A Good Deed

Ishbel McGillivray-McGregor

t was dinner time at Medjugorje during a recent Children of Medjugorje pilgrimage and the happy buzz of conversations amongst our pilgrims paid tribute to the excellence of the meal and wonderful day that we had spent with Our Lady.

Suddenly the door burst open and in came a bundle of joy and energy named Sister Josephine Walsh, who plonked herself down on a chair next to me with a joyful "Whew". In the course of our conversation a harrowing story unfolded. She had been taken to meet a man who had lost both his legs in the recent Bosnian war. He and his family were "living" in an abandoned mental asylum. They had no food, and no future. It was heart breaking.

Sister Josephine stood up and told the story again and added that she had learned that for only £1,500, new legs could be fitted if he went to Sarajevo. Before the evening was out, she had collected not only the £1,500 but sufficient extra money to give the family a holiday in Sarajevo whilst the legs were being fitted. As we go to press, the family are in Sarajevo.

Whilst this might be a miracle for one family, Sister Jo and her small team, drawn from all corners of the UK, are achieving even greater miracles amongst the refugees who are living about ten miles from Medjugorje. The team first met the refugees when they were living in empty railway carriages in 1992. A huge sign painted on the side of one railway carriage read "Nobody's Children". Sister Jo thought that it was like a curse and determined to restore their dignity. This her team did with frequent visits, always bringing them new things as well as money.

They visited the camp again in December 1999 and were horrified to find that the carriages were being demolished and 26 families were still living amongst the rubble and the rats. There was obviously only one thing to do - re-house them! In May 2000 "Housing Aid Bosnia" was registered as a Scottish Charity and almost immediately, they received an anonymous donation of £50,000. This enabled them to buy nine plots of land for the refugees in Capljina. These were purchased in the names of the refugees themselves and by Christmas of 2000, four kit houses had been completed at a cost of £14,000 each. They are fully furnished with all amenities. Many people in the UK sponsor everything from a complete kit house to a wood burning stove at £230 or a fitted kitchen for £270. If God provides the money, thirteen houses will have been completed by next Christmas. Already God has proved to the charity that so long as they keep the balance of their funds down to the absolute minimum. He will top up the fund so the account is always being emptied. In 17 months, the charity has raised £200,000 and is helping to house 27 families.

I am so delighted with the idea of building new homes and lives for people who have no hope that I have sent a letter to my family and friends telling them this story. The letter goes on:

"When we realised that we had made such a difference to the lives of this man and his family, we turned to thinking about all the money we would be spending on Christmas presents. We all rush around like demented Mary Poppin's buying things for people who have everything that they could possibly need with no guarantee that the presents we buy are pleasing to the recipients.

John and I hope that you will forgive us therefore, if, instead of buying you a present this year, we buy you only a token present to go under the tree and give to this charity, the money that we would normally have spent on you. It would please us greatly if you would kindly send most of what you would have spent on our presents, to the Charity mentioned in the attached newsletter. Remember, that Gift Aid enables the charity to claim an extra 28p for every pound that we donate.

We will look forward to our token presents (not more than £5 each) when we are together at Christmas."

If you would like to help, please write to Sister Josephine Walsh, DHS, at 13 Aspreys, Olney, Bucks. MK46 5LN. Donations should be in aid of "Housing Aid Bosnia". Charity No SC 03013