Another Brick in the Wall

For anyone who might have been concerned, yes, we did get our omelettes last night. The lights did not come back on but with a torch balanced on the table our faces must have looked scarily white as we ate. There is a fair sized group staying here at the moment, and they joined us in the restaurant, sadly, as we could not see them there was no socialising to be done.

We awoke this morning to a bright sunny day, and the electricity was back on, prayers answered. We learned later the power cut had not just affected Kibungo but also Kigali and who knows how much of the rest of Rwanda.

First stop was Gahima Christian Academy where we have 14 sponsored children studying from nursery to primary 6.

We saw the foundations of this new school during our 2022 visit, fortunately funding was secured from the Japanese ambassador, the construction was completed very quickly, and a volunteer Japanese teacher is now working at the school for 2 years. Today the school is thriving with 300 pupils, and the first cohort are about to sit their primary 6 National Exams as they prepare for senior school.

Even more amazing is that, in a Diocese where 199 of the 212 churches are closed, the church that serves the school remains open.

The children were disciplined and polite, even when we caused some CHI with a bag of tennis balls. After the fun and games, we handed out letters from their sponsors before they walked very sedately back to their classes as we took our leave.

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Next stop Gahima Agape Secondary School where support has been offered ever since they began the school in 2007. We were met with a display of traditional dance by the sponsored students, then a tour of the school, starting with a very tidy girl’s dormitory with Bibles laying open on the beds, we couldn’t help but think they knew we were coming!!!

We saw the drying area erected using School Partner funds, the kitchen which had been tiled, and the tables and benches in the dining room, also purchased with the use of School Partner Funds, and the new boy’s dormitory (also remarkably tidy) which was previously destroyed in a fire days after our last visit to the school. The new bunks funded by CHI are made of metal, it was felt they would be less likely to burn than the old wooden ones!!

The grounds have been heavily cultivated since our last visit, with crops growing around the edge of all the grassed areas as well as in large beds. It is another government directive that all available land should be cultivated, these crops will supplement the school lunches.

Then it was time to formally meet the 54 sponsored students. The usual formalities were followed by more song and dance.

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Then the handing out of letters from sponsors, the children really do appreciate receiving your correspondence.

Outside, after the group photo there was time to relax and chat with the students, take more photos and, for Carmen, the opportunity to meet with her sponsored boy. What a privilege to have that opportunity. With some assistance with language challenges, he shared his dream to be a doctor and his gratitude for the support that has enabled him to remain in school without the financial worry of school fees. A few tears were shed when it was time to say goodbye.

A lunch date with Bishop Emmanuel meant there was no time to linger as we headed back to the Diocesan Office for the short walk to the local hotel for lunch. Chicken Stroganoff seems to be a fairly safe bet, and over a pleasant lunch we put the world to rights before discussing how we could best support the Diocese during these challenging times of church closures and pastors being forced to retire due to the lack of formal education.

A tour of the new Cathedral which is currently under construction, no work boots or hard hats required here, saw Pauline almost end up in a trench. Obviously not wishing to damage the muzungu, Bishop Emmanuel insisted we form a human chain as he dragged us up a rather steep slope to the top of the site.  Fortunately, there are no pictures of that, although it must have looked hilarious.

We have decided we must be looking old as we were returned to the guest house by 4.15pm, our second opportunity to write the blog and reports before midnight, a rare treat indeed.

Tomorrow we are distributing goats!!!! Watch this space.

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