NOAH'S ARK
Our Diocesan President would like to share the following with you! -
Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah's Ark:
1. Don't miss the boat.
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead - it wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
4. Stay fit - when you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5. Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9. When you're stressed, float awhile.
10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals!
11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.
OUR DIOCESAN LINKS
As Diocesan Links Correspondent I would like to provide a brief outline of the background of our Link Dioceses' Diocesan Presidents. I will start with the most recent one.
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Michael Olusina Fape was enthroned in the Cathedral of St. Paul, Saganu on 20th November 2003, as the second Diocesan Bishop of Remo, which was founded in 1984. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Kehinde Fape is the President, not only of the MU but also of the Women's Guild, with which it is closely associated. Remo is linked to Fareham Deanery in this Diocese.
Mrs. Fape was born at Iloria over forty years ago. She attended both the Baptist Girls' High School, Osogbo and Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure. From 1981 - 1983 she trained as a teacher and later studied music at the Oyo State College of Education, Ilesa. At Aberdeen University (1993-1996) she gained a Master's Degree in Educational Studies.
Mrs. Fape has held various teaching appointments from 1983 until 1993. Her hobbies are singing, Christian music, reading and travelling. Bishop and Mrs. Fape have three children. As you can see, Mrs. Fape has much to offer the MU, especially as her M.Ed. Thesis was entitled "Parental Involvement in the Education of the Under Fives. Views of Parents and Professionals."
This information has been gleaned from "Remo Anglican", Vol. 15, Nov. 2003.
Margaret Symonds
OVERSEAS INTEREST
Returning Home
The Diocese of Buye in Burundi shares a border with both Tanzania and Rwanda. During the conflict in Burundi several years ago, many people fled from Buye into Tanzania and Rwanda and have been living in refugee camps there. Now, however, they are beginning to return home.
These men, women and children have returned to Burundi with very few possessions. In February 2004 a Relief Fund grant was sent to the diocese to help purchase items of clothes, jerricans to fetch water, soap, blankets, kitchen utensils and plastic sheeting for these people. In total, the MU in Buye have identified 225 people in need of help, many of whom are now taking part in the Mothers' Union Literacy and Development Programme.
Rebuilding Lives in Congo
The Mothers' Union in Katanga is doing a lot of work on rebuilding the lives of people in the diocese following the conflict. The World Wide Grants Committee has recently agreed a grant for the Diocese to carry out a training for women in peace and conflict transformation. Throughout this training, members of the Mothers' Union will be trained in peace building and conflict transformation and will be able to spread their knowledge to others through locally held talks and initiatives.
This training will take place in Kalemie and Kaniama, the two most war-torn archdeaconries in the diocese. These areas were occupied for five years by the rebels during the war and have suffered immeasurably. Many of the Mothers' Union members in the two areas have experienced terrible hardship and the situation remains unstable.
Several women in Kalemie and Kaniama do not even have clothes to wear. Consequently, they do not go out of their homes during the day, but wait for nightfall so they can go out to work in the fields without being seen. A grant from the Relief Fund was sent to the Mothers' Union in the Diocese in February 2004 to help them purchase clothes for these women and children.
No Excuse Sunday
To make it possible for everyone to attend worship this Sunday, we are having a special No Excuse Sunday.
Beds will be placed in the aisles for people who say Sunday is my only day to have a long lie in.
Eye lotion will be provided for those who watched TV too late the previous night.
We will have steel helmets for those who say, The roof will cave in if I ever come to church.
Blankets will be provided for those who say, The church is to cold, and fans for those who think it is too hot.
We will have hearing aids for those who say, the minister speaks too softly and cottonwool for those who say he preaches, or the organist plays, too loudly.
Score cards will be available for those who wish to list all the hypocrites present.
There will be TV dinners for those who can't go to church and cook on the same day.
One section will be devoted to trees and grass for those who like to see God in nature.
Finally, the church will be decked out with Christmas decorations and Easter flowers for those who have never seen the church without them.
From a Link Correspondent in Kimberley
Not Just A Mother ...
A woman named Emily, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is", explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a ...?" "Of course I have a job", snapped Emily. "I'm a Mother."
"We don't list 'Mother' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it", said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title like Official Interrogator or Town Registrar. "What is your occupation?! she probed.
What made me say it I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I am a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in mid-air, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasising the significant words. Then I stared in wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask", said the clerk with new interest, "just what do you do in your field?"
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing programme of research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and the field (normally I would have said indoors and out); I'm working for my Masters (the whole darned family), and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?), and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants, ages 13, 7 and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6 month old baby) in the child development programme, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy. I had gone on official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother".
Motherhood ... What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.
Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"? I think so! I also think it makes aunts "Associate Research Assistants".
This article originally came from a Canadian Mothers' Union newsletter, and Amble MU got it from their Link in Port Elizabeth, South Africa