Back On The Road Again

Cases packed and omelettes eaten we were still none the wiser about the plans for the day, but we still needed to tackle the accounts compliance, so we wandered round to the offices.  Fortunately, Odilo who we have known for many years, was already in. His English is good and it was lovely to catch up with him. He is due to retire in September so we may not see him on our next visit.

All was going well until he asked what our plans were and how we were getting to Shyogwe!!!!  We had previously communicated that we would like to go to Gikonko School, which is in Butare Diocese, and then on to Shyogwe, and asked that they communicate with Shyogwe to organise our transport. A slightly awkward moment but as we had transferred funds to assist with transport costs, we didn’t feel too bad about telling him that those arrangements should have been made and they were transporting us.

Whilst we were waiting for arrangements to be made we were able to address the accounts compliance.

We then had an unexpected meeting with Rev. Elise who had gratefully inherited one of the motorcycles funded through CHI when he took over his parish. He was obviously delighted with his transport which he told us made a huge impact in his ministry.

A few hurried phone calls later and Archdeacon Edmund was appointed the role of driver/escort for the day, such a shame he had virtually no English or French, and it later transpired he should have been on a day off. It was a very quiet journey!!!

First stop was at Bishop Christophe’s house, he was also having a day off (it had been a very busy weekend for Butare Diocese). He is obviously a very relaxed bishop and greeted us in his flip flops with baby Abbie in his arms.

It was a courtesy invitation, and he thanked us for our visit and wished us a safe onward journey with assurances that he would be in touch.

An hour later we arrived at Gikonko School, Ab Edmund was obviously not happy on the murram roads!!

We are not entirely convinced they were expecting us, but we met with Felix, the student with disabilities, for whom the ramps around the school had been funded. He uses a wheelchair and had contacted the school to say he wanted to attend, at first they had said no because accommodating his needs was too difficult, but he insisted he wanted to study and would find a way to manage, eventually they agreed to take him and used the School Partner funds to install slopes and paths to the areas he would need to access. It was heartening to hear that they were happy he had joined the school and are working on making the school even more accessible so they can be fully inclusive in the future.  His aim is to be a radio journalist, and he has already set up a radio station at the school, we have a feeling this young man can achieve anything he puts his mind to.

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Next we saw the new dining hall funded by the government, this huge building was still being built on our last visit and it was good to see it finished, a great addition to the school.

The mural on the library wall painted by the students was a wonderful bright addition to the school and made a great splash of colour in a very brown and dusty environment.

The piggery project, which is providing an income for the school is doing well, but sadly the avocado trees planted earlier this year have not done so well and only about 16 have survived, not every project can be a success.

Some hurriedly put together refreshments in Jean Baptiste’s office whilst we asked about the school in general, and we were soon back on the road for the 2 hour journey to Shyogwe.

We are back in the room we had earlier in the trip and not at all surprised to find the bathroom light still didn’t work, maybe it didn’t really matter as the bathroom door does not close either, a good thing we are good friends!!!!! 

Always eager to please the lightbulb, which is, like everything else is impossibly high on the wall, has now been changed, although a ladder was a step too far and it took three people and a considerable amount of furniture removal!!!

Having not eaten since breakfast we were very happy to be offered a snack, usually samosas, chapatis, fruit, far more than we can eat…. The small plate of fruit and ground nuts were lovely, not very sustaining but then they didn’t know we had not eaten. It was all beautifully presented and set on a table that had been especially moved outside for us, nothing is too much trouble here. 

Our room overlooks the car park, and emerging from an early (cold) shower Pauline thought closing the curtains might be a good idea, one hefty swish and curtains and pole came crashing to the floor.  Too embarrassed to ask for help we shifted the bed, balanced two bedside tables on top of each other and using the window bars for support Pauline (now fully dressed) managed to climb up and replace the scaffolding pole that is masquerading as a curtain rail, whilst Carmen kept her feet firmly on the floor and attempted to keep everything steady. 

There is never a dull moment, and as so often happens the tears of laughter are rolling down our cheeks as we negotiate the challenges of life on the road in Rwanda.

Dinner eaten it's blogs and bed, a long day awaits tomorrow