MU DIOCESE OF BENDIGO

Lady Day 2008

This year, MU Lady Day  was celebrated on April 7, 2008 on a beautiful autumn day in Bendigo at St. Paul's Cathedral. There were approx. 150 members who attended and a warm and friendly service was conducted by the MU Chaplin, Rev Glenda Templar. 

The morning address was given by Elaine Longford from the Melbourne Diocese of MU who told of the project to build two nursery schools in the refugee camps on the Thai/Burma border for the Karen people. These schools cost $4000 each and Melbourne MU is funding them.

There are 120,000 adults and children living in these camps and only 40% are Christians. Help is also given to the men to provide materials for them to build looms for weaving so that the people can earn money for warm clothing and food etc. The funds are distributed by the Christ Church Cathedral, Bangkok.

In the afternoon session we heard from Anne Kennedy (a member of  the Gippsland Diocese of MU) about her 3 month visit with her husband to Rwanda to see the towns that the Gippsland Diocese have provided for in their "Cows for Rwanda" appeal.

This raised $40,000 and will improve the milk output of cows through the "a.i." program and also helps provide education and health facilities for the population. There are 8 million people in Rwanda (a country the size of Tasmania), and it is 4,500ft above sea level with beautiful hills and lakes. The people are happy and have endured so much since the terrible genocide between the tribes. 100,000 adults and children died in 3 months! Approx. 11% of the population has aids, and 1 in 100 women die in childbirth. Ten years ago there were 6 Parishes and there are now over 40.

Parishes, so Christianity is certainly growing. The people give one day a week of their labour as a donation to the poor.

The power point pictures of Anne's visit were so wonderful to see, particularly the happy friendly smiling faces.

We were all very moved by the address.

Hilary Hunt