Congratulations to Stewart Foster Spring House Knockadoose who recently graduated from the university of Ulster Jordanstown with a Batchelor of Science (2-1) degree in accounting and diploma in Industrial Studies with commendation. We wish him every success as he takes up his new post with Opus Accountancy Services Ltd Belfast.

Weddings

Congratulations Gail Foster on her marriage to Steven Johnston (Lisnaskea)

 

The Mother’s Union will be meeting on Tuesday 15th September in Kildallon Church. The service will be led by Rev Hazel Hicks.

Some practical advice regarding Influenza a(H1N1) Swine Flu.

Rates in Ireland are low so we need to keep a sense of proportion and common sense. If you feel ill and display influenza-like symptoms stay at home. Do not come to church services until you feel well. The symptoms to be aware of in the case of the H1N1 strain of flu include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pains and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Hand to hand contact is a way to spread the virus so please greet people with clean hands. This will minimise the risk this carries although the spread is first and foremost respiratory.
In Holy Communion Communicants may choose to avoid the common cup and receive the bread only. This is acceptable and may be advisory if there is a significant rise in infection locally.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
Dispose of dirty tissues quickly and carefully
Wash hard surfaces such as kitchen worktops.
Tell our children and others to follow this advice.
The situation is obviously a changing one and if there is a significant increase in cases in Ireland advice for our context may change.

Smile!

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Ballyconnell and Newtowngore Parish Halls

Our 1st meetings with the Rural Development Council grant administrator have taken place. This looked at our training needs that will help us improve our halls enormously. Completing the training which will involve one evening a month is essential if we are to enter into strand 2 where we should access 60,000 euros for each hall. Both parishes will need a committed group of folk (not necessarily vestry members) who are interested in developing the hall prepared to join in the training. If you are interested and would like to know more please have a word with Roy Mitten (Ballyconnell) or Florence Bayliss (Newtowngore/Corrawallen). It really is a small commitment for such a reward. Let's make the most of this tremendous opportunity.

Geoff on his holidays

THE BULGARIAN WOOLLY PROJECT

A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL

Matt and our Bulgarian interpreter and partner, Magdalena, took us to the 'Internat' (residential children's school for mentally handicapped children aged 4 - 18) in the town of Svilengrad, near the Turkish border.

On the right are Magdalena and Mila Pisyoseva (Director) of the home, where we left a generous amount of clothes, toys and school material.

Greg Herb of the American Peace Corp pictured left with some of the children in the classroom works at an orphanage in the town of Veliki Preslav, on the north-east fringe of the Balkan range. It houses about 80 children age range of 4-19, and is in great need of support.
The boys sometimes have to wear girls' clothes to keep warm. He also received quite a lot of your gifts.

Some of the things were taken to other US Peace Corps Workers - Kelsey in Topolovgrad and Alexa in Pishtigovo. Remaining school books, pens, crayons, etc, were given to the very deprived primary school in Biser.

More information, photos and maps may be found at: www.magbaztravels.com/content/view/824/196/

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Here is an email Greg Herb sent to me soon after my return:

Hi Patricia!

Thank you so much for the materials that you and your church have collected and sent over here to the orphanage in Veliki Preslav, Bulgaria!

I truly appreciate the amazing gift you all have given to the orphanage here, and the kids here have definitelyenjoying these donations! A large part of my work here at the orphanage involves groups to get the children caught up in Bulgarian, maths, and other subjects, as well as simple art, sports, andto occupy their free. It is so rare that the children get new things, and the clothes, games, and other supplies that you have sent here have really made a difference in the amount of things we can do together. These supplies are definitely making a difference in the quality of life for the orphans in here in Veliki Preslav.

It is so exciting to know that people in Ireland are willing to help those less fortunate in Europe and around the world.drive towards volunteerism and compassion for others who areless fortunatesomething thatbecoming somewhat rare these days in our increasingly fast-paced lives. With your help we are able to give opportunities to children who have not been given the chance to excel and thusly are improving the future of Europe as a whole. The "Woolly Project" is one of the greatest things that I have had the pleasure of being involved in, and proves to me that there are people out there who really care about the less fortunate around the world.

You can catch up with my service and experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bulgaria at greginbulgaria.blogspot.com. I love meeting new people and anyone is free to contact me at greginbulgariaatgmaildotcom. (To reduce the Spam or rubbish mail please change the at to @ and the dot to a . in the email address)
The address of the orphanage in which I work is as follows:

Greg Herb
Bulgaria
Oblast Shumen
Grad Veliki Preslav - 9850
Simeon Veliki Street No. 27

If you are in the vicinity of Veliki Preslav again innext year or so,free to contact me, and I'd be happy to show you around here a bit.

Thank you so much, once again!

Your friend, Greg