A I Y Scar on the Face of Humanity At the recent GB meeting world leaders expressed concern over data which tells of the fate awaiting wee children in the most impoverished lands. So far so good but what intergovernmental action are we to expect? Fine words are always welcome but I fear when money passes between governments the recipient politicos have an unhappy knack of "losing" it before it gets near the people it is intended for. In making my own admission I'm probably speaking for all of mature years. We fail to see, till it's too late, the opportunity to give a lift to others at but little cost to ourselves; we live blind to their needs. There are several charities endeavouring to address the imbalance and if governments work to encourage and promote these we will each have an opening to help. Governments are thoroughly useful when offering enablement but their good intentions fail when they try to work through political channels. Combined Churches of Olney Geo Bacchus To meet starvation and malnutrition face-to-face is a heart rending experience. The pot-bellied little boy I played with in 2002 was a bundle of fun whenever he espied me and came running to play ball. The game never lasted more than ten minutes before he got himself back into that fire damaged home where his mother said it took him an hour to get his breath back. The husband had died trying to save their home from the shelling of the civil war. Little Tommy's mum was left to fend somehow for herself and the two little ones, she was as thin as a rake and was expected to get by on scarcely more than a pound a week together with what little help her neighbours could afford. It was a year before I returned to Freetown and learned just how miserably small was her allowance. When I asked after little Tommy his mum and sister broke down in tears, my playmate had died a few months ago, mmy had survived only just beyond his fourth birthday. In our world today tens of thousands of kiddies are dying each and every day before reaching the age of five. Greed and envy are universal, everyone wants more and the people who already have most are best placed to seize another gain. We're probably all guilty; if I didn't want more why else would I buy lottery tickets. Even my modest outlay on the lottery might have saved my little Tommy, it's certainly done me no good. There are openings to do some little to help through well directed such local groups as the Olney-Newton team where every penny raised reaches the people who need it. Several charities also manage great things without over wasteful overheads and staffing costs; Cafod and Mary's meals both keep their "spillage" well below 7.5% so we know our help is going where we intend. Olney Baptist Church (known as 'Sutcliff'): High Street (opposite the Market Place) Rev Ian Field 71 3880 10.30am Family Worship 6pm Evening service www.olneybaptist.org.uk Cowper Memorial URC: Sunday Morning at 1 0.45am Communion on first Sunday of month. Celia Dashtield. 01234 713468, contact@cowperurc.org.uk www.cowperurc.org.uk SS Peter & Paul: Sunday 10.00am (Weekly) 8.30am (2nd/4th Sunday of the month) 5.00pm (2nd/4th Sunday of the month) 6.00pm (1 st/3rd Sunday of the month) Wednesday 9.30am (Weekly) More at www.olneyparish.org.uk. Reverend Claire Wood 713308 The Catholic Church of Our Lady Help of Christians and St Lawrence: Saturday Mass at 6.30pm Sunday: Massat 10.30am. Benediction 4 - 5 pm at the ConventFather Malcolm Bull and Church administrator. SisterRitaScott711212PhoneboxMagazine 65 The Christian Churches of Olney celebrate their common faith, and express their worship with refreshing diversity, from contemporary to traditional approaches, and thought provoking Bible teaching. Come along - we'd love to get to know you. More information is available from each Church, their leaders and websites. The Churches of Olney - your invitation Welcome on our Sunday Services: l'M UNABLE TO BELIEVE ANY GOVERNMENT HAS EVER SUCCESSFULLY RUN ANY MAJOR ENTERPRISE. AND SO THE STARVING IONS MALNOURISHED MILL ARE A PERSONAL CHALLENGE TO EACH OF US.