Edward's new Akubra - a parting thank you from the Chapel family |
What a great privilege it was to play host to Bishop Edward and Vasta Muhima from the Diocese of North Kigezi over two hectic but very rewarding weeks in May. Church and non-church folk alike found themselves drawn by Edward’s relaxed but frank presentations and guileless character as he recounted facets of his life and ministry in Rural Uganda to a wide variety of audiences on and off campus.
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Edward gets blokey with Chapel Staff on campus |
Four major events drew large crowds - a good percentage of these made up of folk from outside church circles. The Compassion Fundraiser Dinner at The Wright Centre UNE was attended by close to 300 people and raised $2,000 in aid for Compassion orphans, as well as a good handful of new sponsorships.
Two Public Lectures in the main School of Education lecture theatre attracted many UNE and town folk and Edward’s presentations on Uganda’s Past, Present and Future provided a fascinating insight into the often turbulent ride of this rapidly-growing African nation and the challenges it faces. Edward emphasised the need for virtuous leadership as the basis of a great nation and that this would only come about as leaders placed themselves under God’s authority.
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'One Man's Journey' at the Armidale Bowling Club |
The last major event was a Public Dinner ‘One Man's Journey' at The Armidale Bowling Club at which Edward described his own journey from a banana-leaf cradle in a rural Ugandan plantation to travelling the world to speak and bear witness to Christ before presidents and laypeople alike.
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Full house at the Armidale Bowling Club |
Edward also spoke to many other smaller gatherings at various UNE Schools including the School of Health, Rural Medicine, Peace Studies, Psychology, Education, as well meeting several times with the UNE AFES group, speaking at a College Students dinner, a Town Students dinner, and TAS, NEGS and PLC Chapel services. Edward and Vasta also had many other Diocesan engagements which kept them very busy.
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The equally delightful Vasta and Jo at a farewell dinner |
Apart from the immediate impact of their time with us and the obvious strengthening of the partnership between Armidale and North Kigezi Dioceses, there are exciting possibilities that have arisen out of Edward's contact with UNE. A proposal has already been drafted by School of Education academics for a collaboration between UNE, Rukungiri Primary Teachers College and North Kigezi Diocese to enlist the support of the Ugandan Ministry of Education to apply for a grant which would enable the UNE academics to train primary teachers at Bishop Muhima's Rukungiri Teacher's College. A nursing lecturer in the School of Health is exploring the possibility of a trip to Rukungiri to train health workers in mental health and addiction issues. Likewise, the School of Rural Medicine is investigating the possibility of student placements in Rukungiri in 2010/2011.
Give thanks for Edward and Vasta's time among us and pray for the ongoing impact of their ministry both here and in North Kigezi.
Podcasts of some of Edward's talks can be heard at http://www.stmarkstalks.org/2007/Muhima.php
and DVDs of Edward's talks at all 4 major events + the Men's Breakfast are available through Nigel Johnson - p. 6771 2450 e. audiovis@bigpond.com
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Sisters in Christ - Lucy, Kay and Vasta |
Click here to read African Enterprise’s Edward Muhima Bio