Safe in Rwanda!

(Sam Bass) We arrived at Kigali, Rwanda at 1 pm, 27 hours after leaving RDU. Our first greeters, Rwanda's customs agents, were quite warm and courteous. After a quick picture and thumb printing, we were off to claim our bags with a prayer that our luggage followed our “four-transfer” journey.

Almost immediately, our bags began appearing on the conveyor before us. One by one we confirmed that this would not be a repeat of last year's teams' unfortunate four days without a change of clothes. It would not be the case for a young missionary named Abbey, whom we met at the baggage claim. Her luggage had not come before the conveyor stopped. She was there to produce a documentary on the area. We joined a circle and prayed for her protection and that she would soon be reunited with her supplies. 

As we made our way into the airport lobby, the veterans of our group quickly recognized Pastor Etienne and Bernard. They greeted each and every one of us with a warmth and affection that did not vary, regardless of acquaintance.  Remarkably, they had arrived at the airport three hours earlier, because of a schedule mix-up, yet they showed no sign of frustration.  

Our luggage pile was twice that which might be expected for a group our size, as we carried medical and other supplies for the clinic at Gikomero. The small pickup that Pastor Etienne brought was soon piled high with bags that were lashed down with care and skill.

It wasn't long before we were winding our way through the busy and crowded streets of Kigali, Rwanda's capital city. The sights, sounds, and smells were typical of a city, but new, exciting, and uniquely African, at the same time. Cars, bikes, scooters and pedestrians squeezed onto roadways and sidewalks that were too small for their volume, but each remarkably continued on course unaffected by the others, if only by millimeters sometimes.

After a quick stop to change our dollars for Rwandan francs we were on our way to the Shyogwe Diocesan house and dorm, where we would headquarter for the next week. We wound our way out of the city into the suburbs and more expansive fruit and produce markets along the river. The congested curvy streets soon gave way to less crowded, but increasingly narrow roads. Diesel smoke was eventually replaced by the heavy blue smoke of wood cooking fires as the pace of life slowed dramatically.

In stark contrast to the peaceful countryside, our driver seemed to increase his speed as the roads became trickier. On the rare straightaways he seemed intent on finding just how many rpms he could get from that old van's motor, bound and determined to arrive before his friends in the luggage truck.

When we arrived, about 4pm we were greeted by Pastor Prosper, Claudine (8 months pregnant) and Clementine who showed us to our rooms in the dorm wing of the Diocesan house, just recently completed. We had time just enough time to wash our hands before being ushered into the dining room where we were served a hot feast of chicken, peas and carrots, rice, plantains, and potatoes.

Soon after 7, (1PM our time) 32 hours without horizontal sleep) we met with Bishop Jared Kalimba, Eugene Kagwera, and Pastor Prosper to go over the week's schedule. The meeting was informative and filled in some blanks, but left more questions unanswered than some in our group would have preferred. HOwever, there was unanimity over our disappointment that we would be leaving too soon. 

We concluded with prayer and hopes to get into bed, only to be informed by the bishop that a supper had been prepared to honor our arrival. Everyone, to the person, put on the best face and gratefully accepted Bishop Kalimba's kind invitation to eat...once again! By 9PM the halls became very quiet as we retired before starting our first full day as emissaries from Apostles to our brothers and sisters of the Shyogwe Diocese.