Twelve people from the Diocese of Leeds, including the Rt Revd Malcolm Chamberlain, Bishop of Wakefield, stood shoulder to shoulder (bega kwa bega) with people in the church in Tanzania on a recent visit to the country.
The link between the Diocese of Leeds and the Dioceses of Mara, Tarime and Rorya in is one of the longest and strongest in the Anglican Communion, beginning 38 years ago.
The group of twelve people from our diocese spent just over two weeks vising schools and churches in the region at the end of July into August.
The group attended services at all three cathedrals we are linked with, with Bishop Malcolm preaching at each, where they were welcomed with generous hospitality from all.
The group visited many parish churches too, including churches which are building new buildings because their existing church is not big enough for the rapid growth they are seeing.
They also visited church plants, where new congregations have been started by families or after missions, and the congregation is building their own church.
The group saw several churches who have been able to do building work thanks to the financial support of parishes and people in the Diocese of Leeds.
When the group visited Issenye in the Diocese of Mara, Bishop Malcolm had the joy of confirming sixteen young people as followers of Jesus and dedicating the parish church building.
As part of the trip the group also explored non-church projects, including the Mogabiri Farm Extension Centre in the Diocese of Tarime, a training centre for local farmers.
The centre is a space for people to visit and learn better farming techniques, as well as space for trying out new ideas and modelling what works.
The group also visited several schools on their trip, with church schools playing an important part in providing access to high-quality education in Tanzania.
One school held a sports day while the group were there, including sack races, egg and spoon (using a lemon instead of an egg) and tug of war.
This school has a strong link with a school in Batley, and the group saw letters from England on the wall in the library which the school helped to fund.
Before they left, the group visited the ACT Mara safe house in Mugumu, which takes in girls at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or other domestic abuse and gives them a safe place to live until such time as they are an adult and can take care of themselves.
Where possible, places are found in schools for them, and some girls from the safe house have gone on to university.
The safe house also teaches people skills that could bring in an income, such as sewing, with a former safe house resident now teaching the girls to sew.
The safe house relies entirely on funding from the Diocese of Leeds Link for its continued survival.
Before the group left the safe house, they planted some eucalyptus trees that will grow quickly to provide shade and privacy for the girls, and help soak up water on a piece of land that frequently floods.
The group have returned from Tanzania with a renewed commitment to see the link that our diocese has with the Dioceses of Tarime, Rorya and Mara strengthen and flourish in the years to come.
Bishop Malcolm said: “It was a huge honour to spend two weeks with our sisters and brothers in the Dioceses of Tarime, Rorya and Mara in Tanzania.
“During our time we met with a great number of people, including most of the parish clergy serving in all three dioceses, and enjoyed incredible hospitality and celebration wherever we went.
“We visited many churches and schools, joined in joyful worship and I had the privilege of preaching in all three Cathedrals, confirming 16 young people, sharing in the ordination of deacons and priests, dedicating a parish church building and so much more.
“We have all returned with full hearts and a renewed commitment to see the link that our diocese has with all three Tanzanian dioceses strengthen and flourish in the years to come.
“It is a remarkable thing to partner in mission bega kwa bega (shoulder to shoulder) with our sisters and brothers in Tanzania and to be part of one of the longest diocesan links in the Anglican Communion.
“We are keen to share our experiences so please invite us to speak at your event, and if you would like to explore reviving an existing link, starting a new link or supporting a project in Tanzania please do get in touch with me, a member of the Link Committee or anyone who went on the trip.”
An in-depth report of the visit can be read here.
