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.