Current Mission Partner news
Louise Wright returned to the UK for the wedding of a niece, but Bp Masimango has written to say that it is not safe for her to return. Her leave has been brought forward. See separate article.
Judy Acheson is living in Bunia with no postal system - we await news!
Francesca Elloway came to the UK in June but has recently returned to Aru: her colleagues have invited her and consider that it is safe for her to return. See her letter below.
Diana and Philip Bingham are continuing as regional managers and do not now plan to return to Boga.
Pat Nickson is currently teaching in Liverpool but plans a further visit to Nyankunde in October.
Charlotte Plieth (MAM) is now working at the West Middlesex Hospital until she can return to Boga.
Pat Clay (MAM) is back in UK and ending her service with MAM.
Maggie Crewes (CMSA) continues to be based in Kampala and act as liason officer for Congo 2 days a week.
Heather (Sinclair) and David Sharland are based in Arua and will work for the church in Southern Sudan in community health and rural development until February 2001. See their letter below.
Francesca Elloway wrote recently: As many of you know I unexpectedly found myself coming home quickly at the end of June due to the relatively sudden deterioration in the health of my father. I was thankful that I just managed to arrive at his bedside about 45 minutes before he died in hospital in Bath. So for the past 3 months I have been based in Bristol whilst, together with my brother, we sorted out my father's affairs. However, now I am looking forward to returning to Africa on 22nd October.
When the committee had met to consider the possibility of my return, they considered many of the practical matters relating to that option, including where I would stay. They had suggested that I used my house in the day-time, but spent the nights with the Catholic sisters at their convent. Their convent has both more security and also there are more people around. I know many of the sisters quite well from when I previously lived in Aru; I think that there are currently roughly 10 sisters there, about 5 Italians and 5 Congolese. They have kindly agreed with this idea, so the plan is that I will go there each evening before it gets dark and leave once it is light in the mornings. There are lots of other practicalities that will need to be worked out when I arrive, for example do we keep the car in Aru, how much travelling is it sensible to do to my outlying health centres, how should we travel etc. I am very much looking forward to the prospect of returning to live and work with my colleagues in Aru, and believe very clearly that it is what God wants me to do at this time. But I must admit to feeling rather apprehensive, not just about the security aspect but also how everything will have changed / moved on / moved backwards over the last two years. I am sure that my role will have changed in some ways, as my colleagues, especially Baba and Ezati, have taken over a lot of the responsibility and some of my jobs in my absence. So I'd value your prayers as I return that I would clearly see what my role should be, and how I can best support the on-going medical work of the Anglican church. I like to think that I will have more time to do teaching and hands-on medicine, the aspects of my job that I particularly enjoy, but I'm sure that all the accounts will continue to fall onto my lap!
One particular sad piece of news was the sudden death of one of our long-standing midwives, Komasi, last month. She was an unmarried mother with a 4 year old daughter, so please do particularly pray for the future of her daughter, Grace. Nyangoma, the Directrice of our medical work has chronic kidney failure and is also currently seriously ill in hospital in Nairobi. She has been having peritoneal dialysis (ie into her abdomen) in Congo, not the most sophisticated form of dialysis these days, but the most practical form to try and arrange in her isolated situation. Indeed it's been amazing that even that has been possible. However, she has developed peritonitis (infection in her abdomen) and has become quite malnourished
David and Heather Sharland write: Married life is WONDERFUL, but time does seem to run twice as fast! However, we do appreciate your letters, prayers and interest in us. We have a nice, comfortable set-up in Arua, in north-west Uganda, where we have a two-bedroomed bungalow with a nice garden and very friendly Ugandan neighbours. We have many visitors, some for nights and many for queries during the day. Some are Ugandans looking for help, some Sudanese and some are Congolese friends. Anosa helps us with the garden and with night security, while Grace helps feed us and keep the house and our clothes clean!
We have had a lot of contact with friends over in Congo, and had a couple of very nice visits over there. Jesse, Isaac, Mama Biku and the others of the Team are doing a very good job at not only keeping the work going during hard times, but are improving on our plans from the past. The new Church is now roofed and floored, and the Secondary School building is nearly half done. There is great joy at the Archbishop's announcement that Aru will be a Diocese in 2002. There are many signs of hope, as well as sadness. This war is making for insecure times, especially as most Ugandan soldiers entering or leaving occupied Eastern Congo, pass through Aru. We still hope and plan to return to Aru by April next year, when we have to vacate the Arua house.