A KENYAN Pastor, who is returning to his village in Africa, was thrown a surprise leaving party last week.

Donald Mzungu has been in Jersey for the last eight years fund-raising for his village, Shariani, and said that he was ‘moved and touched’ that over 100 people attended his farewell event at the Pomme d’Or Hotel.
‘All that I knew beforehand was that I was going for a meal,’ he said.

‘I stepped into the door and everybody was standing and applauding, and a choir started singing. I thought to myself. “What are all these people doing?” I almost broke down when I comprehended that they had gathered for a common purpose of appreciating my friendship.’

When Mr Mzungu first came to Jersey, his village did not even have electricity and was lacking many basic buildings, but funds raised in Jersey have helped Shariani’s people improve their lives.

Mr Mzungu, who was born and raised in Shariani, arranged a children’s fun day in June to raise money for the school project in his village. Over 1,000 people turned up on the day, raising nearly £4,000 towards the target of £12,000.

‘Today, we have a church building that can seat 800 people,’ Mr Mzungu said. ‘The village now has a school with nine classrooms, a staffroom, head teacher’s officer, a book store and toilets. ‘There are 189 children and seven teachers, all of whom are from the village and had no jobs before.’

A feeding programme also started at the school in September, which ensures that all of the children, who are aged between two and 15, have a breakfast of porridge.

Mr Mzungu, who travels back to Shariani on Sunday 14 December, said that he enjoyed his surprise farewell party and that he will find it hard to forget Jersey and the friends that he has made.

‘Jersey’s people have been loving, caring and very generous,’ he said. ‘I’m declaring Jersey a true friend to the world as everybody in the Island has contributed towards giving the poor and destitute people in my village a brighter future.’

• Picture: Donald Mzungu with Shariani Trust members Chris Lewis (left), Sue Armes, Anne and David Crossland, Angela and Steve Potts, and Molie and Audrey Laurens-Chalmers. Picture: JON GUEGAN (00603493)