Waitangi

One of, if not the most significant event in New Zealand history was the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on the 6th of February 1840 (don't quote me on the year, please). On that day the British and Maori agreed to live in peace as one nation. From this comes the national priority of bi-culturalism and the intentional effort of cultural inclusivity.

So yesterday I had the privilege of walking the 'sacred' grounds of Waitangi, the place where the treaty was signed [http://www.waitangi.net.nz/]. It is one of those places that I believe to be 'holy ground'. As you walk through the rain forests filled with silver ferns and hear the bell birds singing and the brook rushing by you can't help but feel that something special happened here.

People speak softer, and behave reverently as they walk through the doors of Te Whare Runanga - the fully carved Maori Meeting House, which is representative of all Iwi (regional tribes) in New Zealand.

Holidays are great opportunities to look around, and in these last few months before returning home to Australia, (more about that next week!) I am taking the opportunity to see everything I can and reflect on the last three years here.

Almost Done

It has been another amazing journey to Rwanda and one that I will remember for a long time to come.

It is not often that we get an opportunity to return and see the results of work done in the past - to see the buildings and the pumps is fantastic, but more than that the chance to renew contact with the people and see that their lives have been changed for the better - that's what makes it worthwhile.

So tomorrow afternoon I begin the journey home. Thanks to those that again supported me on this journey, to those that gave money to purchase resources for the people of Gituro, and to those that have read and commented on my journey.

Kiyunze

We rocked and bounced along a dirt road for about two hours this morning as we travelled to the village of Kiyunze.

Just after the genocide in 1994 The Salvation Army was assigned to help this village recover from the effects of the 100 day murderous, destructive rampage. As well as the thousands that were killed in the area, houses, shops, warehouses, wells and crops were destroyed. The Salvation Army assisted the people of this remote village with roads, bridges, water, food and houses.

Today there is a dynamic corps in the village and the Sallies are well respected and recieved. We spent the afternoon talking with some of the locals and checking the condition of the water supply and houses.

Kigali Genocide Memorial

Just outside Kigali, in a valley surrounded by markets and houses lies the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Opened in 2002 it serves to remind Rwanda and the world of the horrific results of genocide.

Surrounding the building are 14 large sealed concrete bunkers, (each 6m deep, 4m wide and 10m long). These mass graves contain the remains of 258,000 people – men, women and children that were murdered in and around the city of Kigali. But just down on the next terrace more concrete graves have been dug to house the remains that continue to be found.

The Memorial is divided into three sections: the bottom floor circles rooms that display the skeletal remains, the torn clothes and hundreds of photos representing the 1,000,000 that were killed. As you enter the outer ring you follow the story of a peaceful, united Rwanda through the ethnic division and hatred that resulted in horrific torture, mutilation and death. You are reminded of the complicity of some in the church, the ignorance of the international community and the utter impotence of the United Nations.

Upstairs one display outlines the stories of genocides throughout the world and reminds you of the potential of humanity to be completely depraved, whilst the second display shows large images of children, from 8 months to 8 years, and under the faces of the innocent their last words, their favourite foods, and how they died are recorded.

This Memorial continues to be a sobering reminder to the nation and the world. But as I left the building and walked through the bookshop I noticed a T-Shirt with these words on the front that reminded me that we have not learnt:

Gituro Village

18 months ago there were 70 families living in tarpaulin and mud huts on a barren hill-top, walking 6km twice a day to collect stagnant filthy water.

As we drove down the familiar dusty, potholed path spontaneous applause broke out in the vehicle as we saw shiny roofs glinting in the sunshine. A ‘three street’ village has appeared, gardens are growing, children are playing. This is the fulfilment of what was only a paper dream for me – and without wanting to sound proud, it is deeply satisfying.

Today there are 70 adobe brick 4-room houses with attached pit latrines fenced by green succulent plant fences. The nearby water bore and hand pump still works and is the gathering place for about 20 people gathering water and washing clothes. A brick community centre and a Salvation Army officer’s house stand on prime land a short distance from the village.

It was an emotional and amazing privilege to return to the village where I spent 5 weeks. I was able to meet the people and hear the stories of the way in which the project has changed and enhanced their lives. To meet the children and have them sing to me again was a rare and exciting opportunity.

The community centre is administered by The Salvation Army and as well as being a training facility for adult literacy, HIV/AIDS prevention, weaving and sewing it is home to the church. Today, (12 months after opening) the two officers administer a church that has: an average Sunday attendance of 140 with 45 Senior Soldiers, 48 Junior Soldiers, 44 Recruits, Junior and Senior Home Leagues, a choir of 18 and weekly prayer meetings and bible studies.

Gituro is a vibrant, happy, clean and hope filled village.

LOVE is the difference

“If I speak in the language of the beneficiaries but have not love, I am only a well dressed agent.

If I have a gift for the work of community transformation and can negotiate hidden agendas, and if I have all knowledge and access to resources that can move mountains, but have not love, I am just an NGO.

If I deliver everything promised and in the process completely exhaust myself, but have not love, I gain nothing. I can build the best houses, and dig the deepest wells, but if I have not love, and I do not offer dignity and respect I am only a service provider.”

© Daryl Crowden 2008

Peace Baskets

One of the major influences of peace and reconciliation has come through the women of the country. In a desire to bring and maintain peace and reconciliation women put aside the emotive and divisive labels of Tutsi, Hutu or Twa and began sitting together to weave baskets. In the process the shared their lives: their pains, their hopes and dreams and they found a commonality that brought them together as people and that began a process of transforming the society.

These baskets (‘Agaseke’ in kinyarwandan) are distinctive and unique to Rwanda and have become known as ‘peace baskets’ and symbolise “Escorting Each Other Along the Path of Peace”. The basket features on the Coat of Arms of the country and represents hope for a future that is peaceful and united.

The country and her people are well on the way to this reality. Today’s Rwanda is a modern day Phoenix: whilst the ashes remain as a reminder of destruction they also serve to point to renewal and reformation. Beauty has risen and is rising from the ashes.

The Salvation Army too, is a image of the transformation of a country and people. In the past fourteen years, since the genocide the Army has been established and grown in the country and spread to Burundi. Today there are 8 Corps (churches), 2 Outposts, 1,200 Senior Soldiers, 900 Junior Soldiers, 1,000 ‘Other’ adult Members.

The newest corps (‘living church’ the regional commander called it) is in the village of Gituro, which was the site of the emergency projects which began last year, and there are plans underway to open 2 outposts in the area soon. Over 100 people attend this church for worship with over 20 adults and 16 children becoming full members.

Today The Salvation Army Home League in the village of Gituro continues to be engaged in the process of peace and reconciliation, as well as income generation, by making and selling peace baskets in their community, and building foundations of healthy community with their neighbours.

Reconciliation

As I write there are drums banging, people singing and shouting, balloons and party lights shining in the distance – an exuberant party is happening just down the road, (and I haven’t been invited!)

But it’s not a party; it’s a political party gathering because tomorrow there will be a national election. It’s compulsory for all adults to vote here, and from the people I have spoken to, they are looking forward to it. There is an atmosphere of expectation, hope and peace – people are happy.

Some of this hope comes from the events leading up to this election. Like the bible precedence, all families were told that they must return to their village of birth and there register as citizens of the Country. But this time there was one major detour from previous registrations.

In the past people have been identified by their cultural heritage – their National Identity Card marked them as Hutu, Tutsi or Twa. But this year this divisive categorisation, a catalyst for one of the worst mass genocides in history, has been outlawed and people are no longer being classified by heritage but rather claimed as Rwandan’s.

This apparently small change is a powerful message in the continuing process of reconciliation and a source of rejoicing and partying.

Rwanda Revisted

On Friday I take off to return to Rwanda for a few days.

It's been 17 months since I was working in the community of Gituro (remember the images opposite?) and I have heard that much has changed. My understanding is that following the completion of the building of latrines and the completion of the water pump and platform that there are now 70 houses and a community centre completed.

Whilst in Rwanda, (ostensibly to attend a workshop of International Emergency Services Team Leaders in Kigali) I will be returning to Gituro where I will have the opportunity to revisit the people and the programmes.

The question for me centres around the sustainability and relevance of the projects that The Salvation Army has implemented. Have they resulted in transformed and improved living for the people, and have they been delivered in a manner that has been sustainable by the people within their context and without the necessity of outside aid?

I'll let you know.

Exclusive Memberships

In the last few weeks I have been reminded of the danger of pursuing membership (Senior Soldiership) for the sake of it. I have been reminded that in celebrating one group of people, we are in danger of isolating others and creating a hierarchy of belonging.

When we are perceived to be chasing after members (soldiers) for the sake of it, and hold them up as the ultimate prize we simultaneously assign value to the level of engagement that a person has to the movement - we create an in-group and therefore by (unconscious and unintended) design we banish others to an out-group.

'Jesus didn't want to create an in-group which could banish others to an
out-group; Jesus wanted to create a come-on-in group, one that sought and
welcomed everyone' (Nigel Livingstone).

I did not covenant with God to enrol Soldiers! My Calling and my Covenant with God is "to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life". My Covenant is to create "a come-on-in group" where all people belong and are valued and accepted equally.

I'm not saying we don't celebrate people willing to commit their lives to being Soldiers, and that we don't challenge people to become Soldiers: but we don't do it to the exclusion of other members of our churches, and we don't do it in a way that makes others feel second class at best and out-siders at worst. (Soldiers are just one part of the body of Christ!)

Changing Religions

My radio (accidentally) found a Christian radio station the other day and I was reminded that almost every time I tune in to religious radio or see some of the Christian TV adds, I want to change my religion to become Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu - anything but what I'm hearing.

'Jesus didn't want to create an in-group which could banish others to an out-group; Jesus wanted to create a come-on-in group, one that sought and welcomed everyone' (Nigel Livingstone).

I’m not suggesting that all religions are the same and that it doesn't matter what you believe, that truth is relative; and I am not advocating a kind of "all-religions-are-equally-true relativist/pluralist tolerance. I am saying that because we are Jesus followers and because we believe Jesus is true, and that he accepts all people in love, kindness and grace, we should do the same.

Pharisees believed they were special, the elect, and the elite. They wouldn't associate in any way with non-Jews and they didn't understand the difference between acceptance and approval, so in case they be accused of approving of other religions they refrained from loving or accepting people who were part of other religions (as well as members of their own religion that they felt were sub-par).

To show love and acceptance of people is not to approve all they believe or do. To show disapproval of other religions, and belief systems by withholding love and acceptance may be orthodox Phariseeism and it may even be modern, Western, colonial Christianity; but it was not the practice, or the model, of Jesus Christ.

According to Macquarrie (Transforming Mission, p.483), there are seven formative factors in theology: experience, revelation, Scripture, tradition, culture, reason - and dialogue with other religions.

I consider myself a generously orthodox Christian; I don’t believe I am above Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and others, in fact if I reflect Jesus then I am below them as servant. I am their neighbour, their brother.

Jesus didn't come to start another religion to compete in the marketplace of belief systems. If anything, I think he came to end standard competitive religion (which Paul called 'the law') by fulfilling it. Not, like too many religions, a place of fear and exclusion, but a place where everyone can find a home in the embrace of God.

Now What

Included in the goals for the visit of the Meeting House (Mt Albert Corps) team to Sri Lanka was:

1. the hope that the members of the team would be informed and transformed by the reality of life and ministry for the members of The Salvation Army in Sri Lanka and those to whom they minister. Whether it was through the Tsunami Recovery programs, the orphaned children at The Haven, the elderly residents at the Eventide Hostel or the youth at the Camp - we wanted to see (and experience as best we could) life as it really is.
2. the intention to introduce them to a country and people that they would fall in love with and want to partner with. By looking into the eyes of a person whilst hearing their stories we are in danger of becoming companions in their journey.

It is rewarding to know that these goals (and others) have been achieved. We have been back three weeks now, the physical awareness that we travelled somewhere has gone, but the emotional ties remain. The team, and the Corps, are planning ways in which they can continue to partner with the people they met in Sri Lanka.

It is also encouraging to know that the feelings that this visit was worthwhile are not just held by those of us that went, but by the leadership of Sri Lanka as well. In a recent conversation the following acknowledgement was received:

I take this opportunity to thank you and the team members, the corps that supported and the division and New Zealand Territory for their love and willingness to help us generously. I am sure this will help in strengthening relationship between the two territories in the future.

I am once again convinced that one of the best ways to transform a life is to immerse it in the reality of another culture, and to sit eye to eye and share another's journey.