My church, St Mary's Parish in Comber, is a link parish with the Diocese of Maridi in Southern Sudan through Christian Mission Society Ireland (CMSI).

CMSI provide opportunities for individuals from Ireland to visit partners in another part of the world to experience life and work there and to sample something of a different culture. These teams can be a great encouragement to the partners and I am fortunate enough to have been accepted to be part of one of these teams travelling in October 2018.

Due to the civil unrest it is unsafe for us to travel to South Sudan so we will be travelling to Northern Uganda where we will engage with the Bishops and representatives of CMSI Global Partners from South Sudan, including Maridi. It is hoped to facilitate some peace and reconciliation workshops, capacity building for best practice in development projects, bible teaching and retreat, and engagement with refugees in the camps.

This is an amazing opportunity for me personally, but also for all the parishioners in St Mary's and people in the wider Community to be part of something purposeful going forward.

My hope for this trip is that it will open communication with our links in Maridi, enabling us to develop a strong relationship with them and allowing our community to come together and support the people of Maridi in real tangible ways, be that physically through fundraising and team visits or spiritually through prayer.

I am hoping to organise lots of different fundraising events over the coming months and I would really appreciate your support. I know that financially lots of people are struggling here at home and not everyone will be able to help financially, however, I would be so grateful for any help you can give, however small, either financially, physically at my fundraising efforts or spiritually through prayer for my trip.

Thank you to all who have encouraged me so far and to all of you supporting me going forward, I am truly grateful.

Carla
xo