St Bartholomew and All Saints Church
Wootton Bassett
You have eaten curry with us, danced with us, looked at
the knitted house with us
and attended countless tea parties and purchased raffle tickets and mugs. Now we
would like to say a big thank you.
All the efforts have been worthwhile and the three year plan to raise £3,000 for the Parish of Mundri in South Sudan has been successfully completed.
Some money was sent early on but the last £2,500 was sent just before Christmas and
we have had confirmation that the money has arrived safely. Bishop Bismark, our contact
in Mundri,
has sent a heartfelt thanks and we know that the money will be put to
good use.
Thank you to everyone who has helped in any way.
From the Retiring Mundri Team
Two quotes from visitors to Mundri:
The climate in Sudan can be very oppressive, as I write it is 94F in Khartoum, the Capital! In the South, the mainly Christian area, there is very little infrastructure. Bismark has to go more than 100 miles to collect his post… , roads become impassible when the heavy rains come and the electricity supply is very variable.
The trip to the church was hot, dry, and brown—so when the welcoming parade of children and brightly uniformed choirs appeared, the contrast was vivid. Everywhere we travelled, the land seemed as good as dead, but the people were full of life.
Sudan is the largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries
Population: 41,087,825 (July 2009 est.)
Natural Hazards: dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Environment current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought
Background: The UN took command of the Darfur peacekeeping operation from the African Union on 31 December 2007. As of early 2009, peacekeeping troops were struggling to stabilize the situation. Sudan also has faced large refugee influxes from neighbouring countries, primarily Ethiopia and Chad. Armed conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and lack of government support have chronically obstructed the provision of humanitarian assistance to affected populations.
Source:The World Factbook 2009. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2009
The Cathedral in Mundri
Bismark and half the family home!
