Muraho from the Rwanda Team 2010

Sorry for not being in touch sooner . . . we are having a fantastic time but find it hard to get any internet connection . . . so here goes!

So we have now been in Rwanda for 6 days and we are all adjusting to the new culture. On Wednesday we went to a local memorial site about the Rwandan Genocide. There was mixed emotions about the memorial site but it gave us an insight into what happened, within the site their was a church and sadly this is where many people lost their lives when they thought they were going to safety but this is still used by Rwandans as a place of worship today.

On Thursday morning we visited the Genocide Memorial Centre in Kigali, this had a different set up and started with a tour around the outside of the building which had gardens representing different times that Rwanda has been through. Going through the inside of the centre we got an insight into what has happened in Rwanda and it looked at issues globally as well.

Despite what Rwanda has been through you can’t tell that there has been a genocide and people seem to get on so well together and live side by side and it is a country that is positive about its future. The divide at home in Northern Ireland is more noticeable!

On the way home from Kigali on Thursday we got a chance to stop in Emmanuel’s home and meet his family. The people in Rwanda are so welcoming and have so much faith in God. He said his home was our home.

Friday was a prep day for the upcoming youth camp next week and the English speaking service on Sunday morning. After our prep session we had the opportunity to spend time with some of the children from the local school, which is inside the compound. We spent some time blowing bubbles, playing with Daisy the puppet and playing games with balloons. The children were amazed at the bubbles and all the team enjoyed getting involved! In the afternoon we got to go for a walk into town, which is right outside the compound. We visited some of the local shops and were able to get some chocolate (Dairy Milk Bars!!)

When we got back from town we were approached by an American Teacher who was taking an English class onsite and we got the opportunity to join in and chat to the Rwandan students in small groups to help them practice their English. This was a brilliant experience!!

On Saturday we went to the Tanzanian border to see a waterfall and it is stunning, the scenery around it was beautiful so there were lots of photos taken!!

Today after days of prep we took part in a four hour long session of church! The first session was the English service, we were singing two songs that we had practiced and these went really well! After this we stayed in church for the Kinyarwandan service which lasted three hours! We thought that we were just there to watch but the next thing we were asked to come up and sing our songs again plus introduce ourselves in front of about 5 times the amount of people before! Even though the service was in kinyarawandan and we couldn’t understand a word of it, it was amazing! The youth choir and children’s choir were awesome and overall it was a really good and enjoyable service.

The youth camp is coming up soon so please pray for it, also for the talks and testimonies that the team will be doing and for all the people we will encounter during those 6 days!

The Matatoo

Well well well .. The Matatoo, we don’t think anyone can quite imagine what this is like unless they’ve been in it! Lets give an example 17 people in a 14 seat mini van look a like!
That might not seem too bad but considering the bus is about 1 meter wide!!! Its definitely an experience and one of the things we will all never forget about being in Rwanda.

Ps thanks for all the comments and thoughts, we really appreciate them . . . keep them coming!

Quotes:
Rwandan to Janette – Are you Steph’s mum?? Haha
Sam – Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Craig – Eughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Up to date news….

We are now half way through the youth camp and are all builders . . . you should see our muscles. Wayne and Craig are amazing putting their skills to work. Everyone is learning loads, walking miles for water, climbing mountains, squelching mud with their feet, tying bamboo canes to the house structure, making mud roll bricks and building the 2 houses. We will let you know more in our next blog. But just to let you know we are working flat out – up at 6 am and back at 5pm. We build in the morning and then share our teatimonies, sing, do dramas and give our talks . Phew it is exhausting just writng this stuff.!!!

Much love to everyone.

We love getting your messages!! xxx