A new season

Like some of the DVD box sets of the USA series I bring with me from the U.K. (Mad Men – The Final Season, The Good Wife – Season 6 & House of Cards – Season 2), I returned to Rwanda two weeks ago for a start of what I see as another season – Season 5.

Returning to the UK at the end of September, it was lovely to experience some sunny autumn weather and trees turning to orange, yellow and red. People often ask me what is it I miss about the U.K. and I guess it is the seasons – here in Rwanda, we have the dry and wet seasons with year round temperate climate of between 25 degree to 30 degrees.  I left Kigali, at the end of September, as the four month hot, dry spell was coming to an end - even I began to pray for rain, with everything looking rather dry, brown and dusty but I have returned to a city that is now looking green, lush and colourful with many flowers out due to the heavy rains that started shortly after I left.

I explain to my Rwanda friends that the seasons for us, in the U.K., mean not just a change in weather but also change in what we wear, what we eat, our lifestyle and even our moods.

Lovely English autumnal colours

I was told that on August 15^th each year it rains in Rwanda due to it being Assumption Day – thanks to Google I discovered this means ‘the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life.’  Well, August 15^th dawned bright, sunny and not a cloud in sight until the afternoon when the wind blew up and then there was a torrential downpour followed by sunshine and that was the last drop of rain until October.  All rather spooky!

A rather spooky downpour of rain

I realise the transition between going home to the U.K. and then back to Rwanda all seems quite normal now.  The difference, perhaps, this time coming back to the U.K. was I felt more like an outsider looking in and during my ‘hi and bye’ visits to family and friends it seemed I just got a snapshot of what was going on in their lives – some happy moments and some not so happy as I witnessed a number of close and dear friends going through difficulties including serious illnesses.

I seemed to manage my 5 weeks back home a bit better than on previous visits.  The first two weeks I tried to take it easy, resting and having a few days away and then three weeks of visiting family, friends including those who had been to Rwanda. A talk about my work in Rwanda, one Sunday afternoon, drew around 50 people and from that interest for some to come out for the first time – it is great to see that there is still interest for people to come out here since we first started bringing teams from Southover Church in 2007.

Looking back at the end of Season 4, I realized I had a very busy time with a youth team from my church coming out for two weeks.  A busy but life-changing time for them with a short stay in Kigali followed by 10 days in Cyangugu and then 2 days of R&R at the Akagera Game Reserve.  Activities in Cyangugu included training Sunday school teachers in a church up in the hills above Kamembe; a visit to the nutritional feeding programme on Nkombo Island where the team helped to feed and play with around 300 excited children; taking part in a school debating society that we thought was just going to be with one class but the whole of the secondary school turned out; a football match with the same school who seemed quite surprised that we had two girls in the team – one in goal and another who scored a goal and we were pleased we won 3-1 although there was a rumour circulating they had played more gently against us than they would normally against an all boy team!

Some hungry mouths at the feeding programme

The highlight of the visit was building a house for a perpetrator of the genocide. Felicien  had just been released from prison after 20 years with no family or home to go to.  On the official handover of the house, he and the Executive Cell leader (cells are communities like small villages) both shared a powerful testimony of forgiveness and reconciliation that was such an important message for the youth team to hear and similar to many other messages that had come out of Rwanda since 1994.

Felicien (in the blue) with some of the youth team

Back to Kigali and after waving them all off, I then had two weeks to work with the Solace team to plan three ‘Solace20’ events celebrating 20 years of Solace Ministries.  Over 3 days, we hosted around 1,000 people – 600 to the first event for Solace beneficiaries followed two days later with a further event for 300 for government, local organisations, international partners and Solace staff and then the next evening a thanksgiving dinner for 150.

With my 20 years of event management experience, I thought I would be able to manage it all ok but I guess I should have factored in that here in Rwanda people don’t RSVP to any of the 300 invitations we sent out (3 responded!), the are likely to show up and bring someone (they did!), none of the events started on time (I should have known that by now!), the guests of honour/speakers arrived late (again I should have guessed that one!), all the programmes ran over time by around two hours (yes, I know!) and a few other last minute hitches liked discovering we didn’t have enough tables to seat everyone resulting in a last minute, late night dash to some house in Kigali to borrow some.  But, in the way it does here it all worked out in the end and everyone had a great time. The events were a wonderful testimony to the work of Solace over 20 years as well as all the support of all the staff that worked incredibly well.  Jean Gakwandi, the founder and executive director of Solace, refused to take any of the credit for his part since 1995 giving all the glory to God – he says “I am just a humble servant.”

Solace celebrates 20 years

Before leaving for the U.K., I made a quick visit to Cyangugu for a farewell party as my work there had ‘officially’ come to an end. I knew it was likely that I would have to listen to many speeches something I wasn’t particularly looking forward to – not easy to sit there when you have to listen to many people saying lots of nice things about you.  I had to bite my lips a few time to hold back the tears and try to be very Rwandan as they say here “men cry into their stomachs.”  It was, of course sad to say goodbye to all my friends there but I will be visiting from time to time. 

After the speeches it was time for photos with the General Manager

The next day, there was a baptism and another god son to add to my growing family here – Jean D’Amour was kitted out in a very sharp suit!

Sharp suited Jean D'Amour with mum, sister & god father

I was then back in Kigali for a visit to the Akagera Game Park with the staff from Solace as a thank you for all their hard work on the Solace20 events. It was lovely to see those staff, visiting Akagera for the first time, be so excited to see the animals and an added bonus was coming across a herd of around 30 elephants. Sadly, a visit to the park is out of reach for so many Rwandans.

Solace staff on safari

Now I am back for the start of Season 5, I will continue my work here at Solace to support Jean look at the future of Solace and how it operates in a country that was very different to 20 years ago. Support with strategy, a business plan and a focus on how to make Solace more sustainable and self - reliant through its income generating projects including the guesthouse, three conference centres and a recording studio – last week we had the Rwandan Military Brass Band here to record the National Anthem for the President.

I am also pleased to get a much better understanding of the work of Solace and the way it so compassionately reaches out to people – not just survivors of the genocide but to sufferers of HIV/AIDS and other hurting people.

On Friday we went to Kibuye, about a 3-hour drive from Kigali, to visit one of the Solace Communities – there are 60 around the country with a total of around 8,000 members.  Solace programmes operate through these communities and the plan on Friday was to give 2 cows and around 30 pigs to the community.  Our visit coincided with ‘Good Governance Day’ so a very large crowd had gathered not really to greet us but all the VIP visitors including the Governor of the Province, the Mayor, Head of the Military for Province, the Head of Police and all their security.

As part of the proceedings, Solace donated the cows and the pigs and, of course, a Rwanda gathering would not be complete without singing, dancing and speeches.  

Dancing for the visitors - think the banana beer helped!

A speech from one of the community members

Sadly, it started to rain and whilst we all had shelter under a tent, everyone else had to crowd under an available umbrella or something that would protect them from the downpour. The women use the African fabric they wear to protect them from the rain and the brightness of the materials brought so much colour to what turned out to be a rather damp day.

Taking shelter

Colourful fabrics

Driving to Kibuye, we hit some very heavy rain but on the way back the rain had stopped and we enjoyed some wonderful panoramic views of Lake Kivu, Nyungwe Forest and the many hills of Rwanda rolling into the distance and, as we had reached heights of around 8,000 feet, some wonderful views of low-lying clouds in the valley below us.  I was being a typical Muzungu and asking if the could stop the car every few minutes to take some photos to capture the beautiful scenery.

Views on the return journey

The troubles in Burundi are not that far away although here in Kigali life continues as normal with very little evidence that so much is going on other than what I read in the media.  Being so close to Rwanda it may put people coming here but this country continues to be safe and secure so I would encourage people not to be deterred. I keep up with news from home and the other tragic events that are going on in Europe and other parts of the world and Rwanda seems to be a safe place to be. People who come, for the first time, always seem slightly concerned about the strong military presence they see with armed soldiers and police around the city but I tell them there is nothing to worry about and they are there to provide a strong sense of security and safety.

I have to remind myself that it is Christmas in just over a month’s time as very little sign of it anywhere. I will spend it here in Kigali and pleased to have seen that the Anglican cathedral will have a service of carols so, hopefully, this will get me in the Christmas spirit! Yesterday, I found myself at a craft fair at the Hotel des Milles Collines (the famous Hotel Rwanda) which seemed to have the largest gathering of ‘Bazungu’ I have seen in Rwanda busy doing their Christmas shopping.

Last week, I received the good news that my visa has been extended for another two years.  I was unable to renew it before I came back to the U.K. and it expired when I was home but had been assured by my ‘friends’ in Immigration that it would not be a problem to extend it when I returned.  Thankfully, this time it was all fairly problem free so everyone here is very pleased that they have me for a bit longer.

Life in the city

The new Kigali Convention Centre 

 Well, almost three months in Kigali and I feel as if I have become a ‘Kigalian, if such a word exists but if not I could have just created a new one.

One of the differences, I notice between here and Cyangugu is that it so much hotter – we are well and truly into the hot, dry and dusty season with no rain expected until, at least, September although I have been reliably informed it always rain on 15^th August – Assumption Day so I have made a note in my diary to see if it happens.

There are, of course, many other differences between Kigali and Cyangugu and having gone back last weekend for a very quick visit, I realized again that you could be in another country.  A lovely welcome from Peace Guest Staff with lots of hugs and smiles for their General Manager (as I think I will always be known) and so lovely to see them and to and to be back amongst ‘my family’ in Cyangugu.

The infamous road through the Nwungwe Forest is now 99% completed having had major works done on it. Now there is tarmac and white lines down the middle although the single white lines seems to make no difference to the drivers who continue to overtake on the bends. How different this road is now compared to when I first came to Rwanda in 2006 and what seemed to be journey of many hours through the forest along a very rough road with many, many potholes.

Driving through Nyungwe

Coming back on Sunday, we had a particularly fast driver and with not much traffic and no sign of police for the first three hours he had obviously decided that the new road was a great opportunity to go even faster.  One near miss and five a half hours later we, thankfully, arrived safe and sound in Kigali – my knuckles were a bit whiter from clinging to the handle on the back of the seat in front of me and even though I don’t suffer from travel sickness even I had began to feel a bit queasy.

Nearly everywhere in Kigali there is construction work going on including all around Solace Ministries.  The noise here is so much greater than the peace of Cyangugu – dogs barking in the night, soldiers in the local military camp doing their 6am routine of running and chanting and then at 7.30am the work starts in a builder’s yard just below Solace. We are extending the terrace at the guesthouse and the sounds of cutting machines have been going on below my office windows that I have to keep open due to the heat so not a relaxing time.

On the road outside Solace, that has for many years been a dirt and rutted track, major improvements are being done which, when completed, will look very smart with pavements and either tarmac or paving blocks. A few weeks ago, when there were protests outside the British High Commission over the Rwandan official who was arrested in the UK, all the traffic was diverted from the main road and came past Solace so the combination of road-works, traffic, heat and dust is, I guess, all part of life in the city.

Diversion ahead!

Thankfully, the protests were all very peaceful and in true Rwandan style there was much singing and dancing so it felt more like a party.  The protestors wanted to stay there until the official was released but, on hearing that the trial was not going to be until October, I think the police decided that there was too much traffic congestion and, no doubt, hindering the President’s drive home from his office just down the road to his home the other side of the city.  It’s always interesting to see the President’s cavalcade go past – fast car after fast car with police, military, security hanging out of the windows.  I’m sure he would be far less visible if he discreetly drove past in a couple of cars or even went by moto!

Protest or party?

All across the city new hotels, office blocks, shopping centres are going up whilst large parts of ‘old Kigali’ are being knocked down. Marriott Hotels are building a large hotel in the centre of the city but I heard that there are now concerns as rooms on the top floor overlook the President’s house and gardens so could be a security risk.  Last week I visited a new Golden Tulip hotel built just outside the city, where the new airport will be built – this, currently, is the largest hotel in Rwanda.

Modern building

Walking through the city centre, I came across a more traditional approach to building but was unsure about the tree in the middle – maybe, a feature in the sitting room!

Traditional building

A couple of weekends ago, a new arts festival was held called ‘Umubuntu’ meaning Humanity – held over two evenings, in the new amphitheatre of the genocide memorial centre in Gisozi, it showcased performers from Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, Sri Lanka and USA.  Most of the acts were music dramas and plays based around the themes of love, death, genocide, murder – some rather heavy subjects but all very well performed. Not being biased but I have to say the Rwandan performance was the best.

Before the start of each evening, a minute’s silence was held in memory of the 250,000 people buried at Gisozi – a sad reminder of the events in 1994.

'Umubuntu' at Gisozi

During these three months in Kigali, I have been fortunate to have been on some lovely visits to some parts of the country that I not seen before. Some very good friends from my church, Rob & Jan, treated me to a visit to the Akagera Game Reserve – with us was Jan’s Aunt, Irene, from the USA who was visiting Rwanda for the first time.  Close in age, they are more like sisters and spent most of the time, when we travelled, sitting at the back of the vehicle laughing - mostly at Rob’s expense. Armed with fans (the Chinese sort) they found them very useful for swatting the flies or me over the back of my head if I said anything out of turn.

My perception of Akagera was that it was a rather small park in the north east of the country with a few animals.  I discovered it covers 10% of Rwanda’s land mass and has wonderful savannah, hills with beautiful views across to Tanzania, lakes and many, many animals.

View across Akagera to Tanzania

Akagera has been very much in the news recently due to the re-introduction of lions, from South Africa, back into the park. When I was there, there was a sense of how peaceful it all was with the animals quietly grazing but I am sure this is all about to change!  

Bath time!

A few of the many animals in Akagera

From Akagera, we went down to Cyangugu and then to Kibuye, by boat, for a couple of days relaxation – Kibuye on Lake Kivu is one of my favourite places in Rwanda and on visiting a church, that was a site of a massacre in the genocide, I discovered some lovely murals hidden around one of the corners of the building.

Colourful boat trip to Kibuye

Late evening in Kibuye

Mural in Kibuye church

With other friends, Richard and Prilla, I was also treated to a few days away at a less known lake called Lake Ruhundo located in the north of the country. Next to another lake called Burera, we stayed in a lovely catholic retreat set high on a hill with wonderful views of the lake and the occasional view of one of four volcanoes that majestically appeared from behind the clouds.

Spot the volcano!

We spent a lot of time volcano spotting and sometimes you would not even know they were there and then one or two would suddenly appear.  The best time to see them, I understand, is during the rain season so I must try and plan a return visit.

My final visit was to the Rugezi Wetlands again in the north of the country.  The wetlands stretch for 46kms and known for its abundant birdlife, we spent a lovely couple of hours being rowed through the wetlands to see the birds and some of the beautiful flora and fauna.

Rugezi Wetlands

Not just the birds that were very beautiful

I have probably said this before but for a small country, Rwanda is truly beautiful and is really blessed to have three national parks (Virunga, Akagera, Nyungwe Forest), mountains, volcanoes, hills (at least a 1000!), tea plantations not to mention beautiful, friendly and smiling people. I still get amused at seeing the loads that people have on their back of their bikes on or their heads.

Count the mattresses!

Looking ahead, I have a youth team from my church arriving in just under four weeks.  They will be here for two weeks and much of the time we will be in Cyangugu where amongst other activities they will help to build a house.  Traditionally, we have built houses for genocide widows but this time we have been asked to build a house for a perpetrator who has just been released after serving twenty years in prison.

In September, we have three events here at Solace Ministries as they celebrate 20 years – one event will be for 600 mainly beneficiaries of Solace, then we will have an event for 300 including international and local partners, government, church and other officials and then to finish a thanksgiving dinner for 150.  Having been asked to support the arrangements for all three I am very thankful for my many years of event organisation.

My thoughts are very much turning to the end of October when my visa expires.  My plan is to come back at the end of September for a month’s holiday but, hopefully, by then to have a clearer sense of what happens next.  I am learning to leave much of this to God’s plan and as Steve Daughtery, my Rector at Southover Church said to me in an email “So I await God’s plans to unfold in your life (always an exciting edgy thing!!!) – I agree!

All roads lead to Kigali

Two weeks ago, I left Cyangugu after two years to move to Kigali to live and work for the next six months. 

From Cyangugu local colour

To Kigali local colour

A sad time, as I said farewell to all my friends in Cyangugu and now a period of adjustment to a very different life in the city.  Getting used to walking on pavements, crossing the road at traffic lights and trying to stop the traffic on their zebra crossings are some of the challenges although adapting, very easily, to the growing coffee shop culture so often I find myself in one for a cappuccino or latte - not to mention a chocolate brownie or two!

I thought this may have been a reflective blog post as I come to the end of my two year mission in Cyangugu but realise I need time process and really think about my time there. Also, I don’t feel this is the end of my mission in Rwanda as I want to see what Kigali has in store for me as I experience life in the city and think about the future.

My visa expires at the end of October so I will need to come to a decision about what happens after that – returning to the UK to face a British winter doesn’t really grab me at the moment so will see what happens over the next few months. Fortunately, I am only a short distance from the Immigration Office so convenient for me to go and see them and ask about the possibility of extending my visa although the long and painful task of getting my visa in the first place still lingers in the back of mind.

Although, I have leant to deal with many things here, with patience and keeping my mouth shut, sadly, I still struggle dealing with the beaurocracy here and the paperwork, formalities and rubber stamping that goes with it!

Naturally, it felt very sad to say goodbye to all my friends in Cyangugu and, particularly, all the lovely staff at Peace Guest House - tears were shed, mainly mine! Two weeks before I left Jane, who works in the restaurant, said “General Manager, the staff are going to miss you – they have started crying already!” I miss the friendly smiles of welcome each morning when I used to arrive for work and how, after my long walk from the house, one of the guards walks up the drive to meet me with a huge beaming smile and taking my bags from me.  No matter what was going on, the staff gave everyone a warm welcome and their smiles so often lit up the place.

Goodbye General Manager!

I left without the Rwandan tradition of a farewell party which, as you guess, is one of many speeches and Fanta!  I said this could wait until later in the year, once my plans are clearer and as I will be going back to visit, at least once a month, it seemed strange to have a farewell party and then turn up again in a few weeks time.

There, there Wilson - I'm coming back soon!

Here in Kigali I am living and working at Solace Ministries, a partner of my church since 2007, when we started coming to Rwanda with teams.  Solace has an income generating guesthouse, where teams used to stay and still do, so I will be supporting them to make improvements although, having been here for two weeks and observing the ways things run, I see it runs very well.  In addition, I am going to support them to plan a series of events to celebrate their 20^th anniversary in September this year and I will continue to support Peace Guest House and the Diocese in some activities.

Solace Ministries was set-up after the genocide by Jean Gakwandi, himself a genocide survivor, who wanted to support widows and orphans by offering counselling and support.  Solace has grown, over the years, to offer a range of programmes including counselling, income generating acitivities, community based development, health, sponsorship and much more. Many of the staff who work here are themselves genocide survivors and it is good to be part of an active and healing ministry. Take a look at their website to find out more http://www.solacem.org/

It is in a good location with access to the city centre, a nice hotel next door with a swimming pool that I have started to use and as I only have to walk downstairs to work or into my office next to my bedroom, I need to keep fit.  I’ve started a running routine and have done a few early morning runs and a couple of night runs as these are the coolest times of the day – fortunately, the area around here is quite flat so I don’t have lots of hills to run up.

My walk to work!

Looking out of my office window I thought this was a good way to bring the washing in

Running last night along the main street near Solace which is home to the British, US and other country embassies as well as the President’s Office and government offices, I was able to run on well lit pavements.  However, in doubling back down what is a  very nice road in the day time, I realised how dark it was at night and discovered a few things:

1. ·         It’s not good to run at night without a torch
2. ·         Don’t try and run and look at the lights of the city even though they look very beautiful – someone described Kigali at night as a “blanket of stars” and I quite agree
3. ·       Not all motorbike riders have their headlights on
4. ·       The holes in the road and the rain water gullies are not as easy to see in the dark as they are during the day
5. ·       There are low hanging branches that come out of nowhere and smack you in the face – I did let out a rather loud expletive at one point when I discovered that one branch was covered in thorns
6. ·       Beware of young children who decide to run with you so you feel like the Pied Piper of Hamlyn - sometimes they are amusing and other times irritating (sorry kids)
7. ·       Don’t wear a black t-shirt and jogging pants at night

All part of the learning curve of being here and trying to keep fit.

Looking back at when my last post was which was February, I thought I’d just update you on my last few months in Cyangugu.

In the time I had been there, I met many people and some of these have had a big impact on my life.  In April, the lady with HIV/AIDS sadly died after a long and painful illness – having visited her almost each month for the last year, I was able to witness what a dreadful illness this is and to see how slowly her body turned into a living skeleton. In the last few weeks her bones became so brittle that they would break when her carers washed her.  There seemed nothing anything could do other than wait for her to die. I asked someone why she wasn’t given morphine but something they don’t to here so indeed it was a blessing when she, finally, passed away. A short time before, she had asked for the Archdeacon and Pastors to visit her to give her Holy Communion so I guess she knew the time was near.

She was given a lovely service followed by a burial under some trees, just outside town. Her simple wooden coffin seemed to be made for someone of about 6ft 5in and thinking of how small she was, at the end, they could have fitted three of her in there.  She was buried to the sound of the Rwandans singing which was lovely to hear – I mentioned, in an earlier post that Rwandans sing on every occasion.

Shortly afterwards, I met up with young mother who lost her baby last year. She is now going to school and looked happy and smiling.  It felt that some of these situations that I been involved in seemed to be coming to a conclusion as I too was concluding my time.

In complete contrast, as often it is the way here, I had to deal with a rather tricky situation at the guesthouse which I called the “The Mysterious Case of the Vanishing Chocolate”. Left by some guests in the refrigerator, in the kitchen, they were certain some had gone missing and sadly accused the staff of taking it. I think some may have been pointing the figure at the General Manager due to his lack of getting chocolate!  After much discussion and investigation it was difficult to prove that it had gone missing or, in fact, had been taken by staff but the situation calmed down and the guests left happy.  They were pleased that we took things seriously and at least tried to deal with it.

Sadly, from my many years of experience in the event business and working in the hotels it always seems to be the hotel staff that are accused when something goes missing when, 99% of the time it is the guests who have lost something or mislaid an item that turns up later at some point. Here in Rwanda, during the years I have been here, I have not known anything to be stolen from any guesthouse or hotel I have stayed in.

Whilst trying to diffuse the situation, I was visited by a lady whose son has been supported by an educational fund I have established that supports children to go to school – see more about this at the end of the blog. The lady, a widow with one son, brought me a gift as she had heard that I was shortly leaving - she started to cry and when she presented the gift she got down on her knees. The “Mysterious Case of the Vanishing Chocolate” paled into insignificance.

In April, Rwanda remembered the Genocide of 1994 – ‘Kwibuka 21’(Remember). There was a week of memorial events around the country starting on 7^th April and I was asked to attend a ceremony at a local genocide memorial site, near to the house that had been recently rebuilt. Around 200 people walked in silence and into the building that had the mass graves each lit with a single candle – after prayers and speeches, a small bunch of white flowers were put on each grave.

 

The 'new' Genocide Memorial in Cyangugu

We then walked to the local stadium where around 300 people gathered.  Being the only muzungu I was invited to sit with the VIPs so facing all the people.  A ‘national’ speech was read out, prepared by the Government and was being read to all the meetings taking place around the country, followed by testimonies, singing and further speeches before we tuned in to a rather crackly radio broadcast to hear the President’s speech.

Mention was made to the way the West took no notice of what was going on in Rwanda in the early days of April 1994 due, partly, to the UN failing to recognise that a genocide was taking place and also of the recent BBC documentary that has caused so much upset here Rwanda.  Thankfully, the mood was lightened by Gail, the three year old daughter of Jonas who lives with me, coming to sit on my lap and proceeding to remove her dress but, thankfully, nothing else!

I have often thought whether this national memorial week should still continue after 21 years but I felt, standing in the genocide memorial, that this was not about another country at war with Rwanda but the Rwandans at war with one other – neighbour against neighbour, friend against friend.  I still find it hard, as I am sure many others do, to understand how something like this could have happened in a country so beautiful with people so friendly.  Standing in the memorial, I can understand the necessity of this annual, national remembrance as a reminder, for so many, of what happened and the lessons that have been learnt.  Forgiveness and reconciliation has been such a big part of the work that has gone on here and still does.

Living as I have done with, amongst Rwandans, to me it is not important about what ethnic group they come from and something that I don’t think about.

At the moment, we are seeing and hearing the troubles that are going on in Burundi - strange to think the country is only a few hours away and worrying to know that ethnic tensions could start and some of these may spill over into Rwanda.  However, I am relieved to be in a country that is well organised, law abiding and where one feels safe walking (or running) around the streets at night – visitors here, for the first time, are often worried about the military and police presence they see on the streets but they are just part of the security measures here and I have never felt concerned or worried.

People do ask me what are the lessons I have learnt being here for two years. I guess in short, I have learnt the value of serving – putting other people’s interests before my own and trying to lead a life that is less about me. It’s allowed me to think about what is it I have that I can give to others and I’m not talking about money – I guess its allowed me to discover a more compassionate side of me that I sort of knew I had but back in the UK wasn’t allowed or couldn’t show it. Many people here say I have a kind heart and again that’s not about giving them money but trying to come alongside them in their struggles and pain and to find a way to help them.

I haven't talked a lot about my Christian faith on this blog but can say my faith has been deepened and strengthened by being here. It gives me a way to put my faith into words and action.  Living and working with people who show a deep faith and put their faith and trust in God, when they have so little, helps and strengthens me and at times when I am struggling or feeling tired.

On one of my walks around the back of Solace, I came past a bit of graffiti that someone has written on a piece of old corrugated iron “God loves you”. I was really struck by this and went back this morning to take a photo – it made me think about how we are like this piece of old corrugated iron, broken, bent, rusty, flawed and despite all this God still loves us.

Here, I’ve not had to worry about how much salary I need to earn (as I don’t earn one!), about my future career or ambition – it’s been good to have a break from all this although when I return to the UK at some point in the future I can see all this coming back into my life.

Not getting caught up in western consumerism is also something that I value and strangely how I get joy from just going to buy a ruler or a new toothbrush – as the housekeeping ladies decided to wash the two I had and they ended up with bristles in all directions.  I hope it was that and they hadn’t used them to clean my bathroom – decided a new toothbrush was a good idea.

Finally, a plug.  One of the things I have observed in my time here is how many families struggle to pay fees to send their children to school and to buy them uniforms and other items that they needed.  Through money that has been given to me by my church and other friends, I decided to start a fund that would support these families to get their children through primary and secondary education.  Also, I wanted to create a legacy of my time here and something that will continue when I do, finally, return to the UK. However, I know whatever happens, I will continue to come here so I can administer the fund from home or Rwanda with local support here.

Creating Opportunity Through Education

If you feel you would like to make a donation to the fund, just drop me an email to jonathan.lamb3@btinternet.com and I'll send you more details.

Thank you!