Mothers’ Union Special Regional Meeting 3

Lusaka, Zambia

At the World Wide Council meeting in London in September 2008 I heard that the president of Mothers’ Union for Bangor Diocese was to represent Wales as one of 11 presidents from the UK chosen to go to the above meeting.

On 16th October 2009 the World Wide President, 3 Central Trustee members, 3 of the Mary Sumner House Staff and 8 Diocesan Presidents left Heathrow Airport to fly to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.

In Lusaka we were met by a large number of Zambian MU members who sang to welcome us at the airport, on the bus and at every other opportunity for the next 8 days. I have never been so welcomed anywhere before.

We were taken to Commonwealth Youth Programme Centre at Lusaka University where we stayed for the next 8 days, and where we were joined by Diocesan Presidents from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, and Sudan.

On Sunday we were taken by bus to Lusaka Cathedral – a beautiful place built as a copy of Coventry cathedral. What a joy to experience a service with a cathedral full of people worshipping God as only the Africans can. The singing was beautiful (I just wish I could have recorded it all), the sermon inspiring and received with cheers from the congregation, and again we were made to feel so welcome.

During the following days we heard presentations from each country. We learned of the many hardships they endure, war and famine in Sudan, ruined economy leaving people with nothing in Zimbabwe, crop failures, no education for those unable to pay, and of course HIV/AIDS in all countries leaving many orphans with grandmothers caring for as many as 11or 13 children.

In spite of these and many more problems the Mothers’ Union in Africa remains totally optimistic and insist that we are not to be sorry for them — they are challenged!

On the Wednesday we were taken to visit a project in a very poor area of the city. Our first real experience of poverty at African level, children in very poor clothing and barefooted, but such lovely happy smiles for us. The Mothers’ Union will build a medical centre there and a place for women to sell the things they grow or make, and there will be a place for the children to play.

Through all their troubles the deep faith of the MU members is amazing, and in the name of God they work for their own people and give all they have.

I learned so much from them about faith and what it means to really give, a very humbling experience.

Kath Broadbent