Elsewhere in the world
by
TAIWAN— Salvationist personnel from Taiwan helped people who lost their homes in Typhoon Marokot, which devastated much of the country in August and claimed more than 500 lives.
The Salvation Army’s Regional Commander for Taiwan, Major Mike Coleman, reported that members of Puli Corps delivered two loads of household goods and other items to aboriginal villages affected by the landslide in the Nantou County area. Salvation Army team members supplied disinfectant kits to 1,800 homes and helped with the clean-up operation.
Three experienced relief workers, Lt. Colonel Mike Caffull (International Emergency Services), Major Francis Ng and Captain Julian Wong of the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory, joined with local Salvationists to coordinate the Salvation Army response with that of other agencies.
ZAMBIA—Western officer Major Beryl Pierce currently serves in Zambia as the social worker at Chikankata Hospital and the corps officer of the Mission Corps and three outposts. After completing a two-week intensive psycho-counseling course in helping people with HIV/AIDS, she earned a certificate of distinction and can now apply for government certification as a counselor. She learned skills that will help in counseling patients at the hospital. Ninety percent of the patients and many of the corps people are either affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS and come with many issues—some even attempting suicide. Pierce requests continued prayer as she puts these skills into practice at Chikankata.
NEW ZEALAND—Wellington youth broke the world record for building the largest canned food structure this summer—however, local Salvation Army clients were the real winners.
Secondary school leaders and On the Edge Trust (a youth development organization) collected 54, 527 cans and spelled the word iCAN in Wellington’s Civic Square, achieving a Guinness World Record. The project covered 360 square meters (3,875 square feet).
The event was designed to feed Wellington’s struggling families, with all the cans going to The Salvation Army, who received 40,000 cans, Wellington City Mission and the SPCA.
The Wellington office of Deloitte (The Salvation Army’s auditing firm) donated 2,000 cans and plans to have all its New Zealand offices collect food for the Army.
SINGAPORE—This summer nine teams comprised of 72 youth raced through Singapore in the SAY “CAN!” (Salvation Army: Create Action Now!) event, designed to introduce friends to the Army and create awareness of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games—Singapore will host the inaugural Youth Olympic Games next summer.
The race started at the Singapore Eratchippu Corps and continued on through the William Booth and Singapore Central corps. Participants proceeded to the Red Shield Industries and Gracehaven, before reaching the final destination, the Changi Corps.
The youth worked through a variety of tasks from completing puzzles and quizzes to a free kick challenge and finally polishing silver. The challenges were designed to create understanding and appreciation for each site’s trade.
First and second place awards went to teams from the Changi Corps; the Eratchippu Corps received the third place award.