The journey begins - Thursday 14 July & Friday 15 July

Croydon Link Visit July 14-21 2011, group members:

The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, group leader; Hilary Brand, Chair of the Croydon Central Zimbabwe Link Committee (Christ Church, South Nutfield), Andy Morton (St Peter and Bishop Andrewes, St Helier) Revd Sarah Mullally (Sutton Team Ministry) Wendy Robins (Diocesan Director of Communications and Bishop’s Press Officer), Will Saunders (St Margaret’s, Chipstead), David Stranack (St Peter's, South Croydon), Paul Waddell (Emmanuel, Croydon), Revd Sue Weakley (Merstham and Gatton), Ann Wright (St Mary's, Horne and Mother’s Union)

Well we’re off. Meeting at the airport was demanding as we all had different interpretations of what 4pm meant but we all made it safely onto the plane which was absolutely full. There were at least three school parties going off to play sports in various parts of the continent and so members of the Croydon Link group got varying amounts of sleep depending upon where they were sitting in relation to the school parties.

In Johannesburg airport those of us who had found each other (sadly all expect for me) said Morning Prayer in the transit lounge and then there was time for a wander around the huge shopping areas.

Then it was onto a much smaller plane for the hour long trip to Bulawayo. We were grateful to get a sandwich on board as breakfast seemed many hours ago and we weren’t quite sure when the next meal would be!

The terminal at Bulawayo airport is still being built and so we came into Zimbabwe via an aricraft hangar which is serving as the terminal building. I don't think that any of us had expected to have our bags as throughly searched at Bulawayo airport as they were and so getting through Customs proved to be was an interesting and testing experience, which cost some of the pary quite a lot in taxes on the gifts for those whom we would meet.

The journey from Bulawayo airport to Gweru where the Cathedral and Diocesan Office for the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe is situated is pretty much one long straight road. Gweru is roughly half way between Bulawayo and Harare and we arrived there after about an hour. The Cathedral is a beautiful cool building with good grounds which contain a hall and it was there that we were served a meal and greeted by our hosts.

Each visitor from Southwark Diocese is staying with a priest and his family from the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe in the Gweru area.

Following our meal and welcome from Bishop Ignatius we each went off for some much anticipated sleep certain that if the warm welcome we had received was anything to go by we were embarking on a memorable visit.