�
Polesworth
Abbey is linked with Mpondas, a village
in Malawi where people are
starving.� The famine in Malawi is
the worst in Africa for 50 years.�
"We have got to know these
people," said Father Philip,
"some people from Malawihave even
come to stay with us here in
Polesworth.� We want to do all we
can to help.� People here have been
very generous.� We have raised
�1,400 already, and hope that sales of
our Music for Malawi CD will bring us up
to �5,000.
"The need in Malawi is
desperate.� People are eating roots
and drinking dirty water.� Malawi is
already among the most disadvantaged
countries.� Crops are either washed
away by floods, or there is insufficient
water and they fail.�
We are in contact with Mpondas and hear
the stories of their desperate
need.�
The Bishop of Birmingham launched an
Appeal and people at Polesworth Abbey
responded. We are asking people to help
us now by buying a copy of our Music for
Malawi� CD.
Launched in July the first copies sold
out in a week.� More are being
produced.� All the proceeds go to
Malawi Famine relief.� All the costs
of the recording and production have been
covered, so every penny people give for
the CD's goes to buy food for starving
people.
We have heard from Mpondas.� Fr
Allan at Mpondas tells us by email how
things are in his parish.� "We
are starving" he says.�
"We have promised our daily prayers
and �5,000."
Our CD contains music recorded at
Polesworth Abbey.� There are many
favourite hymns..... played by the Abbey
Band, there is organ music and sung
prayers offered for the people of
Malawi.� The Bells were recorded
too, and open and close the CD. We are
selling them for �4.99. Copies are
available from the Abbey, or phone 01827
892340.
Press
Release
Polesworth Abbey
Exceeds �5,000 target to send funds for
Malawi famine:
100s of starving people receive food.
In June Polesworth Abbey launched a CD of
music to raise funds for people in
Malawi who are starving since floods
washed away their crops and left them
with no harvest.� The famine has
affected countries in central southern
Africa, including Malawi, Zimbabwe and
parts of South Africa.��
Polesworth
Abbey is linked with a village in Malawi
where people are starving.� Music
for Malawi� together with peoples'
generosity has now sent �6,000 to Malawi
to help. This week we heard from Mpondas
that hundreds of people have been
fed by our efforts.� We want to say
thank you to everyone who has bought a
Music for Malawi CD.� We now have
photographs of the food being distributed
in the villages around Mpondas.�
"The photos show the maize being
bought and transported to the
villages.� The
bags of maize have to be ground into
flour.� The photos show people
waiting
for their share, coming forward to
receive their food supply, and carrying
it
away balance on their heads."
Fr Allan at Mpondas writes,"The need
in Malawi is desperate.� People are
eating roots and drinking dirty
water.� Malawi is a poorest
country.� Most of
our people live beyond poverty.� But
we thank God for you all and for our
link with Polesworth."
Fr Philip at Polesworth Abbey said,
"The money we have sent to Mpondas
has
been spent on Maize flour and on seeds to
plant for the next harvest.� We
pray that the rains will be gentle and
that these crops will not be washed
away.� Imported food is much more
expensive than food produced at
home.�
These people want to be
self-sufficient.� We are exited to
see the
photographs of the food being
distributed"
Launched in June, the first copies of the
CD quickly sold out.� More were
produced and all the proceeds have gone
to Malawi Famine relief.� All the
costs of the recording and production
have been covered, so every penny
people give for the CD's goes to buy food
for starving people.
Our CD contains music recorded at
Polesworth Abbey.� There are many
favourite
hymns such as Mine eyes have seen the
glory and Shine Jesus Shine played by
the Abbey Band; there is organ music and
sung prayers offered for the people
of Malawi.� The Bells were recorded
too. We are selling them for �4.99.
Copies are still available from the
Abbey, or phone 01827 892340.� The
people
in Malawi still need our help.
This autumn Polesworth Abbey plans to run
a course people to know about
heaven called 'Life, Death and Christian
Hope'; a series of discussions about
the what to do about Drugs in the local
community; and the popular Baby Jesus
at Polesworth schools Christmas project.
With all good wishes
Father Philip
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