Making a difference

A few months ago a team went from Romsey Abbey to Burundi to grow the link between our parish and the town of Matana, both between the communities and the churches. Yesterday Tim, Bridget, Mark, Sharon and Harriet (the team) shared their experiences and hopes for the link at a presentation. It began with a bit of background to Burundi - the poorest African nation, with an average annual income of only about £95 and with very little in terms of infrastructure. The schools in Matana (high in the mountains, very rural) don't have electricity or water, the hospital doesn't have water.

I was hit by the gap between those we are helping in Zambia and those in Matana - and yet the project in Zambia is so needed.

During the presentation I kept thinking of the story of the boy and the starfishes that is part of Mission Direct's Mission Statement: 

A boy was standing on a beach that was covered with thousands of dying starfish. He started to pick them one by one and threw them back into the sea.

 "What are you doing?" his mother asked - "We can't make any difference here." 
"Well, I made a difference to that one and that one....." replied the boy.

 So many starfish, but it's good to have the opportunity to make a difference.

So when I got home I made a batch of blackberry and apple jam ready for the next preserve sale.