Forgot to mention this moment that happened earlier today!
So, i'm standing in the Burundian embassy here in Kigali, our Burundian visas are hopefully on their way, but we need to extend them when we get to Bujumbura (the capital city of Burundi) in the immigration department. There were a few questions that I needed to ask the woman in charge of the requests, and they were pretty big questions, but with my pigeon French and her not-so-great English, we were struggling to communicate.
In walks an English family, and the woman sees me struggling and offers to be the translator for us, so we get to the bottom of the questions, and then I start chatting to this family. It turns out that they are visiting Burundi at the same time as us, and not only that, they are staying with the family of the man who frequently hosts us for different events and ministries (those who follow this blog more closely may remember Simon Guillebaud from last year...) They are staying just a few minutes walk up the road from where we're staying there, and we'll probably get a chance to see them while we're there.
Moments like that are those that make me smile.
Monday, 23 March 2009
YWAM Kigali
We've been working with some fantastic ministries here in Kigali over
the last few weeks, and now I've had a chance to see around them a bit,
I thought it time to share a bit about them.
The StreetKids:
Serieux is on staff here in YWAM Kigali, and he's been working with the
same group of boys over the last 8 years. These are kids who were maybe
orphaned by the genocide or just have no where to live, and have been
living on the streets. Part of the ministry that we've been working on
is the football, where they come together for 2 times a week for some
intense training (seriously..they are fit...and good) and then have a
little programme after with a talk and some prayer. You can really see
how much these boys respect Serieux and just how much he is dedicated to
them, incredible to see. Once they've been with the programme for a
while they have a chance to attend the Vocational Training School that
YWAM runs on the base, and train in carpentry, tailoring or a few
other trades. It's a great set up, and really making a difference in
these guys lives.
Aprecom:
This is a supportive ministry for those with or affected by HIV and
AIDS. The other day, I got on the back of a motorbike and travelled half
an hour into the countryside to visit one of these groups with a guy
called Amisse. We arrived there to find a group of around ten older
women meeting to support one another and to pray. One lady Veronique
wasn't there, so we went to see where she was. When we got to her house,
we found she had broken her leg. She was just sitting outside her tiny
house on the front garden. We prayed with her, and Amisse gave her a
small sum of money that was all she needed for some medicine, but she
didn't have it.
Harvesters:
Another Serieux initiative. Every Saturday afternoon, about 50 people
in their late teens and early 20's arrive at the YWAM base. They have
an hour of teaching and worship, and then split up into differnt groups,
modern dance, traditional dance, singing... and those are just the 3 I
saw. They practice, and then perform at different venues. It's a great
place for these guys to fellowship with other Christians, as well as
learn a new skill. One of the Harvesters now dances on the Rwanda
national team.
I feel like we've only touched the tip of the iceberg. YWAM here also
runs a pre-school, a primary school, has started a church, numerous
youth and kids programmes, HIV/AIDS ministries, widows ministries and
child sponsorship programmes.
This whole base seems committed to making a real tangible differnce to
the area around here. It is a base full of passionate, committed people
who are willing to go the extra mile to help the people around them.
I've really been struck by how special this group of people is. How
much of a privilege it is to be working alongside them for these few
weeks. We are a blessed team to be here.
Tomorrow, we're headed down to the Tanzanian border with Rwanda to a
place called Bukora where the YWAM ministry here wants to plant another
base. We are the first Western team to be allowed to go down to this project,
so it's a big privilege and a big challenge all at the same time! They have a
house there, but there is no running water or electricity... so it's going to be
a bit of an adventure, but as you've seen from this post,we have some good
hosts so we're in good hands!
the last few weeks, and now I've had a chance to see around them a bit,
I thought it time to share a bit about them.
The StreetKids:
Serieux is on staff here in YWAM Kigali, and he's been working with the
same group of boys over the last 8 years. These are kids who were maybe
orphaned by the genocide or just have no where to live, and have been
living on the streets. Part of the ministry that we've been working on
is the football, where they come together for 2 times a week for some
intense training (seriously..they are fit...and good) and then have a
little programme after with a talk and some prayer. You can really see
how much these boys respect Serieux and just how much he is dedicated to
them, incredible to see. Once they've been with the programme for a
while they have a chance to attend the Vocational Training School that
YWAM runs on the base, and train in carpentry, tailoring or a few
other trades. It's a great set up, and really making a difference in
these guys lives.
Aprecom:
This is a supportive ministry for those with or affected by HIV and
AIDS. The other day, I got on the back of a motorbike and travelled half
an hour into the countryside to visit one of these groups with a guy
called Amisse. We arrived there to find a group of around ten older
women meeting to support one another and to pray. One lady Veronique
wasn't there, so we went to see where she was. When we got to her house,
we found she had broken her leg. She was just sitting outside her tiny
house on the front garden. We prayed with her, and Amisse gave her a
small sum of money that was all she needed for some medicine, but she
didn't have it.
Harvesters:
Another Serieux initiative. Every Saturday afternoon, about 50 people
in their late teens and early 20's arrive at the YWAM base. They have
an hour of teaching and worship, and then split up into differnt groups,
modern dance, traditional dance, singing... and those are just the 3 I
saw. They practice, and then perform at different venues. It's a great
place for these guys to fellowship with other Christians, as well as
learn a new skill. One of the Harvesters now dances on the Rwanda
national team.
I feel like we've only touched the tip of the iceberg. YWAM here also
runs a pre-school, a primary school, has started a church, numerous
youth and kids programmes, HIV/AIDS ministries, widows ministries and
child sponsorship programmes.
This whole base seems committed to making a real tangible differnce to
the area around here. It is a base full of passionate, committed people
who are willing to go the extra mile to help the people around them.
I've really been struck by how special this group of people is. How
much of a privilege it is to be working alongside them for these few
weeks. We are a blessed team to be here.
Tomorrow, we're headed down to the Tanzanian border with Rwanda to a
place called Bukora where the YWAM ministry here wants to plant another
base. We are the first Western team to be allowed to go down to this project,
so it's a big privilege and a big challenge all at the same time! They have a
house there, but there is no running water or electricity... so it's going to be
a bit of an adventure, but as you've seen from this post,we have some good
hosts so we're in good hands!
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Lists
Things I love about being here:
- The people, friendly, hospitable and incredibly generous...smiles a-plenty.
- Every now and then as you walk around here, a shadow will pass over you, and you'll look up, and there'll be an eagle passing a few metres overhead. Incredible.
- The singing in church, a dining hall, the street....people bust it out anywhere...
- Rwandan television playing in the background here... There's a goverment announcement happening, and in the background, they are playing "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles.
Things I'm not loving about being here:
- My cheap MP3 player.. I bought it just before I came, and rue the day... I started out with 405 songs, but it's faulty, and so every time I turn it on, it deletes a few more... I'm currently down to 23 songs... 7 of which are Christmas songs which I'm still wondering why they were there in the first place.
- Equator sunshine. I am a lobster today. (Though, probably 5% sunshine's fault, 95% own fault through forgetting of suncream in morning routine..)
Not much more to say... Short and sweet today.
- The people, friendly, hospitable and incredibly generous...smiles a-plenty.
- Every now and then as you walk around here, a shadow will pass over you, and you'll look up, and there'll be an eagle passing a few metres overhead. Incredible.
- The singing in church, a dining hall, the street....people bust it out anywhere...
- Rwandan television playing in the background here... There's a goverment announcement happening, and in the background, they are playing "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles.
Things I'm not loving about being here:
- My cheap MP3 player.. I bought it just before I came, and rue the day... I started out with 405 songs, but it's faulty, and so every time I turn it on, it deletes a few more... I'm currently down to 23 songs... 7 of which are Christmas songs which I'm still wondering why they were there in the first place.
- Equator sunshine. I am a lobster today. (Though, probably 5% sunshine's fault, 95% own fault through forgetting of suncream in morning routine..)
Not much more to say... Short and sweet today.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Ingolofane, Ukuguru, Etara
We've had a pretty busy week! Straight into the life of YWAM Rwanda here... And I can hardly believe we've already been here a week. In some ways the time has flown, but in others it feels like we've been here a long time, leaving the other half of the DTS in Belfast seems like an age ago!
It's been good being here though, lovely to see people I knew from last year, and catching up, as well as seeing more of Kigali and learning more of the history.
It has been hot though... For one used to the Belfast climate suddenly transplanting myself into an almost equatorial situation has been a bit of a shock to the system. I've felt a bit sapped for energy these past few days, and it's probably a mix of the heat, too much sleep (!) (there's not much else to do at nights...) and a drastic change in diet! So, that'd be great if you could keep the team and I in prayer as we continue to adjust.
Also, i've found the language barrier hard this year. I was so frustrated yesterday when I was standing outside a shop, and a 3 year old came up to me, and I had no idea what he was saying... It just seemed to emphasize the barrier, so I was praying for ways to overcome this communication block.
This week, we have worked a few times with a group of guys who used to be streetkids.. a lot of them in fact still are, but being over 18 it's hard to call them "kids"! YWAM runs a ministry and has done for the last 8 years or so, where they work with this group of guys, playing football with them, and then also trying to help them get into training courses, and different ways of helping them find their feet. When we first heard about the football, I imagined it would be fun... as many of you know, I'm not the biggest footballer, but I figured I could keep up with some kids... I neglected to recollect that these guys have been training for 8 years...and are coached by an ex-Rwandese national player... Needless to say, I have spent a lot of time on the sidelines...
Today there were lots of younger kids hanging around though, but after exhausting my 4 Kinya-Rwanda (the local language here) phrases, I found myself sitting looking at them blankly, not sure where to go from there. All I found in my pockets for my disposal were a pen and a passion fruit.
I pulled the pen out of my pocket, and started drawing a picture of a house on my hand that was in the distance. Some kids started looking, grabbing the pen and drawing on their own hands. So commenced an hour of us laughing, drawing on eachothers hands and learning eachothers languages. It was only after we finished that I realised this really had been an answer to prayer, and that even though we couldn't properly interact, we could still have some fun and share. Here's some of the words I learnt:
Dog: Imoga
Cat: Epussy
Steetlight: Etara
Motorbike: Egaru
Umbrella: Umutaka
Bus: Imodoca
Leg: Ukuguru
Wheelbarrow: Ingolofane
As we got on the crowded bus that takes us home, I saw the man in front of me stealing a glance at my pen covered hands and forearms (pictures to follow..). Looking at him, I smiled and said "Ingolofane!" and then turned away. I like imagining him telling his family at home tonight about the crazy Muzungu (white man) and his wheelbarrow on the bus...
It's been good being here though, lovely to see people I knew from last year, and catching up, as well as seeing more of Kigali and learning more of the history.
It has been hot though... For one used to the Belfast climate suddenly transplanting myself into an almost equatorial situation has been a bit of a shock to the system. I've felt a bit sapped for energy these past few days, and it's probably a mix of the heat, too much sleep (!) (there's not much else to do at nights...) and a drastic change in diet! So, that'd be great if you could keep the team and I in prayer as we continue to adjust.
Also, i've found the language barrier hard this year. I was so frustrated yesterday when I was standing outside a shop, and a 3 year old came up to me, and I had no idea what he was saying... It just seemed to emphasize the barrier, so I was praying for ways to overcome this communication block.
This week, we have worked a few times with a group of guys who used to be streetkids.. a lot of them in fact still are, but being over 18 it's hard to call them "kids"! YWAM runs a ministry and has done for the last 8 years or so, where they work with this group of guys, playing football with them, and then also trying to help them get into training courses, and different ways of helping them find their feet. When we first heard about the football, I imagined it would be fun... as many of you know, I'm not the biggest footballer, but I figured I could keep up with some kids... I neglected to recollect that these guys have been training for 8 years...and are coached by an ex-Rwandese national player... Needless to say, I have spent a lot of time on the sidelines...
Today there were lots of younger kids hanging around though, but after exhausting my 4 Kinya-Rwanda (the local language here) phrases, I found myself sitting looking at them blankly, not sure where to go from there. All I found in my pockets for my disposal were a pen and a passion fruit.
I pulled the pen out of my pocket, and started drawing a picture of a house on my hand that was in the distance. Some kids started looking, grabbing the pen and drawing on their own hands. So commenced an hour of us laughing, drawing on eachothers hands and learning eachothers languages. It was only after we finished that I realised this really had been an answer to prayer, and that even though we couldn't properly interact, we could still have some fun and share. Here's some of the words I learnt:
Dog: Imoga
Cat: Epussy
Steetlight: Etara
Motorbike: Egaru
Umbrella: Umutaka
Bus: Imodoca
Leg: Ukuguru
Wheelbarrow: Ingolofane
As we got on the crowded bus that takes us home, I saw the man in front of me stealing a glance at my pen covered hands and forearms (pictures to follow..). Looking at him, I smiled and said "Ingolofane!" and then turned away. I like imagining him telling his family at home tonight about the crazy Muzungu (white man) and his wheelbarrow on the bus...
Saturday, 14 March 2009
And so it begins...
Well, we made it safe and sound to Kigali town, and I have
to say that it is great to be back! Life definitely moves
at a different pace here, though, not a pace that I'm
necessarily opposed to...
We arrived here on Thursday lunchtime after a few too many
plane flights, and were immediately met with the heat of
an African day.
Since then, we're just been getting settled in the culture
and the base that we're staying in. Yesterday we went into
the city centre, introducing the students to the crush of
a Rwandan bus/taxi ride. It's amazing how a bench seat
meant for 3 people can suddenly fit 5!
There's been a few good moments, that have made me remember
Africa works pretty differently from back home.
Yesterday when we went to the city centre, we weren't sure
where the foreign exchange was, so I asked a police man
on the side of the street where we could find it. He beckoned
me to follow him, but little did I know he and his co-worker
had just arrested a man obviously for stealing handbags...
so off we all went for the 5 minute walk up the road,
the 6 of us, 2 police men, and one disgruntled thief in
handcuffs and about 5 handbags slung over his shoulder.
Then, last night after a great meal out with Rowan, one of
the students who I was out here with last year from Belfast,
we were out too late for the buses to take us back to the
YWAM base, so we took a motorbike taxi home. Normally, these
are grand, but as I got on this one particular evening, I
realised that his lights were less than reliable, and his
speedometer was less than working... At one point in time,
I found myself accelerating into the darkness on a back
road in Kigali, thinking "this is interesting..."
So, what do the next few weeks hold for us? We're going to
be here in Kigali for 3 weeks, before moving on to Burundi
for 6, so for the next 3 weeks, we're going to be involved
in a few different ministries on the YWAM base here. We'll
be helping out with some practical stuff on the base itself,
some painting and clean ups, and also working with a street
kids ministry, widows group, and leading devotions in some
schools. So, it's looking like it will be a busy few weeks,
but that's what we're here for!
The team in India also got there safely and are settling in
well!
Until next time...
tom
Sidenote:
Dear Mum,
The second story above (the motorbike one) was a lot less
dangerous than it sounded. After all, you know I tend to
exaggerate for drama's sake... I learnt that from you.
Love,
Your safety conscious son.
to say that it is great to be back! Life definitely moves
at a different pace here, though, not a pace that I'm
necessarily opposed to...
We arrived here on Thursday lunchtime after a few too many
plane flights, and were immediately met with the heat of
an African day.
Since then, we're just been getting settled in the culture
and the base that we're staying in. Yesterday we went into
the city centre, introducing the students to the crush of
a Rwandan bus/taxi ride. It's amazing how a bench seat
meant for 3 people can suddenly fit 5!
There's been a few good moments, that have made me remember
Africa works pretty differently from back home.
Yesterday when we went to the city centre, we weren't sure
where the foreign exchange was, so I asked a police man
on the side of the street where we could find it. He beckoned
me to follow him, but little did I know he and his co-worker
had just arrested a man obviously for stealing handbags...
so off we all went for the 5 minute walk up the road,
the 6 of us, 2 police men, and one disgruntled thief in
handcuffs and about 5 handbags slung over his shoulder.
Then, last night after a great meal out with Rowan, one of
the students who I was out here with last year from Belfast,
we were out too late for the buses to take us back to the
YWAM base, so we took a motorbike taxi home. Normally, these
are grand, but as I got on this one particular evening, I
realised that his lights were less than reliable, and his
speedometer was less than working... At one point in time,
I found myself accelerating into the darkness on a back
road in Kigali, thinking "this is interesting..."
So, what do the next few weeks hold for us? We're going to
be here in Kigali for 3 weeks, before moving on to Burundi
for 6, so for the next 3 weeks, we're going to be involved
in a few different ministries on the YWAM base here. We'll
be helping out with some practical stuff on the base itself,
some painting and clean ups, and also working with a street
kids ministry, widows group, and leading devotions in some
schools. So, it's looking like it will be a busy few weeks,
but that's what we're here for!
The team in India also got there safely and are settling in
well!
Until next time...
tom
Sidenote:
Dear Mum,
The second story above (the motorbike one) was a lot less
dangerous than it sounded. After all, you know I tend to
exaggerate for drama's sake... I learnt that from you.
Love,
Your safety conscious son.
Monday, 9 March 2009
A Grand Adventure...
Recently, there has been something about the Grand Canyon that has just intrigued me.
I've never been there before, nor have I really ever seen any good pictures of it, and anyways, I'm not sure a picture would be able to capture the vastness of it if I had seen many. The fascination all started when I read this book called "Through Painted Deserts" by Donald Miller. This is undoubtedly one of my favourite books, and I've read it many times, dipping into it countless more.
In this book, he describes a road trip he takes across the USA with a friend of his, stopping at different places along the way. It's not a book that sounds too deep, and in fact, it's not really, but there's something about it that speaks to my soul. So, I read it...
At about the half way section, him and his friend Paul go to the Grand Canyon, and hike down into its depths to camp for a night before coming up out again.
To be honest, I never really knew what the Grand Canyon was, I didn't get how deep it was.. It's a mile deep. A mile. That's about 4 times the height of the Empire State building.
We don't really think of a mile as that long a distance when we're measuring ALONG the ground, but how about down? That's pretty deep...
There's this thing called the "Sky Walk" which you can walk out on, and look down into the Grand Canyon. Looking into the depths. Standing on top of this walk way that is suspended a mile above the ground. As someone who used to have a fear of open stairs...this may not seem like the most ideal of ideas, yet there's something about it that both fills me with fear, and that thrill of adventure.
On Wednesday I am going to Rwanda. I am taking a team of five people out to Rwanda for 4 weeks, and then on to Burundi for 6 weeks. At the minute, I can feel a bit of that sense of fear. I feel like I'm standing at the top of this adventure, looking down. There is that fear, but also that great sense of adventure. These are 5 people that I've spent my last four months with, sharing our lives and walking with God, growing in our relationship and trying to be more like him.
But, just as the Grand Canyon is a long way down. Rwanda and Burundi seem so distant right now. I think I'm ready just to jump into it (Africa...not the Grand Canyon...)
Stay tuned here for more details of our journey. I'll hopefully be a better blogger while I'm away!
This is the team!
Back Row: Jack (Israel), Tom (me...)
Front Row: Nosipho (South Africa), Stephanie (USA), Amalia (Canada), Megan (USA/Japan)
I've never been there before, nor have I really ever seen any good pictures of it, and anyways, I'm not sure a picture would be able to capture the vastness of it if I had seen many. The fascination all started when I read this book called "Through Painted Deserts" by Donald Miller. This is undoubtedly one of my favourite books, and I've read it many times, dipping into it countless more.
In this book, he describes a road trip he takes across the USA with a friend of his, stopping at different places along the way. It's not a book that sounds too deep, and in fact, it's not really, but there's something about it that speaks to my soul. So, I read it...
At about the half way section, him and his friend Paul go to the Grand Canyon, and hike down into its depths to camp for a night before coming up out again.
To be honest, I never really knew what the Grand Canyon was, I didn't get how deep it was.. It's a mile deep. A mile. That's about 4 times the height of the Empire State building.
We don't really think of a mile as that long a distance when we're measuring ALONG the ground, but how about down? That's pretty deep...
There's this thing called the "Sky Walk" which you can walk out on, and look down into the Grand Canyon. Looking into the depths. Standing on top of this walk way that is suspended a mile above the ground. As someone who used to have a fear of open stairs...this may not seem like the most ideal of ideas, yet there's something about it that both fills me with fear, and that thrill of adventure.
On Wednesday I am going to Rwanda. I am taking a team of five people out to Rwanda for 4 weeks, and then on to Burundi for 6 weeks. At the minute, I can feel a bit of that sense of fear. I feel like I'm standing at the top of this adventure, looking down. There is that fear, but also that great sense of adventure. These are 5 people that I've spent my last four months with, sharing our lives and walking with God, growing in our relationship and trying to be more like him.
But, just as the Grand Canyon is a long way down. Rwanda and Burundi seem so distant right now. I think I'm ready just to jump into it (Africa...not the Grand Canyon...)
Stay tuned here for more details of our journey. I'll hopefully be a better blogger while I'm away!
This is the team!
Back Row: Jack (Israel), Tom (me...)
Front Row: Nosipho (South Africa), Stephanie (USA), Amalia (Canada), Megan (USA/Japan)
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