Update from India

Hi from the team in India!

First of all – a big thank you to all those who have been praying for us. We thought we’d give you a taster of what we’ve been up to so far…

Saturday:

• On the plane we had our first (and second) of many curries!
• Thank God for the safe and easy journey. 
• We had our first insight into the crazy roads of Mumbai.

Sunday:

• Went shopping for Salwar Kameez and tried out our bartering skills.
• Made friends with street children and bought them biscuits.
• Got followed by the ”Crazy Eye Man” for about half an hour!

Monday:

• Orientation from Lina from Oasis India
• Dan and Matt went to their first project, a drop-in centre in the red light district; an eye opening experience.
• Katie and Claire had their first fit of giggles whilst carrying 10 litres of water back to the hotel in broken bags.

Tuesday:

• Girls went to their first projects, half to a school in the slums and half to a house for women who have been rescued from the brothels (Nirmal Bhavan -NB).
• We were humbled by the hospitality of the people we met even though they have so little
• Matt slipped over when jumping off a moving train.

Wednesday:

• Some of the girls went to the Aruna project, some visited the same as yesterday and Matt managed to navigate himself through Mumbai while Dan was ill.
• We were inspired by the Oasis staff giving hope to the hopeless
• The real monsoon rain started…

Thursday:

• Half the girls went to the Gatkopper slum and half spent their last day at NB, and the boys were at Blue Edge for the last time as well.
• We realised that us simply being there held so much significance for those we spent time with.
• Waded through loads of water and got thoroughly drenched.

Friday:

• We all went to the Salvation Army children’s centre making fools of ourselves acting out Noah’s Ark and doing the funky chicken.
• Children were so eager to learn and loved the Hokey Kokey!
• Libby scooped up poo with her toes whilst running across the road. Fiona’s current fall-over-tally = 5

We’re looking forward to the rest of our work here and already have loads of stories to tell. It would be great if you could pray for:

• Health: a protection that we don’t compromise our effectiveness by being ill.
• Weather: that the weather doesn’t prevent us from going to the different projects. (the heavens have just opened and has nearly flooded in about 5 minutes.)
• So many prayer requests from those in the projects which we’ll share when we get back but just keep all the staff in your prayers.

Look out for more updates soon!!

The India Team x

tbcYouth Weekly Update

The summer holidays have started – whoop, whoop!

Friday night: BB/GB/Amicus is closed now until Friday 10th September.

Sunday morning: R’n'R is closed now until Sunday 5th September – but we’ll be sitting together in the service – where the young people normally sit in the evening – on the left towards the back.

Sunday evening: SNR is closed now until Sunday 5th September, this week Derek is preaching in the evening service.

tbcYouth Cafe: the Cafe is now closed for the summer holidays, we’ll be opening a few times during the holidays itself – keep an eye out for emails and facebook invitations.  We will open again regularly on Monday 6th September.  We’ve now been open for just under seven months, do drop us an email to let us know how you we’re doing, what do we do well, and what could we do differently – be that an activity or something we should sell.

Youth Camp: if you’re coming on youth camp then don’t forget to:

• Read the Campers Booklet
• Let us know, if you haven’t already, of any dietary requirements you have by emailing Chris Kidd (chris.kidd@tbc-online.org.uk)
• Complete the consent form and return this to the church office between Saturday 31^st July and Wednesday 4^th August.
• Prepare any spending money and medicines that you will need to hand in to the Camp Leadership Team on Thursday 5^th August, between 7.00pm and 8.00pm.
• Bring all your luggage to church on Thursday 5^th August, between 7.00pm and 8.00pm.
• Arrive at church at 10.00am on Saturday 7^th August, ready for a prompt departure at 10.30am

Last but not least we have some very exciting news, we’ve just heard today we’re going to be hosting a Youth Art Exhibition in the Angel centre for 2 weeks in November.  We’ll be letting you know more in the next few weeks so keep your ear to the ground. 

Any questions, get in touch.

Act of Kindness: Week 26

This week thank a teacher who has been a great help to you this year, tell them what they’ve done to be such a great teacher.

Pictures on Unity

We’d like to use pictures in church and on youth camp on the theme of “unity”.  It’s been a key word for TBC this year, and we will be exploring it in youth camp and in our worship over the next few months. Please send any pictures to Chris Kidd by either emailing (chris.kidd@tbc-online.org.uk) or dropping a CD with some images into the church office for Chris’ attention.

We look forward to seeing your creative responses.

Mission2Mumbai – prayer points

tbcYouth is coming to the close of another academic year, but the pace doesn’t slow.  In the last few weeks we’ve seen lots of people come and join us in watching the World Cup on the church’s big screens, enjoy a swim at Tonbridge Pool, or hang out with us at one of the two end of year barbeques.

The summer is also a time for trips away. Summer camp is just 20 days away, but before that happens, yesterday we said goodbye to six young people (Hannah Doucy, Jess Hedger, Bethan Hull, Libby Ilett, Fiona Jackson and Emma Turner), and four leaders (Claire Matheson, Dan Potter, Matt Thomas and Katie Woods) who are off to Mumbai to spend 14 life-changing days with Oasis India.

The team will be working in a number of Oasis-run projects across Mumbai focussed on making a difference in the lives of women and children, helping lead fun and games, teaching, craft, English lessons, and of course, cricket!  Throughout their time they will also be trying out their Hindi skills and living in an Indian community… with all the sounds and sights it brings!  The team will be based at the YMCA, where the resident cook will test out their taste buds, including a curry or two!  One of the big opportunities will be learning to worship in a different culture; taking part in church services and spending time with local Indian Christians.

Please use the following points to be praying for them:

• Health & Safety: travel, food, health and emotional wellbeing
• Personal and spiritual growth and insight
• Good relationships with Oasis hosts
• Practical ideas, creativity & energy
• Healthy team dynamics
• The ongoing ministry of Oasis India – check out www.oasisindia.org

They’re hoping to update us through http://twitter.com/youthtbc with further prayer points, news, and possibly even photos.  The team will also be at the evening service on Sunday 1^st August sharing briefly what they’ve experienced.

Mission2Mumbai: and they’re off

This morning the Mission2Mumbai team left very early for the airport to start their journey to Mumbai.  Dan took this picture soon after 5.30AM as they were being driven to the airport.  Do pray for the team of six young people (Hannah Doucy, Jess Hedger, Bethan Hull, Libby Ilett, Fiona Jackson and Emma Turner), and four leaders (Claire Matheson, Dan Potter, Matt Thomas and Katie Woods).

New Facebook app – ‘ClickCEOP’

As you may have seen in the press this week, Facebook and the Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre (the police agency set up to tackle child abuse) have joined forces to make young people safer online by launching the new ‘ClickCEOP’ application. Launching this week, all young users of Facebook – and their parents – are invited to add the new ClickCEOP ‘app’ to their profile. Through this app, they will be able to access advice, help and support from the CEOP Centre.  Crucially,young people and parents can get support from CEOP on a range of issues – viruses, hacking, dealing with bullying online and they can report someone who is acting inappropriately towards them online.

The ‘app’ is the outcome of collaboration between CEOP and Facebook who have combined Facebook’s expertise in connecting and communicating online with CEOP’s expertise in helping young people stay safe.  Once added to their profiles, young users will receive regular messages from CEOP and its partner organisations who operate ‘behind the button’ to make children safer. CEOP’s new Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ClickCEOP) will also contain polls, news alerts and status updates. The page will look at topics that teenagers care about, such as celebrities, music and exams and will link these subjects to questions about online safety.

Users can either add or bookmark the ‘app’ so it appears on their profile, as not only a constant source of help and reassurance for them but also as a strong visual signal to their friends, family and others that they are in control online.

The move is also being supported by an advertising campaign on Facebook that will encourage take up. This will include an automatic advert appearing on every profile of users aged between 13-18 years inviting them to add the app.

Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre said:

“Today represents a huge step forward. By adding this app, Facebook users will have direct access to all the services that sit behind our ClickCEOP button and this should provide reassurance for the many parents whose teenage children use Facebook. We know from speaking to offenders that a visible deterrent could protect young people online. We urge all Facebook users not only to add the app, but also to bookmark it so that others can see that they’re in control online. Our dialogue with Facebook about adopting the ClickCEOP button is well documented – this is a good day for child protection.”

Joanna Shields, Facebook’s Vice President for EMEA said:

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our users, which is why we have invested so much in making Facebook one of the safest places on the internet. There is no single silver bullet to making the internet safer but by joining forces with CEOP, we have developed a comprehensive solution which marries our expertise in technology with CEOP’s expertise in online safety.  Together we have developed a new way of helping young people stays safe online and backed this with an awareness campaign to publicise it to young users. It is only through the constant and concerted effort of the industry, police, parents and young people themselves that we can all keep safe online – whether on Facebook or elsewhere.”

Mission2Mumbai Team 2010: Jess Hedger

NAME: Jess Hedger

HOW YOU MIGHT KNOW ME: Well I help out at Club Sunday every week, and you might have seen me up front in the worship band once or twice.

WHY I WANT TO GO TO INDIA: The food?! Kidding, I guess to experience a little more of the world! India is a very exciting place to go, not only culturally but because of the opportunity that we all have to help out where we can.

WHAT IM HOPING TO GET OUT OF THE TRIP: As well as a suntan I’m hoping for my values to be challenged but also to be encouraged in my own day to day life.

INTERESTING FACT: Chewing gum while peeling onions stops you crying.

FAVOURITE BIBLE VERSE: Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Mission2Mumbai Team 2010: Bethan Hull

NAME: Bethan Hull

HOW YOU MIGHT KNOW ME: if they don’t know me they will know one of my family

WHY I WANT TO GO TO INDIA: to get an idea of a different culture, to help other people and to experience mission

WHAT IM HOPING TO GET OUT OF THE TRIP: being able to see a whole different culture 

INTERESTING FACT: I want to go sky diving 

FAVOURITE BIBLE VERSE: don’t really have one but like to flick through psalms 



Year 9-13 end of year BBQ

This Friday is the Year 9-13 BBQ: on Friday 16^th July at The Benthams, 8.00-9.30pm come along if you are in years 9-13.  It costs £3.75 or if you have paid your brigade subs in advance it’s £2.25.  We need your RSVP today (chris.kidd@tbc-online.org.uk) if you haven’t already, including details of any dietary requirements for example if you’re a veggie so we can make sure we have the correct amount of food.