for what he has done. Children learn through many varied activities and get involved themselves by bringing books, stories and news to share.
Each Christmas the Junior Church puts on a play where all take part. This year "Time" was the theme. Children acted out the Nativity and Easter story showing the time when Jesus came to earth. It also asked poignant question about how we all use our time and efforts.
The Junior Church welcomes all to come and worship and learn more about the God of the bible.
For further information contact Louise Waters on (01509) 672633.
Last Monday of month
A club for fairly active retired or semi-retired men (50+) which meets on the last Monday in each month. Activities include easy walks - usually in The Peak District or Leicestershire and visits to various places of interest, followed by a pub lunch. Good conversation and gentle humour abound.
Contact: John Dickens (01509) 673007
Tuesdays & Fridays 9.45am (term time)
Sutton Bonington baby & Toddler group. Meets every Tuesday & Friday from 9.45am till 11.45. Everyone is welcome from birth to 4 years of age.
Contact Katharine Hebblethwaite for more details.
Phone 01509 672889
Tuesdays 3.45pm
ASK? is a youth club for (yrs 3-6)
We run our programme during school term times. Our programme typically consists of craft, snacks, question times,creative Christian talks and activities and active games.
For further information telephone Beth Cumming on (01509) 843923 or email her.
Tuesdays 7.45pm
Rock Solid is resourced by Youth for Christ, which is an organisation specialising in providing resources for youth work. The material we use is specifically geared towards the 11-14 age group, with its particular tastes, interests and needs in mind and provides young people with an opportunity to explore major life issues and choices from a Christian perspective. The overall programme is high-energy, exciting with lots of activities and lots to think about.
Special events and nights out are also a regular part of the programme.
For further information contact David and Karen Gray on 01509 674762 or email them.
Wednesdays 8pm
A club for years 10 and above (14+yrs),
Meets Wednesday evenings 8pm-9.30pm
Leaders
Sarah and Paul Tremeer, Brian Butler, Paddy McGhee, Martin Steel
The club meets for social club nights, trips out, discussions about relevant issues from a Christian perspective and much more!
For more info contact Paul and Sarah Tel. 01509 672917
Small groups - Approx twice per month on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
Prayer meeting: One Thursday each month 7.45pm
We have a number of small groups meeting in peoples homes at different times and days to suit everybody. These groups for the purpose of supporting and encouraging one another. These meetings usually include an opportunity to pray together and study the bible.
The small groups meet approx 3 times per month..
On one Thursday evening every month we meet in the church lounge for a time of open praise followed by a special prayer topic. We also pray for people and events in the church and community as well as for friends and members of the church family serving God in different parts of the world.
From time to time we run enquirers groups for those who want find out more about Christian faith. This may be an Alpha course or something similar.
If you would like to find out more about the small groups please contact Pastor John Hebblethwaite on (01509) 672889
Alternate Wednesdays 10.30am
Coffee Break meets alternate Wednesdays from 10.30am to 12 midday in the Baptist Church lounge Sutton Bonington. It's a chance for retired people to meet and enjoy chat and friendship over tea / coffee and biscuits, followed by fellowship through varied and interesting speakers. A warm welcome is given to all and an offer of transport is also available.
Contact: Iris Bonner (01509) 672788 or Mu Miller (01509) 670231 email
Wednesdays 7.45pm
Meets weekly on a Wednesday evening at 7.45pm (in a home). All welcome! For further details of venue, or for transport, please phone Val Thomson on (01509) 670104, or e-mail Val.
Alternate Thursdays 1.30pm
Are you new to this country? Would you like to know more about life in the UK and enjoy friendship in a relaxed atmosphere (with opportunity to practice your English too!)? Perhaps you may like to share a little about your country and customs with us! You will be most welcome to join us, together with your children.
We meet on two Thursdays a month at 1.30pm in the lounge of the Baptist Church in Sutton
Bonington (next to the Post Office). We aim to finish around 3.20pm. On one Thursday we have a programme which includes outings, cooking, crafts, discussions etc, and on the other Thursday we have opportunity to look at the Bible to learn together what it has to say for our daily lives as women.
Once a month on a Friday evening we have fun having dinner together in someone’s home - a chance to relax without the children!
Please do contact Val if you would like further information.
Visit our web page to see what we have been doing recently.
Alternate Thursdays 1.30pm
Meeting on the alternate Thursday at 1.30pm, contact Val Thomson on (01509) 670104 or e-mail Val for further details or transport if needed.
Other special events throughout the year are also held, eg at the Lunar New Year, and at Christmas, contact Val for details.
3rd Sunday of Month. 4:00pm
Messy Church is a once-monthly time when families come and enjoy making things together, eating together and celebrating God together through the stories that we find in the bible and through music and prayer. It’s more than just an activity time for the children because it’s an event for children with their carers or parents, whatever shape or size of family. It’s more than just a fun event because of the opportunity to stop and reflect on what matters to us and God.
Each ‘Messy Church’ has a theme that we explore using a short, simple and child-friendly bible story. We might then sing and then everyone goes free range to do as much or as little craft and art as they want. We try and have a range of craft activities that include all of the senses and that appeal to younger and older children. For example, the “Edible Eden” that we made from green coconut grass, blue butter-cream rivers, broccoli trees, biscuit lions & monkeys, snow sherbet-capped grapefruit mountains and fizzy fish proved very popular. (Tasting the chocolate-mud swamp was Ben’s favourite part. Mmmm…). Together we also made a wonderful collage of a stable and manger from bits of straw, raisins and jumbo oats. You could almost smell what it might have been like for Joseph, Mary and Jesus…
After half an hour or so of sticking, painting, creating and generally getting messy together we all move into the ‘worship space’. This is a short and participative time where we celebrate some aspect of God based on the theme of the afternoon. We use the different crafts that we’ve been making to help remind us of the story that we heard at the beginning.
There’s no need to rush home afterwards to feed the family as another team have been in the kitchen preparing a simple meal for us all to enjoy. The children are always eager to make a dash for the lounge where the food has been set out for us.
Through Messy Church we want to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to feel that they can belong in church (although it may not look like any other church you’ve been too) and to give people a chance to express their God-given creativity and to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to worship together in a simple, child-friendly way.
It’s for families with pre-schoolers and primary-aged children that don’t usually go to church and for those that do.
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