This July a group of twelve from the Diocese of Leeds will travel to Tanzania in East Africa to spend time in our link dioceses of Mara, Rorya and Tarime.
The trip, from Tuesday, July 21 to Thursday, August 6, will be the first trip from the Diocese of Leeds since 2020.
Visits to Tanzania and hosting in Leeds have been a feature of the link, which was established over 30 years ago and is based on friendship and standing shoulder to shoulder (bega kwa bega) with sisters and brothers to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in different contexts.
In recent years it has been good to host Bishops George, Bishop of Mara; Moses, Bishop of Rorya; and John, Bishop of Tarime.
The group, which includes the Rt Revd Malcolm Chamberlain, Bishop of Wakefield, will spend time in all three link dioceses and the programme includes two ordination services and a confirmation service.
The group will visit schools and parishes with links to the Diocese of Leeds and will stay at Issenye Secondary School for two nights, which will give a great insight into student life on the edge of the Serengeti.
The programme also includes visits to the Mara Gold Mine and the Mugumu Safe House, which provides refuge, education and training for girls and young women escaping female genital mutilation.
The trip will end with two drives in the Serengeti National Park.
Bishop Malcolm said: “Jo and I are very much looking forward to visiting our partner dioceses in Tanzania, which will be our first visit to the continent of Africa.
“I will have the honour of preaching in all three Cathedrals and I’m grateful to Bishops George, Moses and John for their invitations to do so.
“The twelve of us visiting parishes, schools and mission initiatives in Mara, Rorya and Tarime will get to experience first-hand the joys and challenges of gospel ministry in Tanzania, and my hope is that we will return with inspirational stories of what God is doing that bring a renewed energy to our diocesan links.
“To that end, members of the group will be delighted to accept invitations to speak in parishes and deaneries across the Diocese of Leeds and share our experiences.
“Please do pray for us as we seek to encourage our sisters and brothers in Tanzania and learn much from them.”