Our branch leader at St John's is Iris Wilson - she has asked me to write an article for her as she is at present on holiday in Canada.
All our branches in this country are connected with various parts of the world and all their Mothers' Union members. In the Chelmsford Diocese one of our linked countries is Myanmar (I expect many of us still remember it as Burma).
We regularly pray for all their MU members and workers. We try to give donations to the Central Relief Fund at Mary Sumner House so that some help may be given to them. Here are a few details from a Mothers' Union Magazine called Families Worldwide.
Myanmar is ethnically diverse with more than 135 distinct ethnic groups. The majority of the population (90%) are Buddhist and about 4% are Christian.
The Mothers' Union has been active in Myanmar for more than 100 years. When missionaries were expelled in 1966, the National Church was formed. Now the Mothers' Union works in all of the 6 Dioceses and with the Karen refugees on the Thai border. The resettlement of thousands of these refugees to their countries has caused problems for the remaining refugee groups as many of the better educated and more able people have left.
Travel for Mothers' Union workers whether by boat , on foot or by public transport, is hard, slow and dangerous. However, they do not let this stop them from visiting remote branches and members.
The Mothers' Union outreach activities in the province include regular visits to local orphanages and prisons with gifts of food; marriage and relationship counselling; vocational skills, visits to the sick and elderly and support for those who have been bereaved.
The cyclone in May 2008 caused devastation, death and hardship to those in the Irrawady Delta area. Lack of aid is causing even more tragedies. The Church and Mothers' Union are helping with food and medical assistance as much as they are allowed by the government. They are helped by a grant from the Mothers' Union Relief Fund based at Mary Sumner House in London (the Headquarters of the Mothers' Union).
This is just one example of aid given from the Mothers' Union Relief Fund which helps many communities all over the world.
Audrey Hopkins