Zimbabwe trip brings ‘many wonderful experiences’ for Colin
Colin Darling, CITI student and soon to be deacon intern in our diocese, recounts his experiences in Zimbabwe where he travelled with USPG:
“Apprehensive, uncertain, even nervous are the words I would use to describe how I felt as I travelled out to Zimbabwe in May 2012 with USPG Ireland for a placement in the Anglican parish of St Peter’s, Harare. I am currently a second year student at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, preparing to serve in ordained ministry.
I had felt called to go to Zimbabwe after learning of the difficulties which our brothers
and sisters there were facing. USPG brought Bishop Chad Gandiya to visit CITI, and after hearing of his difficulties, I felt drawn to go to the people of the Anglican Church in Harare diocese, to stand alongside them in their persecution by political institutions and the police.
Over the past 2 or 3 years, a rogue cleric had appointed himself as head of a
new church and with the ear of the President and the support of his political party and the police force, had forcibly evicted the congregations from all their church buildings. He had even seized church accommodation where the clergy and their families had been living and taken over schools and other premises where children were being taught and where the church conducted the business side of its affairs.
The parishes now have to rent alternative places to worship from other denominations (St. Peter’s, where I was based, was temporarily sharing the local Roman Catholic church), or meet for worship in other buildings such as school halls or outside. Homes also had to be found for the clergy at further additional cost.
Though it was a desire to support Christians in difficult circumstances which motivated me to go to Zimbabwe, I quickly discovered that I had more to learn than to share and in truth I probably gained more from the experience than my hosts did…”
Enjoy Colin’s full account together with photos by clicking here.
Read about USPG’s work in Zimbabwe here.