Luther Place in Rwanda

Report from Rwanda Team

2006-10-07T13:30:00.000+02:00

Report to Luther Place Church 9-15-06

From: Rwanda Team

On July 28, 2006, fourteen people left Washington, DC for Rwanda to represent Luther Place to explore the establishment of a new relationship with the Lutheran Church of Rwanda. This group was organized by intern, Vicar Sarah Scherschligt, with guidance from Gary and Margaret Maring, Pastor Bob, and others who had formed a relationship with Pastor John Rutsindintwarane during and after he interned at Luther Place and N Street Village in 2002, and Jane Saari, who is working with the Rwanda School Project. Pastor John, who is now Assistant to Bishop Kalisa of the Rwandan Lutheran Church, was our host and guide for the entire trip.

A major purpose of our trip was to learn more about the conditions surrounding the 1994 genocide in which neighbors killed their neighbors, family members killed other members of their families, and the church was too often complicit in the process. We also wanted to learn about the reconciliation and community building processes that are underway, helping both perpetrators and victims of the genocide to live peacefully together in one of the smallest, most densely populated countries in Africa. Another major purpose was to establish an ongoing relationship with the Lutheran Church of Rwanda and particularly the Lutheran parish in Kirehe, where we were to assist in the construction of a church building. In addition to our labor, we brought a gift of $5,000 (thanks to the generous support of our many financial sponsors) which should provide most of the funds necessary for materials to complete the building. A third purpose was to learn more about the plans for construction of a secondary school under the direction of Pastor John’s wife, Robin Strickler, founder of The Rwanda School Project. A final purpose was to be a source of encouragement for the reconciliation and community building work that was already underway.

The group arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, on Sunday, July 31, with the exception of Brian Cooper, who took an alternate route, and Dale McDaniel and Marjorie Smith, who were delayed in London because of an overbooked flight. All three arrived the next day, August 1. The first days in Kigali were spent becoming acclimated to the environment, culture, and conditions associated with living in a foreign place. We also had to deal with missing luggage which arrived over several subsequent days.

We almost immediately began meeting with church and government officials. On August 1, we met with Bishop Kalisa who gave us an inspirational presentation on the Lutheran church and its role in reconciliation, peace and fellowship, and community development. We also had a meeting with a dynamic woman, Member of Parliament Juliana Kantaugwa, who gave us extensive background on the recent history of the country and briefed us on the current political, social and economic situations. She is an example of one of the many exemplary women leaders who are emerging in Rwanda. Later we met with the Deputy Minister of Education who briefed us on the government’s comprehensive plans to expand educational opportunities to all Rwandan children. This meeting dovetailed nicely with our learning about Robin’s plans for developing a secondary school.

Three days were spent in Kibungo and Kirehe where we worked with Pastor Mugabo Evariste and his congregants helping to build a church for their congregation of several hundred who have been using an open air tent for several years. While in the Kibungo area, we also visited several projects aimed at rebuilding community and promoting reconciliation, most all projects involving our host, Pastor John, along with the Lutheran church and in most cases in cooperation with other denominations.

Projects that we visited included:
1. Pastor John’s community building project in Mumeya, a remote village high on a hill where he has organized people through an interreligous coalition to meet and decide on the most important needs in the village and how to address them. The community decided that building a dispensary/clinic was the highest community priority. With Pastor John’s assistance, local leaders have emerged and are moving ahead, largely with volunteer labor. (Pastor John learned his community building skills in San Francisco with an organization called PICO, which is very similar to the WIN effort in D.C. It was great to see the same type of interreligous community organizing happening in a remote village of Rwanda.)

2. An Anglican Church project, facilitated by Pastor John, which brings teenagers together in reconciliation and community rebuilding. Following Pastor John’s reconciliation presentation, the youth band started playing disco music, dancing commenced, and we were all pulled on to the dance floor by youth of the congregation. It was a moving experience for all of us.

3. An Anglican Church community reconciliation project in which they are sponsoring two orphaned teenage girls to attend high school and building a new house for the girls and their grandparents. The church is also remarkably fostering forgiveness and reconciliation by building a house in the community for a genocidaire who apparently was involved in village killings, potentially including the murder of the girls’ parents. The grandfather said that he had forgiven the perpetrator because he has sought forgiveness and they needed to move on. It was a very powerful witness to the radical forgiveness that we are called to as God’s people.

4. Most of us traveled back to Kibungo later to attend a Gacaca court in Kirehe village at the Lutheran parish’s open-air tent. Gacaca, an ancient Rwandan tradition, is held once a week at every village in the country, and for Kirehe, it is on Tuesday. To appear at Gacaca, a defendant must be ready to confess his crime and ask for forgiveness. The accused must tell the things he did. Witnesses are then asked to corroborate or contradict the accused. Then the community is asked if anyone has anything to add. Following all of the discussion, the locally appointed community ‘judges’ ask the defendant what they think their punishment should be. They then ask the victims the same question, and finally ask the community. Then the judges retire and render a decision. It was a remarkable process to witness.

Our group also got to meet with Lutheran World Federation (LWF) staff in Kigali and were quite impressed with their projects in Rwanda. Pastor John works closely with LWF and, in fact, he and Robin live at a LWF compound in Kibungo. LWF was one of the first relief organizations into Rwanda after the genocide and they continue to sponsor several very effective community and economic development projects such as the training center for farmers near Gitarama that we visited. Weekly training sessions are being provided to local farmers; local villages sponsor farmers to go and learn sustainable agriculture practices, which are then taken back and shared in the villages. Remarkably, most of the trainees are now women because they do most of the farming in addition to child raising, cooking, etc. We were all quite impressed with the success of this project.

During the trip, the team tried to do as much as possible together, though occasionally a few would go off on a special project and then share their experience back with the larger group. For example, Brian Cooper spent two days helping to set up the computers we carried to Rwanda. Margaret met a remarkable woman, Anna, who is managing a house for orphans in Kigali. Some of us were able to visit the house and had a very moving experience interacting with the young people of the orphanage who have such tragic stories but yet were able to sing and dance for and with us. Our team was not able to stay in the same guesthouses, because there was not enough space, but we did have almost all meals together, and we met almost every morning and evening for devotionals and reflection. This was an important part of group process for both faith reflections and to update on logistical matters.

The trip ended with a visit to Tanzania, where Pastor John grew up. Twelve members of the team went to game parks to see the animals and birds of East Africa. Then ten members of the team returned to Washington on August 12 where Pastor Bob, Pastor Robin, and friends and family greeted us at the airport.

Our trip turned out to be an experience of a lifetime. Pastor John and Robin were most gracious and accommodating hosts. They provided us with a myriad of opportunities to meet Rwandans and experience their daily life; we met Rwandans in the top levels of government and those living in the most remote villages. We were touched deeply by all we met. We worked, we sang, we danced, and we learned much during our two-week trip. Rwanda will always be in our hearts.

We experienced both the most tragic and most optimistic aspects of Rwandan life and talked to those at both the top and bottom of society. Our deepest impression was one of profound hope and optimism, of new life growing from unbelievable horror. The society is at a critical juncture and we are committed to doing our small part to keep the recovery on track.

We have compiled a list of potential follow-up activities and have formed a committee to present those options, first to the group for discussion and prioritization, then for presentation to Church Council. We sincerely thank the Church Council and all who supported our journey. We believe this is the beginning of a long-term partnership with Pastor John and the Lutheran Church of Rwanda and look forward to helping enable future Luther Place groups to go to Rwanda to witness and participate in the remarkable ongoing work of reconciliation and forgiveness there. We pray that through such experiences we can lift up this sign of God's love in the world within our own local communities.

arrived (Brian Cooper)

2006-08-17T20:57:00.000+02:00

Joan met me at Dulles airport yesterday and we had lunch together before she went back to work. It felt like I had been gone a long time. The time with Luther Place in Rwanda was packed with varied experiences, some good, some bad, all valuable. To go from that to Kenya-- where I visited places and people I'd known with Joan from before we were parents-- multiplied my sense of the time I'd spent away from home. I'm glad to at last be back.

Home.

2006-08-14T00:25:00.000+02:00

We are home! Well, most of us at least. 3 are still in Kenya in planned extensions and the other 11 of us had a relatively smooth flight back to Washington DC. Security was tight. We had to check in early in Nairobi. Heathrow airport was crazy and we could only bring the essentials in plastic bags, but we had enough time and got through all together, this time with all our baggage. It was wonderful to arrive home to the Luther Place greeting crew - signs, roses, "hugs" that the kids made. Now the challege lies ahead to integrate what we experienced and learned into our lives in meaningful ways. But first, some sleep.
--Sarah

Last hours

2006-08-12T12:24:00.000+02:00

The last few days we have seen a new side of Africa - beautiful mountains (Kilimanjaro), vast plains, masaai cattle herders, and lots of great animals. Ngorongoro crater is a wonder. This whole experience has been full of days that have burst our expectations, and these days in Tanzania were no different. Now, after lunch in Arusha, we are preparing to head to the airport for the long journey home. This journey will be with us all forever. Thanks, murakoze, asante to all who have made it possible. The last challenge will be getting through the London airport. We hea that airport security is tighter. we'll be home tomorrow

Love to everyone at home.
-Sarah

From Pat: I've seen alot. This has been a great experience. Once in a lifetime. I'll see you all soon, give everybody my love.
-Pat

Departing Tanzania for home

2006-08-12T12:19:00.000+02:00

We are departing for home this afternoon. It has been a moving experience for all of us; can't wait to share more with all of you. We are thankful that all of us remained healthy throughout. Seeing the wild animals here in Tanzania was a wonderful conclusion to trip; we went to World Heritage site at Ngorongoro. It is a huge volcanic crater filled with wildlife; such a beautiful setting. Peace, Gary and Margaret and all

Murabeho Rwanda! (Brian Cooper)

2006-08-10T08:13:00.000+02:00

I said goodbye to the group, to Pastor John and Robin and to Rwanda. I enjoyed my time there so much and appreciate the people I was with very much. I am looking forward to seeing them again-- soon in the case of some, later in the case of others. My trip out of Rwanda was good and I feel optimistic about the country's future, Pastor JOhn's work and Luther Place's participation.

Pastor John's projects

2006-08-09T08:57:00.000+02:00

Pastor John is an amazing person. He has so many projects going at both the local community level and at the national level. Two that are particularly notable are
(1) a community organizing effort in a remote village to develop a clinic for the region. John learned community organizing in his studies in the U.S. He has very quikly gotten local leaders to identify community development priorities and organize to move projects forward. We were so impressed in what has been accomplished in just a few months. The much needed clinic project is moving ahead quickly with amazing community energy.
(2) the other project is post genoecide reconciliation with the young people of various congregations. We visited an Anglican church in Kibungo where John was doing his training. The youth were so enthusiastic; at the end of the meeting they all burst into disco dancing and pulled all of us onto the floor to dance. It was such a joyful experience.

John and Robin are an amazing pair; we love them and want to support them moving forward. Our partnership with John and the Lutheran church in Rwanda was solidified during the visit andwe have many ideas on how to move it forward for the longer term.

Peace, Gary

Greetings from Jane

2006-08-08T17:51:00.000+02:00

Hello to all my friends and fellow Luther Place members. Sorry I haven't written before, but this trip has been really exhausting. Also, the second day we were here I broke the chair I was sitting in (they are not used to plus size women in Rwanda) and hurt my back. I'm recovered now, thank God.

People told me that this would be a life-changing experience and it certainly has been. This is my first visit to a developing country and some of it has been difficult to adjust to.

My heart has been totally captured by the children. The day we were laying bricks for the church, Hetty and I taught the children some songs and some games and they sang songs for us. They love the digital cameras because they can see their own images right away. I doubt that they see their faces in mirrors very often, so they don't know how beautiful they are. When we went to church on Sunday we had some socializing afterwards. One child kept stroking my hair while others stroked my skin. They live such hard lives and yet they always have a smile for you. I try to wave at the children when we are riding in the van. I have been sitting in the front seat most of the time because of my back, so have a clear view of the kids. They get so excited when we pass by. They showed us a ball they made out of plastic bags and rubber bands. The children take care of the younger children, carrying them on their backs. Our plastic water bottles are prized and much fought for. Pastor John says they take water to school with them in the bottles.

The Rwandans are a strong people. They have been very friendly to us and honest. It is so difficult to reconcile the people we have met with the people who committed the genocide. It was very difficult for me going to the genocide memorials, more than the Holocaust Museum in Washington, which seems sanitized by comparison.

We have had a very hectic schedule and I have been really
tired. Last night, I slept for twelve hours. Didn't even have dinner, believe it or not. Tomorrow we leave for Kilimanjaro. I have decided to rest rather than go on the safari. I need some "alone" time and I need some r and r. The weather here has been better than at home, we hear. It has been overcast almost everyday.

My friends will be happy to hear that the food here agrees with me. The only night I had a problem was when we went to a Chinese restaurant.

Today, some of us went to the local market, where Hetty and I had ordered dresses made to order. They did a wonderful job and the locals had a good laugh when I modeled my dress for them. Hetty's dress looks really nice on her. We'll model them when we get home. We also went to a craft co-op and spent lots of money. I got mostly jewelry (surprise, surprise) and a few gifts. They have the same carving in ebony of a woman's head that my parents brought home when they were in Kenya many years ago!

The countryside is absolutely beautiful. I have many photographs of the mountains. Some of the members of the group have been birdwatching. Life here is so hard for the people on a daily basis. I will never take what I have for granted again, I hope. They walk everywhere, as late as 10:30 at night, maybe even later. And there are no street lights to show them the way. They carry bunches of bananas on their heads, and elephant grass to feed the cattle, and water bottles, and everything else you can imagine.

Yesterday, we went to a special farm that is a project of LWF. I was very proud to see that Finland has contributed funds both as a member of the E.U. and through the Lutheran Church of Finland. We each planted a tree in our own name. I wish we in American could be as resourceful as the farmers who are working on this project. There is absolutely no waste! They even use the animal urine and poop to provide power. Nothing, but nothing is wasted. We had a wonderful lunch with the group of farmers (all women but one) studying there this week.

Well, I'm sure I will have lots to tell you when I get home, but I will close here for now. Know that you are in my thoughts and in my heart. It has helped to know that you are praying for me and for the group. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Love,
Jane

Our last full day in Rwanda (Hetty)

2006-08-08T17:43:00.000+02:00

Hello,all-- It is Tuesday afternoon, and we leave Rwanda for Tanzania tomorrow. The last week has been so full, with 12-14 hour days almost every day. As other bloggers have noted, we went to the town of Kibungo and the village of Kirehe to assist with some brick-building and community building. The pastor of the Lutheran church in Kirehe, Pastor Evalister,is a wonderful man of integrity and vision. I really enjoyed talking with him. We also visited an Anglican church where we observed a youth reconciliation workshop. We were introduced and welcomed, and we sang a song for them. As we were leaving, the whole place broke into dance and we joined it -- it was a wonderful experience of connection through song and dance! We then drove to a small village nestled among the banana trees to see the reconciliation project that the Anglican church is doing - -they are building a home for 3 orphans and their grandparents, and also a home for a genocidaire (a man who killed people in the genocide) and his family. Both of these families were from this village before the genocide, and now they are living together again. It was very powerful to meet the individuals and talk with them. That brought me to tears.

We have done so much, and I can't put it all down here. We also visited two churches which were the sites of large massacres during the genocide -- it was very raw and intense to see. Our driver, Welleris, told me that he doesn't like to come to the memorials because it makes him sad and angry all over again.

Some of us also went to an orphanage here in the city of Kigali for the children (teenagers now) of the genocide. This orphanage was just started a few months ago by a Texas-based organization called 'Hope for the Family.' The staff are all Latin American, and speak to the children in Spanish and English! Brian and I experienced so much love and positive growth in the children -- we are committing to staying connected to that orphanage somehow.

We also have been exposed to the work of the Lutheran World Federation in Rwanda -- including a fabulous sustainable agriculte farm and training center that is doing just wonderful work. We learned how to make a "kitchen garden" as a mound, and use kitchen scraps as the food for the soil!

The food in Rwanda is great -- today, a few of us had a wonderful lunch of fish brochettes (barbequed tilapia fish on skewers) that is a Rwandan specialty. That was a great treat for our last day here.

I am saturated with images and conversations and many, many thoughts about this wonderful country, the pain that its citizens have endured, and what to do personally from here. Tomorrow we leave for Tanzania -- to be honest, I am ready to go home and just have a few days to reflect and "re-enter" before having to get back to my life. But that is not to be; so I will enjoy the safari and spend some intentional reflection time there.

I have met many wonderful Rwandan people here whom I hope to stay in touch with - -the people are so hospitable and engaging. That has really touched me.

Okay, time to sign off. There may not be another time to get to a computer before we come back home to the US on this coming Sunday. I look forward to reconnecting with loved ones and friends soon.
Best to all -- Hetty

Safari

2006-08-08T17:14:00.000+02:00

Marjorie and Dale again on behalf of the team. Margaret and Gary brought everyone up to speed on our recent activities.

Tomorrow we are leaving for Tanzania and the safari portion. There was some thought that it might not happen but things are well in hand and everyone will be travelling to Tanzania although not all will be joining the safari. Finances are also in hand for that portion of the trip but thanks to those who have offered to help. There will be plenty of opportunites for financial assistance to Pastor John, the congregation at Kirehe and work of the Lutheran World Federation.

Eric is working on a couple of songs to share with the congregation. Had a great church service with the Bishop, but like all Bishops, he has a hard time stopping....3 hours worth! (for the whoe service) Don't get any ideas, Brother Bob.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support.

With Love from the Rwanda team.

Pastor John Rutsindintwarane

2006-08-08T16:17:00.000+02:00

Greetings all from Vicar Sarah. Thank you to everyone for all your prayers - we can feel them.

This whole journey has been a lesson in contrasts. In the last three days we visited churches that became hell on earth when thousands of people were murdered inside; we witnessed hope in a Lutheran World Federation farmers project that trains women in sustainable agriculture; and we experienced the nitty-gritty work of reconciliation in the Gachacha court.

For me, one of the biggest signs of hope has come in Pastor John Rutsindintwarane's vision for Rwanda as a land where lasting peace will come through grassroots organizing and community building. He and Robin (Strickler, of the Rwanda School Project) can do it, are doing it. The many (many) hours we have spent bumping down the road in Pastor John's green landrover have been worth it because we hear over and over his and Robin's plans, hope and vision for the future.

This morning, at the Gachacha court (traditional court working on restorative justice at the local level), Pastor John opened with a prayer. In one hand he held the hand of one of the local leaders elected to preside over the court, and in the other hand grasped the hand of the perpetrator - a man accused of killing his own brother-in-law. This is Pastor John: he stands in the middle of the deepest conflict imaginable, prays with indomitable faith and trust in God, and through his precence helps to reconcile a community devestated by genocide. He is a miracle.

PS - Peggy and Leo say hello to all their friends and supporters - they are here, doing well, and having a remarkable time. They hope to add to the blog soon.

The highs and lows in Rwanda

2006-08-08T16:04:00.000+02:00

Greetings from Rwanda

Our group has had many experiences; some sad and depressing and many happy and hopeful ones. The bottom for all of us was Sunday when we saw the two churches where 10,000 and 5,000 respectively were killed inside the churches. The Catholic churches are now memorials to the dead. The remains (skulls and bones) of the dead are there as a gruesome reminder to what happened and memorial sites listings all those killed are being constructed.

Over the last two days we have had very positive experiences. Today we witnessed a local community tribunal (Gacacca) where the reconciliation process is taking place. An accused person was appearing before the community tribunal for judgement. This similar process goes on every Tuesday in Eastern Rwanda; we saw many other communities holding tribunals as we drove back to Kigali today. It is an amazing local judicial process unique to Rwanda.

Yesterday we saw a local Lutheran development project for farmers; they are being trained in sustainable agriculture processes. We visited the training site (most of the trainees were women because they do much of the farming) and a local farmer to see how the program was being implemented. The project and other programs in Rwanda are trying to provide a minimum of one cow per family to provide milk and also to produce manure for nourishing the small crops that they grow. The program is very impressive and has shown significant results in just a few years.

Meeting the children in the villages has been a special joy. Eric brought a soccer ball for the kids in one village and they had a great time in a pickup game. There normal soccer ball is made from tied banana leaves. We also went to an orphanage for refugee children from the genocide; they had prepared a program of songs and dance for us.

Our host Pastor John and his wife are such special people. They are giving so much to the reconciliation and community development process in Rwanda, working through the Lutheran church in cooperation with other churches. We are committed to help their mission into the future. Robin will be starting a Secondary school; there is so much need for education as part of Rwanda's future.

There is so much more to tell but will hold for later. We want to thank all of our supporters for helping provide this unique mission opportunity. Our group will be producing a video and other reports of our trip and plans for the future of our partnership with the people of Rwanda working through Pastor John and other committed individuals and groups we have met. Peace, Gary and Margaret

Luther Place in Rwanda

2006-08-05T17:17:00.000+02:00

Greetings from the Rwanda team,and especially from Marjorie and Dale who are posting this update.
Saturday has been at a somewhat slower pace than our previous twelve hour days. This morning most of us went to a women's sewing cooperative,where they teach women the skills of sewing and business management. People from the group bought many colorful items such as wall hanging, aprons and table linens. Then a small group of bird nerds (including us) spent several hours trying to identify the unique birds of Africa, with considerable success....they are beautiful and we see new ones faster than we can identify them. The remainder of the group went to a FESPAD concert of folk music at the stadium.
Tomorrow it is worship at the Lutheran "Cathedral" with the Bishop. We will be presenting the plaque for our sister congregation in Kirehe (Pastor Magubo's parish) where we laid bricks for two days earlier in the week.
Great news. All of the bags have arrived except a general content duffel bag which is still enjoying its journey.
Thanks for the love and prayers of all.her Place in Rwanda

my personal blog (Brian Cooper)

2006-08-05T12:13:00.000+02:00

ebiroto.blogspot.com

I created this because I'm travelling on my own before and after the main trip. And because some of my reflections maybe have little to do with the mission of this group.

Sympathy for the Hutus (Brian Cooper)

2006-08-05T12:02:00.000+02:00

I read many signs that suggest that 1959-1994 in Rwanda was a brief window of opportunity for the majority Hutus to secure equal status in Rwanda-- in a history of Tutsi rule spanning several centuries and two countries (Rwanda and Birundi). As I see it, the Hutu leaders gripped power too tightly, too selfishly, and manipulated the populance into performing those deeds that encouraged the world to think of them (Hutus in general) as brutish and thus eligible for control by others. The massacres were so horrific that it's impossible to talk about this while remaining sensitive to the many many individuals who suffered and are still suffering. But I can't stop worrying that any Hutu man or woman, for generations, will be hampered by the thought that "It was your people who committed the genocide."

Update from Rwanda

2006-08-04T18:16:00.000+02:00

We spent several days out in the rural region of Southeast Rwanda. We stayed in Kibungo but visited many villages and saw their reconciliation and economic projects. We helped with construction of Lutheran church in Kirehe and got to meet with many in congregation and ate in one of their homes. We will be providing financial assistance for their building. Pastor John Russindintwarene, asst. to Bishop of Lutheran Church in Rwanda, also showed us his reconciliation project with the Anglica church youth and we went to their village in banana fields where the congregation is building houses for a former prisoner convicted of genocide in village. They are also building house for orphans of parents that this man killed. The man convicted of genocide will do extended community service. It is an incredible example of reconcilation and forgiveness.
-Margaret and Gary

"computa zinaongena kwa router" (Brian Cooper)

2006-08-04T13:47:00.000+02:00

I set up the computers at the LWF office in Kibungo and spent a few hours teaching both yesterday and today. Joram seems like a good candidate for maintaining a webpage and I hope I'll work more with him later. I had about 4 students yesterday, all Swahili speakers, so that's what I taught in-- though if there's a Swahili word for router, I don't know it. The office is well equipped with computers, though they're all stand alone, so I hope they'll make good use of the networking equipment we carried.

Viruses are a problem. I was trying to help someone with a spreadsheet today and I realized that the issue was simply that Excel was not behaving as it should. I want to find a virus checker that I can puton a floppy and that they can update with a floppy because the internet connection is very limited.

2006-08-03T23:41:00.000+02:00

FOR JANE SAARI

Hi. Fern here. I've thought about you every day. I hope you are at least okay, and having an amazing time (good, that is). I remembered that you left me websites. I just printed out the blog from "Luther Place in Rwanda," and will wrap my eyes around it when I get home. The weather I feared you would have--we are having. It's been almost 100 degrees for a few days; it feels 10 degrees hotter. Thank god for technology. I don't say it often. Am out of here for the day. If you can, drop me a few lines! LUV YA, FERN

hospital concert

2006-08-02T15:02:00.000+02:00

On the way from Kigali to Kibungo, we stopped at a hospital to try to get some medecine for one of the travellers. We'd gotten a late start and it was dark, and a request that seemed simple was taking a long time. So Eric got out his guitar. Those lingering in the hospital courtyard (mainly school-age girls) listened giggling to "Stand by be" and started singing along with Kumb-by-ya. And then we got them to sing-- by then the crowd had grown rather large and included gorwn women and even a few men. It was remarkable how well they sang together and how they're body-language changed-- from shy to very confident-- as they sang. We told them their singing was beautiful but they already knew.

Hetty's musings from Kigali

2006-08-01T10:50:00.000+02:00

Hello, dear family, friends and supporters -- Greetings from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda! We are all here, as you can see from the other postings. We had a rough start to our trip when the group was divided at Heathrow airport on Saturday night. Thankfully, we are all together now. We had a good experience in the city yesterday -- Gary and Brian Cooper both wrote about the meetings with Parliament member Juliana Kantengwa, and Lutheran Bishop Kalisa. They are each very committed to the development of Rwanda, and that was quite inspiring to hear.

Rwanda is finally beginning to get some development money and resources....it seems to me that it took the tragedy of the genocide to get the world to notice Rwanda at all. There is so much construction here in Kigali, everywhere you go. There is also a mix of well-educated, "Westernized" Rwandans wearing western-style clothing and who speak fluent English along with less-educated, very poor Rwandans who dress in beautiful African fabrics (the women) and may speak French but certainly speak Kinyarwanda, the national language. People of Tutsi and Hutu heritage (although it is much more complicated than that) are intermingled everywhere, just as they always have been. I can't help but wonder who is who....but that is not part of the Rwandan way anymore -- everyone is Rwandan. I have seen a number of adults and teenagers with missing limbs, using crutches...I wonder if they are some of the "scars of the genocide" as Juliana referred to the fallout of that national experience.

I had a nice experience in the Market yesterday -- a young boy, Christian (about 7 years old) liked the fact that I said hello to him in Kinyarwanda ("amakuru") and also liked my butterfly tattoo on my shoulder (that is a great ice-breaker, I am finding out!). He playfully touched my shoulder, and I touched him back -- we played a close-in game of "tag" for a few minutes. It was a nice moment of connection.

Today we travel to Kibungo to meet with Pastor John's community that he is working with to foster reconciliation and development. I don't know when we will start "building bricks" -- but I am looking forward to it -- to having a task to do, and not just being a tourist.

A set-back for the group is that we may not be able to go on the Safari in Tanzania, due to cost prohibitions. We have a meeting this morning to discuss our options. My learning challenge on this trip, so far, is to "go with the flow" (not my gift) and not worry about what's not going right, but instead appreciate the gifts that God is giving to me and to the group through this experience. I really look forward to getting out into the countryside, and meeting member's of John's community.

Well, this post has gotten quite long, so I will close. We may not have access to internet for a few days while we are in Kibungo...but then again, maybe we will! We shall see what awaits us. I pray that we continue to be safe and healthy (no digestive issues for anyone yet!) and be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, both through the positive experiences AND the challenges that come our way. -- Hetty

Rwanda

2006-08-01T10:16:00.000+02:00

Pastor Bob,
Greetings from Pat. She is Great!!!!!!!!!! Sarah said hello!!!!

2006-08-01T09:58:00.000+02:00

Hello everyone. Well its been an humbling experience here in Rwanda. This feels like the beginning of a lifelong journey for me. What does that mean? I really don't know. But I do know that I don't want this relationship to end when I get back to the states. This is one amazing journey (land of a thousand hills).
Hopefully my luggage should arrive today, but if not, oh well.
God Bless
Judy

women (Brian)

2006-08-01T09:42:00.000+02:00

Not only does Rwanda require 30% representation for women in all official positions (like Parliament) but The Lutheran Church in Rwanda plans to ordain a woman pastor soon. The bishop agreed that some people might not like this, but in fact women have great intellectual capabilities and they are more faithful. I laughed when he said he had carefully studied women's psychology-- I haven't thought to put it that way.

There are many friendly people here-- women and men-- very happy to chat or help me with one errand or another. Swahili is widely spoken, which is really great. I think most of the guys at the hotel speak it.

I didn't spend much time at the market yesteday, but I wandered through it on my way back from the cyber while looking for the group. It's well organized and sells just about everything: different types of flour, different types of beans, fruits and vegetables, shoes, clothes, fabric, tools, glue (yes the are a few street boys huffing it), and packaged spaghetti. And this is just what I saw while walking down a couple aisles, trying to make my way from one side to the other.

First day meetings in Rwanda

2006-08-01T09:12:00.000+02:00

We had an early meeting yesterday with Parliment delegate Juliana Kantengwa. She is one of the 39 women delegates in 90 person parliament. Rwanda has created a special role for women in the reconstruction and reconciliation in leading the government forward. Women were for the most part victims, not participants, in the genocide. She is indicative of the special vision of the women delegates in helping to create a different Rwanda for the future. Twenty four positions are set aside for women, 2 for youth, and one for handicapped. In addition 15 women, including Juliana, have been elected in open competition for delegates. We were all so impressed by her commitment and vision, and believe that she may someday be President of the country. She spent an hour and a half with us and showed us around the parliment building and its reconstruction. There are large bomb holes in the structure from the 1994 war.

We also met with the Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Rwanda. He described the post genocide reconciliation and rebuilding role that the church is playing today. The Lutheran church was started after the genocide with returning refugees from Tanzania where many Rwandans had fled in earlier purges. Peace, Margaret and Gary

My safari (Brian Cooper)

2006-07-31T16:31:00.003+02:00

My trip started on Wednesda, with a flight to Adis Ababa, where I spent the night and then flew on to Nairobi. From Nairobi, I took a bus first to Kampala and then Kigali, arriving too late in the day to join the rest of the group.

At Dulles airport, I was lucky enough to meet some Rwandans who were flying to Kigali. Because I was on Ethiopian airlines, there were many Africans on the flight-- the great majority. Jean-Paul (the Rwandan man) works at a school in Rwanda where he teaches English with an American colleague.

I enjoyed my evening in Nairobi. Esther's sister and brother picked me up at the airpot and took me to my hotel. I met Anne and we went to a concert at the Carnivore-- Ja Rule. Why go to Kenya to see an American concert? The opening acts were Kenyan and it was fun to be there with Nairobians. They did *not* like being referred to as "Africa" as he frequently did. I didn't like it either. He was pretty condescending really. But it was really fun to hang out with Anne and see that her life is good; she's starting her own design consultancy. It's just getting started but she'll make it happen. Big big surprise was running into makini in downtown Nairobi. It sounds ridiculous but I almost wanted to cry. He was a fellow teacher at RVIST.

I got a cell phone in Kenya and Joan called me on my way to Kampala. Nate kept on cheering "African Church Party." It feels really good that he's excited about what I'm doing. I miss and love my family so much.

I would like to write more, but I'm supposed to get back to the market by 5.

My safari (Brian Cooper)

2006-07-31T16:31:00.001+02:00

My trip started on Wednesda, with a flight to Adis Ababa, where I spent the night and then flew on to Nairobi. From Nairobi, I took a bus first to Kampala and then Kigali, arriving too late in the day to join the rest of the group.

At Dulles airport, I was lucky enough to meet some Rwandans who were flying to Kigali. Because I was on Ethiopian airlines, there were many Africans on the flight-- the great majority. Jean-Paul (the Rwandan man) works at a school in Rwanda where he teaches English with an American colleague.

I enjoyed my evening in Nairobi. Esther's sister and brother picked me up at the airpot and took me to my hotel. I met Anne and we went to a concert at the Carnivore-- Ja Rule. Why go to Kenya to see an American concert? The opening acts were Kenyan and it was fun to be there with Nairobians. They did *not* like being referred to as "Africa" as he frequently did. Neither did I. He was pretty condescending really. But it was really fun to hang out with Anne and see that her life is good; she's starting her own design consultancy. It's just getting started but she'll make it happen. Big big surprise was running into makini in downtown Nairobi. It sounds ridiculous but I almost wanted to cry. He was a fellow teacher at RVIST.

I got a cell phone in Kenya and Joan called me on my way to Kampala. Nate kept on cheering "African Church Party." It feels really good that he's excited about what I'm doing. I miss and love my family so much.

I would like to write more, but I'm supposed to get back to the market by 5.

We are 14 (Brian Cooper)

2006-07-31T16:21:00.000+02:00

I thought it would be, but Dale and Marjorie were the last to arrive today. The group's flight from London was overbooked and somehow they were chosen to stay behind. They arrived late morning and we were very happy to see them and to be a full group at last. We visited the Lutheran Bishop of Rwanda and he gave us his kind, loving welcome. The Lutheran Cathedral is a simple but beautiful building with cement floor, iron-sheet roof and lots of light. After visting the Bishop, we ate lunch together and are now pursuing independent activites.

Arrived in Africa!

2006-07-30T06:41:00.000+02:00

We just arrived in Africa at Nariobi, waiting for flight to Kagali. Everyone made it except Dale and marjorie. We got to checkin in London late and the flight was overbooked. Hopefully they will be in later today. Peace- Gary

Rwanda Fundraising Concert by Jawbone at L. Place

2006-07-28T00:47:00.000+02:00

Photos of Rwanda fundraising concert by Eric's Jawbone band at Luther Place on June 3. It was a fun event and help raise over $6000 for our mission.

We go in two days

2006-07-26T16:50:00.000+02:00

Hi. I'm Vicar Sarah Scherschligt, the intern at Luther Place. I write to introduce myself and give a bit of background on our journey, as I know it: a few years ago, Pastor John Rutsindintwarane spent time at Luther Place and got to know this corner of the kingdom in Washington DC. He invited Gary and Margaret (Luther Place members) to come and visit and somehow, from that relationship, the whole church is now involved. I became involved in the journey in September when I started working at Luther Place.

In September, three of us sat at a cafe and dreamed about what this trip could be. We slowly built our group and our mission. We are now fourteen people from Luther Place poised on the edge of a journey of faith with our Rwandan sisters and brothers.

When people ask me why we are going to Rwanda, I say "because we were invited." There are many other reasons too - our mission statement is to "celebrate, witness and support the Lutheran Church in Rwanda's minstries of education, reconcillation and community development." We will do all this and more. But the primary reason that we are going is because Pastor John Rutsindintwarane invited us. Luther Place church is a church where hospitality is a cornerstone. Hospitality means both to give and receive. When there is a knock at the door, we try to respond. When there is an invitation, we try to listen.

An invitation to a journey. It is that simple. And the response of each of the people going was yes. Yes, we will go and see what God is doing in Rwanda. Yes, we will go to form partnerships of mutual service based in faith. Yes, we will go and deepen our spiritual friendship with husband and wife ministry team John and Robin. Yes we will serve in whatever ways we can, from making bricks to build a church, to bringing 3 computers, to packing up medical and school supplies, to sitting with our own sadness and questions about the way our country ignored the genocide of 1994. We respond to the invitation. Yes, yes yes.

For me, many moments along the way have already felt like moments of explicit grace. The incredible generousity of so many people has made it possible. The word got out about this journey and the ministries of the Lutheran Church of Rwanda and the money to do it flowed in.
More important than the money is the outpouring of spiritual support, prayers, and interest that so many have offered. I have a desk drawer full of notes of encouragement. We go with hearts full of love from Luther Place and beyond for Rwanda and Pastor John's ministries.

We will try to keep this blog updated as we journey. Please check in, but if we cannot be in touch, please know that your prayers and well-wishes make all the difference. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

-Vicar Sarah

Muraho!

2006-07-25T17:19:00.000+02:00

Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, D.C. is sending a group to Rwanda to fellowship with our friend Pastor John Rutsindintwarane and a congregation of Rwandan Christians in Kibungo district, Rwanda. We will arrive in Kigali, the capital, on Sunday.