Umzimvubu
Through USPG – the Diocese of Truro has a link in the developing world, with the Diocese of Umzimvubu. The Diocese is named after the River running through it, Umzimvubu, which means land where the Hippopotamus lives.
The Diocese of Umzimvubu sits on the border of Kwazulu Natal and The Eastern Cape and is located in the Northern area of the former homeland of the Transkei in South Africa.
Historically underdeveloped and largely rural, poverty levels are some of the highest in the country. Traditionally, economically viable people migrate from this area towards the bigger cities to find work.
When they contract HIV/AIDS, they come back home to be nursed and to die. It is in this area particularly that one would find grandmothers looking after multiple grandchildren who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Over 20% of the adult population have received no schooling. 84% of the population communicates in Xhosa. HIV prevalence rates in Umzimvubu are well above the national average.
Visits from the Diocese to Umzimvubu
There have been three group trips from Cornwall to Umzimvubu, and another is planned in October 2009 to take a group of young people. We met lots of people, visited different parishes and also preached, delivered food parcels and prayed with our Sisters and Brothers in Christ in a far off Land.
We saw worship that was vibrant, churches that had large congregations, lots of children and people who say "With God we can" and really believe it.
We saw the Christian community living out the Gospel for real. Church is community and community is church. They are living the words of Jesus, "love your neighbour as I have loved you". What we saw was humbling, made us really, truly think. Bishop Mlibo and his clergy, numbering around 50, rely heavily on their laity to help with the worship, pastoral care and organising parishes that are made up of many congregations - usually around 15 but sometimes as many as 34! What we saw out in the Land where the Hippopotamus lives is something that has truly changed our lives for ever.
The response from the parishes and from individuals in our Diocese has been overwhelming, we have been warmly welcomed and supported all the way. Many have signed up to our monthly Standing order scheme, often allowing 28% to be added through Gift Aid. We now have nearly £9,000 a year pledged, many giving £5 per month, to help the Diocese of Umzimvubu.
Thanks to this commitment from the people of Cornwall we have been able to guarantee to send out £2,000 a quarter for those orphaned by AIDS and to the vulnerable children. We saw in Horseshoe and Bongwenie the St Francis Mission's project to feed the AIDS orphans: Twice a day three times a week. For £5 per month they could be fed every single day. Also, in the same area, we delivered food parcels to the poorest of the poor. There are 42,000 households in the diocese of Umzimvubu that have no income at all. 60,000 households have an income of less than £960 a year. The Diocese of Umzimvubu has 75,500 people who are unemployed, 80% more than those who have work.
Some of their priests need to visit our Diocese, so far four visits of clergy from the diocese of Umzimvubu have taken place, and they have travelled widely in Cornwall. We also need to help financially the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters: those who are dying of AIDS; those who have been orphaned by AIDS; those children who are vulnerable.
To find out more about Umzimvubu, or to pledge financial support, please contact us on 01872 274351 or click here to send us an email. Please select Parish Resources from the drop down menu in the email contact form to make sure that it is dealt with by the appropriate department.
To learn more of the practicalities of this partnership go to http://www.weekstmaryvillage.co.uk/churches/church/umzimvubu.htm
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