Reps Circular
From Sheenagh Burrell, ALMA Communications Officer
almacomms@london.anglican.org T: Tuesdays: 020 7932 1231
Dear ALMA Reps and Friends,
This Easter Circular takes us to the very heart of the Gospel. We share the dereliction of Good Friday with our friends in Beira where yesterday Father Isaias, Priest of St George’s Beira, suffered a heart attack during the service and subsequently passed away. Many of us in London met Father Isaias last year when he spent a month here visiting his link parish St John Friern Barnet. Our prayers are with Fr Isaias’ wife Cremilda, and his three children Bernadette, Isaias Junior, and Arnando, the people of St George’s and St John’s, St John’s Primary School, the Wren Academy and the many people who encountered Fr Isaias during his visit.
Our partners in Niassa diocese are in a similar place of loss and grief: Archdeacon Artur Zinchaia of Nampula died after a long illness last Saturday. Bishop Mark and Fr Fenias from Pemba spent time with him on the day he died. His funeral was in Messumba on Wednesday. Helen Van Koevering writes ‘The churches in Nampula district are especially devastated as Archdeacon Artur was well liked as a good leader, and he leaves a widow, Alegria, and five children, the last one less than 1 year old’.
May Fr Isaias and Archdeacon Artur rest in peace and rise in glory. May Bishop Dinis and Bishop Mark, who are both recovering from having been unwell recently, be given strength, health and wisdom as they lead their people through these hard times. May the risen Christ lead us all.
This circular contains:
5 April Requiem Mass for Fr Isaias at St John’s Friern Barnet in the evening or Funeral Vigil. Note: Fr Paul Walmsley-McLeod will travel to Mozambique for the funeral, and the Requiem Mass will take place after his return. Details to follow.
25 April World Malaria Day. See section 5 for latest on Malaria in Mozambique
Date to be confirmed. ALMA Reps Meeting with Joanne Lambert – a young engineer who spent four weeks in Niassa in 2007 and has just spent four months working with the Equipas da Vida on water projects. Watch Jo’s film on Youtube and be inspired by the stunning work.
21 June – 11 July ALMA Exhibitions as part of City of London Festival
11 July ALMA SUNDAY Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral 3.15pm
18 Sept MANNA AGM with Bishop André
We’re very conscious of the toll on Niassa since last summer: we have seen the deaths of Oscar Hansine, Director of Evangelism, Padre Luciano in Cuamba, Goodwin Mnyawa Headteacher of Nacala School and now Archdeacon Artur. Archdeacon Damaio has also been seriously ill. Saria Ncalamba the Niassa administrator, has just discovered she has diabetes.
Yet there is good news to share. Rebecca Vander Meulen has sent a very helpful new information leaflet on the Niassa Community Development Programme which Bishop Mark spoke about when he was with us in October. The role of the ‘Adeptos’ or community field worker who help each community develop a community action plan is explained. Do look at Jo Lambert’s film in conjunction with this.
Paolo Chintinguiza has very kindly sent us new pictures from Nacala School – an ALMA’s Children project.
Helen van Koevering led an MU workshop at the end of February where some laments were written. She has shared one with us, written by a woman who has recently heard her husband is HIV positive:
When, Lord?
Have you forgotten forever the epidemic which has come to your people?
When, Lord, will you change the direction of HIV/AIDS in our society?
Don't let the people just say there is no cure!
We will trust in You, Lord!
Bless the scientists and the doctors to find a definitive cure for this sickness, HIV/AIDS.
Save Your people, Lord!
Bless those who are yours,
look after them as a pastor
and guard us always.
Then, Lord, my God, I will sing to you without ceasing.
Amen.
Bishop Mark has been in touch with a request from the District Department of Education and the Director of the Messumba School that the classrooms funded by ALMA London Lent Appeal 2008 and presently under construction be used for students in 8th, 9th and 10th grade. Bishop Mark adds ‘The introduction of lower level secondary education in Messumba is something the community has been awaiting for many years; now that the Government has given its authority, they are keen that it goes ahead smoothly, but they do not have facilities. Our classrooms would give them the flexibility to make this dream a reality. Please note that the both primary and secondary schools are in the same location and all the students in Messumba primary will benefit from this addition. Therefore, we kindly request that ALMA London allow the classrooms to be used for this purpose to the benefit of all the children in Messumba’.
The ALMA Strategy Group has approved this request and we look forward to the dedication of building on Easter Sunday and the classrooms being used immediately thereafter.
Thank you so much for your responses to the Lent Appeal for ALMA’s Children. It is so encouraging to see donations and kind comments coming into the office and to dream dreams of more Chihunzuines across Angola and Mozambique. It is of course not too late to donate! We have an online Just giving site and we still have gift aid envelopes and Lent Appeal Cards if you need them.
It was special to hear Bishop Richard mention the growth of ALMA and the launch of the Lent Appeal at Old Ford Primary School in his Maundy Thursday sermon. He commented on the art work and poetry the Music Man sculpture hosted by Old Ford Church had inspired. Others will have a chance to see this sculpture and two others in the exhibition in June/July.
As we have been unable to appoint a Senior Link Officer, the ALMA Strategy Group (formerly ALMA Task Group) has now reviewed the various areas of the Link Officer role, and with the approval of the Diocesan Senior Staff Team is now looking to appoint volunteers to fill three posts: Co-ordinating Officer; Finance Officer and Projects Officer. These posts will be advertised on the Diocesan website shortly after Easter so please do look at the post descriptions and reflect on whether you or someone you know might have the have time and capacity to serve in any these roles.
We are really delighted to welcome Revd Ann Clarridge as the new ALMA Visits Officer. She is well placed to help others on their journeys.
One enterprising ALMA Friend has secured a significant matched fundraising donation from his employers. Do remember to explore this option if you are planning any fundraising events. Corporate Social Responsibility departments and Give as you earn incentives can add significantly to your totals!
As part of the City of London Festival, an exhibition of sculptures and pictures organised by ALMA will be held in St Paul’s Cathedral for three weeks from Saturday 19 June until Sunday 11 July 2010, 9.30 – 4.30 daily. There will be three Swords into Ploughshares sculptures (made from guns) on show together with other displays from and about Mozambique and Angola including USPG’s Mozambique pictures and Christian Aid’s Angolan ‘Children In Conflict’ images.
This is a great opportunity to share our link with the public and ideally we would like to cover the stewarding slots with ALMA Reps and ALMA Friends. We have 23 days and 46 sessions to cover: from 9.30am to 1pm, or 1pm to 4.30pm. Please could you commit to one session and let us know as quickly as possible? We’d be so grateful. We’ll try to have an informal briefing session for volunteer stewards probably on the afternoon of Friday 18 June to familiarise everyone with the exhibits and Cathedral procedures. Stewards will have free entry to the Cathedral when they are on the rota.
If you could offer to do one or more sessions, perhaps with a friend from your church, please contact:
NB: Helen is looking after this rota while Sheenagh is in Mozambique during May and early June.
As World Malaria Day Approaches on 25 April recent news from Joe Hanlon’s newsletter 160 reminds us that Malaria remains the main cause of death in Mozambique although HIV/AIDS is catching up.
Maputo, 24 Mar (AIM)
‘According to the National Survey on the Causes of Mortality in Mozambique (INCAM), published on Wednesday in Maputo by the National Statistics Institute (INE), 29 per cent of all deaths are caused by malaria, and 27 per cent by HIV/AIDS.
Peri-natal illnesses account of seven per cent of deaths, diarrhoeal diseases four per cent, pneumonia four per cent, accidents and other “external causes” four per cent, tuberculosis three per cent, and diseases of the circulatory system three per cent.
The researchers note that in cases where the victim suffered from both AIDS and tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS is given as the underlying cause of death. About a third of those who died from HIV/AIDS were also infected with tuberculosis
The dominance of malaria as the main killer is even clearer among children under five years of age. 42 per cent of all deaths in this group are caused by malaria, 13 per cent by HIV/AIDS, six per cent by pneumonia, six per cent by diarrhoeal diseases, and two per cent by malnutrition.
If the under fives are omitted, HIV/AIDS becomes the main cause of death among Mozambicans. Among all those older than five, 37 per cent of deaths are caused by HIV/AIDS and 19 per cent by malaria.
But there is a sharp geographical divide. HIV/AIDS is the main cause of death south of the Zambezi, and malaria the main cause north of the Zambezi.
Seasonal rains bring flooding every year in both Angola and Mozambique but the rains have been torrential in some parts of Angola (see 2a) and Mozambique:
In Mozambique Joe Hanlon’s Bulletin 160 The red flood alert on the basins of the Zambezi, Pungue and Buzi rivers, in force from 10 March, was lifted by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday 23 March. Although both the Zambezi and Pungue remain above flood alert levels, the water level is going down. This year’s floods were not abnormal. They directly affected 16,000 people and caused six deaths. Reports issued this year by the INGC (National Disasters Management Institute) have been very detailed, with which roads were closed, and comparing river levels this year to past floods.
Two articles from BBC news look at Climate Change and Mozambique: One compares the impact of Climate change on two ports Rotterdam and Maputo ‘Already buffeted by regular floods and cyclones, the problem of rising sea levels is one the authorities in Maputo could do without. But Mozambique has been identified as one of the countries likely to be affected most by climate change, and the issue will not go away’. The second article reports on Mozambique’s efforts to adapt to Climate Change
Finally! …Happy Easter to you all. Sheenagh.
Sheenagh
Sheenagh Burrell ALMA Communications Officer Diocese of London
Email: almacomms@london.anglican.org
T: Tuesdays 020 7932 1231