Food Glorious Food

Every day brings another surprise here, today’s was certainly different. A delicious looking bowl of porridge arrived for breakfast, a welcome change from omelettes we thought, tucking in enthusiastically proved to be a mistake when we discovered it was flavoured with mushroom and onion, maybe due to the fact that we didn’t finish all the soup we were served last night!!!! We tried to think of it a soup but try as we might we just could not manage more than a spoonful or two, Pauline thought it was better with sugar, personally I wasn't convinced, never mind, the plate of pancakes looked inviting, and there was honey, unfortunately the honey did not sit so well with the decidedly salty pancakes. Oh well, a nice cup of coffee will go down well we thought, sadly….no milk. What a good thing we always bring coffee and biscuits with us.

We always feel so guilty when we are unable to finish the food served to us, but today was just one of those days.

Living out of a suitcase does have it's challenges....

So after a quick repack it was time for our 9am meeting with the accountant which quickly resolved any challenges regarding the new accountability we have been requesting, and we are confident that will not be an issue going forward.

Bishop Jean Pierre was waiting as we left the office, and after loading our cases we were on the road to Karongi, one of the prettiest dioceses, sitting on the shores of Lake Kivu.

The new road is now complete, making the journey quicker and easier for Bishop Jean Pierre

The bishop is a very steady driver and we enjoyed watching the scenery and life in general pass by the windows. The hills are now dotted with electricity pylons as electricity reaches out across the country

A halfway stop at Nyange Parish where we met with Pastor Yvonne once again. We are amazed at the progress this new parish have made in securing additional land (one of the government requirements is that every church must have 5000 square meters as a minimum land area) and constructing a new two room building for a nursery school.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/c710bc_d4b578e4d26f45348766e3b6bde437a3/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

We met with one of the ten savings groups formed in this area each comprised of 12 ladies who support each other emotionally, practically, financially and spiritually as they work together for empowerment, healing and reconciliation.

Saving 1000rwf (approx 50p) each time they meet they are very proud that over the last 26 months they have saved the equivalent of approximately £26 each. They take loans from the pot to start small income generation activities and are now increasing their savings to 2000rwf (approx £1). We heard wonderful testimonies of lives transformed financially and spiritually. Heartbreakingly, the eyes of some told stories of suffering that went deeper than we could begin to imagine. This area suffered more than most during the unimaginable horrors of the genocide.

Afterwards we were led to the office to share fruit and tea with Pastor Yvonne and the head of laity. We learnt during our last visit that both of the pastor’s parents were killed in the genocide and she was left to care for her younger siblings, a very intense conversation followed as genocide experiences were shared with the bishop, all in Kinyrwandan of course so we had no idea what was being said, the faces and eyes however told their own story.

We had a gentle drive with the opportunity to discuss a number of matters with the bishop and stopped for a late lunch at another very smart café/coffee shop. Playing safe we opted for coconut chicken, which whilst very pleasant, tasted very like the chicken stroganoff we had eaten previously.

We eventually reached the new diocesan guest house, which had only been a concrete shell during our visit last year. We had been told it was not quite finished, but that we could probably be hosted there.  The VERY rough road leading up the hillside might have been enough to deter us until we rounded the bend and the most amazing sight rose majestically ahead of us.

Boasting 9 bedrooms this is certainly the most modern and well thought out accommodation we have yet encountered. Beautifully finished and decorated, every need has been catered for. The kitchen is not complete, but it functions sufficiently to provide for us.

There is water, and light, a proper wet room and we have been allocated a double room each, despite only booking one. There are no lizards in the mosquito nets and we are looking forward to a good night’s sleep. We won’t mention the towel rail that fell off when touched!!!! We are here to test the rooms but really didn’t mean to break the first thing we touched.

Having watched the sun set over lake Kivu we are sharing a light dinner with Bishop Jean Pierre and listening to the beautiful sound of a choir rehearsing float across the hillside from a local Catholic Church. There appear to be a number of churches of other faiths and denominations open.

It seems our friendly grasshopper from last night has followed us here and bought his friends, thank goodness for mosquito nets.