United in both joy and grief - God is good...all the time!

We have had a busy and varied final few days in Ibba, including meeting with a local Mothers' Union group, visiting the local health clinic, and carrying out interviews for CMSI with the principal of St Mary's Primary and with Bishop Wilson Kamani. We handed over some football equipment, including a full men's football kit donated by Ballymena Utd FC for the Bishop to present at the next Ibba Day football tournament to the winning team.

We were able to hand over the many Days for Girls kits, which were prepared by our church family in Ahoghill & Portglenone. The kits are designed to help eliminate the stigma and limitations associated with menstruation so that women and girls, in the most underdeveloped parts the world, have improved health, education and livelihoods. The kits were warmly received by Mama Rhoda of Mothers' Union, and Rev Seth, Canon Naomi, and Joanne Quill from the local ministry team.

Our team received a terrific and truly humbling send-off at our farewell gathering on the Bishop's grounds on Wednesday. There were various local representatives attending, passing on their gratitude for our visit, and wishing us every blessing on our return to Northern Ireland. All in attendance expressed their thankfulness to God for our visit to Ibba and their hope that this was only the beginning of our fellowship together. The Bishop said that it is in response to the love of God that we step out to serve each other, and that love will ensure we can journey and support each other for many more years ahead. Gifts were handed over to our wee team, and we are truly humbled again.

In the midst of our joyful departure there was also, sadly, the pain of bereavement for both our team and the family of Bishop Wilson. Stephen's mother-in-law, Patricia, died on the same day we said our farewells, taken by cancer. The Bishop himself heard news of the death of his uncle on the very same day, and, together with Mama Agnes (the Bishop's wife) recently losing her brother, it meant that there were three of us departing from Ibba on the same day to return to family following a bereavement.

Bishop Wilson had a great discussion with us about the reality of death and yet the wonderful hope we hold in our Christian faith. It was a firm reminder that true fellowship under God means that, as well as sharing in our joys together, we share in each other's grief and struggles. We leave Ibba with both joy and grief, and yet we know we have truly strengthened our fellowship in Christ.

God is good...all the time!

Dennis