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In Iraq
As the war in Iraq enters its fifth year, bombings and bullets continue to threaten Baghdad's Christian community. In the past three years, 11 staff in the Anglican Church have been murdered. None of the original Church leaders survived.
"The pain is still raw", writes Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of Baghdad and Mothers Union member. "The women still wear black".
Iraq became Mothers' Union's 77th country in 2006. Through Mothers' Union, women in Iraq express how crucial faith is for survival, providing community and hope. Their Anglican Church is like no other. The typical 1930s English building gives way to surrounding razor wire and bomb barricades.
"Inside, none of its 1,000 congregation are confirmed Anglicans. They nominally belong to every possible denomination in Iraq", says Andrew White. "They come to our church because they live nearby and its too dangerous to travel".
White lives in Baghdad's heavily fortified International Zone. But his one mile journey to the Church is no less perilous. It requires an escort of Iraqi Special Forces. They carry guns and armoured cars.
"It can be hard to keep faith alive in such an environment", White admits. "At times I deny that I am looking after the spiritual health of the most dangerous parish in the World. I make believe that Baghdad is safe and normal and some suburban vicar in England is the one facing all the trouble."
But White encourages his congregation to share what they see in Baghdad in Church. "The stories are all awful", he says. "One woman had just gone to the market and the woman next to her was killed. Another person witnessed a car being blown up, but escaped unscathed."
This unusual parish comes closer to God by sharing their stories. Amongst the tales of terror, the members express what White calls "a simple gratitude to God for survival."
"I have never before experienced a congregation like this", adds White. In Baghdad, relationships with God are just as real as the bomb threats wavering outside.
"People often turn to the Church in times of adversity", says White. "Perhaps it is a measure of the dreadful suffering my congregation has endured that the Church is an absolutely central part of their lives."
"This is still the most dangerous parish in the world", White admits. "But the good news is that we are thinking positively about the future."
In Kenya
It has been a frightening start to 2008 for Mothers' Union members in Kenya. Political and Tribal protests have descended into violence that is now sweeping across the country.
The protests occurred as the opposition leader refused to accept presidential election results. More than 500 people have been killed and at least 250,000 driven from their homes. But Mothers' Union members continue to work as always, strengthened by their faith.
Mothers' Union is no stranger to Kenya's problems. Mothers' Union has been working there since 1918 on poverty, HIV/AIDS and parenting programmes. Workers there were particularly active in the relief effort when Kenya was badly hit by famine in 2004. Low rainfall prolonged drought in some areas, whilst devastating floods hit other parts.
Members in local communities rescued people travelling miles on foot to find food. Some were desperately eating wild fruits and contaminated maize. Local members provided relief funds for emergency food supplies.
One Mothers' Union worker notes that insecurity remains Kenya's main problem today. "How can we expect our girls to go to school when there is such risk of them being raped, or worse, on the way?" she said.
Working in these conditions requires great faith. Members also have to travel long distances to programmes in different villages. The risks of theft, assault and rape is severely increased at night when bandits hide at the side of roads.
They believe that God will protect them. This belief is the only way to build enough courage for the journey. "By faith many members travel long distances without fearing the late return home", one Mothers' Union worker said.
Continuing to work in Kenya is about keeping this faith alive. "Strong faith will enable us to tackle political issues too", another worker said. "Mothers' Union has a simple motto in Kenya", she added: 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' [Philippians 4:13].
Join Mothers' Union in prayer for those affected by the turmoil in Kenya.
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Reg Charity No.240531
