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3000 Presbyterian women from all over Ireland are gathering in Church House today Thursday 9 May at 2.30pm and 7.30pm for the Annual Meeting of the Presbyterian Woman's Association which takes as its theme 'Are you listening?'
And the person they will be listening to most is Presbyterian missionary to Malawi, Clare McIntyre, who will be recounting her experiences in the central African country. Clare who is from Broughshane in Co Antrim, teaches at Karonga Girls' Secondary in the north of the country.
'Malawi is now emerging from its worst famine in 50 years,' says Clare, 'largely caused by the cycles of drought and flooding as well as the mis-management of maize reserves by the government. But,' she warns, 'currently the pre-mature harvest is underway and the crop yield has dropped by 15% when compared with last year, so another disaster appears imminent in the coming months.'
The women, representing around 500 PWA branches, will also listen live to a phone call with Stephen and Angelina Cowan, Presbyterian overseas personnel who are presently working in Kenya. Last year the PWA funded a satellite phone so that the couple could keep in touch from their remote location in Tuum where they have been assisting local people in rural development for the last five years.
The Annual Meeting will also appoint Zoe Vallely from Ballylinney as Home Vice-President and Bloomfield's Rosemary Cowan as Overseas Vice-President.
Arrangements For Photography: The President, incoming vice presidents and guest speaker will be available between 2.00-2.15pm and 7.00-7.15pm for pictures. No photography will be possible once the meetings have started.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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