No. 78 -- Summer 2020 Vital Link Summer 2020 | Page 6

International Innovation Our International Mission trips are on hold due to the continuing pandemic and Government advice against non-essential international travel. Given current restrictions it is very difficult to plan, however we are cautiously hopeful of rescheduling trips for 2021. In the meantime, we are also looking at innovative ways to equip, empower and encourage our partners. We are exploring an exciting idea of introducing ‘supported distributions’. The plan would be to send a container of wheelchairs to an experienced in-country partner, while team-members in the UK would buddy up with local therapists via WhatsApp video call, to build a longer-term relationship with them through mentoring, then giving expertise and approving fittings over a few months, rather than a 10 day trip. These ‘supported distributions’ would not replace regular trips but would be a positive short-term solution before physical trips can resume, or may be something we incorporate into our programme in an on-going way. Watch out for more details. Mozambique Meet-Up Our Churches Inc team visited Mozambique in 2017, and we’re rescheduling Wheels for next year Magnifying The Message During lockdown the needs and circumstances of disabled people have been even more prominent than normal and Through the Roof has been fortunate to have had the opportunity to spread our message even wider. Tim was invited to join an online gathering of ‘Pray London’ to highlight the needs of disabled people at this time to a new audience for prayer. He also promoted Through the Roof partnering with Your Neighbour.org who interviewed David and Carrie Grant – musicians and parents to 4 children with additional needs, on their ‘Leaders Lunches’ video-conference event. Fiona and Ros have both had articles featured on Christian websites www.womanalive.co.uk and www.premierchristianity.com, while Fiona has been interviewed on UCB and Premier Christian Radio. Our prayer is that God will have been glorified through www.throughtheroof.org Through the Roof volunteers and partners across four countries on two different continents ‘met’ via Zoom videoconference, as part of a Mozambique Wheels team get together. Sadly, due to the pandemic the team members, who should have been distributing wheelchairs to those in great need in rural Mozambique in May were stuck at home. Team members from the UK, Mozambique, Kenya and Zambia were able to update one another on their respective situations and pray into these. Our partner in Mozambique, Melvin Kelly of One Mission Society, explained how he and his family are mostly sheltering at home but still enabling the church to provide food parcels, and deliver printed Bible studies to encourage people at this time. The container of wheelchairs, although delayed due to the current situation, should have now arrived at its destination, and we are tentatively hopeful that we can re-schedule the team for Spring 2021. these opportunities and that more people will have a greater awareness, understanding, and desire to act on the injustices faced by disabled people every day. You can find links to all the websites and videos mentioned in this article, and throughout this issue, at www.throughtheroof.org/Summer2020 Please consider donating to enable Through the Roof to continue its vital mission during this time of uncertainty. You’ll find a donation form to cut out and return as the final two pages of this newsletter. Your prayers and financial support could help us inspire and equip Christians and churches. Together we could magnify the message that disabled people are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14) with a vital part to play in God’s growing kingdom. Thank you