The following is an outline of the entire trip. We hope you enjoy reading it and catching up on all the Lord did on this wonderful trip. We will be hosting a church-wide event on Sunday evening, August 7th to show pictures, and share stories of our trip as well as outline the next steps in our partnership. God bless you all and thank you for your prayers.
In Christ,
Patrick
Trip Summary:
June 12th-13th Travel to Brussels. Monday flights to Rwanda had been cancelled last March and somehow our team was not notified. Spent the night in Brussels after sightseeing the downtown "Gran'd Place." Lindsay and Ford Jordan arrived in Kigali on the 13th as planned. They were picked up by Venant and taken to the guest house at Cyakabiri. Another name for this place is the Halleluyah House. We were told that cyakabiri means "the hearth," and that this location is the actual center of Rwanda. Note: It appears that Venant is in training to one day possibly become the next Bishop.
This area is where Zion Mountain is located and is also where the Bishop resides. The guest house is comfortable with electricity and hot water for showering. There were a couple of occasions when either the electricity went out or the water did not run;however, this was short- lived. Verena was our hostess and prepared all of our meals. Celeste was our driver (as in 2009).
June 14th The Jordans spent the day with Bishop Kalimba. They toured the Zion Project and the Gahoga Parish. Gahogo Parish is where Eugenie Kagwera lives (Diocesan Administrator). Ford stated during debriefing that he and Lindsay enjoyed seeing the projects. They toured the pineapple plant, met the staff, saw the leather, wood, metal and computer shops. They visited with the children and women in the sewing room. All of these activities produce revenue for the parish. Jam is also made here and the Bishop is trying to grow two apple trees.
Residing at Zion Mountain for four months is a team of newly graduated H.S. seniors from the U.K. They are called "The Transformational Team." They serve the diocese running studies, cleaning, gardening, playing with children and other activities. The Bishop expressed his enjoyment of having these young people around and voiced much approval of this program.
During debriefing, the Bishop explained that Zion has a need to start a K-primary school. Here in Gitarama (the surrounding land area), there is a good school run by a nonbeliever. Bishop Kalimba has disagreements with him. The Bishop said the school is attached to the town and not the church. There is a Compassion Project located there where one child may be supported and attend the school, but not the remainder of the family. The Bishop wants to attract people from Gitarama to Zion where all children may attend school and learn about God.
June 15th Visited Gikomero Parish. It was with great joy that we saw people we had met in 2009. This included Theoneste MUNYENGABO (head of christian laity), Vincent (headmaster), and Saverine NYIRABABIRIGI (head of Mother's Union). We also met Chantel NYIRAKABENGERA, the head of the Sunday school. This was a full day which began with a tour of The Water Project. Later on the 18th, Israel (the head person), went into great detail explaining the technical aspects of this project. Frank Koehler and Lee Garrett will have a report regarding this meeting.
It was a very steep, long and gully filled drive from Gikomero Parish to the source of fresh water. The Bishop explained that the diocese bought the land for the well and that persons from the community (not Gikomero Parish) own the surrounding areas. Initially, this was a problem because individuals wanted payment for use of their land. The mayor intervened and helped them realize that all of the community own the water so that all of the community must protect the water. Many of these people were present to show support for this project. They will help with construction without pay. One spokeswoman told us thank-you, the water will keep us healthy, and that they will work together to benefit all. She continued to say that one day we will have a health center so that we don't have to go so far to the hospital, and that from this source there is enough water for everyone. The chief executive for the mayor of this district (Muhango)told us that he will tell the mayor that we came, it was good of us to come, and that we are kind and good.
The men in charge of this project are Eugene NDUHURA and Vincent MINANI. After realizing that the first proposal was very inaccurate, the Bishop hired Israel to manage this project. He completed the water project at Shyogwe and has worked in this field all over the world. A technician named Celeste assists Israel. Basically, they have built a well and are connecting pipes from it to a spring. The spring has been protected by fencing. At the source, chambers have been built where the community comes to gather water. They can control the water flow here. This is where Ford washed his face. They hope to soon install a pump and a generator.
The plan is also to build a tank at the highest place at Gikomero (this is up a very steep incline-approximately 3K). The pipes will be buried underground. The community is in the process of making a road that leads to the water source from the main road. There is a problem with the land ownership where the next tank is to be located. The land is in the middle of private property but is owned by the government. It is very close to the health center. The Bishop is in negotiations with both parties to hopefully get the land for free. When we visited the site, he had his arms around both parties and was talking and laughing. Eugenie told us that so far the negotiations are "90% successful."
From here we toured the medical clinic. In addition to the old building that we saw in 2009, a second building has been constructed which is the mirror image of the first. The old building has solar power and toilets. There is a rain barrel type of container that is new and is used for flushing the toilets and hand washing. The new clinic does not have power or a rain barrel. It is set up to use solar power. The building has a maternity unit, and rooms for males, females and children. Presently, the rooms are not being used. The maternity unit must have running water to open. The clinic can become a hospital once it has OB/GYN capacity. The Bishop told us that it is still too small and the hope is to expand in the years ahead. The focus is to serve the surrounding population and not just Gikomero. There is a severe shortage of doctors. One serves approximately 50,000 persons. Because it was Wednesday, the immunization clinic was open and the old clinic was filled with moms and babies. The moms were holding vaccination records. We saw Vivian, who we met in 2009. She worked then at the dispensary and now works in the clinic.
We then went to the school and spoke with the headmaster, Vincent MINANI. He told us that all of Rwanda had started a program called the "Nine Basic Education." I wasn't sure I understood the explanation, but it appears that a child attends six years of primary school and then Sr. 1, 2, and 3. Recently, there is a new plan for six years of school after primary. There are three levels of achievement. The diploma is the lowest, bachelor next, and a degree third. One of the goals of this program is to help people have access to secondary school. In the past, children graduated from primary school and were too young to work. Once a person completes secondary school;however, he is old enough to work. For children who cannot go to secondary school, there will be an opportunity to attend vocational school and learn a trade (sewing, carpentry, etc.). In 2009 the construction of the vocational school building began (using bricks of the old clinic). The building is now complete and the plan is to open next year. Parents pay for this vocational education.
In Rev. Etienne's report he writes that in his parish 455 have completed primary school. Fifty-one have finished secondary school and three have completed university. There are 41 persons who have never attended school. Vincent told us that 1,000 children attend school at Gikomero. The Bishop repeated the goal of how important it is to train trainers who once trained, spread out and train others. We discussed the possibility of sending English teachers to train teachers from all over at Mt. Zion. Next year, school is out July 28th for three weeks. The team agreed to pray and discuss this back home.
Vincent said that there are several difficulties with the school. They lack English dictionaries. We learned later that they do not need French to English translations but simply English. Computer science is only taught in theory because they do not have electricity. He has a goal of owning 20 computers and powering the lab with solar power. The cost of his plan is 9,463,000Rwf. We were careful not to promise to fund this project.
After this we walked to Rev. Etienne's home (previously Rev. Martin's residence). We passed by the chapel and visited Rev. Martin's grave. We met his grieving father. Rev. Etienne told us that Gikomero was founded in 1945 by a white missionary named Peter Gilib. He wrote in his report that it was a small church with very few Christians who believed in God (but also had traditional beliefs). The church grew steadily and in 1975 it became a parish. In 1980, there was a revival and many got saved. The numbers of Christians grew from 150 to 400 and more. Now, there are 67 men, 126 women, 51 between the ages of 0-5, 201 from 6-14, and 106 youth. Etienne is the parish priest with a diploma level in theology. Gikomero has four grassroots, each with a different leader. The roots are Kabuba, Mwaka, Gikomero and Nyarubumka. Refer to Etienne's report for more details. The 2009 team visited a chapel of Gikomero called Mutara. At Friday's confirmation service, we saw members from Mutara present (at least a four mile walk). One was the woman Marilee exchanged gifts with. It was explained again to us that a parish is divided into chapels and that people attend chapel on Sunday. Once a month, everyone attends the parish chapel together.
We enjoyed lunch at Rev. Etienne's home. We met his wife, Felicima and their 7 month old son, Imeza or peacemaker. Etienne is 31 and his wife is 25. They have been married for one year. I think the entire executive church committee attended as well as many women from the Mother's Union. The Bishop explained to us that an executive committee runs the parish. There are 10 committees, each with one leader. The titles of the groups are parish priest, christian laity, Mother's Union, evangelism, development, prayers, Sunday school, choir, visitors, and building. The name of each group leader is in Etienne's report. Eugenie is vice-president of the Mother's Union. Gikomero has 20 cell groups and they do provide premarital counseling.
After lunch, Sue, Lindsay and myself met with the women of Gikomero in the chapel. Patrick, Lee, Frank and Ford remained and met with the men. Patrick will provide a report as well as Sue about the discussions. When asked if they had questions for us, the women responded by sharing testimonies. They told us they participate in a women's fellowship group and they meet the second Wednesday of each month. They work on projects together. They did make soap but the house was destroyed? They grow gardens. They have a sewing machine but do not have materials. We gave them the hand bags which they seemed to love.
We then visited Shyogwe where we stayed in 2009. This is the headquarters of the diocese. First, we toured the health center which seemed pretty much unchanged since 2009. The clinic officer is named Eugene. He told us that the center serves an area of 22,000 persons. We met several midwife interns who were there for one month. We were informed that they have a FHI, or a Family Planning Center (is in Raleigh also). We saw a separate building used solely for malnutrition education. There is a huge boarding school beside the center. Eugene said all services are provided here--labor, delivery and recovery, nurse training and education, AIDS, TB, asthma and respiratory infections. He said the center needs a larger maternity unit and hopes to become a hospital soon.
We then went to the Shyogwe Bible School and reconnected with Rev. Gasana. He seems to be doing well. His eldest daughter is engaged. His wife and three girls are well and his handicapped son is growing but otherwise unchanged. We met 14 students who asked us many questions about Apostles. They were very curious about how our leadership works and how we get the money to pay our employees. The Bishop talked to them about tithing. They sang several songs for us and welcomed us. It was getting dark so we had to leave. We saw the Bishop's bats.
June 16th Had devotions with the Transformational Team, the Bishop and Eugenie. The study was on how God looks at the heart. We cannot clothe ourselves inside with undergarments or with God's armor without first asking Christ to dwell inside.The Bishop prayed that God would transform us and that we would use the gifts given us. We read from 1 Samuel 16, Isaiah 9, and II Timothy 1:6.
Israel then met with us and discussed the water project. Frank and Lee can give complete reports. Basically, the cost of the project is much higher than anticipated. Israel said he would come up with a reduced budget and give it to us. He said there were several areas that could be cut with the free labor of the community. He also said that it is a national policy to manage water and that he has put into the system a plan of management. He is educating the community about the importance of water.
We then visited Hanika Parish (team in 2009 visited also). This place is a very well developed community. We met the head administrator, Rev. Eduard NYITURIKI (used to work in Shyogwe). He did not know who his sister church is and Lindsay was able to give him the contact information. We toured the grounds and saw the health clinic (many moms with babies there for well baby visits, also saw a Rwandan ambulance with a very ill person). We saw their vocational school, technology school, regular schools and private schools. Many of the children came up to greet us in English.
We went to Butare and had lunch at the guest house (very beautiful). We visited the museum (team saw in 2009), and then traveled to Murambi to see the Genocide Memorial site. This place is where "Operation Turquoise" occurred. The French assisted the rebels in killing 50,000 Tutsi men, women, and children. Tutsis went to this place believing they would be safe and actually walked into a trap. There were mass graves and room after room of bodies preserved with lime. It is easy to dislike the French for aiding and equipping this massacre. Later, the Bishop told us that French people did come and save lives, but many more died. He told us that his wife and three daughters live in France and are citizens. His wife has become incompetent following the genocide and apparently will not be returning to Rwanda.
June 17th We went to the confirmation service at Gikomero. Many of the different parishes were represented. The service started at 9:30 and continued until after 2:00. It was an outdoor service and we sat under a tarp. The congregation sat in the sun or under umbrellas. Before we got there, a wedding had taken place. The service passed quickly. Patrick preached about heart transformation. Ford baptized babies and a couple of young children. All the confirmed believers present celebrated communion together. Many young people were confirmed. They recited several passages of scripture and each shared their most meaningful scripture verse. Many choirs sang and danced. There was one man who renounced his Catholic faith and joined the church. The children who were confirmed stood in a long line with envelopes and their loved ones and supporters came up and gave them money gifts. At the end, the Bishop introduced different leaders who gave our team many many gifts. Dancille and the children came up and gave us a gift with pictures. Patrick gave them the picture of Apostles with our congregation and they loved it! I saw it hanging up in Rev. Etienne's home when we had lunch there afterwards. It was a wonderful service. They promised to pray for all of us reguarly and said our congregation were now members of Gikomero.
After lunch, we said all of our goodbyes and left for Lake Kivu to spend the night in the Bethany Guest House. It is a very beautiful place and we enjoyed our short stay. Frank and Sue renewed their wedding vows Friday evening because it was their 11th anniversary. It was here that we learned that Eugenie had been poisoned by a pastor's wife when teaching in a village. She nearly died, but the Lord healed her through prayer. This is one theme that was very apparent this week--that we can look like Christians on the outside but not be changed in our hearts (for ex., the pastor's wife). It was a theme in our devotion with the Transformational Team and the theme of Patrick's sermon. The Bishop talked of how this is such a problem in Rwanda. We were able to spend time with Dancille and learned about her educational issues. Please see notes included.
We traveled back to Mt. Zion Saturday a.m. June 18th. Here we packed and debriefed with the Bishop. See notes included. We went shopping at the Mother's Union. We left for the airport at 3:30, arriving back in Raleigh at different times late Sunday afternoon. We debriefed as a team during our layover in Brussels. This debriefing includes an action plan and is included in this report. Please read Rev. Etienne's report where he states the vision and purpose of the Gikomero Parish.
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