Linking hands through the Mothers’ Union

It has been an honour and privilege to visit Burundi to represent Armagh Mothers’ Union. Thank you to the Diocese of Gitega for your genuine welcome and wonderful hospitality. We really have been spoilt by such special people.

The experience I have had will live with me all my life.

I have met so many Mothers’ Union members and have witnessed real evidence of the shared vision in action. Their encouragement and support of marriage and family life in the churches day-to-day is happening in a real way.

Davina with Madame Bénigne Barendegere, President of Gitega Mothers' Union

Let me share with you a Mothers’ Union prayer:

May the members of Burundi Mothers’ Union be empowered by your spirit and may they be united in prayer and worship as, in love, they reach out to be your hands across the world in Jesus’ name.

Amen

At one of our meetings, one mum shared her experiences of the care and support the Mothers’ Union provided and continues for her. She gave birth to triplets and Mothers’ Union helped her with the basics to care for them in practical ways. The MU continues to help her care for her three babies. She shared that she would not cope without this support. It was a pleasure and delight to meet her at St Luke’s and meet her babies in arms.

A number of ladies shared what Mothers’ Union is doing for them through training in adult literacy. This has given them new hope and aspirations. They have then been able to attend other training in financial education, business skills and a parenting programme so they can start a small business. This enables them to make some money and access a loan to increase their business. With these funds they provide for their families and can save for children’s schooling.

Afterwards the ladies touched our hands and compared our skin colouring. This photo embodies Mothers’ Union and church, as hands supporting each other throughout the world. This is a beautiful symbol of the deep connection we have shared with Gitega Diocese Mothers’ Union and parish.

Gitega Diocese is also supporting families with farming skills. One example is where the family have been given two goats allowing them to have manure to fertilise their ground. As a consequence, they have better products to sell at market and can increase their herd, helping them provide well for their family. The church is supporting them financially and, with experience from Rev John who is a vet, how to care for their animals.

I have been blessed, encouraged and inspired by church services. At a very rural service yesterday it was wonderful to see 79 people confirmed into the Anglican church and ladies enrolled into the Mothers’ Union. It also was such an eye opener to see just how rural the communities and churches are. Those dirt track roads are another experience altogether! Being there also emphasised the challenges facing the community and the support they require. The people work so hard to survive and yet give so generously to their church.

Such a blessed visit – we will continue to prayer for all of you in our Armagh Diocese and further afield as I share all these wonderful experiences I have been able to have with you.