Visit of Bishop Dolli

On Friday 4^th July 2008 the Right Revd. Bullen Dolli, Bishop of Lui Diocese in the Sudan, paid a short but hectic visit to Gillingham.

The Diocese of Salisbury was hosting Bishops from our link Province of the Sudan prior to the Lambeth Conference. We were very pleased to be asked to host Bishop Bullen Dolli on a visit to our Parish to meet us - ‘the people’ - and to see something of Gillingham and the surrounding countryside.

Bishop Dolli in Gillingham

Arriving just after midday, he was able to join in the regular Friday noon Eucharist, appropriately appearing just as prayers were being said for the Lambeth Conference.

A tour of the Church was followed by lunch with the clergy at the Rectory. After lunch, the Rector and Mary Sargent (Churchwarden) took the Bishop to see St. Mary the Virgin CEVA Primary School, a local dairy farm and to visit Mrs Connie Goddard who is temporarily housebound.

The Bishop was quite taken aback to see interactive whiteboards at the school and all the other technology that we now take for granted – he commented that in the Sudan many schools do not even have blackboards and instead of pens and paper the children often have to practice writing using their fingers in the dusty dirt floors!

He was also amazed at the modern farming practices, witnessing milking UK-style: possibly at closer quarters than he would have wished (the cows showing no respect for his office!).

After a short rest the Bishop attended Evening Prayer in St. Mary's, at the end of which the bells were rung to celebrate Bishop Dolli's visit.

There followed a chance for more people to meet the Bishop over a glass of wine or at the bring-and-share supper which followed.

Prior to leaving Gillingham to visit another part of the Blackmore Vale Deanery the Bishop spoke to us about conditions in the Sudan and a brief question-and-answer session followed.

All too soon it was time to bid Bishop Bullen Dolli farewell and to reflect on the privilege of meeting such a devout man.

The Bishop's talk

the following combines information from the Bishop's talk and the question and answer session which followed

Bishop Dolli told us of his Diocese of 27 parishes and 275 churches. He has no car but travels around the Diocese of Lui by bicycle. Cycling 50 miles at a time is not uncommon - and the country is hilly as well as hot! The Bishop's house was destoyed in the bombing of Lui during the war, but he thanks God that he surivived. His office is now under a mango tree.

A widow since 2004, Bishop Dolli has 3 children. One is at Daystar Univsersity in Nairobi studying Community Development, but finding the money for fees is difficult and they rely on help.

Although the civil war in the Sudan the Bishop told us of some of the devasting effects it has had and continues to have.

Medicine

We heard of Kenneth Fraser, a pioneering missionary doctor who as well as building the first church and school in Moruland had also built the first hospital. The Kenneth Fraser Hospital in Lui (of which the Bishop is Patron) had been one of the best - even treating patients from Kenya and Khartoum. Now it was short of medicines and doctors. Many are suffering from malaria, sleeping sickness, river blindness and "nodding disease". The World Health Organisation have been investigating the latter but it is little understood. It afflicts 5 to 15 year olds and is almost always fatal. HIV - AIDs is also a serious problem, having been spread by the soldiers during the war.

Education

The Civil War from 1983 to 2005 meant that there were no schools in the Diocese for 21 years. Schooling is now being re-established but resources are lacking. At

We heard about the Lanjini Academy in Lui 450 pupils aged from 5 to 15 have but 5 teachers. With no forms, the children sit on stones and write on the ground due to a lack of books. The children are keen to learn, but with these conditions it is difficult. The Bishop envied what he saw in the school in Gillingham.

Water

The Bishop was asked about the availability of fresh water. We heard it is the task of married women to fetch water, which they may have to carry for 6 or 7 miles on their head. Some wells have been constructed recently so that water is now closer to some, but more are needed.

What follows?

We asked how we can help and the Bishop suggested we could help by both prayer and action. Money to help the hospital or school would be appreciated - we can send it via our Diocesan link with the Sudan, and indicate it is to be ear-marked for them.

We now hope to form a link with the school Bishop Dolli told us about - sending them money to purchase books and other school materials.

More detail in due course.