We have been richly blessed in the last few days as we deepen existing relationships and make many new friends. We are delighted that Louise is feeling much better and has joined us again. We are also thrilled that Kathleen, one of the founding members of the UDP, has been able to join us for the last few days. Our main focus remains the work in Tujisaidie school and the progress is amazing. We have worked closely with the local team, primarily John the painter and Walter the

"You're now in the Kingdom of Kerry!", Rev Jim Stephens announced with a broad smile as we skimmed along the N21 en route to Tralee, crossing the River Feale. With the sun splitting the skies and green fields stretching away to distant Killarney mountains, it was easy to see why Jim was so proud. I was on my way from the Diocesan Synod in Limerick last month, with a sermon to preach the next day at St John the Evangelist, Tralee. Rev Jim had asked me to come and speak about

A shadow falls across the moon and reminds us that the world is not just for us.

It's great to write the first blog from the Kuvuka Daraja team. We arrived in Kenya on Saturday night to spend two weeks with our partners in All Saints Cathedral and the Urban Development Programme. We are so grateful to Isabelle and Louise for looking after us and for sharing the incredible story of the UDP and the history of the As well as meeting the staff team in All Saints Cathedral, we attended worship and felt very at home as we were introduced to the congregation. Th

Over this last year, there has been a fair amount of concern and fuss by the CMSI staff team and by other organisations in relation to the new EU Data Protection directives - and whether we would be compliant before the looming deadline of 25th May. Thankfully, we didn’t ignore the deadline. We worked hard to implement the necessary processes to ensure that protecting people’s data continues to be second nature for all staff and volunteers. Within my own department, I’ve spen

On Saturday morning, Robert and David joined in the weekly spraying of the goats, an essential job to prevent ticks and disease. We also met some of the Mamas as they collected water from the large water tanks. This is well organised and of great benefit to the whole community. However, the woman still have to carry the heavy containers home but some use donkeys. David and Lorna presented to the Women’s Empowerment Group, this being their inaugural meeting. There was joyful s

“Peace is not an event, nor a document, but a process requiring commitment and sacrifice.” (SSCC 19th July 2018) A joint statement issued from Church leaders in South Sudan, including Archbishop Justin Badi Arama, has called on political leaders to pursue peace. The statement, entitled ‘Peace Now!’was issued after a meeting of the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC) in Nairobi, Kenya on 17th-19th July. Here are some other extracts from the statement: “We as the Shepherds o

The seminar for lay readers, evangelists and clergy at Imberikai Training Centre was very well attended, with about 35 lay readers and 10 clergy. After the usual introductions, lively worship and, of course, chai...the two Davids presented. Short David spoke about the role of the lay reader while Pastor David presented on the Call to Ministry as illustrated by the Old Testament prophets. The Vicar General also attended, to speak to the groups about Anglican structures. Variou

Gaseyni Parish Early on Saturday morning, Dr McGlinchey and I went to Gaseyni Parish in the northern suburbs of Bujumbura. This had been a thriving parish with progressive educational facilities catering for construction and carpentry, livestock and general agriculture, until the whole campus was destroyed in the hostilities of 1996. There now is a new project for the parish, although not on the original land which has been taken by the Government to form part of the Presiden

After being 'out of range' of reliable internet access for a week, Team Twende have sent some updates from their programme last week... Monday 16th July Land Rover fully loaded with luggage, provisions, 20 chairs and a wooden clipboard, we set off on the long journey to Oltiaska on roads that were described as the good, the bad and the ugly. Good tarmac roads gave way to graded roads then dirt track roads with some detours through the bush from time to time. There's no doubt

Bujumbura Christian University Three years ago Bishop Eraste, bishop of Bujumbura, decided to use the old cathedral as a university. This is a refreshingly ancient and modern vision. There is a beautiful new cathedral dedicated to The Holy Trinity in the same grounds, open for public use all day long. The old cathedral lent itself, with some adaptation, to becoming Bujumbura Christian University. There are currently 41 students studying for the ordained ministry, the first co

We spent Tuesday evening in a lovely time of fellowship with the diocesan staff over a meal in Bishop Seth’s house. Mama Yvette had provided a wonderful spread. I (Jenny) was particularly interested as the bishop’s house was formerly known as Doctor’s house, constructed for Dr Leonard Sharpe in the late 1930s, when medical work began in Matana. Wednesday morning was spent looking around the church hill. The sound of digging and singing drew us to the site of the new cathedral

In a blog update from Burundi, the Archbishop of Dublin, The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, has shared how he was inspired by a visit to a community maize project in the rural highlands of Burundi. Matana Diocese supports a Church-based agricultural co-operative in the village of Vitezi. It sees Anglicans, Roman Catholics and Pentecostals working together as one family, using parish land to grow and process maize. Archbishop Michael writes: ‘The communities were clear about th

Sunday 15th Emmanuel Cathedral was the setting for two Sunday services. The English service was followed by one in Swahili. At both we experienced powerful singing and fervent prayer. The Olyoosian Girls Secondary school choir performed songs directed by Lorna including a version of The Lord's prayer in Swahili. Rev David (Palmer) gave the sermon preaching on the story of the beheading of John the Baptist. His message called for us to avoid the kingdom of darkness and to emb

Monday and Tuesday enabled us to experience something of the working of two dioceses in the Anglican Province of Burundi: Makamba and Matana. In each case, the relevant offices are clustered around the cathedral, giving a sense of diocesan identity and activity that is both worship and action combined. Monday 16th - Makamba Diocese In Makamba we said goodbye to Archbishop Martin and continued with his Development Officer and Diocesan Secretary. We first visited the HIV/AIDS p