Christmas @ The Meeting House

It was an exciting, noisy, busy place on Christmas evening as 75 people from numerous nations, cultures, social strata and religions merged together on the top floor of The Meeting House to share a meal. Their were relatively well off families with little children, expats with distant family, societies misfits and rejects, former high profile individuals that are now lonely and alone. They came and mixed together, supporting and serving each other: sharing their journeys and celebrating acceptance.

Added to this eclectic mozaic that previewed the potential of humanity to be family despite the differences, there was a team of Corps (church) members that had arranged their own family Christmas celebrations to be available to serve the community - and in so doing be Jesus.

We sang Carols together which retold the story of the first Christmas, and listened to a presentation which spoke of the potential for miracles that was still available because of the God who walks amongst us.

This Chruch, The Meeting House, (The Salvation Army - Mt Albert) continues to make me proud - we don't get everything right and never will - but this church, these Christians are introducing the community to Jesus and making a difference - and often with very few words.

The Kiwi and the Mouse

It's been another crazy week here at The Meeting House!

It began with a capacity crowd to farewell to Brenton (Captain) as he leaves us to get maried this weekend, and then moves on to a new appointment in the new year.

It got stranger when over 120 pre-schoolers and their carers came together for the mainly music christmam program with a difference. As the children sang and danced, they heard the story of Christmas through the eyes of a kiwi and a mouse.

This was followed by the weekly community meal: 59 people heard again the message of Emmanuel, and shared together around their tables. This eclectic group continues to surprise and delight us as we look to meet the needs of the marginalised in our community.

Wednesday and following a good attendance at the Drop-In centre, our little experiment: MAKAttack! (a Kids Club) continues to grow with over 30 children meeting to create chaos and hear the real story of Christmas.

The Meeting House is alive and well. In any given week we become home for between 275 and 300 people - many of whom are the displaced and unwanted of our community. If you want to see a church that is committed to it's purpose of Introducing people to Jesus, Meeting Needs and Making a Difference - then, check us out or come and be part of the transformation that is occuring here.

Volleyball Best & Fairest

Volleyball Best & Fairest,
originally uploaded by darylcrowden.

Fireworks

Not too long ago we had the annual dash for fireworks. Here in New Zealand we can buy fireworks for 5 days leading up to Guy Fawkes (November 5). Along with all the other pyromaniacs we bought our box (or two) and for a couple of nights sent missiles flying into the night sky from our back yard.

At almost the same time as Guy Fawkes, Diwali was being celebrated - so by joining the two celebrations together there was a reason for just about every neighbour we have to join the cacophony of light and sound. It's fun - until they let loud one's off in the early hours of the morning.

On the serious side of the celebrations - the fireworks alwas cause problems. We had a few houses burnt down, a few kids blown up, idiots who unfortunately spoil it for everyone. So the government have their annual debate about banning the fireworks, again.

In the mean time one of the major supermarket chains decides that in the interest of public health and safety they will no longer sell fireworks. "It's not safe for kids, and has the potential to ruin their lives".

I wonder if they have considered that the aisles of alcohol, and cabinets of cigarettes that they sell could perhaps cause more harm to children and families!

Diwali

It's the Diwali season. Around our area there are numerous houses decorated with fairy lights and the Indian restaurants and Sari shops are advertising their Diwali specials. This Hindu festival of lights is a celebration of light over darkness, the victory of good over evil, the uplifting of spiritual darkness. (The Sanskrit word Deepavali, literally means "an array of lights": Deepa/Dipa means "lights or lamps", Avali - a row of...)

Having lived and worked in Sri Lanka, Diwali is not new to me and my family. But we were reminded again this weekend of the fact that you cannot out-give a Sri Lankan.

Sandy is the English as a Second Language (ESOL) tutor for a Sri Lankan Tamil lady who has lived through a horrific experience. Physically and emotionally abused as a result of the war in her homeland she, with her husband and four children, have escaped to New Zealand. Here, though desperately poor, she is trying to rebuild her life and provide for her children.

On Saturday Rani and her husband where on their way to buy a new outfit for their daughter as part of the Diwali celebration when they stopped at our place to deliver a very large basket of 'Diwali Treats'. A basket that must have cost them much more than they could afford - and certainly more than they would be spending on themselves and their children.

From their little - they gave much!

Gifts of Hope

We're coming up on Christmas fast and if you're anything like me you're already starting to sweat about buying that special person the right gift. You know that "socks and jocks" are just not going to cut it again! Don't panic, (don't sweat it), I have the solution for you...

"Gifts of Hope" (link to brochure) is a new initiative of The Salvation Army in New Zealand that gives you the opportunity to choose a gift that keeps on giving to the people of Fiji and Tonga. I've had the privilege of travelling to both these Islands this year, meeting the Army personnel that work there and visiting some of the people who will benefit from your generosity. I can guarantee you that this is a a gift that will make an amazing difference in the lives of truly deserving people who through no fault of their own are in desparate need.

Please give gifts that really matter this year!

Church Camp

Last weekend The Meeting House relocated to a private Island (Rotoroa) in the Gulf. For two and half days 57 people from all walks of life lived together in community - enjoying one anther's company and learning together. It was quite an amazing experience.

It was the first camp for our young corps - but I doubt it will be the last. Amongst the highlights were the bonfire on the beach during which marshmallows were roasted and songs of worship were sung. For the keen campers and early risers morning devotions on the beach also served to centre our minds on the things that matter most. The opportunity for every person to receive notes of affirmation and encouragement changed the experience of most campers.

The weekend theme was "Encourage One Another" and through a number of interactive sessions and meals together I am in no doubt that people were encouraged. Half our group were members of our community ministries - people who are amongst the marginalised and the lonely - people on the fringes of society - and together with the 'regular' members they learnt and ate and played together.

The Camp was proof again that it is in community and through relationship that lives are transformed - not just impacted - but radically and irreversibly transformed.

The Great Wall and the Passionate Remnant

After numerous meetings, and a few disagreements I’m almost at the end of this amazing journey, just one more meeting to go with the ‘brass’ and then I’m on my way home. But I couldn’t be in Beijing and not see that icon of China – the Great Wall.

On my way back into Beijing today we stopped off at the Bandaling Great Wall precinct. It’s here that there is a fortress from which the wall extends for miles north and south. The fortress has now become one of the bases of the Wall Climb, the ticket office and tourist precinct (with the obligatory tourist stalls and Starbucks).

What an awesome sight. I only had 1.5 hours (the unfortunate obligation of work) so went for a walk down the southern leg of the wall. It took us about 30 minutes to climb to the second ‘turret’ thingy which was only the third highest point of the wall that I could see, but that was strenuous enough. The stone steps have been worn down over the centuries and at places are quite narrow, but the climb is worth it – from our vantage point we could see the wall disappear into the mist miles away in both directions.

Tonight I had the amazing privilege of meeting with a number of Chinese Salvation Army Officer’s children. Most of them are in their 70s now: amongst the group was John Yin (the son of Major Yin Hun Shun about whom the book Yin: The Mountain the Wind Blew Here was written), most had seen their parents interned for their Salvation Army allegiance, one saw his mother thrown out on the street to clean and beg. This is ‘the remnant’ of TSA in China and they are so thrilled to see the Army presence in their land again. When we sat around the table and sang together and told some of the stories they were so very passionate and thankful. This was just an amazing end to my journey in China.

Tomorrow I’m in the air back to Aotearoa and family.

There have been many lessons learnt and a few recommendations and decisions to make – but overall The Salvation Army is doing a great thing in Xinghe. There are families that today have more potential for a bright future because of the Army’s engagement. There are women that are receiving medical intervention and hygiene training for themselves and their children, there are men and women who are being helped to develop new skills in agriculture and animal husbandry (raising rabbits and cows). There are people whose lives have been transformed and with engagement with local government officials we are continuing to challenge the structures and concepts of normality that perpetuate poverty and marginalization.

For those that are Salvationists you can be proud of what the Army does in these kinds of places, and you can be certain that your money is well used (all of it).

Xinghe

Spicy fish heads, with fried rice and some other vegetable dishes was on the lunch menu today. The fish actually tasted very nice, although I couldn’t eat too much of it.

Today I had the privilege of bearing gifts made possible by The Salvation Army Missionary Fellowship (Auckland) and a family in Australia. With their US$300 I was able to buy sports equipment and pens for the Beiguan Primary School in Xinghe. The school caters for children of the immigrants and locals; there are about 635 students in what most of us would consider pretty awful circumstances. But today, after they had participated in their morning exercises they received soccer and basket balls, badminton equipment, skipping ropes, Chinese chess sets, hacky sacks and hoola hoops – and a new biro each. Needless to say they were very excited, and the chaos was wonderful for me, not so much for the teachers.

The school visit was the highlight of an otherwise exhausting day of visiting local government departments and stakeholders. Drinking copious amounts of Chinese tea, and working through two translators gets tiring after a while.

To bring life into perspective a little we had the opportunity of visiting a few families in their ‘homes’ and again being treated generously to tea and their stories. Most of the people were forcibly removed from the ancestral lands in the mountains and relocated here for their benefit. Now, in a region they don’t know, unable to participate in the lifestyle they have known all their lives, unable to be self sufficient they do life tough. Stripped of their self-respect and their self worth the immigrants now battle to make sense of their lives – and yet strive hard to establish normality for their children and their elders.

Having the opportunity to walk with these people for this short time is both a privilege and a burden. There has to be more we can do for the millions who exist in poverty – but what little we can do – let’s do with excellence.

Tonight we’ve been invited out to dinner with one of the Government officials, so the white guy is on show again – watch him struggle with his chopsticks, and force the local delicacies on him. I have a feeling that I’m in for an interesting night.

Freezing...

I made it to Xinghe. It is now 0 degrees, and it's only 9pm. They tell me it'll get down to about -3 tonight. And the heating has not been, and can not be, turned on in the accomodation yet. Had my first really disgusting meal, but I'm going to spare you the details.

Time to get some rest though. 5 Meetings to attend tomorrow, a group discussion to fascilitate, and some house visits to make.

The Train to Zhangjiakou

The morning started early with a 30 minute taxi ride to the North Railway station. A humungous structure in the Northern suburbs that is the hub for trains traveling to the North – we braved the dodgem track which is the Beijing traffic, only to discover our train was delayed.

We waited in a hall the size of Eden Park with what seemed like the whole of China’s population, (must have been at least 1,000 people) for over an hour: but when the announcement was made and the gates opened the dance began as people of all shapes, sizes, smells and sensitivities; carrying bags and containers of all sizes and fragilities, waltzed to the train. We were being spoilt today – the team had booked a sleeper for each of us. So with the other 120 people we squeezed into cabins with two sets of triple-decker sleeping berths, and thanked God that I was not one of the ‘who knows how many’ that squeezed into the ‘no number limit standing only’ carriages.

So I am now sitting on my berth watching China go by. Other than the extremely loud Chinese ‘elevator’ music being piped through the carriage it is very pleasant, although stuffy and I am starting to absorb some strange smells. The landscape is comprised of huge mountain ranges, numerous long dark tunnels, and every now and then a little village or and industrial complex of some sort. The trip will be about 4 hours – give or take.

After our arrival in Zhangjiakou we will do some shopping for the project before heading in the project car for another 1.5 hours to Xinghe which will be home for a few days.

Church Passport

There are a number of churches, amongst them are the ‘Three Self Church’ which is the state sanctioned Christian community that caters for the Chinese Christians, and operates only in Mandarin or other local dialects. But if you are an expat and want to attend church you have to go to the International Church, where you are required to produce your passport to get in, or a number of other 'smaller' fellowships.

Chinese national are not allowed to attend this church due to government policy that Chinese people can not be taught (in churches) by non Chinese people. This apparently is a much freer church, along the AOG model, as opposed to the Three Self Church which I ma told is quite formal, predictable and controllable.

Beijing

On arrival in Beijing the Project Staff whisked me off to allow me to do some project management research at perhaps the greatest community development project of all time – the Forbidden City (or Imperial Palace Museum). What an amazing place (photos below) – covering a huge area (over 180 acres) the numerous palaces, gardens, squares and statues all tell the story of an amazingly complex stratified society that continues to influence, and attract the people of China.

The city itself is huge. There are images of the forthcoming Olympics everywhere and all kinds of structures are being built or renovated for the purpose. Everything is big – huge buildings, wide roads, (doesn’t make the driving better, just more space to be completely unpredictable).

Following this research I attended dinner meetings and project development consultancies in a traditional South Chinese restaurant – nothing too weird here, (they did want me to try deep fried and spiced chicken cartilage) it was all very nice and washed down with copious amounts of the ever present Chinese tea, (in this case Chrysanthemum tea). I’m getting so good with chopsticks too!

Whilst we ate, outside in the public square groups of people played ‘hacky sack’, little dogs danced, a couple of older men serenaded the passers with Chinese opera, a man fished in the lake, a couple of ‘fortune tellers’ solicited business and an older man told young children stories. It was an amazing picture of community and acceptance (the singers were not good!).

Tomorrow I leave the city to travel about 300km North to Inner Mongolia and my ultimate destination of Xinghe.

Macau, Vegas of the Orient

Yesterday started early with a Jet boat ride across to Macau. Captains Tony and Carol Zhao who were made Senior Soldiers in Tonga and went from there to College in Hong Kong have just been appointed to the Macau Corps as assistant officers. It was a privilege to catch up with them for a Pastoral visit on behalf of Commissioner McKenzie. They are a great couple, passionate about meeting the needs of the 500,000 people in their ‘community’.

Macau is a fascinating island group (3 islands): it has an amazing Portuguese and Chinese heritage that results in a blend of Catholic Cathedrals and Chinese Ancestor worship. Today with over 70 casino/hotels and more to come, it is a busy, multicultural, multi-layered society.

The officers often ‘pop over’ to China for lunch and cheaper food etc, the border is about 500m from the Macau Corps. Everyday hundreds of people hand carry loads of goods across the border from China to stock the Macau shops: by doing this the shop keepers avoid paying taxes and cartage costs, some people will do 10-15 trips a day through the gates and across the river boundary.

I had the privilege of having lunch in the revolving Restaurant 360 on the 58th floor of the Macau Tower (for those from Auckland it’s the same building as the Skytower, but 10m taller, designed by the same architect team and has the same skyjump company throwing people off the building).

Although it doesn’t sound much like it, it was actually work you know! The day finished (very late) at The Peak taking in the nightscape of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula.

Ladies Market - Kowloon

Yesterday was spent meeting with project managers and Salvation Army leadership to discuss the issues and future, negotiating the best way forward and making recommendations about best practice methods and processes. A day of thinking!

Lunch was cream of crab soup followed by grilled Ostrich in pepper sauce with stir fry vegetables. But I finished the day at Lucky Restaurant for a dinner with the Hong Kong Command leaders and the project team – another Chinese meal, with copious amounts of different Chinese teas. There is Young Man’s tea and Old Man’s Tea. The Officer Commanding likes Old Man’s tea, a black musky smelling, damp fungus tasting tea – so they started me on that: I decided I'm obviously not old enough yet – I prefer Lilly tea, a lighter (in colour) but stronger, fresher smelling tea –we finished off the meal, cleansing our palettes with a beautiful clean tasting traditional Chinese tea. Sounds like I’m becoming a connoisseur of Chinese tea but don't be fooled! I’m also becoming much more proficient with the chopsticks.

The night closed out for me with a visit to Ladies Market and Broadway on Kowloon Peninsula. Apparently a famous shopping precinct of the area, by 8pm it was well and truly alive with young people and tourists. A real shopping Mecca it caters for all your needs, and at great prices. I lost count of the times I was offered Rolex watches and designer handbags. Some of them were even honest enough to be sprucing for “copy watches”. So from latest electronic gadgets and Billabong surf wear to silk pj’s and Chinese jade dragons this is the place to be apparently.

So it was back to Booth Lodge late into the night after wandering the streets absorbing the sights, smells and sounds of this amazingly chaotic, diverse almost schizophrenic, but exciting city.

Transforming Lives

A day of administration, orientation and information. I had the opportunity to visit three community ministries centres on Hong Kong Island this afternoon. The journey started with a Community Day Centre for the mentally challenged. In this complex about 20 young people attend sessions in drama, craft, dancing and other creative therapies. It is a happy place.

From there to a Youth and Children’s Intervention program that provides a multitude of centre, community and school based activities to help develop the capacity, hope and potential of the young in the densely populated welfare housing sector. This is quite an amazing program that proves the worth of community based intervention and activity. The young people’s lives are being transformed permanently and it is an exciting place to visit.

Close by, in the same community is a Boys’ Home that caters for 40 boys, (11-18 years) providing a home and a future for at risk boys. Again another example of positive role models and hope.

If the rest of the Community work in Hong Kong, Macau Command is similar then I know that here lives are being transformed and as a result society can be reformed.

Kowloon Central

The journey got off to a great start – just when we were ready to push back from the terminal the pilot realised he had 2 flat tires – it took two hours for them to replace the wheels. It doesn’t help when you have an off duty Cathay Pacific Pilot (I was flying Cathay Pacific) beside you who makes the comment, “that should have been picked up ages ago, I hope they did the rest of the flight check properly”.

Arrived into Hong Kong, after twelve hours of regular “severe” turbulence, but only one hour late, and was whisked away by my counterpart in Hong Kong, Major Yoo Mi-Hae, to my accommodation, Booth Lodge (an Army owned Hotel). The building consists of Command Headquarters, Kowloon Central Corps, Officer accommodation and the Hotel.

First impressions of central Kowloon: very busy, advertising hoarding everywhere the eye can see, very tall shabby residential buildings, narrow ‘dodgy looking’ alleyways. A plethora of smells emanate from a smorgasbord of pleasantly filled restaurants. As you walk down the street the sweet and spicy smells mix with the diesel from hundreds of vehicles and the refuse of the restaurants.

Right in the middle of this wonderful chaos is a little oasis ‘a rest garden’ which surrounds the beautifully adorned Tin Hau Temple. The garden is home to some of the city’s homeless, and as I walk past they are tidying up there claim as the city cleaners wash the paved courtyard.

More to come…

The Journey to Inner Mongolia

For those who are interested: I'm taking off this afternoon, (Monday 01OCT) to fly to Hong Kong for the first leg of my journey. Whilst there I'll be meeting with Salvation Army Command leadership and having a look at what the Army is doing.

Hong Kong administers the work of The Salvation Army in mainland China, so I'll be talking to them about the administration of the Xinghe Community Development Project.

Hopefully I'll be able to keep you posted with the news and views of my journey, so if you're interested check back with me later, and maybe leave me a note, I like notes!

Spirit of Jesus

And now may the Spirit of Jesus:
The One who hugged the demoniac,
Touched the leper,
Accepted the worship of a prostitute
And honoured Samaritans -
Infect our thoughts and attitudes
So that the God who is not far from any one of us,
Will touch the lives of others we meet this day,
For the honour of God's name.
Amen.

Xinghe, Inner Mongolia

On Monday, I'm off to China to conduct a project assessment visit. The Salvation Army NZ have been working in Inner Mongolia for a few years now, and the project we are involved in now is outlined here.

Xinghe County, situated in Inner Mongolia is home to a population of about 296,000 people. Persistent droughts, overgrazing and deforestation have resulted in serious soil erosion, this has lead to a sharp decline in productivity from the land resulting in poverty for the traditional mountain farmers. (Approximately 28% of the rural population lives in extreme poverty, with less than NZD120.00 annual net income per capita ($0.33 per day).

The mountainous nature of the county and the scattered population makes it difficult for the government to provide basic health, education, electricity, water, information distribution and administration to much of the county.

The Xinghe Integrated Immigration Scheme is part of the China National Northwest Development Programme to restore exhausted mountain and hill country by relocating the people and replanting the hillsides in forests and allowing these areas to return to their natural state. The Scheme has resettled about 900 families from thirteen inaccessible mountainous villages to the town of Xinghe.

Under the scheme, the government offers each of the families to be resettled an 18m2 brick house with water and electricity connected on a 800m2 yard together with a small shed to house animals. Some families have managed to purchase sufficient bricks to build a high perimeter wall around their yard so they can keep their property safe and keep a few animals such as chickens, goats or sheep, or a cow.

The Salvation Army’s part in this scheme is to provide the social infrastructure for the new immigrants to assist them in building a community in an urban environment. The Government has leased to The Salvation Army, long term, 35 acres of land adjacent to the new settlement. On this land The Salvation Army have built a multifunctional community centre, a training centre, accommodation for staff and officers, and a demonstration training farm. Regular farm training is being provided to teach basic animal husbandry and horticulture technology. At the local primary school, less than 500 metres from the village, TSA has also funded the building of two new blocks of four classrooms to accommodate the children at the school.

The resettlement has broken up extended family households with the older generation being resettled in different cities. The immigrants come from two major ethnic groups, (13% Mongolian, 87% Han) and unrelated villages so few know other members of the village. Life in the rural communities is harsh, with no work for the women. Many of the young women do not want to marry the mountain men as they have to live in the home with the husband’s parents. The new wife becomes the worker for the husband’s mother. Many men have “bought” wives from the illegal human trafficking agents. Life is so hard for the purchased wife that, in many cases, she has deserted leaving the children in the care of the husband and his parents. A number of the immigrant women in the new village were purchased as brides and they have very few skills, vocational training or literacy. Their options in life are very limited.

While the living conditions in the new village are better than the mountain villages, there is no drainage system, rubbish collection, no private or public washrooms and only one toilet block per 50 households. These toilet blocks are semi enclosed structures with a concrete slab floor. Human waste is just left on the floor. At some stage someone shovels the human waste into an open pit behind the toilet block.

The new village has no social or community amenities and very little sense of community. This project will be part of The Salvation Army’s work to provide health, hygiene, literacy, vocational, family relationships and community development training options for women and to provide these women with the capacity to build a new and better community in this village.

Wesley on Why

Have you ever questioned why you do some of the stuff you do? Ever wondered if ministry is worth the cost?

A question I am asked regularly is why I, (or the Army) is engaged in Emergency Services, or development, and given that we are - how do we introduce faith issues and Jesus? Essentially I guess what they're asking is where does evangelism come into community services?

I read a great quote from the father of Methodism and the influencer of the Booths the other day that I thought made great sense:

whether they will finally be lost or saved, you are expressly commanded to feed the hungry and clothe the naked... It is your part to do as you are commanded; the event is in the hand of God. You are not accountable for this: leave it to him who orders all things well. (The Works of John Wesley, 2002:38)

I'm not sugessting that I never speak of Jesus or faith, (there's always a time and place for that) but caring and meeting needs is ministry in and of itself!

Church in All It's Wonderful Chaos

Last night we celebrated the engagement of our Assistant Officer. It was a "Family Event", so members of all the Church ministries were invited, and they showed up!

The building was filled by an amazing eclectic group of people, but chief amongst them were the members of our community ministries. It was an awesome sight and sound - here were the people that society generally ignores: those that are lonely, misfits, mentally challenged, antisocial and (some) smelly!

But last night they sat around the tables and ate desert with the rest of the church family and friends. The misfits joined the 'respectables' around the tables. And they enjoyed each others company. It added a great dynamic to the night when during the proceedings they interjected, (you could say heckled) voicing their opinions and comments.

But you know what was so special - everyone laughed together, everyone enjoyed themselves and maybe - just maybe - some more barriers (on both sides) began to crumble, and some new bridge work and foundations were laid.

Church happened here last night (and wasn't even Sunday morning!)

Relationships

I've been thinking about the necessary relationships for development - whether that is church development (growth), individual development or community development. I am convinced that sustainable community (and individual) transformation occurs only as a result of a relationship built on mutual respect and trust – and a relationship can only be built by an invitation to walk together.

The reality is that we are usually the ‘outsider’ expert. We come from outside the culture and community, we usually have no local 'language' skills, and little understanding of the cultural framework. And yet by virtue of position, appointment (or our superior training) we presume to know what the 'answers' are.

The fact is that the only way to effect substantial and sustained change is from the inside, and this change must be based upon a valuing of local knowledge, local culture, local resources, local skills and local processes. Building relationship, and credibility, as a change agent is an essential first step in the process of guiding change.

The ultimate goal is to become an ‘insider’ – but this is not a reality for the relatively short-term church leader, (or development worker). To become an insider requires a committment we cannot give and time that we do not have.

In my opinion the best we can hope for is to become an ‘alongsider’ – one who is accepted by the church (or host community) and has the privilege of walking alongside – learning from and sharing with the hosts. The ‘alongsider’ can operate as a mediator, seeking to bring change by empowering the community to identify and release capacities that will produce transformation.

Stewardship: It's about $

Here at Mt Albert (The Meeting House) we are working up to a Planned Giving Program. That means that at some time we have to preach/teach about giving and MONEY! It doesn't matter where you are in the world, or what the culture, when you speak about money there are people in the Church that would seem to prefer that the world come to an end, rather than give up some control on their wallet.

I know that Planned Giving is about stewardship and stewardship is everything you do with everything you have and are. I know that it's about giving of time and talents as much as it is about money. And I believe it, and preach it loud. I know it's about being a good steward of all that God has generously given me, all that I am and all of God's creation. But let's not kid ourselves - we want to see more people giving more money.

And I don't think we should apologise for saying so. Jesus didn't! The Church, (MT Albert) needs the money to sustain it's ministries.

So by all means give God your time, make your talents available to the Church - but then do the harder thing and give your money too.

A Priority for Transformation

We are born into this world naked and equal, but we live in it utterly unequally, and it cannot be said that we do this out of free choice. The inequality is imposed by a whole host of forces, most of which can be identified, and many of which can be controlled, if not reversed and obliterated. (Kennedy, 1989:425)

As a community development practitioner I need to believe that a particular situation, inequality or disadvantage can be controlled, reversed, or obliterated and as a result the context transformed.

Surely this same desire for contextual and individual transformation, and the deep seated belief that circumstances can be improved, resonates in the spirit of every Salvationist? It must be this conviction and this hope, which motivates the actions of every Salvationist.

It is this priority for transformation that makes every Salvationist a community, and human capacity developer. (I sure don't do it for the financial gain!)

Transforming the Submerged Soul

A Community of Faith is the sum of all individual cells that make up the whole. No one cell is more important than any other. Each individual cell serves a different function: each cell has unique form: they will each cater for different tastes and stages of faith allegiance.

Despite the uniqueness of each faith exploring cell they all serve the one objective - the complete transformation of the submerged soul. It is only by transforming the soul that the skin will embody and reveal the Transformer.

The Newset Product from Apple

I came across this video clip the other day. It's worth a look - trust me!

http://www.glumbert.com/media/irack

Millennium Development Goals

This Saturday, 07/07/07, marks the halfway point in the international campaign to halve absolute poverty by 2015. All around the world people will be meeting to "Blow the Half Time Whistle". If you're in Auckland why not join me at 11:45am at Eden Park for a public event to raise awareness of this vital campaign?

If you're not in Auckland have a look at your local Micah Challenge web page to find out what's happening near you.

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Micah Challenge is a global Christian campaign. Their aims are to deepen engagement with impoverished and marginalised communities; and to challenge international leaders, and leaders of rich and poor countries, to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and so halve absolute global poverty by 2015!

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During the Millennium Summit held in New York in September 2000, all 189 UN Member States adopted the Millennium Declaration, which contained a group of goals and targets that have since become known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These goals, working together, aim to halve poverty by 2015.

Goal 1: Hunger
Goal 2: Ensure access to primary schooling for all children
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development (trade/aid/debt)

The Goals are measurable, time-bound targets addressing poverty and hunger, education, maternal and child health, the prevalence of diseases including HIV/AIDs, gender equality, the environment, debt, trade justice and aid.

For further information check out these web sites:

International Micah Challenge
New Zealand Micah Challenge
The Millennium Declaration
The Millennium Goals (In More Detail)

For The Poorest

Situated along the coast, looking out through coconut palms and over sandy beaches to the clear blue ocean, the community of 46 families has grown on what would be prime land anywhere else. But this is Patangata, this is the rubbish tip and this is their home.

The rubbish tip is now closed, but at this stage nothing has been done to plough it over, or clean up the area in any way, (there are plans to do so). In the past sorting and 'recycling' this rubbish has been the source of income for most of the local families. Not surprisingly this lifestyle, along with the shanty style housing, lack of sanitation and clean water, brings with it many illnesses.

The Salvation Army has worked among these people for about 4 years now. These days a mobile clinic (a purpose designed bus) visits the community once a fortnight offering medical assessment and basic treatment.

Along with the clinic a community worker offers health, hygiene, dental, mothering and lifestyle workshops at the local schools and in these communities. During my visit I had the privilege of attending the village community discussion facilitated by the Army. Amongst the people that attended was a 75 year old woman that told us that she hadn’t realised that she could attend the clinic, but now she knew, she would be attending to have her blood pressure tested. It was encouraging to hear the people thanking the Army for the clinic, offering their feedback and suggestions for improvements and suggesting topics for further workshops.

Some of the dreams for the future include a Sewing Café where women could bring their cloth and, for a small cost, sew items either for their own families or for sale to raise some income. Other plans are to expand the school health programs, and the playgroup, kindergarten programming.

The Army is establishing some good programs for the people of Tonga – like many other places the limitations are due mainly to a lack of resources.

Sacred Hands

Spread over 400 miles of the South Pacific and consisting of 176 islands, (a few only visible at low tide) the Kingdom of Tonga is the only remaining Polynesian monarchy in the Pacific. Only 36 of the islands are inhabited and the main, and biggest, island Tongatapu is the seat of power with the Royal residences, Parliament and The Salvation Army located in the Capital Nuku’Alofa. (It’s about 134km around the island and there are 45,000 people on Tongatapu.)

As you fly into Tongatapu you notice that the island is completely flat with coconut trees and other tropical vegetation. It hasn’t rained for three weeks so it is dry and dusty and the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables is short.

Tonga is a Christian Kingdom which is reflected in a conservative, reserved and generous people. (On Sunday’s it is illegal to play and work, and there are no sports on TV).

As I drove into Nuku’Alofa I passed schools with male students wearing the traditional tupenu (sarong) and ta’ovala (mat), a common practice for all levels of society and for both men and women. A symbol of respect the ta’ovala is indicative of the attitude of a people for whom family and face are both the foundations and reason for life.

Nuku’Alofa has not begun rebuilding after the riots of November 2006. Some of the damaged and burnt out buildings still stand empty and desolate, (including what was the new site of The Salvation Army’s Headquarters). Other buildings have been demolished and only concrete slabs remain. Many businesses have moved out of town, others have gone out of business.

In the middle of Nuku’Alofa are the royal graves, with the newest grave being that of the late King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV. Yesterday the people called “the sacred hands” were beginning to dismantle the decorations that surround the new grave. These are a group of people from a specific village on the east of the island who have for hundreds of years been the custodians of Royal funerals. They are the only people allowed to tend to a Royal body and grave. Dressed in black and wearing the ta’ovala as a sign of respect they go about their work with reverence.

God Celebrating Culture

The theme was "Follow ME" for the Celebration of Culture that was held on this Sunday past. 170 people, dressed in all kinds of national dress, joined in with the celebrations as members of a number of nationalities led the worship in their own styles.

A group of Zimbabwean women and young Samoan's danced and sang (separately), followed by a Hindi solo from India and a Rotuman Choir. Prayers were raised in Cook Island Maori, choruses sung in Sinhala and grace prayed in Scottish Celtic.

In between all that the children played Simon Says (Follow ME) and sang about the fact that Jesus loves them, and played happily amongst the crowd. It was certainly a lively congregation!

It was also an opportunity for people to give sacrificially to the annual Self Denial Appeal; after six weeks of hearing about the work of the Salvos amongst those less fortunate our people responded with love, and in hope, giving over $5,000.00 to help these ministries.

But of course we couldn't go without an amazing culinary spread: there were foods and smells from every corner of the globe, and plenty of it.

What an amazing sight! People from all nations sitting and eating together: sharing life stories and hopes. The church of God can be an amazing place.

Obscene Selfishness?

They say the week long wedding and celebrations cost about $6 Million and the dress that bride, Erica Baxter wore to marry James Packer cost $100,000.00.

I know that a wedding, and the dress, are special - but isn't that kind of money just a little bit obscene?

Consider that the dress was worn for this occasion only and it's future is probably a special place in the cupboard or maybe eBay. And consider that for the price tag of this one dress The Salvation Army could build about 20 houses in the village of Gituro in Rwanda. Or 5,000 families could be fed for a month. Or we could sink and fit out about 10 wells so that people had safe, clean water.

A wedding should be special - and to do that you have to spend some money - but come on isn't this just a little obscenely selfish?

Maybe James and Erica could give the dress to the Sallies (Salvos) to auction - and give some of the world's forgotten people the chance to eat, drink and live.

Church IS Fun, (and FOOD).

This Sunday (coming) we will be Celebrating God through Culture. We have a number of people from different nations including, Zimbabwe, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Island, South Africa, Australia, India, Samoa, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, America, and of course Maori and Pakeha New Zealanders.

Some of us will get dressed up in 'traditional' clothing and then we'll worhip together in all the styles represented. We may even try and wrap our tongues around each others languages. Following that we'll participate in that most important of cross cultural startegies - FOOD!

This (The Meeting House - The Salvation Army, Mt Albert) is an awesome place to be. We get the opportunity to experience God through the eyes and lives of so many different worldviews. Many of our church members have such amazing stories: stories of pain, confusion and frustration and yet they continue to celebrate a God of grace and faithfulness.

So it's with this church that is experiencing the thrill, (and chaos) of living lives intent on being transformers in our community that I get to worship on Sundays. (I bet you wish you could join us!)

Thoughts on Transformation

I read an article about Sustainable Livelihoods and Development which suggested that in days past successful community development has been measured by an improvement in economic reality which hopefully resulted in the alleviation of poverty.

There is nothing wrong with that assumption - except that development is surely about more than economics. As important as an increased ability to create income is, maybe it is not always the best method of development, or even the most essential need!

Development is too often limited to a one-dimensional activity; the dream result of a predetermined agenda imposed by a well intentioned but ethnocentric (or even egocentric)professional. Development needs to begin where the people are at, with what they have available and in a direction and methodology they can control - which is why I prefer the word Transformation.

Transformation does not begin with the assumption that some one/thing needs to be different or better. It does not begin or occur in a vacuum. It takes seriously the pre-existing context and seeks to act together to create a new more relevant environment that empowers and benefits.

Transformation is a multi-dimensioned strategy that assumes nothing but operates in a cyclical pattern of listening, waiting and acting. Transformers exist for the other.

The same theory operates in the Church. Too often leaders presume to know the direction and strategy that the church wants. With little or no knowledge of the context they arrive with a predetermined tool kit of ways to fix and develop the community of faith - often ignoring the hopes, dreams and capacities that already exist. Often they assume that their 'pet' strategies are universal and will work despite the context.

The Salvation Army created new sustainable communities of faith because it was not predictable - and because leadership acknowledged that the context must dictate the method (without ever altering the Message). We come unstuck (irrelevant and unsustainable) when we attempt to unilaterally deploy a methodology that seeks to achieve predetermined outcomes regardless of context.

It’s Tonga Next

At the end of this month I have the opportunity to visit the Pacific Island Kingdom of Tonga. It’s only a three day visit, but an opportunity for me to see the work of The Salvation Army first hand.

The Salvation Army in Tonga, administered by New Zealand, currently has five worship centres, Court and Prison work, an Addiction Program, two Kindergartens and a mobile health clinic.

Among other work that The Army has done in the Kingdom, we have assisted in the provision of clean water for a local community. The projects that are currently on the books include building a worship complex and officer’s residence, kindergarten redevelopment and equipment purchases to aid in the delivery of ministry to the community.

So, when I get back I’ll put up a bit of a show and tell for any that are interested.

The Latest From Rwanda

At last! 223 Returnees recieved their passport photographs and on Tuesday and Wednesday last week they were issued with the card that will enable them to access the subsidised health care system. This is fantastic news for the people. Not only will they be accepted at the hospitals and clinics now, but it also goes toward their feeling of belonging to their new community.

Bricks are being made by the community members, with the help and training of four local experts. So far there are enough bricks for about 25 latrines, and most of the pits have been dug. So the project is well on its way to being completed.

The members of the community have also received some training to build their capacity as a community. Workshops on conflict management and committee management have been held, as well as some practical sessions with the women on income generation and support.

Now we wait for someone to pick up the funding for phase two in the hope that we will be able to house this community and offer them every opportunity to reach their dreams.

Now I'm Home

It's a surreal feeling! Just over a week ago I was living in a country half way around the world, getting excited about a water pump and a pit latrine and celebrating with people who were thrilled to get a bottle of Fanta and a biscuit.

I find myself torn between feelings of guilt and privilege. I have so much: food and water, more than I need - and they have so little. I have never gone without, I have a house, a motorbike, a job and my daughter even has shoes for school. Here I am, living in comparative luxury and people whose names I know and whose faces I can see, will continue to struggle for food, water and life.

So what is my role now? I have a job to do and a life to live, apart from Rwanda. But I cannot ignore nor forget! So for now, when people ask me about my journey, I tell them about the faces in my memory. I tell them about the difference one life, or some money, can make to people like the returnees of Gituro.

And I remind myself, that there are millions more, in countries all round the world that need help - I can't go to them all, but the church can and must. The International Salvation Army does some amazing work amongst many of these people.

(Many people have asked me what you can do - here's one thing: In New Zealand and Australia, in the next few weeks, Sallies (Salvos) have a chance to help this work through the Self Denial Appeal - instead of looking for creative excuses for not giving why not just bite the bullet and give more than you can afford!)

The Last Days

Tuesday turned out to be a blistering hot day, and just for something completely sane to do we decided it’d be a good day for the opening and dedication of the water pump and shelter. It was planned for 2:00pm, and we were assured the Mayor was on his way.

As the people gathered around the water pump the choir began singing to welcome him – 45 minutes later and about a litre of sweat later he arrived. But at least he arrived! Along with The Salvation Army’s Regional Leaders, Majors Stephen and Grace Chepkurui, he officially opened and dedicated the pump and shelter – which was an event that took an hour.

During his speech the Mayor pronounced Gituro to be a “Salvation Army village” and after a challenge from the Regional Leaders has ordered the allocation of land to The Army for future permanent Community development. (A touch of dejavue for me – I seem to have memories of another village in Sri Lanka in 2005.)

Until recently the women and children walked 7km to collect stagnant, brown, contaminated water, this afternoon the guests were led by the Rwandan national and Salvation Army flags on the short 600m walk to a water source that is delivering clear, clean safe water. And after the guests planted some trees around the village we celebrated with the people over a soda and biscuits in the shade of their new shelter.

Thanks to some family back home in Australia I was also able to distribute some soap for each family and lollies for the kids. If you’ve ever tried to give out lollies to children in an orderly fashion you can imagine the scene; 150 hungry children and me with a bag of lollies! I ended up retreating onto the bed of the 4x4 vehicle to get out of their way.

It was a fantastic afternoon, which stretched into the evening as I began to say goodbye to the people with whom I have shared life over this past month. I was humbled to overhear the Regional Commander comment to his wife, as the kids climbed over me and I spoke my Kinyarwanda with a really bad accent, that “he has been accepted as one of them”.

My Rwanda experience has once again convinced me that the key to sustained transformation is TRUST. You can make a difference for a short period with a charitable heart, but tourism and welfare will never be transformation; you can only become an instrument of enduring transformation by your willingness to walk (sit, eat, drink) and share the life of another. It’s in taking time to develop a mutual relationship of trust that you will restore dignity and worth in the other, and in doing so earn the right to speak into their circumstances.

Today I say goodbye to Rwanda. And I want to say thank you to all of you that have shared my journey and given me a thought along the way. I want to say a special thank you to my wife and daughter for their continuing support and for being two of the people in this world that inspire me to care.

(I’ll continue to update my blog: I can’t imagine that it is going to be quite as interesting as these last weeks, but as I continue to see God in, and learn from, the people I work for, I’ll blog it and invite you to tell me I’ve lost it!)

Throne Room

There are now 39 latrine pits underway, with 20 of those completed. We’re almost half way there with the pits. It’s a bit of a safety and care nightmare really; 38 pits about 1.5m wide and between 10 and 2 meters deep, no warning signs or covers, and 140 children from 5 months up – you do the maths.

But finally, and just before I leave, we have a latrine being built. The concrete slab was cast last weekend, and today lifted over the top of one of the 10m pits, and then the foundation squared up around it.

Due to a hold up with brick making we decided to buy some adobe (mud/straw) bricks from members of the community and the walls are going up. Hopefully by the end of the day the walls will be complete and the roof on. The next step will be to fit a door and open up the hole that is in the slab and then the only thing left to do is… I’ll leave it to your imagination. But how do you dedicate a throne room?

Tomorrow’s the big day – we’re going to celebrate with Sodas and biscuits: hopefully the Mayor will be there, and various other levels of government as well as officers from the Rwanda region. (There are twelve officers in Rwanda including Isaac and I. Six of them are native Rwandese, but they will be joined by the 7 cadets that are currently in training and will be commissioned in August this year.) Together we are going to open and dedicate the pump and the community shelter, and plant some trees. It should be a good day. (I’ll leave it to the Mayor and the Regional Commander to fight over who gets to christen the throne!)

Church On The Move

I had the opportunity to worship at the Miracle Centre at Gituro again today. It was just as well the village is so small, because they had moved from under the tree; they have upgraded their facilities and are now meeting in the Community Shelter in the middle of the community.

They have more room now and the move has attracted people from the surrounding communities. These returnees have found it hard to be accepted by some of their neighbours. They have moved into an area that was open grazing ground for surrounding cattle keepers; resources were already scarce and the pre-existing communities have shown a bit of resentment for the loss of their grazing ground, and the sharing of their water resources.

But today, some of those same people came to worship with the returnees. Not many just a handful, but the signs of inclusion are beginning to show and that’s exciting. Of course the fact that this community has the responsibility for managing a clean water source isn’t hurting their reputation either.

We sang, danced and prayed together for another three hours this morning, (I have never really been thankful for those plastic church chairs – I am now). Each person that was new had to respond, and respond they did for about 10 minutes each. Then three choirs performed: first the young girls (3 items, 20 minutes), followed by the mammas (3 items, 17 minutes) lastly a combined group (3 items, 13 minutes). Following these items the preacher revved us all up for about 25 minutes, (by this time I think my backside was numb), before the singing and dancing began again so that we could all file to the front to present our offerings.

It was a clear day, warm and fresh, and the people were happy and praising God for clean water, and for life. Next time you hear me whinging about what I don’t have, remind of these people and these days!

When All I Can Do Is Dream

I sat under the shade of an acacia tree with a doctor, an ambulance driver, a successful business woman a school teacher and a minister of parliament or at least that was what they dreamed they would be one day.

Liberratta, (the doctor) is one of those sitting with me. She is twelve years old and nine months ago she lived in a nice house in Tanzania where her family owned some cows and grew bananas and coffee beans. One of her chores was to help milk the cows before school which she liked doing because it meant she could drink the fresh milk.

Her family would sell some bananas and coffee beans and earn money, enough to make them completely self sufficient. They could afford to buy Liberatta and her brother school uniform and shoes; whilst they were not wealthy they were certainly happy and comfortable.

Liberratta loved school. She was in Year 5 and had lots of good friends. She went to school with some of her cousins but most of her friends were Tanzanian’s and they loved playing together after school. Whilst at home her family spoke Kinyarwanda at school she was learning in Kiswahili.

But then one day whilst Liberatta was at school her family got the news that they had to leave. Any person of Rwandan origin was being forced to leave Tanzania and return to Rwanda. They had little time to pack and leave; they were forced to abandon their cows, their small farm, and most of their personal belongings as they were herded on to whatever transport they could find to get them across the border and into the reception camp.

After a few days in a crowded camp Liberratta and her family were again on the move, this time crammed onto the back of a pickup truck, but they were on their way to their new home, and Liberratta was excited to see where they would be living. But when they arrived in Gituro, (North East Rwanda), Liberratta says, “I felt bad, there was nothing here, we slept on the ground like our cows in the open for four days, until my family could find enough wood to make a shelter.”

After a month the family had built a small mud and stick house, about the size of a four person tent but only about five foot high. Liberratta had a new chore, now she walked seven kilometers, at least once a day to collect water from a dam used by cows and goats. Often she had to wade in amongst the cattle to fill her container with the dirty brown water. Because they had used most of the wood in this barren savannah for their houses, (there was now 70 families) they had little firewood, what they could find was used to boil the maize the government gave them, they didn’t have enough to boil water to drink as well.

At last Liberratta was able to attend school, “but when I got there they put me down a year because they teach in English and French, and I couldn’t speak them – I felt sad”. Adding to this embarrassment of ‘demotion’ was the fact that Liberratta looked different too because her family couldn’t afford to buy her a school uniform or shoes. Despite these setbacks Liberratta tells me that school is good and she has made some new friends and she is happy.

When asked what the hardest thing about being back I Rwanda was, Liberrata and her friends said that they miss their own houses and their cows. Liberratta misses being able to drink as much fresh milk as she wants, and being able to eat until she’s not hungry. She misses having enough clothes, and she misses her shoes.

One of the hardest things about being back in Rwanda is that they don’t feel like they are home. In Tanzania they were happy, but they were often made to feel like they didn’t belong because they were Rwandese. Now, back in the country of their origin they feel like they don’t belong because they are returnees, “this is supposed to be our home”, says Liberratta’s mum, “but even here we are made to feel like we don’t belong.”

So as they sit beneath the tree telling me their stories, they dream of a better day. They dream of a day when they can eat what they want, drink what they want and pay for it themselves. And, interestingly of all to me, almost unanimously they dream of being engaged in work that transforms other peoples lives (although there was one little boy, Caleb, who wants to buy a motorbike).

The President’s Coming

Light had just begun to break up the darkness of the night, and the world outside was still cool when I woke to the sounds of straw brooms scraping the earth and spades and hoes throwing dirt and grass around the surrounds of my room. It wasn’t long before sounds of children playing, and being told off, and shouted commands disturbed what sounded like a scene of domestic bliss.

There was no use trying to rest any longer, so I got up and had my cold bath, and walked out to see what the activity was all about. People looked at me as if I was from another planet (not that that’s a new look over the past month) –His Excellency Paul Kagame (President of Rwanda) is coming to Nyagatare.

For the day the whole village came to a standstill. All businesses were expected to be closed and their owners take part in the umugande (community work), and there was restricted travel on the roads. So, knowing we couldn’t get any of the things we planned to do in town done we headed for the safety of Gituro.

This has become a place that we can go and sit and chat with the people as they gather in and around the shelter. The children make toys out of all kinds of cast offs and play for hours together. Doing my Pied Piper act, with my escort of children in tow I go for a walk around the village greeting the people, ‘Amakuru?’ (How is it?) and ‘Muraho’ (Hello). I am welcome here, still the source of some amusement and novelty, but in this place people know me and accept me.

Tomorrow, (Saturday) the President will address the people about 500m from our base, so we’ll be ‘encouraged’ to remain where we are, or go and listen to him speak. People like him, he was one of the leaders of the Rwandan Rebels that overthrew the interhamwe that were perpetrating the genocide in 1994; he’s been President for 7 years now, and he’s a local boy from this Province. It’ll be a big day!

The Glass is Half Full

Change is occurring in the village of Gituro. Three weeks ago when we arrived in Gituro there were seventy small mud and stick shelters. People were wandering aimlessly; a few were tending haphazard gardens of sweet potato; most were desperate to go home. The Rwandan returnees knew that their Tanzanian homes were gone, for good, and that there was no going back, but they were not prepared to settle and make Gituro their home. No one wanted to accept that this depressing camp on the top of a desolate hill in North Eastern Rwanda was home.

That was then, but this afternoon as I walked around the village in the heat of the day there is activity: and it’s not all activity initiated by us. I counted five new traditional round mud walled, grass thatch huts. One was even decorated in patterns of ochre paint. One family has entered a trade agreement with a local ‘builder’ to construct two houses (mud and thatch) and a kitchen.

The threadbare orange and silver tarpaulins received on arrival are disappearing as families search out cane and grass to thatch their shelters. Soil is being prepared and sown with new crops of maize, cassava and sweet potato (sweet potato is ‘best’ because they bear fruit in three months). Grounds are being cleared and swept clean. Traditional mud ‘stoves’ are being constructed replacing the circle of rocks and as a result less wood is needed delivering a much better wood to heat ratio.

Children are making toys out of our building off cuts and the sounds of laughing (and crying) pervade the camp. When they’re not following me around trying to get the courage to shake hands with mzungu, and laugh at him asking them how they are, or what their name or age is in Kinyarwanda, they are helping pit diggers empty buckets of dirt, or taking turns to pump water.

So, why the optimism? As I sat in the shade of the community shelter, (an 8x5m wood and tin structure) built by us in partnership with the people, I shared my observations and asked why?

“We have realised that this is home… that there is no going back… we must settle and establish ourselves. We have realised this, and accepted It, because you have installed a permanent pump and we have water here… you are digging and building permanent latrines… you have made this shelter for us. We have heard many promises, but you have given.”

Until now the women and children walked 7km to collect stagnant, brown, contaminated water, today they walk 600m to a water source that is delivering clear, clean safe water.

It was exciting to hear them report that there are no families in the village collecting water from the livestock dam now, “why would we go two hours to share with the cows when we have water so close?”

In a region that has lost at least nineteen people to water borne diseases in the past six months these projects are literally life saving and community transforming. Through these simple and relatively inexpensive projects the people of Gituro have increased potential to rise above their circumstances and rather than just existing they can begin to redesign a living for themselves.

If transformation of lives and alleviation of poverty are two of our mission intentions, then, Salvation Army, we have done a good thing so far in Gituro.

The Legend Of The Hat

Some of you have been less than complimentary about my hand made Akubra (hat) that makes an appearance in the photos at times.

A funny thing happened today in a rural village. We were attending the Sectors Genocide Memorial function about an hours drive west of Nyagatare, out in the cattle country. Whilst I was there a lady asked my driver where I kept my cattle. I thought she was joking and responded that I had many cattle and they were at home in outback Australia. That was the end of the discussion, I thought.

I then was informed by one of the Sector officials that my hat tells the story. Apparently in this northern region where I am located, (cattle country) only the cattle owners wear the type of hat I have. If all the edges are flat, (as are mine) then you have 100 cattle, if one side is folded up to the centre, you have 200, if both sides are up you have 300, if the hat is worn toward the back of the head and flat, (as apparently I was wearing mine) you have more than 300.

So I have apparently been perceived by some as a rich cattle herder. Just goes to prove that sometimes seemingly innocent actions, attires or behaviours can tell a whole story about us that we are not aware of. I wonder what else people have assumed about me in this remote section of Rwanda?

So for those of you who have insulted the hat – I know you’re just jealous and only wish you could afford as stylish a hat as mine.

To The Grave

It was a revelation that struck me hard at first. During the Easter Morning service I was trying to sing a song in Kinyarwanda and came across the word gituro, which happens to be the name that the government gave to the village that now houses the 70 returnee families that we are working with.

When I asked what it meant I was told that “the gituro was empty, Jesus had risen”. Gituro means grave, or tomb!

I felt strangely discomforted. We were working with people who have been evicted from their homes, and forced to co-exist in a new and barren land. Many of them feel a sense of hopelessness and helplessness (and why wouldn’t you?), it were as if they were confined to a tomb.

I believe that words can be a powerful influencer on our lives, but I want to believe that in this case it is just an unfortunate coincidence. Isaac (my team mate) and I were discussing this when he said to me, “Well, Daryl, we will just have to pray for a resurrection in, and for our Gituro”.

He’s right isn’t he? The Salvation Army has an opportunity to be part of a process of resurrection for this community. They don’t have to be confined to a grave, they don’t have to be entombed by the raw deal that has been dealt to them, we have the privilege of transforming (resurrecting) their circumstances, even if it’s only a small part, it’s a part we must play.

[Sorry that there are no new photos, for some reason I am unable to upload photos to the server.]

Memorial Week

April 7 marks the beginning of a week of national mourning here in Rwanda. The whole country closed down for the day on Saturday as memorial ceremonies were held all round the country. People with purple scarves and sashes (purple being the colour of mourning here) gathered at the sites of mass graves, to remember the genocide of 1994.

Some imprisoned genocide perpetrators will be released during this week, usually as a result of revealing the sites where they buried the people they murdered. They will also undergo a public confession and forgiveness session with victim’s relations.

Based on the number of people still not accounted for there are believed to be numerous mass graves still uncovered, and others have been uncovered during the past year. It is a somber week; people take it very seriously as in every district a memorial will be held at some time during the week and people will gather to confess and forgive in hope, and under the banner, “Never Again”. The week will culminate on Friday with the ‘proper’ burial of any skeletal remains that have been unearthed during the past year.

It causes an interesting ‘conflict’ with the celebration of Easter Sunday. One member of The Salvation Army’s Kigali church commented to me that they, as Rwandans are supposed to be reflective and downcast, but, she said, as Christians we are also celebrating the one of the greatest events of history – and we are full of joy. (And the church was to as they danced and sang their way through a three hour service that was anything but dull.

But then the slogan of the genocide memorials seems somehow appropriate to Eater too: “Never Again”. Never again am I left alone to exist in this world, as a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection I am joined with God and have the potential not just to live life, but to love life. Never again…

It’s Flowing, Clean, Safe And Close

The Ugandan team of pump fitters arrived today with all the attachments and bits to install the hand pump. The first thing they had to do was install a hose into the water table, 57m down and pump water for an hour to clean out the bore and make sure the water was clear.

Within ten minutes of the water flowing people were coming from all directions with their containers to get some clean water. It took about 15 minutes, and the water was flowing clear and clean and the testing says it’s safe for drinking. So for the next 45 minutes people were drinking at the hose, filling containers and splashing in the puddle that was forming.

The opening and dedication of the pump may be planned for next week, but there couldn’t possibly be any more excitement than there was tonight.

We have had to shut the water off again for now whilst the pump attachment is fitted, but within days now the returnees of Gituro will be able to access water within 600m of their houses.

Now that’s something for all of you that donated to The Salvation Army’s Sub-Saharan Africa Appeal to be proud of.

One of the

Latrine Pit

at 5.7m

Getting In Deep

One of the major aspects of this project is the provision of safe, clean drinking water. The 75m bore is in and encased, the concrete pad is maturing in the sun, and tomorrow the pump installation team begins their work. So by Wednesday, we believe, the pump will be delivering fresh water to the community, and it will only be a 600m walk to get it.

But in the meantime, we were finally able today to plumb the guttering of the shelter into a 2000 liter PVC tank. So when it rains the people will have clean rain water in the middle of the village. It rained enough this afternoon for us to know that our plumbing and roofing works, but not enough to put much water in the tank.

As for the latrines! Today we crowned one of the Latrine Diggers "Champion". In 5 days he has dug a 1.4m diameter hole to a depth of 7.9m, he still has 2.1m to go, but he tells us that with the help of his prize, (two lollipops) he will have that done for us by Saturday.

When I look down the pit now, I can only just see him as it is too dark to see much. The pit is almost exactly round and the same circumference all the way down, it has hand and foot holds for the digger to climb up and down, and a man on the surface with a rope and bucket that pulls out the dirt and rock one bucket at a time. It’s quite an amazing process.

The dirt that is dug out will next week, (with the help of a Hydroform brick making machine), be turned into bricks that the people will make on site. These bricks will then be used to build the latrine housing.

So, today water is almost here and the latrine pits are going ever deeper. What more could you ask for but a party? So we’re going to have one. Next Friday (13th) we’re inviting all the important people to come to the village and we are going to open and dedicate the pump and community shelter before we share sodas and cake together. That’ll be a great day!

For Want Of A Photo

We have become a surrogate Ambulance to the community of Gituro. Yesterday it was a girl with an abscess, today a young baby that possibly has malaria.

Since arriving back in Rwanda about May 2006, the people of this community have suffered numerous cases of malaria and other sicknesses. Most of the illness is water related, but regardless of the cause and the symptoms the people have a problem.

Unless you can afford medical and/or hospital care in this country you must rely on the (almost free) public health system. It’s a good system but you can only access the process if you have a Health Insurance Card as proof of identity and citizenship. To get a health insurance card you need to supply the Clinic with a passport sized photo. To get a photo you need access to a photographic lab, and the money to pay.

These newly returned people of Gituro, most of who were born in Tanzania, have neither. So, when the lady and her baby turned up with her baby at hospital today, (after throwing up for 40 minutes in our vehicle) the chances were that she would not be seen, and if she was she would be expected to pay.

It seems like such an easy thing to remedy, and we’re trying. Tomorrow we are going to line up the people and start taking digital photos. That’s the easy part! Then we’ll have to find a photo lab in Kigali (3 hours, 160km away) that can print photos from a digital camera card, and that is willing to do 220 of them, not so easy.

That’s the goal anyway, all kinds of things could go wrong with the plans – but for the want of a photo we must try to make integration into the Rwandan community easier on these people, not to mention access to medical care.

Occupation

Today was particularly hot. We left early to try and beat the sun, but by 9am the sky was very clear and the sun already hot. Between the Doxycycline (malaria prophylactic) I’m taking that causes photosensitivity and the radiant heat and UV bouncing off the galvanized metal roofing sheets, we felt like we were frying.

However, no sooner had the last nail been driven in to complete the roofing on the shelter than it was occupied by a number of women and children. At last, they said, they had somewhere to sit and talk without being fried by the sun. And from a completely selfish angle, Isaac and I now have shade to talk with the management committee and to sit with the people, but before mzungu could sit down a grass mat had to be brought, it wouldn’t do for him to get a dirty backside, but it was great to be able to relax together under the shade and ‘talk’.

The purpose of building the shelter was immediately fulfilled, that felt good, and all for about USD 600.00.

As we were leaving a mum, baby and young girl (about 9) asked if they could get a lift into town. The young girl was shivering and obviously in a lot of pain – Mum wanted to get her to the hospital. Of course we took them with us, and along the way I was informed that the girl had a sore mouth, and the girl was told she should show mzungu. The poor kid had a gaping hole in one of her back teeth that was obviously infected which was causing her gums and mouth to swell. I’m not sure what mzungu was expected to do, other than grimace in empathetic pain, but he gave the poor girl two Panadol, which she swallowed with the dirtiest water you’ve ever seen, prayed for her and took her to the hospital.

What chance do people like this stand without clean, safe water, adequate sanitation and other luxuries that I take for granted? This village will get some of those things, but what about the thousands of other people, here in Rwanda and around the world, who haven’t been so lucky?