Lunch With the Poole Deanery Mothers Union

 

Bishop Moses Deng met ladies of the Poole Deanery Mothers Union today for lunch. Bishop Moses is the new bishop of Wau diocese and is visiting Poole deanery on his way to a conference in Northern Ireland. The main reason for his visit is to strengthen ties in a deanery to diocese link that has grown up between Wau and Poole. The link began with a hospital link between Poole Hospital and Wau Hospital.

A tasty lunch of roast chicken and vegetables was provided by Val Wilson the deanery MU leader. A number of Mothers Union parish representatives attended providing a good representative spread from the Pool deanery.

Bishop Moses was in good spirits having just left St Aldhelm's primary school where he had spent the morning answering young children's questions. Bishop Moses said grace, then within minutes the table was alight with conversation as he fielded yet more questions. Before long the talk moved on from polite banter to more meaningful and interesting subjects. Ideas and opinions were shared between mouthfuls about what the deanery link might mean for the Mothers Union and what each might realistically do for each other.  Some talk centred on the idea of an extended exchange visit to learn more deeply about each side of the link. Bishop Moses also learned a little about the churches that each person represented and their own particular issues.  

The lunch was followed with fruit, cream, cakes, banoffee pie and flan. Val Wilson really knows how to provide working lunches, this one really worked for everyone. Having filled everyone near to bursting more talk ensued as the group bonded further. By the end everyone that attended had got to know Bishop Moses quite well, experienced some genuine Sudanese charm and learnt quite a lot that they had not known before. Bishop Moses learn also about the people that his diocese is linking to.

Just before leaving the group took some photos and Mrs Lyn Thyer of St Thomas's Church Endsbury Park gave a gift to Bishop Moses which he was surprised and thrilled to receive.  All in all this was a superb afternoon and a great chance to grow a link that is still in its infancy. It is hoped that the Mothers Union of Poole and Wau diocese may become a strong part in the future of a Poole Deanery/ Wau Diocese link.

Many thanks to Val Wilson for excellent hospitality, great food and making room for us all in her house.

                                                Dave Lewis 19/7/2010