Frishta News - Issue 2 - June 2005

Welcome to our second issue of Frishta News. 2005 has already been a momentous year for the charity. Our first ever fundraising event was held in Birmingham in February and was a tre-men-dous success. Then in April, I ran, hobbled and walked round the 26 miles of the London Marathon – more on both those stories and other new developments below.

Frishta Dinner & Dance, 19th February

• The event may have been three months ago, but I am still startled by the memory of what was achieved on that extraordinary night. Daunting as this first ever 'Dinner and Dance' was, the organisers - Rummy Dosanjh, Bal Tagger and Jat Dhillon – impressed the 500 guests with their warm professionalism. The evening bulged with laughter, tears, bhangra and above all, tremendous generosity.
• The evening was compered masterfully by Jat. Music groups Ethnic sounds and the Dhol Blasters ignited the proceedings with a cultural bang and then the Laylaa Fashion girls performed the Romeo & Juliet story. Jim Weiss (Frishta Trustee) and myself painted the picture of the plight of orphans in India and we made an appeal for support. After the raffle of glittering prizes, Jat auctioned several prestigious football shirts, including one signed by the world's greatest ever player, Pele. The Midland Boyz then unleashed their tunes into the small hours. A truly exhilarating night!
• The team had lined up so many kind sponsors that all the event costs were covered. We even expressed our collective gratitude by donating two tables to Birmingham Children's Hospital. By way of a parting applause for our guests, they were all given a gift bag of wine and chocolates as they left.
• In all, the event raised a staggering £30,000, £25,000 after costs, considerably more than we had hoped for. The event was also featured in a flattering article in the Sikh Times newspaper. We were inundated with magnanimous offers of help for the charity and we made many new friends. To all our sponsors and guests a sincere thank you for your kindness and generosity that will have a lasting effect on the street children of India
• Frishta and the Dinner & Dance were also featured in the HFC Bank's in-house company newspaper, see below

Nigel's London Marathon, 17th April

• As soon as I heard I had won a place back in November, I began to train seriously to a rigorous schedule. I called this my 4x4 Marathon, not because I was going to drive the 26.2 miles in a Jeep, but I wanted to complete it in less than 4 hours and raise £4,000 for Frishta. A 'friend' re-named it 4x4x44 – I'll leave you to work out the meaning of the extra digits!
• Well, I overdid the training. In February I injured my right knee and as it wouldn't heal by running on it, I had to settle for step and rowing exercise in the Gym to keep my fitness up. I considered pulling out several times, but as I had already passed my fundraising target, the money raised for Frishta was motivating me to run, but it also increased my anxiety that I might not complete the course. I decided to run gently, pray hard, and leave the rest to God.
• The big day arrived and the warm weather brought out a huge crowd. The first 6 miles were a delight to run and then I began to feel my knee. It got progressively worse and at 18 miles I was convinced I couldn't go on. At that point one step was agony and I still had eight miles to go. It took nearly two hours, but somehow I managed to keep up a walk, jog, walk, and by God's grace made it home.
• As I rounded the bend by Buckingham Palace and came into the Mall it was a very emotional moment and I confess to the odd tear or two! I am reminded of Isaiah 40:31, 'But those who hope in the LORD will find new strength. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.' My official time was 4:47:40, slower than I had originally hoped for, but the main achievement was not giving up and thereby raising a magnificent £9,000 for Frishta. Thank you LORD, and thank you to all who sponsored me.

Other Frishta Events and Talks since the last Newsletter

• Talk given at New Life Masih Ghar Youth Club, Heston, Middlesex, 11th February - the Youth have decided to donate their Club subscription money and undertake sponsored activities in aid of Frishta.
• Talk given at New Life Masih Ghar Church, Heston, 1st of May
• Martin Harris manned a Frishta stall at the Pentecost Party, Nailsea, nr Bristol, 15th May
• Thanks to Anne Boswell who ran in aid of Frishta in the Great Manchester 10k run, 22nd May and Mindy Dosanjh who is supported Frishta for her Two Castles 10k run, 12th June - more news on this the next time.

Frishta 2005 Christmas Cards

This year we hope to have Christmas Cards available for purchase. They will be printed in three different designs and sizes with Frishta's logo and web address printed inside. More details to follow in the next issue of Frishta News.

Frishta 2006 Calendar

Frishta has been chosen as one of 12 charities to feature in a prestigious A3-size, 2006 Charity Calendar being produced by a design company in Wiltshire – their previous work has won numerous awards. Caroline, the Director leading the project, told me she was particularly pleased Frishta was selected as she had previously worked as a schoolteacher in India.

Our 'month' will be illustrated by an artist's impression of Frishta's work – I can't wait to see it! The Calendars should make ideal Christmas gifts and will be available later in the year priced £5 + p&p. Please contact us if you would like to place an order.

Planned trip to India, June05

Despite the Indian High Commission losing my Passport (!), I will be making a trip to India, June 17th - 9th July. The main tasks are to:

• together with Jim Weiss, interview and appoint the Indian trustees for our 'sister' Indian Frishta charitable trust
• meet with our new contact in Punjab, Pastor John Cyriac and his wife Shaheen
• provide financial assistance* to the orphans and destitute children Pastor John is in contact with
• obtain firm costings for the Children's Home building work including boundary wall and tube well and research potential building contractors.

*Frishta has established a Mercy Fund to help urgent cases of need - further details and pictures of the trip and the children helped will be in the next Frishta News.

And to close

By now you may be familiar with Frishta's mission statement of 'Giving children an education, a home, a hope and a future', which neatly sums up our aims and objectives. But did you know it has its origins in the Bible verse from Jeremiah 29:11? "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I claimed that promise for myself many years ago, but it has now taken on a new and fresh meaning as we believe that God not only has good plans for us, but also for the orphans, the abandoned and runaways - the street children of India. Although we do not yet know them and they do not know us, God already knows them and has a plan for their lives, to take them out of harm's way and to give them a bright hope and a future. We pray that we will be faithful to the task given to us and of course we could not do it without your help, prayers and support, so on behalf of the management team at Frishta and all the children we have yet to help and care for, thank you.

Nigel Studley

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