Just a quick update before I head off for Jordan and Egypt. I would greatly value your prayers for the visit, specifically for a time of spiritual refreshment for over 20 CMS Mission Partners attending the retreat in Jordan which includes CMS Ireland Mission Partners David and Gillian Maganda and family. Then also for my visit to Egypt and specifically for my meetings with the Bishop, the Irish Ambassador, Rajkumar and Primila in Port Said as well as the various project visits.

I fly first to Amman in Jordan where I am participating in the CMS Britain Retreat for Mission Partners working in North Africa and from all the CMS societies. I’m looking forward to meeting CMS Ireland Mission Partners David and Gillian Maganda with Nathan and Beth. But I will also reconnect with some friensds and CMS Britain Mission Partners I met in Tunis and Cairo. Last year I met CMS Britain Mission Partners Martin and Pamela Lawson and their family work with ACT International in Tunisia. In 2006 I met Ruth Sayers at the Diocesan offices in Cairo, where she was the PA for Bishop Mouneer. Ruth is now working in Bethlehem and is a CMS Britain Mission Partner. We will spend 2 days of reflection in Madi Elrum desert before heading south to Aquba, near the Red Sea, for the remainder of the retreat.

I depart then on 30th of April for Cairo where I have already meetings arranged with Bishop Mouneer to discuss future plans and the recent application to Irish Aid for the Gambella Centre of Mission in Ethiopia, Dr Bahig – the Diocesan Executive Director, Gerard Corr – the Irish Ambassador, the Maganda’s as they prepare for their return home and Raj and Primila in Port Said to visit the 4 projects supported by Hillsborough Parish through CMS Ireland. I will also be visiting Refuge Egypt to review the progress of the Youth Mentorship and Rehabilitation Programme supported by Bishops’ Appeal through CMS Ireland as well as Sadat City Community Health Centre supported by a number of Parishes and Ain Shams Community Project which last year’s CMS Ireland Annual Project raised funds for.

It’s a full programme but hopefully with your prayer support it will be a fruitful and constructive one. I’m very conscious that it’s only thanks to the prayer and financial commitment, from Parishes all over Ireland, that CMS Ireland can continue to support the church in the Diocese of Egypt. So special thanks to all those who support the Maganda’s and the various projects in Egypt and for those who have made this visit possible.