Saltash Wesley Church Partnership with Zimbabwe

A partnership between the Saltash Wesley Methodist Church and a partner church in Harare, Zimbabwe was formed in the early 1990's. The purpose of the partnership being the ability to share cultural and spiritual experiences.  

An important part in developing this relationship has been the exchange visits between Mbare and Saltash. Three groups from Zimbabwe have already visited Saltash and on 7th March 2011 eleven members of the Saltash Wesley Methodist Church set out to visit their partner church in Harare, Zimbabwe, culminating in Saltash's third visit to Zimbabwe.

Mbare is a township within the capital city Harare and is one of the poorest places in Zimbabwe. In recent years the people in Mbare have suffered great hardship, with many homes being destroyed in a government campaign, acute food shortages, educational difficulties and lack of medical facilities.

During the visit members of the Saltash church stayed with a family and experienced some of the hardships of life in Zimbabe, with no running water, frequent power cuts and lack of basic facilities.

They visited homes, schools, a children's home, clinics and relief projects carried out by the Zimbabwe Methodist Church. Donations from members of the Saltash congregation, including a large quantity of stationary, were also delivered to a Sunday school in Mbare.