Church team head for Africa

Rev Sharon Jones, Ken Jones, Joanna Dobbs and Christine Longhurst

A four-strong team from St Andrew's, the parish church of Dearnley and Smithy Bridge, leave this week to visit their link parish of St Mary Magdelene, Omboloka in Namibia, Africa.

The intrepid travellers will be heading to the north of the country, close to its border with Angola, and will be led by the church’s vicar, the Rev Sharon Jones, accompanied by her husband Ken and two members of the congregation, Joanna Dobbs and Christine Longhurst. A similar trip, two years ago, was deemed a resounding success.

They are going for three weeks in order to forge new links with St Mary's and to assess the impact of solar panels on the life of the village school. St Andrew's were largely instrumental in acquiring the panels two years ago thanks to fund-raising events and generous donations from many and varied sources.

This time Mr Jones will also be teaching maths, while Ms Dobbs and Ms Longhurst will be teaching music and sport to younger children and encouraging them to participate in games.

Rev Jones will be leading Bible study, teaching in the evenings and accompanying Father Philippus on his visits to outlying bush churches. The group will also be checking on the feasibility of setting up an internet link with St Andrew's School.

While in Omboloka, the party will renew acquaintance with Vilho, the young man who first invited Rev Jones to his village five years ago. He will act as interpreter, given that none of the group speaks fluent Oshivambo!

Contributions to the church’s Namibia fund over the past few years will go towards sponsoring the education of some of the poorest children in the village.