Denver Colorado

After a tiring trip with a major delay, missed connection, re-routing and cancelled flight on my way from Kigali to Denver, I arrived 48 hours after I left Rwanda.  Sure I was tired but looking on the bright side, I did get to enjoy a luxurious night with dinner, breakfast and wireless internet at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. There had to be a bonus and I was sure ready for a sleep, a nice hot shower and good internet access when I arrived in Chicago. I have decided that these small changes are all part of the adventure and have decided I will just go along for the ride and enjoy it! I did!

Staying with David and Jenny Wraight has been great. They also have two other house guests here for various meetings and for GA - Jessica from Holland and Daniella from Germany.

I have been having a fabulous time volunteering at the YFC International office in preparation for the General Assembly and also meeting all the new arrivals as they come for GA.  There will be about 300 participants from 80 countries.

My workmate for most of the week has been a beautiful new young friend, Ellian from The Gambia, a tiny country in West Africa.

Together Ellian and I have hand written greetings and Bible verses inside 300 welcome cards for each of the participants of GA.

 

Really clever cards - I like them.

 

And we have counted bracelets for the Welcome Bags

and then been part of the team to fill the Welcome Bags. There' s a heap of excellent donated stuff going in there!

 

And we helped sort clothes donated for the 'Thrift Shop' at the General Assembly

And we even got Luc (from Rwanda) helping us to cut out trees and leaves ready for some decorating at a dinner during the General Assembly.

It's been such a great experience for me spending time at the International Office.The atmosphere is happy, fun, warm, friendly and a really good place to work and to be. It's been a bonus on my trip and a quiet wind-down after Rwanda and before GA.

Next I'm registered for a 2 day Coaching 101 course for Saturday and Sunday and am looking forward to that. I will have done it by the time you read this though!! GA begins Sunday afternoon and who knows if I'll have time to post anything on the blog while that's going on. But it's going to be fantastic and I can't wait.

Farewell

So our 10 weeks in Rwanda is over and it is time to say Goodbye to the 'land of a thousand hills' - a land of poverty and hardship, beautiful people with spiritual depth and richness and hope for a bright future. What a privilege it has been to serve the Lord here amongst the Rwandese Christians in the RYFC family. I pray that the Lord will allow me to return here to share in their lives again.

On Thursday afternoon we farewelled all the teachers. On Friday morning we met with all the watchmen at 6.20 am so that we could farewell the night shift and the day shift guys all at the same time. We gave each of them a tiny gold kangaroo pin and a small card. It was a happy time. These guys keep watch over the RYFC property and the people who use it and live and work there. They had taken care of us on numerous occasions - taken our washing off the bushes when it started to rain and we were not home, hidden our shoes from view so that no-one from the road might see them (and take them) when we had left them out to dry, walked with us by torch-light when we arrived home late any evening. Most of the watchmen speak little English but it's amazing what a smile, a handshake each morning or evening does, and making an effort to say their names and speaking a few words of greeting in their language can do. It lights up their faces! Smiles speak every language. I think that smiles are a gift from God so that we can bless other people.

On Saturday Sue and I decided to have 'Open House' from 2 pm till 7 pm to say 'Goodbye' to our Rwandan family.  We bought crates of sodas, baked about 150 pikelets (mini pancakes) which we spread with jam and cut two pineapples into pieces and stuck toothpicks in them for easy pick-up and eating (very Rwandan!) We also had some yummy roasted groud nuts (peanuts) which had been given to us when we visited David's family a week or so earlier. It was both deep and fun - a very fitting end to our stay.

 

Our visitors enjoyed the refreshments we had prepared, brought gifts and we all enjoyed each other's company. Several stayed later and we had a deep time of sharing and praying - rare and beautiful.

Check out our new bags from two of our favourite teachers.

We needed to be helped with the head gear. Our visitors helped us to 'get it right' (!) and were delighted with the way we looked.

In the morning we had both packed our cases and carry on luggage and were pleased that everything fitted (at a pinch!) But by the end of the evening we had a luggage problem!  But hey! How special to be loved like that! We wouldn't change that for anything.

On Sunday the previous week Sue had been farewelled at church because she left to fly back to Australia in the early hours of Sunday 18th.

 
I departed Rwanda in the evening of 18th and so I was farewelled in the morning before I left. They too blessed us with gifts. These people are so appreciative and so generous with the little that they have. We could learn much from them.

Farewell 'Land of a thousand hills' and Rwanda Youth for Christ. God used you to bless us and we love you.

Church in Rwanda

In Rwanda Sue and I attend the Anglican church across the road from where we live. It is supposed to begin at 9.30 am but people arrive any old time from 9 am to 11 am. It's not easy to plan what time you arrive anywhere in Rwanda because one must rely on public transport like buses or motor bikes or  go by foot, as most people in this coutnry do. Very, very few people have cars in Rwanda because they are so poor and cars and licenses are very expensive, even by our standards. Fuel alone is AU$1.60 per litre. But out of about 150 in our congregation a few do have cars.

  It's a simple little church with wooden benches and we really feel at home and part of the family there, as Mal and I did 4 years ago.

The pastor usually arrives around 9.40 am or thereabouts! It's quite hard to tell exactly when the service starts because nothing stops or changes when he arrives and praise and worship just keep on going and going for the first hour or so. It's GREAT! Everyone really gets into the swing with singing, dancing and yelling.

When Sue and I arrive someone comes to sit beside us so that they will be able to interpret the service for us. During the service two or three choirs will sing and there will be plenty of communal singing, lots of prayers, Bible readings and a very long sermon. 

The church has a number of choirs - for children, youth and several groups of adults. A couple of these sing every week

  It all usually lasts several hours, until about 12.30 or 1 pm! We enjoy ourselves. These people REALLY know how to worship God!

I am now in the US but have more things I want to post about Rwanda, so I hope you won't mind that the next few are about Rwanda even if I'm not there any more!!
Then it'll be time to post about the YFC General Assembly in Denver. I wonder if I will have time to do that!

A Highlight of our time in Rwanda

On Friday we had THE most interesting day. 

We went to visit David's home.


Until two weeks ago it seemed that David had no opportunity to go to university at all and therefore no hope for a future. In Rwanda it is very difficult to get a job, but there is far greater possibility if you have a university degree.  There is an Aussie family who asked us to find a young Rwandan to educate and so we have been able to make this connection. David is a student at the YFC School of Leadership and Discipleship. He has a very sad story but is such a bright and positive young man. He is so excited to be able to go to univeristy and considers this to be a miracle. For him it is - that God would arrange for us to meet and have the offer of sponsorship for him.

There are so many very needy young people here (well people of every age), who would dearly love to study at university, but will not ever have the opportunity to do so or to have a positive future. In Rwanda, if one person in a family is educated and/or has a job it benefits the entire family.

If anyone else is interested to sponsor the uni education of a young person I'd love to connect you with someone. It would cost between AU$1500 and AU$2000 per year for 4 years. I have the names of several especially needy young people - no parents and very poor, but intelligent and enthusiastic to study. 

On Friday Sue and I set off from home at 6.30 am, caught two local buses to the 'country bus station' and then another bus to the village of Ruhango. We stopped off to make a visit to the Gitarama Prison (that was an interesting experience).  Then we hopped on another bus to a small village where we got off and walked for an hour or so, in bright sun (I forgot the sunscreen on the back of my neck and it got quite burnt - Oh dear!).

As usual we met with heaps of kids who wanted to see the muzungus (white people). They are always eager to have their photo taken. David thought that many of these children may never have seen a white person before.

At around 12.30 we finally arrived at David's home. David's parents are no longer here - dad and two brothers were killed during the genocide. Head of the household is his older sister who is a wonderful homemaker in a tiny simple dwelling in the middle of nowhere - a long walk from anywhere. We were treated to a typical tasty Rwandan meal of potato chips, rice, beans and chicken. And then followed the speeches of thanks and appreciation, our speeches and the giving and receiving of gifts. These people know how to be hospitable, to share the little they have, to give speeches, to give gifts, to pray and to give love. It is an amazing and very humbling experience to be recipients of all of that!

When all the formalites were over it was time to get started on our long journey home, but many photos before we left.

This is maize drying

Another long walk, but this time it wasn't burning sun all the way. It turned into drenching rain!  But the  company was fabulous. It is usual practice for the family to walk you home or well on your way after you have visited with them. And so we all set off together across the hills.

 
And then we all got wet together. But it was heaps of fun! I donated my umbrella to David's sister who was carrying the baby on her back!

The highlight of the day was still to come. At this time of day there was no bus to take us back to the village of Ruhango. Our only option was to take a motorcycle. Sue and I had decided that we would not use this method of transport in Rwanda as it was not respsonsible as YFC Senior Servants. However, this day we had no other option. We had committed to go with David to visit his family and it was only the day before, when we were discussing transport, that we heard that we might need to take a 'moto'. I sent out an urgent prayer request to my prayer team!! Accidents happen often with motos in this country! And I doubt our travel insurance would have paid up in case of accident!

IT WAS THE MOST AMAZING AND EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE I CAN REMEMBER!! FABULOUS!! Ken and Gwyn, now I understand your family's love for motor bikes! I want to do it again!  Four of us travelled on 4 motos through hills and villages for an hour without stopping. It was beautiful countryside with interesting little villages - well ongoing village that never really stopped, people people everywhere and lots of little children calling out 'Muzungu' (white person!). I loved it! 

What do you think of us Mucecuru (old women) on our bikes?

More buses home and two very tired Senior Servants arrived back at YFC at about 7.30 pm in time for our farewell meal with the students of the School of Leadership and Discipleship. (They left for Kenya the next day and we won't see them again)

What a wonderful day!  Thank you, David and your family, for your generosity and friendship and the opportunity to experience more of this beautiful country.  We're praying for your future and your relationship with your sponsor family. You are a very special young man

Rwandan names

Naming a child is a very big and important event in Rwandan culture.  Traditionally it happens 6 weeks after the birth of the baby and many guests are invited to attend the ceremony. Food is shared and then everyone, including all the children of all ages, is given an opportunity to suggest a name for the child. It is written in a book and when the parents have pretended to consider everyone's suggestions they announce the name of the baby. Mal and I were thrilled to be involved in this in 2007!

The name given to the child is also very important and well thought out. It will often reflect the desire the parents have for their child or their family, or the situation they found themselves in at the time of the birth.  Most commonly people will have first a Kinyarwanda name and then an English or French name. They use either name when talking or referring to each other. I thought you might be interested to know some of the names of people /children we have met.

First I will tell you some of the English names:


Hallelujah and Amen - these two are twins!
Peace, Joy, Hope, Faith, Happiness, Pray, Goal, Blessing, Shalom, Favour, Alliance, Radiance, Innocent, Epiphany, Emmanuel, Immaculate, Victory, Liberate, Fortunate and Grace.

Some of the Kinyarwanda names, with meanings, are:

Akimana - for God

Cyiza - beautiful

Gisubizo - the answer

Ihimbazwe - glory be to God

Imanishmwe - praise be to God

Iradukunda - God loves us

Iranzi - God knows me

Mutamuliza - never let her be sad

Mutuyimana - I offer her to God

Ngaboyisonga - a courageous soldier

Ruteneshwa - undefeatable

Rabashake - willingness

Umwali - well behaved girl

Uwamwesi - sunshine

And I could go on and on because there are many and they are so very interesting..

People here are also interested to know the meaning of our names because in their culture the meanings are so important. 

What does your name mean?                 Do you know?  

Jane means God is gracious. And I know He is!

Mal's birthday

25th August was Mal's birthday.  I was thrilled that my children remembered and, along with Mal's brother, emailed to say that they were thinking of him and of me - warmed my heart and made me cry at the same time. Good tears! Thankful tears. Thankful to God for my beautiful husband and the wonderful years we lived and loved life together.

25th August is also the birthday of a very gorgeous 13 year old living close to us in Kigali, Rwanda. Alliance lives with the RYFC director and his family so that she can attend Kigali Christian School. We were invited to share in her birthday celebrations.

 

Here she is about to talk to her dad who called to wish her 'Happy Birthday'.  The director gave a speech - of course!! Africans LOVE speeches and this was a very worthy recipient!  In his speech JB also made mention of Mal, who shared her birthday.  He told Alliance that she would do well to live her life like he did - a life of service to others - more tears for me!! Thankful tears again.

We enjoyed a sumptuous Rwandan meal with the family and then it was time for cake and candles.  Yummy cake!

Happy birthday, Alliance

Umuganda - Community work

This program has been operating in Rwanda for many years. It was revamped following the genocide in 1994. On the last Saturday of each month every person is obliged to do community service together in their umudugudu – their village, or in the town it is a group of 100 houses. 

On umuganda day all shops are closed, public buses don't run and you can't have a wedding until after unuganda is over at midday. Everyone should take their little booklet to be signed.This is an offical document and needed for some offcial purposes. 

People meet at a particular point in their area at 9 am and work together until 11 am on whatever project the local leaders have decided needs to be done.  At 11 am they meet together to enjoy each other's company and hear whatever local news needs to be passed on to umudugudu members.

I spoke with two young men the night before umuganda and they were really looking forward to the following day. They were going to repair a road in their area that week.

The sign on the corner of our block of land says:

 

Murakaza Neza is Kinyarwanda for 'Welcome to our home', and so this sign says : 'Welcome to our home - the 'village of Nyirabwana'

 As the Seventh Day Adventists worship on Saturdays they are permitted to do their umuganda on Fridays. Very considerate, don’t you think?!

I’m sure this program helps the people to be proud of what they have, as they have actually worked to achieve it. Even though the standards of many things in Rwanda would be considered by many to be below ours, they take great pride in their country. And I admire them so much for that.

Feeding more than 700 people 5 days a week!

That's right. 700 plus people fed Monday to Friday - 630 school children, 45 teachers, 38 students from the School of Leadership and Discipleship, 12 RYFC staff members and us!

When RYFC realised that some/many of the children at Kigali Christian School were coming to school without having eaten anything and/or didn't bring food to school and then maybe had nothing when they went home, they decided that it was time they fed the children at school. And so now they have at least one good meal each day.

I thought you might be interested to see how they make that happen.

At 8 am the kitchen staff get busy peeling and chopping spuds and carrots.

They thought that I should help too!

The utensils they use are huge because they are cooking for a huge number of people!

This guy is scooping the potatoes into hot oil for chips (They make the BEST chips in Rwanda!! 'Not very healthy, Jane', you say, but VERY yummy!)

And this guy is stirring the vegetable sauce which will go on the rice. All of this is cooked on charcoal fires set into the concrete benches or sitting separately on the floor (chips). It gets seriously hot in that kitchen!

 And when all is ready a little assembly line of helpers serves the meal into individual lunch boxes ready to take to the classroms where the children will eat their lunch.

Each classroom has its own crate for delivery and the lunch boxes are packed quite lovingly into each crate.

Then its time to add in the fresh fruit

a labelled tub for each classroom

 

and then off it goes to the children

The lunch monitors say grace

 and then hand out the food to the students

 

Its a very happy occasion  and they were delighted to have me there taking their photos

Well done Rwanda Youth for Christ, you're doing a fantastic job!