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Our mission partner, Jane Shaw sends the following progress report:

Jane Shaw, our CMS/ USPG link, is on leave until September. She has written from London , with details of her work in Pakistan .

The months since the elections in January have been a time of amazing change and a hopeful time. The ruling party was defeated and two previously warring factions are now working together; they still hope that this new government will tackle the real problems of Pakistan . It seems more peaceful – but Pakistan still needs our prayers. Growing up, or indeed living, as a Christian in Pakistan is not easy. Young Christians find their Muslim counterparts challenging or even hostile. A loving, faith-supporting family is of vital importance.

Lent in the Christian Church in Pakistan is a time for fasting and sacrificial giving – so generous were the gifts this year that much was given directly to the poor. The money was shared between a boys' hostel, prison visiting, and an orphanage run by the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Theresa's Sisters. This last was an impressive and moving place: many of the children are severely disabled, need lots of love and are very dependent on the Sisters.

The week before leaving Pakistan , Jane had an invitation to visit Tank Hospital , a Christian Hospital in Waziristan , on the north-west frontier in tribal territory. The hospital compound is green and pretty, but staff cannot go outside without an armed guard and escort in the hospital vehicle – quite a claustrophobic environment. It was quite a sight seeing all the women arriving in full burqas with male escorts, and then in normal clothes on the ward, with all-female staff, listening to nurses reading scripture and singing Christian hymns. The hospital is dependent on overseas staff as senior Pakistani Christian doctors are hard to recruit. This front-line work of the Church in healthcare needs our prayers.

Jane will be (working) on deputation, church and conference visiting while in the UK . She thanks God for good health and safety in troubled times and asks our prayers particularly for the Pakistani Government and the Tank Hospital that they may be able to show the healing power of God and be a blessing for many.

Jane will be preaching at St Chad 's on 10th August in the morning and at St Michael's in the evening.

Peter Hemming