Last week the diocese was pleased to welcome the Rt Revd George Okoth, Bishop of Mara in Tanzania, and his wife Janet for a visit to explore and solidify our links with the region.
They arrived on Tuesday, September 24, and in the afternoon visited Christ Church Academy, Huddersfield.
The Bishop and his wife were welcomed by the Head of School, Margaret Farrell, and the School Council, who asked lots of interesting questions about life in Tanzania and then gave them a tour of the school.
The afternoon ended with an Assembly focusing on Loving your Neighbour.
Bishop George and Janet taught the whole school to sing a Swahili song, ‘Hakuna Mungu WeWe,’ which means ‘No One Like Jesus.’
Bishop George said: “We really enjoyed meeting the School Council and were very impressed by all the interesting questions about life in Tanzania and explanations of English school lessons, lunchtimes and playtimes.
“During the tour of the school we were very touched by how friendly, polite and welcoming everybody was.
“It was fabulous to see how everyone concentrates so hard at working and produces such interesting writing.”
“We were also very glad to join in collective worship where we were so impressed with the children who started the assembly by lighting the candles and reading from the Bible.
“Thank you for joining in the Swahili song and we are especially grateful to the little boy who said we can show we care for each other by giving a hug.”
After this Bishop George and Janet ate with members of our Tanzania Link group, and during the week they were hosted by the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, the Bishop of Huddersfield, and her husband Peter, and also stayed a night with the Rt Revd Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds, and his wife Linda.
On Wednesday, September 25, Bishop George and Janet visited St Stephen's West Bowling and their Shine Community Project, as well as Halifax Minster, where Bishop George presided at communion and shared a presentation about Mara.
During the afternoon they visited St Mary's Luddenden, where they also visited the Pop In Shop run by the church, where Bishop George bought a warm coat and flat cap to protect him against the autumn weather.
In the evening there was a special service at Wakefield Cathedral to mark the links of our diocese with the Diocese of Mara.
On Thursday, September 26, Bishop George spent the day with Bishop Nick and our area bishops at Hollin House.
On Friday, September 27, Bishop George and Janet went to St John's Rastrick for an event organised by the Mothers' Union.
Janet, is the MU Diocesan President of Mara, spoke to the assembled guests in Swahili with Bishop George doing a simultaneous translation to English.
The Ven Cat Thatcher, Archdeacon of Pontefract, said: "It was a great joy to welcome Bishop George and Janet to the diocese last week.
“We were able to take them to several churches and a school to get a feel for our mission in our local areas, and there was also time to share food together, and for relaxation and fun.
“At Wakefield Cathedral on Wednesday evening we recommitted ourselves to the link between Mara and Leeds dioceses."
To find out more about our links with Tanzania, please click here.