Seven representatives from the Church in Wales, Diocese of St Asaph, have just returned from an exciting visit to Tanzania. A group of clergy and lay people led by Bishop Stephen Lowe had been commissioned by the Bishop of St Asaph to travel to Tanzania and start the process of linking the diocese with that of South West Tanganyika, a largely poor rural area bordering Lake Nyasa.
Group leader, Bishop Stephen Lowe said, “From the moment we stepped off our small plane at Njombe to be greeted by several hundred singing Mothers’ Union members and children none of us were unaffected by the deep faith of those we met, even in the most difficult conditions. We were inspired by the hope and joy of the whole Christian community and humbled by the dedication of the clergy. Where the land was not good enough to generate much income for a parish then the clergy do not even receive their salaries of £60 a month. School fees and medical fees cannot be paid and life may depend on a vegetable patch, a cow and a few chickens.”
The group were welcomed by the Bishop of South West Tanganyika, the Rt Revd John Simalenga, who visited St Asaph in 2008, prior to the last Lambeth Conference, and again in February 2010. The two dioceses. St Asaph and South West Tanganyika, signed a Companion Link agreement in November 2008. Bishop Simalenga accompanied them for the whole journey, which included 500 miles on rough roads. Bishop Lowe said, “We were often very tired but after a long day to be met with song and dance, waving palms and laughing children lifted even the most flagging spirits.”
The team included Jonathan Abbott from Llangollen; Ros Crawford from Penybontfawr; the Revd Vittoria Hancock, St Asaph Cathedral Chaplain; the Revd David Lewis, Rector of Overton; the Revd Pam Powell, Vicar of Llansantffraid ym Mechain and Llanfechain; and the Revd Canon Bill Rowell, Rector of Welshpool, Castle Caereinion & Pool Quay, and World Mission Officer for the Diocese of St Asaph.
Before the group left, the Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron, said, “These ambassadors are ‘living letters’ and we send this team asking them to convey our greetings, to participate in mission, and to bring back to us good news about how the Gospel and the Anglican Communion flourishes in the fertile soil of Africa.”
