Reps Circular
From Sheenagh Burrell, ALMA Communications Officer
almacomms@london.anglican.org T: 020 8567 7400
Dear ALMA Reps and Friends,
As Easter approaches it is good to share some ALMA news and look ahead to next term. Please pray for the G20, those affected by the floods in Angola and our Living Water Lent Appeal.
This mailing contains:
2 April G20 meet in London. Micah Challenge have a seven day Prayer Guide. See the back page of this leaflet for the RISE UP prayer.
7 April Debate and Reception to mark launch of the book ‘Do bicycles equal development in Mozambique?’ by Joe Hanlon and Teresa Smart. 4.30pm at Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, 10 St James’ Sq, SW1. Nearest tube: Piccadilly or Green Park. RSVP by email to TAmare@chathamhouse.org.uk
7 May ALMA REPS MEETING. Sandwiches from 5.45pm. Meeting at 6pm at London Diocesan House. All welcome.
Now: Diana Evans from St Paul’s Winchmore Hill is currently in Angola working with Nets for Life and helping in the Diocesan Office.
April 2009 - Rachel Phillips (Curate St Lawrence Eastcote) is visiting her sister in Angola and St Lawrence’s new link parish Christ the Redeemer, Luanda.
8 -17 May 2009 – Joe Moffat (Associate Vicar at St Luke and Christ Church Chelsea) is visiting their link parish in Chimoio Mozambique staying with Archdeacon Paolo Hansine.
There has been severe flooding in Cunene province –particularly in Namacunde. John Tasker heard from Jeremias, Bishop André’s son ‘the whole village of Namacunde was completely hit by the water, washing away all their crops, shelters, roads (tar road), and many have lost all their belongings. The people of Namacunde were evacuated to the nearby and safer place in Santa clara area at the Namibian border. At the moment the rain has stopped for four days now, and we hope that it will not rain again for it will otherwise cause more distructions’ However, further rain did fall.
John reports ‘The Angolan Government has reported that three feet of rain has fallen in Cunene, which cannot easily drain away off the flat land. Schools are closed, or as the Angola Press translation puts it, there is an indefinite pedagogical pause! The WHO are reporting an acute crisis’. Follow this on WHO and Red Cross websites.
Josephine Mutemba, our Lebombo Link Officer, has sent some photos of the Catechists Training Course in Chimoio in January and the launch of the Chihunzuine ALMA’s Children Project that we reported in the last circular. Chihunzuine is a wonderful example of how a community can be transformed with Living Water.
St Dunstan’s Acton has just succeeded in sending 21 computers to a school in their link parish, St Mark’s Matola, Maputo. We look forward to hearing about how this develops.
Bishop Mark Van Koevering tells us that Revd David Geraldo (formerly Priest in Mandimba) is now head of Ministry in the diocese and will gradually be taking over all ALMA links. Welcome to your new post David.
A group of 20 ALMA Reps and Friends met Pat Phillips, British Ambassador to Angola, at St Peter’s Eton Square on 27 March. A full report on this meeting (and some related meetings attended by ALMA reps) is in the Meeting Report section of this site.
at St Mary Brookfield on 29 March was a wonderful gathering of musicians and supporters to raise funds for a community based health post in Mandambuzi to cater for communities inland from the Lago Lakeshore who are 3-5 hours from any health post. The post will have basic medication –paracetamol, anti-malarials and first line antibiotics that have reduced childhood deaths by 50% since the Lakeshore health project began. It felt very appropriate to see this orchestra with its roots in London’s medical establishment raising funds for Lago.
This Lent there have been many requests for speakers on ALMA. Between us we have visited twelve churches and schools!
Thank you for your many and varied contributions to the Lent Appeal: for keeping it alive in your parishes: collecting and marshalling the materials; inviting speakers; praying; fundraising; hosting Lent lunches and in making personal sacrifices. The Harrow Six continue with their Lent Challenge of drinking only water and forgoing all other drink, realising considerable sponsorship in the process.
Some new resources have become available:
With best wishes to you all for Easter,
Sheenagh