On Saturday, 28 March 2009, Bishop Liddle departed from Johannesburg for a week long trip to the Indian Ocean islands of Reunion, Seychelles, Rodrigues and Mauritius.

On arrival at the Reunion airport, he was met by Evangelist Jean-Claude Laurette (of Seychelles) and Priest Guy Savigny, and immediately departed to the local congregation for a divine service scheduled for 11h00.  The service was attended by 32 members.  The rector of the congregation is Priest Jean-Marc Techer, who is assisted by one priest and two deacons.  After service the Bishop enjoyed fellowship with the members. That evening Bishop Liddle, now joined by District Elder Wentzel, also met with the office bearers to discuss administrative matters.

The church in Reunion was built in 2004

On Monday, 20 March, Bishop Liddle departed for the Seychelles, but due to delays, only arrived there on Tuesday.  Here he and District Elder Wentzel had a meeting with Evangelist Laurette, which was followed by a divine service that evening, attended by 33 souls.

The church in the Sychelles

That same evening they departed for Mauritius. In Mauritius further discussions were held with Evangelists Laurette and the rector, Chrétien Empinat, at the city of Quatre Bornes.  A divine service that evening had 31 members in attendance. At the moment most members are foreigners, but the local Priest Goundan and Deacon Ramsamy were encouraged to bring testimony to the indigenous population. 

The venue on Mauritius where our members
gather for divine services

On Saturday, 4 April, the Bishop and two evangelists went to Rodrigues, and went to the church located about 10 minutes from the airport.  The church was neat and well kept, even though the general infrastructure on the islands is challenging being dependent on Mauritius for supplies, including drinking water from time to time.  In the afternoon a meeting was conducted with the rector, Priest Akiam, and Deacon Ashum.

The congregation in Rodrigues

On Sunday, 5 April, the Bishop conducted his last divine service of the trip.  The service, attended by 29 souls, including 6 visitors, saw the adoption of one brother who had regularly been attending for one year.  Thereafter the Bishop returned to South Africa.