November 2008

It may seem strange to be making an appeal in Advent especially since recently there has been such turbulence in the world's financial markets. The 'credit crunch' means that we shall all suffer. However the poorest in the world will suffer most and this is a time when we can reach out to them with generosity. Those of us who have visited our link Dioceses know the wonderful hospitality which is given to us and how people out of very little give their all.

There is a tremendous spirit of generosity in our Diocese through the links which have been established and after consultation with the Tanzanian Bishops we want to put forward 3 projects, one in each link Diocese for our Advent appeal. There may be people who are not involved in overseas links who would like to respond to this appeal and there may be others who have already given who would like to think about it.

A Food Security Programme in the Masasi Diocese which is in a very poor area in the south of Tanzania. Most of the people in the Diocese are subsistence farmers heavily dependent on climatic conditions. In some years the rains fail and crops are seen to wither and die in the ground; in other years the rains are too heavy and wash seeds and plants out of the ground. In some years there is famine in parts of the Diocese.

One of the projects in the Tanga Diocese is a Vocational Training Centre for HIV/Aids orphans and unemployed young people. Many leave the area and end up as street children in places like Dar es Salaam. Bishop Philip Baji wants to expand and develop the Centre to accommodate many more young people so that they can learn practical skills and be given hope for the future.

"Education for Liberation" is the motto of the new Church Secondary School in Dar es Salaam which opened in 2004 but which needs a lot of money for new buildings, facilities, books and educational materials. Archbishop Valentino Mokiwa wants to see the school offer the best possible education to young people so that they may in turn provide Christian leadership in their country and play an important part in reducing poverty in this, the 7th poorest country in the world.

As we look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ we shall remember the outpouring of God's generosity by coming in Jesus and the giving of himself. We shall want to identify with God's generosity by reaching out to others especially our friends in Tanzania.

The Appeal will be launched during the first week of November when the Archbishop of Tanzania will be visiting the Diocese. Cheques should be made payable to the Hereford Diocesan Board of Finance and sent to Gordon Powell at the Diocesan Office, The Palace, Hereford HR4 9BL with a note saying it is for Tanzanian Advent Appeal