Scottish Catholic Observer

Faith MacKintosh, a parishioner at St Margaret’s Church in Roy Bridge, hosted a home baking and speciality items stall in the local village hall to raise funds for a trip to Kenya this summer.

She will travel with Bishop Brian McGee of Argyll and the Isles and other young people from across the diocese to the east African country for the month of July, where they will live and work among the local community.

Parishioners joined Faith in the hall after Mass in order to help with her fundraising efforts, and enjoy some of the delicious treats on sale.

“Faith will be travelling to Kenya with Bishop Brian and several other young adults from around the diocese,” wrote parish priest Fr Danny Convery in the church bulletin. “They will be working at the Live with Hope Clinic in Kenya for approximately four weeks in July 2018. This trip is unique because far from staying in a hotel and encountering the people ‘from a distance’ the group will be constantly living and working among the locals.

“They will participate a little in people’s poverty and struggle for survival, marvel at their sense of joy and living Faith in God. The experience cannot but challenge values.”

Fr Convery noted that it would not always be an easy trip for Faith.

“However, traveling to Kenya for a month is a very serious proposition,” he added. “The preparation will demand effort, the trip itself will be hard work and they will live in basic conditions. Strong discipline will be demanded. The trip will be great fun but it will not be easy!

“Faith will be representing our parish, we ensure her of our prayers and invite her to come and share her experience with us on return. Let’s support this wonderful adventure and act of courage to undertake a challenging and worthwhile experience.”

Faith said that the fundraiser was ­successful and helped her towards funding her total of £1,400.

“We raised £380,” she said. “It went really well.”

Faith, who works in social care as a support worker, said her line of work made her consider traveling to Kenya in the first place, and said she is looking forward to traveling to Kenya. “I can’t wait,” she said. “It’ll be a real eye-opener. I think it’ll make me appreciate things more.”

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