Missionary Work
St. John's Missionary Partner is Jenny Fetherstone who works in Zambia.
She is a member of staff teaching social work related subjects at Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation in Kitwe, the second largest town in Zambia. Students come from all over Africa and, after graduation, return to Myanmar, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and other countries.
Jenny is also working on a Positive Living project in Ipusukilo which is on the outskirts of Kitwe. She regularly visits a group of widows who are all HIV+, each with many orphaned family and extended family members under their care.
 |
Graduates in Kitwe |
The issues that affect these women include:
- Clean water
- Basic nutrition
- Medical home remedies
- Craft work
Jenny assists with training these women with the aim of enabling them to train many others with the same skills and to help them start projects to generate their own income and boost their self-esteem.
St. John's has helped Jenny over the years with recent contributions meeting the costs of:
- Baking equipment such as mixing bowls, baking trays, spatulas, an oven and bags to sell produce
- Arts and craft material such as containers, frames, haberdashery items, a glue gun and a liquidiser.
- A grant - to wholly or part fund some of the women’s projects once started
 |
Zambia widows sharing a meal |
St. John's is one of 17 congregations in the Presbytery linked to Jenny and supporting her with this important work.
For the latest news from Zambia please read some of the newsletters direct from Jenny (see right hand panel at top of page).