Part 1

From Archdeacon Patrick

We have been in Kindu for one week. Staying with Archbishop Masimango and Mama Naomi  we have been very well looked after. Their spacious home is in a compound just outside the centre of the city. We are very comfortable here, but there is no running water and only partial mains electricity. 

The first four days was taken up with a youth convention held in the Borea Bible School, about 5 km away on the other side of the wide River Congo. The first day was a 3 1/2 hour open-air robed service under waving palm trees. It’s huge length was because of multiple youth choirs. I preached, with translation into Kiswahili. 

The second day was a gathering of more modest length. This time both Tammy and Gus shared, which was a delight to hear! I preached again. The third day, Saturday, we brought our huge haul of generously donated football kits from a Calry parishioner and his club (over 8 teams’ worth). There was great excitement as these were distributed. Two intense football matches followed to general delight! 

The final day of the convention was a closing service of Holy Communion that lasted a mere 3 hours. The Archbishop asked me to issue an appeal at the end of my sermon. It was the final installment of Acts 16 – Paul & Silas in Phillippi and the jailer’s conversion. 40-50 people came forward for re-commitment or first time commitment. It was very moving.

Unfortunately, neither Gus nor Tammy were able to come on the Sunday as they were both unwell. By Monday Gus was much improved, but Tammy less so. A doctor was quickly found from the local general hospital. He prescribed some medication and she responded very positively.

A few other events since have been a gathering of youth leaders, a visit to a Mothers’ Union basket making group and several runs around the town to cries of ‘Wasungu!’ (white people!).

The climate is hot and humid. People are friendly and keen to exchange a few words of conversation. And we have experienced some tremendous generosity. 

Today we made our first parish visit. This was to the Elila Archdeaconry (about 30 km from Kindu). We were given a typically enthusiastic welcome before eating something in the Archdeacon’s home with other clergy and their wives. Visits to several schools was encouraging as I could see what improvements have recently been made, while recognising what more needs to happen. There are a whole variety of potential projects to support when we return. We will have to choose wisely!

The Archbishop has been an excellent host and has fascinating stories and insights into the context in Congo and the wider Anglican Communion.

Thank you so much for your prayerful support and interest.

Part 2

By Gus and Tammy

It’s still hard to think we’re in the heart of Africa. Congo has welcomed us with open arms. We’ve been introduced to families, meals, culture, and to their very hot weather. We’ve seen and been through so much this past 10 days we don’t know where to even start.

The Congolese are so diverse, but wherever God’s people are, God’s love is so evident in their lives. Being among them is such a tremendous privilege. That goes from hearing what their current struggles are and praying with them to running and laughing with the town kids.

Something we won’t forget in a hurry would be just that; the kids; especially at the youth convention. On the third day, a football tournament was scheduled. Prior to this, unknown to the youth, we gave out a full team worth of football kits to each Archdeaconry. When the youth found out they were overjoyed. They tried on the kits, took pictures of each other, sang and danced in celebration. Also we repeatedly heard them chanting, “We love you wasungu (white people)”. While this was happening it was hard not to have an ear to ear grin on our faces. The football matches that followed did not disappoint either. They contained dance routines during the warm up, a full stand filled with fans chanting, kids running through the pitch every time something happened and a motorbike going through the pitch in the middle of the game. Very eventful to say the least.

We could keep going on and on with all the experiences we’ve had here. We’re thankful to God for all we’ve been through here and can’t wait to see where he guides us this next few days.

Every blessing,
Gus and Tammy <3

Part 3

This has been an eventful fortnight in Kindu. We leave tomorrow (Wednesday 2nd) for Goma and spend two nights there before starting the long journey home on Friday.

Some thoughts on our last few days: on Saturday we visited the University of Kindu. All of us were impressed. The general condition of the well maintained site, the size and layout of the buildings and the number of students all gave the very positive impression of progress. In the medical faculty the dean, who doubles as a Baptist pastor, invited us to pray for him and the University while standing as a group in his office.

The same day we visited a huge football stadium on the edge of town and a luxury hotel. Both looked neglected and seemed to characterise unfulfilled potential. This is reminiscent of the many half-built houses dotted all over the city with no sign of the work being completed.

On Sunday we attended Sainte Trinité church, very near the Archbishop’s home. It was an encouraging service of Holy Communion in a parish church,   with a really mixed congregation, including a lot of children and youth. I preached on the lectionary gospel of the day from Matthew 13 including the Parable of the Yeast – small things can have a big influence over time.

After the 3 hour service people stayed to chat, and we were  with matching garments by the Union des Mères (MU). One church member made an especially moving speech about how much our visit means to them.

Finally, yesterday we had a special visit to the Diocesan women’s centre. In 2015 when I last came we made a similar visit. It was very good to hear how the project has continued in a similar vein, helping disadvantaged women with training and a sewing machine so they can set-up their own small business. It is open to all women regardless of their background, guided by Christian principles and practice.

This seems like a youthful and energetic country.  In places there is disappointment and sadness, but there are many positive signs of progress and of hope spreading through the community.

Final Thoughts

This Sunday, 16th July, Revd. Sam Peilow will be welcomed as the new Curate to the Bishop in the Killeshandra group of Parishes. Revd. Sam has recently completed Church of England ordination training at Oak Hill College, and was ordained deacon in London Diocese earlier this month.

Revd. Sam grew up in Derry, attending his local Church of Ireland parish. He began to grasp the gospel clearly during his teens, through the diocesan youth ministry in Derry and Raphoe (alongside Scripture Union, Crosslinks camps, and countless other influences!) After a number of years working in the software industry, Sam began a two-year ministry internship in a city-centre church in Dublin, where he met his wife, Georgina. Georgina, originally from Donegal, has taught English as a second language in both Dublin and London, although these days she’s a full-time Mum to Zoë, with another baby on the way later in the summer. Sam and family are looking forward to moving to Killeshandra, getting to know the town and the community, and to serving the church and sharing the good news of Jesus.

This May, Mothers’ Union Groups from across the Diocese gathered for two Festival Services of Thanksgiving. The first service took place on the 9^th May in the Cathedral Church of St Mary, the Virgin and St John the Baptist, Sligo. The second service took place on the 23^rd May in St Patrick’s Church Ballintemple. The theme of both services was ‘Transformation – Now!’ with the reminder that with God nothing is impossible. Dean Arfon Williams preached at the first service from 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 and 15 and Linda Abwa from CMS Ireland preached at the second service from Galatians  vs 1-6 vs 1-10. The services of thankgiving were a wonderful opportunity to gather together as a family to recommit ourselves to a vision of transformation in our own lives, in the MU and the world – transformation made possible by God’s mercy through our faith in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Closing date: 31st May 2023

The Church of Ireland Youth Department’s next round of applications for the Young Leaders In Ministry Fund is now open and the closing date for this is Wednesday, 31st May. The fund is open to young people aged between 15 and 25 years who can demonstrate a current involvement in the Church of Ireland. It seeks to support training and development courses, mission teams, leadership opportunities and placements that can be shown to:

1. significantly develop the faith of the young adult applicant;

2. grow the skills of the applicant especially, but not confined to, leadership skills; and

3. be of significant use to the ministry of the Church of Ireland in the 12 months following the completion of the opportunity.

Please do share widely in your networks and with your young people/leaders – this can make a significant difference to a young person’s experience and we have seen great uptake with the Fund since its inception.

The application form is available at this link.