1 week later.

Now that the dust has settled from our Rwanda visit, we can thank the Lord for all that we were able to do - people to meet, projects to learn about and things to discuss. We do hope that our visit, especially to the different parishes, will have been an encouragement to the local Christians.  Certainly our visit reminded us of the importance of the face-to-face encounters. Relationships are so important.

So as we tidy things up, process our discussions and write things up, please pray that we will be guided by the Holy Spirit as to how best we can continue our partnerships with both the dioceses of Byumba and Gasabo.

Thank for your prayer support and for the financial support that many of you gave towards the SAP conferences and the Water-Harvesting Projects.

Our ongoing Support A Parish programme has a five-year plan to help parishes 'graduate' so that they are able to care for themselves financially. We're pleased that this has happened for some of the parishes but need to work hard to help more 'graduate'. As part of this is our aim to make sure that every SAP-linked parish has at least one Water-Harvesting Project installed. So far, seven WHPs have been installed by DT. Other NGOs have supplied WHPs to other parishes, but there are many more that have nothing. So your help with either of these projects will always be welcome. Please see our web-site for how to become a SAP Partner.

More photos of our visit are available on Instagram - @damascustrust.

Thanks for reading and until next time...

DT Team Rwanda 2019

Tuesday

Heather spent some of Monday night / Tuesday morning up and down with an upset tummy. By the morning, she decided (wisely) it would be best to stay at the centre rather than risk travelling to the two parishes.

So, now there were two! Grace and Andy were picked up by our driver Christian and Archdeacon Fidel and we went off to Rutunga parish, cared for by Pastor Damascene, his wife Claudine and the catechists. There is a school and a pastors’ house, but no church building as yet. Thankfully a dividing wall has been removed to make two classrooms into one larger room which is where the church meets. In another classroom, the children had been joined by their parents as it was the last day before a two-week holiday. The children, aged between 4-6 years, showed off their singing skills and also counted in English. The parents were all very pleased and three children received prizes for outstanding work.

We then had time with the church leaders who introduced themselves and their various responsibilities. Andy wanted to share from Colossians 1:10, but before he did, the church leaders stood and gave an impromptu, but beautiful rendition of the verse as a song! We’ve posted it on Instagram.

Our journey to Gasura parish, took us up a hill and past the city refuse tip. The ‘road’ is very dry and dusty and with lorries going up and down every day, the amount of dust kicked up is almost unbelievable. Everything and everyone is covered with a film of brown dust. As lorries pass, a huge cloud of dust follows them and if you are travelling in the opposite direction, your have to stop as visibility is zero (see Instagram video). The leaves of the banana trees have changed colour and are no longer green but brown. For those living alongside this track, life expectancy must be seriously curtailed by respiratory issues.

Last time we visited Gasura parish, the church building was falling down (literally) and the land around was a bit of a wasteland. Only the pastor’s house had been rebuilt in hope of what was to come.

As we drove along the road, we were met by an amazing transformation. Four new classrooms; two water tanks; three further classrooms being built and a brand new church building that will seat several hundred people. The site is unrecognisable. As you might guess, there is a very positive feel within the leadership team and Pastor Alfred and his wife Claudette have built a strong team over the past five years since we first visited the parish.

After some more food we travelled back past the refuse site and down through clouds of dust to the relative clean main road back to our rooms.

Tomorrow we have to get packed up, then off to PHARP to collect some baskets and bags for Ubushuti before we travel to the airport for our flight back to Birmingham. So a final update will be posted once we are back at the DT office.

Thanks for reading and praying - and goodnight!

Monday

On Monday, once Valerie and Jim had packed up, we all went into Kigali. First we dropped in on a new church building in Kimironko parish. This is a three-storey building with a large main auditorium that is very modern (see pictures on Instagram @damascustrust). On the lower level is Great Hill School which offers nursery and primary education.

Then we went to the Cathedral where they have a sewing business in the back rooms. Jim was picking up three clerical shirts he had commissioned in some African printed fabric. It will be interesting to see the reaction from his parishioners when he gets back to the UK - not to mention the other clergy! Sunglasses may become obligatory.

Then we headed into the city centre and had three hours to relax, drink coffee, shop and eat together in the Bamboo rooftop restaurant. Not to be outdone by her husband, Valerie bought some African-print lightweight trousers. 

Then it was back to the SU centre to be ready for a car to take Valerie and Jim to the airport. As the agreed pick-up time came and went and then another hour passed, a phone call was made, some confusion had occurred and a pastor was despatched to collect them and take then to the airport. We heard they made it in time and should be back home by now.

Saturday and Sunday

On Saturday morning we went off to visit the Kigali Anglican Theological College which is in the process of applying for University status. The college is situated some way out of Kigali on a campus that is being developed. New accommodation blocks have gone up in the last two years and further building work, including housing for teaching staff, is being done on site to bring it up to the level required by the government for a university. 

We were met by Viateur Ndikumana, who has recently taken over as principal and director. He was appointed to help with the changes needed and to raise the level of training and education. It is clear that he is making significant changes. With the recent government condition that all church leaders must be educated to degree level, KATC has a key role in helping this to happen in the Anglican Church. It is hoped that within the next few months, their application process will be complete and they will be granted University status. Please pray for Viateur and his staff, as they work together to move things forward.

We then went to the Genocide Memorial Centre in Kigali. Most of the team has been before, but it is important to remind ourselves of what happened in 1994 and the history leading up to the genocide. Significant changes have happened over the last 25 years to help bring stability and economic improvements to Rwanda, and new buildings (office blocks, housing) are going up all over Kigali. But challenges remain. There are still many people, some of whom we have met, who are living in poverty and struggle to make ends meet day to day.

On Sunday, Valerie and Jim went to Bumbogo parish and Heather, Grace and Andy went to Rubungo parish. Valerie and Jim had a relatively short service, but then had the treat of staying on for a diocesan-wide choir competition! Church choirs, drama groups and readings filled the next few hours as they competed to be crowned ‘Choir of the Year’! Earlier heats had eliminated some choirs, but there were still plenty left in the competition and the standard was very impressive. At the end, the winning choir wanted photos taken with the ‘muzungu’, so Jim and Valerie duly obliged.

At Rubungo, things were more normal with a traditionally long service including five choirs (none of which presumably, had made it to the finals). Congregational singing was energetic and many came to the front to join in dancing, leaping and clapping. High heels did not stop some of the younger women joining in along with some of the robed clergy / servers. It is good to be with such groups of God’s people and to experience their way of praising him. It encourages us to be a little more expressive in our English services!

On Monday we have a day to be out and about in Kigali, do some sightseeing (?) and shopping as well as relax over a coffee or two. Jim and Valerie fly back to the UK in the evening.

Thanks for reading and goodnight.

Friday.

Today we had a slow start but by mid-morning we were on our way to the Peace-building Healing And Reconciliation Programme (PHARP). This is an organisation set up in 1998 to help with bringing about the restoration of society in Rwanda that had been devastated by the genocide. PHARP offers opportunity for those traumatised by the war to come together to have training for sewing/dressmaking, basket-making, crafts and cards that can provide them with a means of making some money and giving hope for the future. As they meet together, so they talk and share experiences and emotions. This becomes a great help in bringing about healing and reconciliation between individuals and groups. It follows a Biblical pattern and there is daily prayer and Bible reading at the start of each day.

Damascus Trust has been selling bags, baskets and cards from both PHARP and Hannah Ministry in Byumba, on an ‘ad-hoc’ basis under the name of Ubushuti (Friendship). But now we are trying to establish a more regular pattern of receiving goods to sell and raise funds for our different projects here in Rwanda. The main difficulty is transport, which can cost as much as the goods are worth. We are praying that, whilst we are here, the Lord will lead us to the right person / people who can help us and show us the right way forward. Please pray with us for this.

After our time at PHARP we met up with Pastor Philbert who oversees the parish of Gacuriro. This is a parish with one congregation that had its immediate neighbourhood decimated by developers who left just their small old building isolated and vulnerable. Christians continued to meet there until the recent new building regs were introduced which meant the building had to close. Many of the congregation had moved out already when the developers moved in, although they had continued to travel in to meet in the building, but now they had to meet some way away in a room of the Cathedral. This is not suitable for many in the congregation, so numbers at Sunday services are low, but they have set up three house groups at which around 50-55 people attend during the week. It is these groups that are keeping the fellowship goinc for the time being. Meanwhile there is no decision from the local authorities about where a new church building can be put. This has left this particular small parish in limbo, which is very unsettling for all concerned. Please pray for a favourable decision to be made that is in line with the Lord’s will, and for the believers to have listening ears and willing hearts to obey him.

Tomorrow we are visiting the Theological University and the Genocide Memorial Centre.

Thanks for reading and goodnight.

Thursday

We were off to visit the parishes of Kinyinya and Bumbogo, both in the Gasabo diocese and both part of the SAP programme. Fidel’s car had been repaired by the garage (quick work) so he was able to help us again with transport.

You can see plenty of photos of our visits on Instagram - @damascustrust - but the main church building of Kinyinya parish is waiting for planning permission to be rebuilt. It is an old building and needs the regulatory upgrades, but rather than doing up the old building, it would be better to start again and build something more appropriate. The problem is that the government has plans for the redevelopment of the whole area and is not willing to give planning permission until all other building work has been confirmed. Despite this the church continues to grow. We heard about home groups that have recently been set up which are becoming an excellent means of evangelism. Home groups are something that the new Archbishop is encouraging.

Bumbogo parish has changed a lot since we were last there in 2017. Six classrooms have been built, four water tanks are installed and a new toilet block is on site. The church building is still the same and needs some attention so again, the parish is considering a rebuilding programme. It seems that the new building regulations, imposed by the government, are giving parishes the opportunity to consider rebuilds rather than upgrades. It’s not clear how viable or economic this option is.

Before we returned to our SU guest house we visited Love In Action, a group set up two years ago to help families with disabled children. Women are taught to make bags, baskets and clothes which are then sold both in Rwanda and overseas. The programme also includes physiotherapy for the children and a nutritional meal. It was great to see the work being done and to meet the women and children who are being helped.

Tomorrow we are visiting more parishes as well as our partners at PHARP (Peace-building Healing And Reconciliation Programme) who also make bags, baskets, clothes and cards. 

Thanks for reading and goodnight.

Wednesday.

Gasabo conference day. Breakfast at 07.30 and then ready for off at 08.30. Archdeacon Fidel came to take two of us to the conference followed by Eric who was taking the other three. Jim and Andy went with Fidel in the advanced group so that they could get there in good time for the start of the conference. All went well until we came across one speed bump somewhat more suddenly than we might have liked. The brakes were applied, we all strained at our seat belts and as we went over the bump, the front right track rod snapped. The front of the car listed to the right, the wheel hit the top of the wheel arch and we ground to a halt.

After an inspection of the front track rod, it was clear that the car would take us no further. Out came Fidel’s mobile phone, calls were made and after a short delay, Jim and Andy were picked up by another car and taken to the conference. Fidel stayed with the car as a mechanic was on his way. Meanwhile the three ladies of the team had been picked up and safely delivered to the conference centre.

The teaching sessions went well, though having started late, we were always going to be pushed for time. Jim and Andy shared the same teaching on the Holy Spirit as had been given at Byumba. The delegates were attentive, the food was very good and we enjoyed our time of learning together.

In the evening we all went for a walk along the main road, past some impressive government and NGO buildings as well as the new Kigali Digital Library. On our way back, we decided to cross the road, using a legal pedestrian crossing, and walk back on the opposite side of the road - just for a change. Bad move. As we passed one building we heard a noise. 'Psssssst!!' And again. 'Psssssst!!!' It was coming from the top of a wall to our right. Valerie turned and waved. Heather called out a greeting. We all looked to see a man, in a uniform, with a gun, gesticulating. Was it a wave? Was it at us? He seemed to be pointing across the road, and it soon became clear that he was shooing us away. Across the road another man was now beaconing us over. It was not clear why, but we did now notice that we were the only ones walking on that side of the road and it became obvious that we shouldn’t be on that pavement.

Once we were safely on the other side of the road, we asked what it was all about and were told that the other pavement was only for the police. We had to walk on this side of the road. Somewhat confused we continued on our way, but began to see that most of the gates on the other side were manned by armed guards. Obviously we had ventured too close to a highly sensitive government or military building.

The rest of the evening passed off without incident and a good sleep beacons.

Thanks for reading and goodnight.

Tuesday

Transfer day. The morning was spent tying up loose ends in Byumba and settling our accounts with the diocesan centre. Then, after lunch, a car arrived from Gasabo diocese to take us down to Kigali. Whilst the car had enough seats for all of us, it did not have enough room for all our bags as well. After a bit of re-organisation and with bags and people sharing the same seat, we managed to squash in and were on our way. Placide, who had hoped to travel with us, had to take a bus to Kigali instead.

The journey to Gasabo diocese was uneventful and we arrived at the SU Guest House mid-afternoon. We were met by Eric (first time), Daniel (again) and Edmund (first time) - all young men with energy and enthusiasm.

Our accommodation is very good and even better for Jim and Valerie who got an upgrade to a huge room with an emperor-sized bed to match. 

After a walk we came across a pizza parlour with charcoal oven and enjoyed sharing some pizzas and drinks.

Tomorrow we have the church leaders’ conference with around 90 delegates attending.

Thanks for reading and goodnight.

Monday (delayed due to no internet connection on Monday)

Another early start as some of us (Grace, Jim and Andy) were visiting three parishes along with Placide and our driver, Efraim. Valerie and Heather were going to be visiting the King Solomon Academy, Hannah Ministry and the coordinator of Mothers’ Union.

After breakfast, three of us joined Efraim in the car and set off for the three parishes. We were due to pick up Placide from the side of the road as we were passing by his parish. The rendezvous worked out fine and we continued our journey together.

Meanwhile, back at the centre, Valerie and Heather were waiting for their lift up to the KSA. After some confusion as to where the driver was, they got their lift and spent some good time meeting the head teacher and looking around the school. Their visit coincided with exams, so they were not able to observe any lessons.

Their time at Hannah Ministry was very positive. They were able to meet the cook, the orphaned children who are cared for as well as the leaders of the widows group who make baskets. We hope to increase our support for Hannah Ministry in the future by selling more of their baskets in the UK. We were also able to pass on some gifts of bowls, cups, plates and cutlery, sent from the UK.

Our visits to the parishes of Ngarama, Bugarura and Nyabihu, was relatively uneventful. Three journeys accompanied by a dust cloud with disappearing pedestrians. Three wonderful welcomes accompanied by the usual hospitality (food, food, food!). Three opportunities to meet the parish pastor and their leadership team.

In Ngarama, the church building is huge and round. The roof is steeply pitched and goes up very high to take heat away from the congregation. It has a metal framework with square box sections, just like a circus tent, so one could imagine trapeze artists swinging high over the crowd below. The roof will yield many litres of water once a water harvesting project (WHP) is installed.

In Nyabihu, it was good to see one of the recent WHPs in place. Final connections need to be made, but we gathered round, laid hands on the tank and prayed the Lord’s blessing on its part in the ministry of the local church.

By the time we were on our way back to the diocesan centre it was late and getting dark. Being so close to the equator, the sun sets very quickly and with no street lights, the dirt tracks can be hazardous at night. So we were grateful to Efraim for his careful driving and were pleased to get ‘home’ safe and sound.

Tomorrow we head off to Gasabo diocese for the second leg of our visit.

Thanks for reading and goodnight.

Sunday - 

A more straightforward day. Jim and Valerie were going to the Cathedral service and Grace, Heather and Andy were off to Rugandu to join with the fellowship there. Breakfast was taken at 8.00am and then we were off.

The cathedral service lasted three hours and forty-five minutes which is fairly standard. As well as the normal selection of choirs, they had a visiting singer from the pentecostal church who happened to sing some songs from his latest CD (available from any good Christian bookshop?)! Jim preached (not from his latest CD) on the Ethiopian eunuch's conversion, which Valerie was able to understand without the help of an interpreter.

The journey to Rugandu was in a normal car, which was not kind on the car. The rattles seemed to get worse as we progressed, but we made it there. A welcome from Pastor Robert included some cakes that had been made in his wife’s bakery along with African tea. Very pleasant.

The church building is being updated with a new concrete floor as well as other things to bring it up to the standard required by the government. It will be re-opened by the Bishop on July 28th. So we were meeting in the school next door. The room was packed and a huge welcome met us as the people sang and danced us in. Children were squashed in at the front next to where Andy was sitting so he had lots of eyes staring up at him, perhaps seeing a white person for the first time.

We introduced ourselves and gave the parish a DT text card. Andy preached on the text from Colossians, encouraging the Christians to live with Christ Jesus as Lord. For his talk the lectern had been moved to the side so that he could walk about and see everyone. It was a tall lectern with a large white cloth over it. After the sermon, during a song, one of the servers picked up the lectern to bring it back into the centre, in front of Pastor Robert. The server was not much bigger than the lectern and as he lifted it up, the cloth fell over his head, limiting what he could see. He continued his task and staggered in the right direction, but only to bump into Pastor Robert. He struggled to stay upright, but managed to place the lectern down on the ground - facing the wrong way. As he emerged from under the cloth he could see his error and, to the accompanying chuckles from the congregation, the lectern was turned around. As the server returned to his position there was impromptu applause and he duly took a bow. 

In the evening we enjoyed supper and conversation with Bishop Emmanuel and his friend Bishop Augustine, recently retired.

Tomorrow Valerie and Heather are off to King Solomon Academy, Hannah Ministry and the Mothers Union. The rest of us will be visiting three more SAP-linked parishes.

Thanks for reading and goodnight.

Saturday - delayed due to lack of internet connection!

Early start again today then it was out on the road to visit the parishes of Kageme and Tumba. We had talked through the day with our friend and guide, Juvenal, so we were due to go first to Kageme and then on to Tumba. We had a meeting back at the diocesan centre planned for 4pm, so we needed to keep to timings.

Off we set, seven in the car. Our driver was set on getting us to our parishes as soon as possible so as we travelled along the dirt roads, pedestrians disappeared in the dust cloud that followed our vehicle. Not sure what colour they would be, either clothes-wise or temperament-wise once the dust had settled, but we were not hanging around long enough to find out.

We arrived at our first parish a little later than we had anticipated, to find that there was no-one around to welcome us. No pastor, no church leaders. Just a church building and a pastor’s house. We merrily walked around admiring the views and waiting for people to appear. Nothing, nor no-one. Juvenal was on the phone, but didn’t seem to have any helpful information. However, a local man turned up with his children to see what these ‘muzungu’ were doing. He could speak English and as we talked, it became apparent that we were not in Kigarama but in Tumba! Our second visit had become our first visit, so not surprising that there was no welcoming party! It seems plans had been changed.

After a little more hanging around some church leaders appeared and we were welcomed into the house of the pastor. His wife was there as were his children and other ladies - but still no pastor. Drinks and bananas were offered around and conversations began, even without the pastor. Then, at last, a motorbike was heard and the pastor arrived - with some bread!

The rest of our visit went well and as we planned to leave. We were told that food had now been prepared - and what a feast! So we stayed on to share the food.

Now, with our schedule rearranged we were back in the car and off to the first parish which was now the second visit. Our ‘chariot’ sped along even faster than before and more pedestrians disappeared as we passed. We bounced along, occasionally getting airborn until we reached the parish of Tumba. An enthusiastic welcome was waiting for us in the church building as the people sang and danced us in. We introduced ourselves, then listened as some of the parish leaders explained their role and the work they do. We realised afresh the importance of meeting our SAP-linked congregations face to face and hearing about their ministry. 

After another cup of tea and some more food, we headed home, tired but grateful to the Lord for giving us the privilege of spending time with his people here in Rwanda.

Friday

Up early for breakfast at 0730 and leaving soon after 8am. We were off to visit two parishes, Manyagiro and Ruyange, Both of these are on the SAP programme and both have had Water-Harvesting Projects installed, paid for by DT. However, today was a special day for Jim as his annual count ticked over another number. Yes, the birthday boy was welcomed to the breakfast table with a variety of versions of Kinyarwandan for ‘Happy Birthday Jim’!

Breakfast done, the journey to both parishes was testing for the four-wheel drive vehicle. Up steep inclines, over rough and rutted tracks, down potholes and across log bridges, we rocked and rolled along. But we made it, and the welcome we received was from both groups of church leaders made the journeys worthwhile. 

At Manyagiro, Pastor William is doing a good work of building and developing the fellowship. The recent WHP, installed just before we arrived and being finished off at our visit, has given a real boost to the witness of the church and will provide much needed water.

Whilst meeting the leadership team over a snack of hard-boiled eggs, bananas and bread, accompanied by African tea, we came up with the idea of playing charades to introduce ourselves  to each other. Andy was up first and tried to act out reading from the Bible, teaching/preaching with hand gestures and calling people to respond to Jesus (pointing upwards). It seemed good to him, but the first guess from one of our Rwandan brothers was….a driver?!?! Once the laughter had subsided and with his confidence seriously dented, Andy invited the same member of the leadership team to act out his job. Up he got and acted out the very same sequence of gestures that Andy had done. So obviously we all went for … a preacher, a church leader. But no. He is a tea plantation manager! Again we laughed - and then went on to the next team member. Thankfully the acting improved and guessing became more accurate. It was fun and left us all much the better for it.

At Ruyange it was good to hear from Pastor Donat and his team the plans that the parish have for their development. Their WHP is still in its first year but, with a full 10,000 litre tank, they anticipate some useful income from selling the water in the coming weeks as this is the time when rainwater is scarce. They also shared plans to buy some land and increase their building facilities. However, they still have work to do in making their current church buildings compliant with the new building regulations.

On the way back to Byumba, the car took a bit of a bump on the underside which caused a delay as our driver had to get out, check underneath and fix something back in place. We attracted a bit of a crowd and the inevitable requests for money! Once fixed, we resumed our journey home to enjoy a much needed cuppa.

Tonight we’re off out for a birthday meal at the local hotel.

Thanks for reading and goodnight.

Thursday

This morning started in a relaxed manner. 0830 breakfast of fruit, porridge, omelettes and toast plus the normal selection of drinks - coffee, ginger water and African tea.

Being Liberation Day, the majority of people were attending or watching the military parades held in towns and cities across the country during the morning. This meant that there wasn’t the usual hustle and bustle of morning traffic and people going to work and to the market. However it didn’t stop the road works being done just outside the diocesan centre which start at around 0600!

After breakfast we went out for a walk up to the local hotel to check out the prices in the restaurant, just in case we fancy an alternative eatery! The prices were acceptable, though we didn’t see or taste the food so, wathc this space.

We then walked a further mile or so down the main road and up to King Solomon Academy, just so that those who are visiting later in the week know where it is. Being a national holiday, the school was closed, so no contact with children just yet!

In the afternoon we had a series of meetings with Bishop Emmanuel and our co-worker Placide. We talked about our Ubushuti project, the SAP programme as well as the Water-Harvesting Projects. Lots of good honest and open discussion was had, some very useful ideas and suggestions put forward and in the coming few days we hope to make progress in each area. Please pray for us to do this.

After four hours of talking and listening, it was time to stop to have some supper. Fish and chips - plus vegetables.

Tomorrow we are off to visit two of our SAP-linked parishes. Manyagiro and Ruyange, both of which have DT Water-Harvesting Projects.

Thanks for reading and good-night.

Conference and updates

Wednesday 3rd

Conference day for 126 church leaders and their spouses. We were looking at the person and work of the Holy Spirit and Jim and Andy shared the four teaching sessions between them.

Grace, Valerie and Heather spent time with the pastors from the SAP-linked parishes catching up with how things are going for them and their congregations. Many are still struggling to cope with the recent building regulations that require a lot of expenditure to bring church buildings up to the acceptable level that is now required. But despite these challenges, the pastors are encouraged by what the Lord is doing in and through his church. Photos of pastors and their spouses were taken that will be sent out to our UK SAP partners. Please pray for each of the church leaders as they return to their parishes, that they may serve in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Tomorrow is Liberation Day which is a national holiday (which we were not aware of until today!). There will be lots of parades up and down the country in the morning, so we will be somewhat limited as to what we can do. However a meeting with the Bishop is planned for the afternoon which will be useful to talk through different aspects of our partnership with the diocese and plan for the future.

Thanks for reading and please keep praying for the Church here in Rwanda.

Greetings and ready to go!

Breakfast was at a leisurely 8.30am after a good night of sleep. Porridge, omelettes, fruit and toast, and a variety of drinks was provided. Drinks include hot water with ginger, Rwandan tea (very milky) and coffee. After that we spent the day sorting out arrangements and finalising plans for the week ahead.

One of the great joys of coming to Rwanda is the welcome we get from the pastors and wives. Despite the many challenges they face on a daily basis, their smiles and hugs are such a blessing and they seem genuinely pleased to see us. We have known some of the pastors for many years now, as part of the Support A Parish programme, and a good relationship has developed through the SAP updates as well as our visits. It’s good to have time with them and to pass on greetings,  letters and photos from their UK partners.

As part of our visit we will be reviewing the SAP programme with Bishop Emmanuel and our SAP coordinator Revd Placide. The main aim of the programme is to provide temporary financial support for the poorer parishes so that they will be able to benefit from having a full-time pastor, As a result, we hope that the growth of the parish during this time will result in the parish being self-supporting. This has happened for some, but others continue to struggle. Please pray that this will be a useful meeting and that we will be able to make any necessary adjustments to keep the programme fresh, relevant and productive.

Tomorrow we have the day-conference for all the pastors and their spouses. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to touch our lives and empower the ministry of each one present.

Thanks for reading and please keep praying.

Monday 1st July

We've arrived! Having started our journey at Birmingham airport at 0400 hrs we flew first to Brussels and then on to Kigal.

Getting through the gate to security requires some dexterity as you have to hold your hand baggage whilst getting the bar code on your boarding pass to register on the scanner so that the gate opens to let you through. This is not as easy as it sounds, especially if you either try to use the luggage identification bar code or have stowed your boarding pass away in your hand baggage and have to go searching for it whilst a queue builds up behind you. Once the right bar code has been located, it seems that the scanner can be a little temperamental and refuse to recognise your bar code. So you twist the bar code throught 90 degrees and wait. Still no response. So if you do this four times you end up where you started. After a while, with or without external help, once the scnner decides that you have been embarrassed enough, the gate opens and, in fear that it may suddenly close, you stumble through as quickly as possible.

After a few slight delays, we all got through and joined the flight to Brussels. Following a two hour stop-over we were told that the next plane to Kigali, had been changed and all our pre-chosen seats had been reassigned. Thankfully we were still booked in as a three and a two, and whilst on opposite sides of the plane, we could at least wave to one another.

An otherwise uneventful flight saw us land at Kigali to be met by Clemant and a mini-bus. The journey to Byumba went smoothly and after an evening drink we all had a (relatively) early night.

Tomorrow we'll be doing some planning and sorting out of the week ahead. Please pray for the Lord to provide the right transport for us as we will be relying on local taxis, which can be expensive.