Guest blog: RWANDA DIRECT - IPSWICH NEWSLETTER

**please note, if you want to help with fund raising for the cow, please let Karen know!**

RWANDA DIRECT - IPSWICH NEWSLETTER

Secretary: David Meikle, 172 Nacton Road, Ipswich IP3 9JN email:davidandrosie@dsl.pipex.com

Treasurer: Jonathan Parratt, 13 Tovells Road, Ipswich IP4 4DY email:jonoparratt@orange.net

NOVEMBER 2009

Dear supporters,

We would like to begin this newsletter with a story told by Katherine Sharples who visited Rwanda earlier this year. She kindly took out a Laptop for us for the Theological College. She spent her time in the Kigeme Diocese, one of the poorest in Rwanda. She was asked to visit parishes and teach on ‘Servanthood’. As part of her teaching she re-enacted the time when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. All went well until she arrived at a small and remote village. She asked for water to be able to wash feet, and a lady from the village had to walk a 40 minute round trip to get some.

How we take things like water for granted, while our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world continue to struggle.

Which is why the theme of this Newsletter is fittingly, self sufficiency.

You will be pleased to know that the Container we sent out at the beginning of this year eventually arrived and was opened in July! At last Ceformi (a Technical College in Kigali which provides teenagers with a skill to enable them to follow a trade) and a similar College in Gahini, which is in the process of getting off the ground, now have some tools to help them with the task. Japhet Ndoriyabuya, the new Director of Ceformi, sent me some pictures of the students at work with the tools we sent.

We are so grateful to be linked up with ‘Tools with a Mission’ who provide the reconditioned tools free of charge. We pay for the Container space.

Another Container sets off to Rwanda in December. This time we have booked space for Scripture Union in Rwanda. We discovered that they support 6 groups of Widows and Orphans in some of the remote rural areas. We are sending 15 sewing machines, and 15 knitting machines to enable them to make a living for themselves, and hopefully lift themselves out of poverty. Please pray for the safe arrival of this Container, and for a successful outcome for these groups.

SU staff on Retreat at Karambo, paid by RD

In addition, Jean Baptiste is concerned to make the library at SU Headquarters a good resource for Pastors and other Church leaders. Therefore we are also including 10 reconditioned desktop computers in the Container.

While on the subject of computers, thanks to Andy Isles’ sponsored walk, a gift from a CMS supporter, and a further anonymous gift, we were able to send 3 new laptops to the College for their IT course. As we said above, Kathryn took one out for us. The other 2 were taken by the young people from Martlesham, Kesgrave and Rushmere, who also took 3 reconditioned ones out for SU! We are so grateful to our

Couriers. If anyone reading this knows of anyone visiting Rwanda, we would always like to know in case we have more to send!

Again the reconditioned ones came through TWAM, and have been a Godsend to SU. Here is part of a letter received from Jean Baptiste: ‘The laptops have been very helpful. One of them was able to receive a flash disc is now used by our Accountant. She is a lady, and the laptop helped her to stay with her family in evening hours. She used to work until late in the night, but now for urgent work, she uses the laptop while staying with her family. Others are used by the volunteers who are now finishing the writing of the Bible reading notes.’

And finally, while on the subject of ‘self sufficiency’, the Theological College has a good bit of land, and their desire is to be self sufficient in food, to provide for their students. This year they had a particularly good harvest of sorghum, providing plenty of porridge for the students! They also now have a cow which is about to calve. However to provide sufficient milk for the students, they need more!

SO! We would like to be able to give them a Christmas present of another cow! A good cross breed cow costs in Rwanda £900 to buy, so that is our aim. Will you help us? When thinking of Christmas presents, will you remember Rwanda, and give a gift for the cow? Any amount, large or small would be welcome. It would be good if together we could raise the £900. Any gifts can be handed to Jonathan, or any other member of the RD team.

In addition we are planning to have a ‘cow’ walking through the Cornhill on December 19^th, to raise awareness and hopefully add to our funds for the cow! For this to be successful we need volunteers to be the cow! We have got the costume! Also we need people walking with the cow, giving out leaflets and collecting money. CAN YOU HELP?

I was hoping to get a picture of Louis Muvunyi (College Principal) with the 1 cow they have before this newsletter, but sadly it hasn’t yet arrived. However hopefully it will arrive soon and we will have posters available to help advertising!

I think that is all for now.

Please continue to pray and do all you can to help our brothers and sisters in Rwanda help themselves.

Paul, Catherine, Jonathan, Andy I, Phil, Jane, AndyT, David

First Thoughts - Steve

Steve's first thoughts:

I was deeply move by the spirit of Rwanda. I arrived not knowing much about Rwanda apart from it's turbulent past.

What I discovered was a truly beautiful country matched by it's people. A place where people have such strong faith that they are able to forgive and move on.

I was truly humbled by this experience, a nation with so little material possessions but rich in so many other ways.

I hope to continue to visit for years to come and strengthen my new friendships and witness first hand the development of this wonderful place.

First Thoughts - Jon

And Jon's contribution...

So, it's just over a week since we got back from Rwanda, and already I'm starting to plan my next trip. Everyone who has asked me about how the trip went has so far been given the one word answer of 'awesome' because in my mind, it is the only word that can describe such a fantastic experience.

Whilst out there I thought that I coped pretty well with the change of culture, the new people, and a new way of life albeit temporary. However, for a country with such a devastating past the sheer volume of faith demonstrated in all the people we met is a true testimony to the power of God's word.

The liveliness and energy of worship, especially with the choir, really showed me how religion is suppressed in the UK. Meeting people in Rwanda who's lives have been changed by God's work has really opened my eyes to how little we express our faith. Its frustrating that we are the home of the Anglican Church, but still struggle to fill our churches week by week.
Part of me will always be with the people we met in Rwanda, and hopefully I will be able to return for longer to make more of a difference to their lives.

Imana yac'irahambaye!!

First Thoughts - Nic

And Nic's first thoughts are:

Having traveled a little in Africa prior to this trip, I was expecting to take Rwanda in my stride - In reality I was completely blown away.

Blown away by the people we met in Kigali, by everyone living and working in hope village, by the children in Remera, by the strength of faith, and by the positivity in the face of such (historic) adversity.

It is an incredibly special and inspiring place and I was humbled and honoured to be there as well as be part of this trip.

The biggest thing on my mind at the moment is working out when I can go back and what I can do for the best when I get there.

First Thoughts - Sam

In next with his first thoughts - Sam

My first thoughts are that Rwanda is an amazing place full of amazing people. Had a great time, such a rewarding and motivating experience.

I think the main thought is that we really could learn a number of lessons from the Rwandans. Its really got me back into church again, which is really good.

Really want to say thanks to everyone who fund raised, prayed and put time and effort in to our experience.

It was also great to spend some real quality time with everyone. My favourite photo isn't one i took but it reminds me of the good time we had together worshiping God.

First Thoughts - Amy

And here are Amy's first thoughts...

I was given the chance to spend two weeks surrounded by some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Whilst at points a swarm of children around you can seem scary and daunting, you stand there, and see how happy they are, and you just get carried away in their smiles and games. This is similar with the thirteen people that I was able to share this experience with, it can seem scary and daunting spending two weeks with the same thirteen people, but again the people that are surrounding you are so amazing, you just get carried away, so that you laugh and cry together. 

My favourite part of the trip had to be the days that we helped to build all day at Hope Village, there really was a sense of teamwork and camaradary that day, despite the language barrier and being covered under a layer of brick dust. 

So all in all, I feel that the trip was a success and even though, "Toyota" and "THE GAME!!" can become annoying, without it, life is a weird and quieter place. Come to mention it, life if also a lot less orange and deety-suncreamish. 

I live in the stone age and so haven't seen most of the photos yet, and also haven't yet gotten mine developed; at the shop, when it comes to you in a lovely little envelope all glossy and special, and so don't as yet have a favourite photograph. I do however encourage look at the photographs that are about as I know that there are some amazing ones.

First Thoughts - Becky

Next with her first thoughts - Becky

Going to Africa was something completely different to anything I had ever done before. Immediately I stepped off the plane I could feel that everything was different, but in a way that made me instantly love Rwanda.

Perhaps, what I saw as, the beauty of the city of night captured my heart, whatever it was didn't let go for the two weeks, and still hasn't.

When asked how the trip was I often say "amazing but really challenging". There were moment's where I felt down, but these shaped my experience just as the high points did.
After all, it wasn't a holiday.
The best moment was when we were first accepted, truly, into Hope village. You just knew they were being sincere when they thanked us, and sincere when they told us we were brothers and sisters to them.

It touched me that they accepted us so quickly into their lives. Our last day there also stands out in my mind, for the villagers once again thanked us. It was only on the last day I truly understood what our trip there meant to them, and how it was we had helped them. My favourite photo from the trip is this one, I think it sums up a lot about why we were there:

First thoughts - Karen

Next in with her first thoughts is Karen:

Having never been anywhere near the continent of Africa, I wasn't really sure what to expect. But what I found was amazing.
This is a country committed to the environment, committed to rebuilding after the war 15 years ago... Their commitment to forgiveness, their continued faith in God, in the face of such an awful tragedy is an inspiration. I was touched by so many amazing people, not least the residents of hope village.

However my personal "moment" was at the Compassion sponsored project in Remera... our meager donations as sponsors are turned into hope, and a future for 350 children. I look forward to our continued connection with Rwanda.

And her photo:

First Thoughts - Chris

Third in with his first thoughts is Stewie...

The trip was a phenomenal success! We saw, touched and felt Africa in a country which has not only seen such sadness and pain, but one of great joy, happiness and humility!

I was astounded by how different the country looked compared to how I saw it in my research of the Genocide. I am thrilled that Rwanda is doing so well after it's tragic past... it seemed like an entirely different country sometimes and I am honoured to consider myself one of the many people to have visited there!

I would love to go back to Rwanda! I enjoyed meeting the people, trying the local cuisine and seeing the sites. It really hit me hard sometimes but I kept going and I am glad to have done it! It was AWESOME!

My highlight was definately working in Hope Village! I loved working with all the Orphans, they were so genuine and kind despite their awful pasts. If I could, I would go back for another 2 weeks tomorrow!

and his photo:

First Thoughts - Sarah

Second in with her thoughts on the trip, is Sarah:

The trip was all I hoped it would be. Every member of our group reaffirmed their relationship with God - some of us met Him more up close and personal than ever before. We learnt through worship, got to know amazing people, visited incredible places and were truly humbled by the stories and situations to which we were introduced.

I love Rwanda, and am honoured that I got to share this experience with some great people - I really hope that we can all bring back into our every day lives the teachings and experiences from the trip. It would be very easy to sink back into mundane normality, same old problems, same old grumblings, same old priorities - but this would be very disrespectful to the people we met, and to God; not to learn from what we were shown.

The trip was a massive, life-changing opportunity, and I for one, will be grabbing it with both hands and shouting a heartfelt 'Thank You'! This is it - the first day of the rest of our lives with God- let's make it count!


and her photo:

First Thoughts - Dan

First to the post with his initial thoughts on our trip is Dan...

The trip, in my eyes, was a huge success. It was such an awesome experience, we got to do so many things, meet so many amazing people, learn so many new things (for example how to eat Tree Tomatoes properly) and I'm really glad that I went!

My best bit of the whole trip (excluding meeting Russell Howard at Gatwick) would be working in Hope Village, the Orphan headed village. It made me feel like i'd really accomplished something, and I got to meet some really great people too!

If I could go again, I'd do it in a heartbeat...


And his favourite photos:

Back from Rwanda

After 21 hours of traveling, we all made it home from Rwanda. What a trip! We all have so many stories to tell and photos to show. Over the next few weeks you will be able to read posts from different members of the group, and see some of their photos. But for now, here we all are:

From left to right: Jon, Sarah, Sam, Alex, Chris, Amy, Becky, Nic, John, Steve, Dan, Vicky, Karen, Joanna (Speciose's daughter who we only met that day) and the ever hard working Speciose.

Radio Suffolk

Jon Elmer and I went off to meet the lovely people at Radio Suffolk today. We were interviewed by Luke Deal, and it will go out on his show on Sunday, so if you would like to hear what we said, listen in for us or, listen again on iplayer.

The Sunday after, we hope to do a live chat from Rwanda.

On a personal note I have to say, if only all reception staff were as nice as the bloke on the Radio Suffolk desk...

Speaking of Fairtrade...

For those of you supporting us with your interest and prayers while we are in Rwanda, you may be interested to know, that not only are we going to spend time in the Hope Village, Kabuga, we are also taking a look at a coffee co-operative... a rare chance to see fair trade coffee at the other end.

This got me thinking, wouldn't it be nice if while saying a prayer for us you could be drinking fair trade Rwandan coffee... and lo and behold you can buy some from Sainsburys! Its called Union Coffee Roasters Fairtrade Rwanda Maraba Boubon

You can read all about it on the importers web site: Union Hand Roasted.

I think I might buy some when I come back :)

Rwanda - people going, people staying

What better way to start this blog, than with Rwanda. I am, as I suspect everyone going is... a mixture of apprehensive and very very excited. I'm looking forward to the whole experience, I'm looking forward to seeing what Jesus will do in and though our lives.

But of course many of you Fusioneers aren't going. So a word to you guys first...

We really need you. We need you to pray. We need you to thank God for all he's doing. If you would like to pray for us, keep an eye on Dan's Rwanda web pages for info on us. We would really value your prayers for

• Health

• Safety

• Homesickness

• Team spirit

• God's blessing on our work

• And the people we meet.

You could pray for us all, or pick one or two of us... either way, pray like mad!

And for all of us going, how about these Bible verses to encourage us.