35 Degrees In The (NO) Shade

Rwempasha is a collection of about 70 little shelters spread over 70 hectares and located on the top of a barren hill, strictly speaking there is one tree, but it’s bare and provides no shade.

The people who have been relocated here from Tanzania were almost all born in Tanzania, although they are ‘Rwandaphones’, (people of Rwandan descent that speak Rwandan languages) by ethnic origin. The majority are young and have never lived in Rwanda, they have no property or family to return to, their home and life was Tanzania.

In Tanzania they were shepherds but here in Rwempasha they have no cattle and no way of obtaining them (yet). But the Rwandan Government is trying to help the returnees by providing them with 1 hectare of land, food rations, free medical care (if they can get to a clinic or hospital, which is a long way off) and a hoe to help them plant crops. The shepherds are learning to be farmers and are planting vegetables which they use to supplement there rations and to barter for other necessities such as soap. There is little water to waste on crops, when you have to carry it for 4km, but despite this the hill top is beginning to green over with sweet potatoes, maize and cassava.

Following the last two visits we have decided to look at erecting a shelter (community meeting place) that will serve as a place for us to meet and facilitate discussion. (It’s completely selfish actually, it’s really hot sitting in the sun and I need some shade.) So we have designed a shelter that will also provide for water harvesting, and we intend to engage the men of the community to help us build. This will not be the contractor’s job, Isaac and I with our vast building experience will be the builders and contractors.

To those who gave me some money to bring with me, thank you. I intend to purchase a soccer ball, volley ball, net and a few other little things to give the children something to do. There may even be enough for some ‘treats’. The lollipops were a hit – they always are! To those who have left comments and words of encouragement on this blog, thank you, it means a great deal. Technology can be a great thing – when it works.

Mzungu, mzungu

After breakfast this morning the Headquarters personnel left Isaac and I too it. So here I am in the middle of Africa, in a little town in Northern Rwanda, the only mzungu (white guy) for a long way apparently and I knew it when I went for a walk through the village with Isaac.

The people are very friendly and welcoming. With my limited French and non-existent, (but learning), Kinyarwandan I am a real novelty, but a welcome one. From the District Government officials down the people have been great.

So far I have eaten three meals in Nyagatare and each time I have had my choice of rice, an ‘aromatic’ concoction of beans, savoury banana, cassava and sweet potato. I don’t think I’ll put on weight during this deployment.

Once we got rid of the HQ staff, we took an opportunity to orientate ourselves to the village; we had some shopping to do, so went for a walk down the main street. By the time we got to the end of the street we had decided that we will have to go for a trip into Kigali on Monday to obtain some supplies and materials. Lovely little village but nothing that we needed here.

Tomorrow it’s back out to Rwempasha to begin discussions with the community leaders with the goal of forming a community water committee that will decide on rules for use and maintenance of the well and lavatories that will be built. The great thing is that anything we do will be an improvement, but the challenge is to make what we do culturally relevant and sustainable. I think the plans and intentions of the project will deliver this goal.

Rwanda: At Last

After 33 hours in the air I arrived in the "Land of a Thousand Hills" to find that I would be staying at the Hotel Des Milles Collines for the night before heading up North to Nyagatare. For those of you that have seen the movie Hotel Rwanda you will know that this is the hotel that featured in the movie. It was a little bizarre to realise that the swimming pool I saw from my window was the same one that they drank from, and the foyer was the same one shot up during the genocide. But a beautiful Hotel none the less.

After a few hours sleep we headed out to Nyagatare, a three hour drive north of Kigali. This will be where we live for the duration of the project. Nyagatare is a small village but quite nice. After meeting the contractor we headed off to meet the local government officials, and then all of us travelled about 30 minutes out to Rwempasha.

The community that we will be helping is a collection of 70 small mud and tarpaulin 'tents'. There are about 230 people, all who have been relocated from Tanzania back to theit home country and given 1 hectare each for their new homes. This 'village' is located on the top of a hill, absolutely no shelter, and an 8km round trip to the nearest water. The kids are beautiful and full of life, very inquisitive and friendly. The adults were very welcoming and happy to see us.

At the moment there are six of us, but tomorrow it will be just two. Captain Isaac Siundu from Kenya and I will be living here and trying to implement the project.

As the days unfold I'll tell you more, but for the moment, let me say that this is an amazing opportunity and one that I am very happy to be part of. If we can start by giving this community and her people water and private latrines, we will go a long way toward transforming their lives and building upon their sense of dignity. If in the process we are ale to reveal Jesus in our lives, then what else can we do?

Dubai Isn't in Rwanda, Is it?

Well I made it to Dubai so far! And here I am for four hours before the next leg of the journey takes me to Africa, and to Rwanda.

What a welcome to Dubai. It took 1 1/2 hours to get through the security to get into the transit lounge. I think I would have been quicker booking out and in again. The place is packed even at 5am. But the shopping, (if you like that kind of stuff) is apparently great. Not that I would know!

Well, time to get on another flight, so until next time...

Nyagatare Here I Come

It's all confirmed.

The Rwandan Government have issued me with an "Entry Facility", which allows me to land in Kigali and obtain a visa upon entry.

So now I depart the shores of Aotearoa on Wednesday @ 1750 (NZ time) and after transitting through Melbourne, Dubai and Nairobi I arrive in Kigali on Friday at 0320 (NZ time).

Thank you to all that have been praying about this and for me. Sandy and I have always believed that our role is to make ourselves available - the rest must be up to God. So I believe there is a work for me to do in Rwanda and I will value your continued prayers for me, and for my family.

I will be living in a place (village/town/city: I'm not sure) called Nyagatare in the Northern districts of Rwanda and whilst doing some research I came across a photo, taken in January '07, that claims to be of Nyagatare:

Of Mice & Men

The best laid plans... Murphy's Law...

Well, about now I am supposed to be saying good bye and heading to the airport on my way to Rwanda: but No, not yet!

Due to some issues with a visa I have had to delay my departure until Wednesday. The flights are rebooked, so now I continue to wait to see if I will be issued a visa before then.

What can you do?

Rwempasha, Rwanda

It's easy whilst it remains an academic exercise in project management, but when the statistics take on faces and personal stories ...

(A returnee youth in Rwempasha, Rwanda looks towards the future. UNHCR)

To Rwanda

While there were at least three different migrations from Rwanda to Tanzania late 1960’s (before the current international boundaries were solidified), during the 1980’s to pursue (mostly) farming, and in 1994 as the result of the Rwanda Genocide, all of these people, many of whom were actually born in Tanzania, are being pressured into moving back to Rwanda.

The vast majority of these families have no real ‘home’ to return to and are making the journey to Rwanda with very little or nothing at all in the way of resources or belongings.

These people are being given land by government, but nothing more. They walk up to 8 km to get dirty water every day, they have no sanitation and in recent months 19 people have died as a result of water borne disease.

So this is where the Army comes in. We will begin a project to bore a well in the village of Rwempasha, to supply each of the 70 families with a toilet and education to maintain and care for the well, water and toilets.

That's my task. I will be in Rwanda for a month leading a small team in the delivery of this project.

If you want to know more stay tuned to this blog, providing I have access to the internet I will keep it updated.

That's what it's about

I watched, with pride, as my daughter reminded me what church and faith is all about.

It was Sunday morning and we had taken the church to the community. There were over 35,000 people at the Festival and there we were, the Sallies (or Salvos) right in the middle of it. Big "Red Shields" out front, chocolate shields with our church details, flyers advertising our programs and mission, and our people in the new Church branded (Shield and Cross) shirts - there was no mistaking who we were, or Whose we were.

But back to my daughter: She sat at a table with crowds of children around her for 7 hours that day. Children of all nations and faiths came to have their faces painted, there were butterflies and Spidermen all over the place. Muslim girls in their head scarves, and islander boys, no matter who they were or what language they spoke: I heard my daughter asking about their lives, I heard her telling them how beautiful they were, I heard her sharing her journey with them, I watched as she engaged with them where they were at, and I saw them going away happy, excited and encouraged.

I don't know that the artist ever explicity mentioned the name of Jesus, or God, or Church - but I know that childern left knowing they were special!

That's sounds like a ministry that Jesus would be proud of to me.

Expectant Transformation

After this week I can mark another NZ city off the list of places to visit during my stay here. This week we had the opportunity, thanks to the Army, of travelling to Christchurch for a few days. Officially we were there for "Unleashing", the launch of the strategy for NZ.

We were challenged to be focused on three mission intentions: Caring for People, Transforming Lives, and Reforming Society.

As a person committed to the Transformation of lives through the principles of Community Development signing up to that kind of agenda is not hard to do. It's what I believe in, both in the spiritual and the physical. But I wonder if we are really serious about it sometimes.

At the moment I'm part of an amazing church (corps) that lets us experiment with alternatives. For example this weekend we'll be worshipping in a park with over 15,000 other people. We're going to set up a stall in the Auckland International Cultural Festival and let people know who and whose we are. Our church is going to be visible in the community and pray for opportunities to talk with people about God and Faith - and hand out free chocolate too!

In my opinion, that's the way you show people you care enough, that's how we're going to transform lives and reform society. You can't do it from a fortress filled with soldiers of varying degrees of commitment to the cause - you have to do it in the field of conflict. It's time to recognise that the fortress really only exists to equip and refresh the soldiers (an essential work, but not the ultimate end) for the work of relating to, and engaging with those that would probably never think of gracing the halls of our buildings.

The church has to go where 'they' belong and meet 'them' where they're at. To expect that they will just show up in our churches on their own, (although some still do, thanks to God's Spirit) is to live in denial. The church must be engaged in and with the community if it wants to transform lives - because transformation only happens from a position of trust and respect.

Doubting with Integrity

I can't remember the number of times in my young years as a Christian that I was told that I should have no doubts. But I did, and I do...

I grew up in a boarding school that taught me a strict, disciplined christianity: and whilst that sounds bad, it wasn't. My experiences at the school taught me many things that benefit me today. But it also filled me with a sense of guilt if I didn't always get the religious part right.

I read recently of another young man, who "came up to the well-known American preacher Harry Emerson Fosdick, and confessed with some distress - that he no longer believed in God. 'So you are an atheist,' said Fosdick. 'Describe to me the kind of God you don't believe in. ‘The youth then outlined the childish ideas about God in whom he could no longer believe. 'My boy,' said Fosdick, 'that makes two of us. I don't believe in that God either.'

Don't get too worried, yet, I do believe in God, and I do know this God to be intimately engaged in my life. But the God I know is much different to the one of my youth. And I think that the God I am trying to know likes doubt... the God I am trying to understand, (but let's face it never will) applauds the person who, with integrity of heart and mind, questions, yells and argues with the reality that is life and God.

I think that one of the origins of doubt is integrity. It is not wrong, or sinful, to doubt, we must continually challenge long-held beliefs, and "sacred cows". The only faith that is worthwhile is that which is not afraid to question anything. Nothing is too sacred for honest analysis. Doubt which springs from integrity is very healthy.

So my pet subject of integrity raises its head again... after all it's all about integrity!

Bula Vanaka

It was hot and humid when I arrived in Nadi last Monday afternoon and I didn't have time to hang around as I made my connection to a 15 seat, twin-prop for the short (25 minute) hop across the Island to Suva. My immediate reaction was, "I know this place".

Other than the people greeting me with the words "Bula" and "Bula Vanaka" it felt just like Sri Lanka. Hot, humid and tropical. The vegetation and the mountainous interior were a little different, but other wise the long white sand, coconut tree lined beaches looked the same.

I had the privilege of spending the next two days visiting Salvation Army Corps (churches) and Centres in the Suva area, before driving back to Nadi and visiting centres in that region on the Thursday. The Salvation Army is doing some great things and making some amazing differences in people's lives in this country.

Despite the presence of military personnel and regular checkpoints there was never any issue or concern for security during my visit.

I was able to visit the Laimovuna Farm (Rehabilitation Scheme) and meet some of the young offenders that have been entrusted to our care. Here at the Farm they learn some farming skills and are also part of a self-awareness and capacity building program to try and equip them for a better life. The farm sells pigs, taro and cassava and is doing well.

I also had the opportunity of meeting some of the girls at the Mahaffey Drive Girls Home, a home owned by the government but administered by The Army. Here 13-17 year old girls who are victims of abuse are taught skills that will equip them for life at the same time as continuing their schooling. The girls know they are loved and accepted here.

As well as these wonderful programs the Corps and their Officers are doing some great work, for some in trying circumstances.

Part of the project work SANZ is involved in here is rebuilding Corps Hall and Officers Quarters, Renovating the Cadets accommodation block at the School for Officer Training in Suva and providing some equipment for Tiny Tots and Music programs.

I had an amazing journey and was made to feel very welcome in this country. It will be good to be part of the projects here.