A short message in the Methodist Newsletter has led to a personal mission by seven young Irish women to spend two weeks working in a Sri Lankan slum, the UK based Belfast Telegraph reported yesterday.
The report said: Marlene Skuce received an invitation from a Sri Lankan woman Cynthia Devadasen to return to the island where she had spent four years with her husband, the Rev Stephen Skuce, who was working as a mission partner with the local Methodist Church.
Cynthia runs a number of centres for underprivileged children on the island in and around the capital Colombo.
Marlene shared the invitation by writing a short letter to the magazine of the Irish Methodist Church, and as a result six other young women have volunteered to join her.
Marlene, originally from Dungannon and now living in Dublin where her husband is a chaplain at University College, said: "I was so impressed with Cynthia’s work in Sri Lanka that I really wanted to take up her invitation to return and to provide whatever help is possible.
"I am delighted that the others have decided to join me. This will be an opportunity for people to see the needs at first-hand, and for many this can be a life-changing experience."
One of the other volunteers is Jennie Glynne, a nursery assistant from Moira.
Jennie, who is married with two young children, is the daughter of a former well-known and popular Methodist minister, the late Rev Peter Good.
She said: "This will be my first experience of such work in a developing country."
The others taking part are Carol Heron from Donaghadee, Jackie Good from Bandon, Helen Turner from Downpatrick, Janette McCormick from Cregagh, and Heather Prentice from Ballinamallard.
