Dunscore, Moniave and Glencairn twinned with Lubuto, United Church of Zambia (UCZ)

This twinning developed in 2007 after the minister of Dunscore met Rev Simon Kasanga from Lubuto UCZ when he was studying in Edinburgh. The congregations spent some time getting to know one another at a distance, and eventually a 10-year Twinning Agreement was signed. It had the motto "Tuli Pamo", Bemba for "We are Together."

Over the next 10 years there were a number of visits back and forth between the congregations, and the fellowship deepened through regular prayer for each other and working together on shared projects to help resource the community around the church in Lubuto.

In 2018, as the 10-year agreement period was coming to an end, the congregations met virtually to decide whether or not to renew the twinning. Support for this was unanimous, despite some difficulties with communication over the years (common in twinnings!). Two members from Dunscore travelled to Zambia over Holy Week and Easter to meet with their friends in Lubuto to discuss the renewal. As well as a busy programme of ‘official' visits, the pair had time to spend with old friends and have some new experiences.

One traveller said: "We were also able to renew relationships made on previous visits. During these visits, we were asked many questions about Dunscore and Moniaive and about the people who had hosted our friends from Zambia or invited them to their houses for meals. This really brought home to me how strong and lasting relationships can be fostered in a short time even between people who live many miles apart."

"We were welcomed as old friends by the people who had met us before, in Zambia or when we hosted them as visitors to Scotland. We were also welcomed warmly by people we had never met previously. The hospitality we received was truly humbling. We felt that our nationality, culture, language and skin colour were no barriers to friendship. We agreed wholeheartedly with the Rev Simukonda's wish to change the Twinning motto from "Tuli Pamo" ("We are Together") to "Tuli Umo Muli Christu" ("We are One in Christ").

"We had wanted to spend Holy Week with our Sister church and this proved to be both exciting and uplifting. We enjoyed participating in a style of worship which was different from our own. The music and dancing were wonderful. The charismatic prayers were a new experience which took us out of our comfort zone and led us to pray from our hearts. It made me re-examine my own faith and my relationship with God and the Church.

"Our visit brought home to us that despite all our differences, we are truly One in Christ. We worship and serve One God, who loves us all. We should strive to spread this message in our communities."