If the video is not showing above, click the following link to see how small and vulnerable many of these street children are — http://vimeo.com/21435383

Like many cities around the world, Kigali has many homeless children that live on the streets, facing disease, extreme hardship and violence. But the problem here has been made more severe by war in the early 90′s and the devastation of HIV/ Aids. UNICEF estimates that there are over 7,000 street children in Kigali, Rwanda’s booming Capitol.

Several years ago the executive director of the Rwanda chapter of Prison Fellowship, Pastor Deo Gashagaza, along with his wife Christine, began an outreach to help break the cycle of poverty and oppression for some of these children. Today they serve 85 children each week in the vicinity of the Prison Fellowship office. Ranging in age from very young to 22, these children are either totally orphaned and living on the streets (under bridges, etc) or in such dire home situations that they spend most of their time on the street with very little opportunity. This ministry, partnered with Mustard Seed Project, feeds them a healthy meal three times a week, gives them a chance to bath, offers counseling services, some basic educational skills, and spiritual support. Some of the older ones have begun to attend vocational school, and school opportunities are being sought for the younger children.

“We can’t fight trauma and crime by providing only food, only skills training, only counseling, only Bible teachings, only reconciliation work, or only shelter,” observes Pastor Deo. “We must provide all of these things, because they all operate together for optimal growth and well being”.

We spent about an hour with the children during their usual Wednesday program, and we see the love they are receiving and the hope that is being placed into their lives. You can support this work through the Mustard Seed Project web site, especially as they are looking for people to provide sponsorships for school fees to get the children moving in a direction beyond the streets. The need is overwhelming, so we do what we can. Meeting these children in person does a lot to help us know that they are not statistics, but those who carry the image of God, with dignity and honour. Stepping into their lives changes us as well as them.

Last night my traveling companion for the last week caught a flight back to the States. Pat needed to head back to work while I stay two more days for additional time in Kigali with the Anglican Diocese and Pastor Deo Gashagaza of Prison Fellowship. Some may remember Deo’s visit to Redeemer in the last couple of years.

Its been good to be here with Pat. He’s a real people person, and everywhere we go he is a great connector. Sometimes I have needed to have one-on-one conversations with folks, and he has really helped to create space for me for that. When I preached in the cathedral he came to offer his support, even though he had already been to a 2 hour worship service Sunday that began at 7:30. There have been many moments of just hanging out, sharing observations and insights, and quite a bit of laughter.

If you want to get to know someone–really know them, go on a trip across the world. I’m grateful for Pat’s commitment to Redeemer’s Rwanda relationships, and his willingness to come here again to express that. On top of all that, we had just a great time.

Anyone who has travelled far from home knows how exhausting it can be. Heavy schedules, unusual hours, sleeping in strange beds and adjusting to new foods can leave the traveller longing for home and some rest. But along with the great experience of being in new places is getting to know others on the journey, either new friends or people we have already met. Going to a place multiple times allows you step into the flow of activity, and not just be a “tourist”. Some will come to a place like Rwanda and be forever changed. Others will come multiple times and not allow the situations and people to alter their strongly held views. Mark Twain noted that travel is fatal to prejudice, and that can be very true. It certainly puts you in relationship with others, dependent on their good graces and hospitality, and forges unexpected friendships. Come to Rwanda, cross the country, or visit Wisconsin, but don’t go alone. Its a good metaphor for life.

Even several hours of steady rain could not dampen the spirits of Sonrise School’s first graduates, their families and friends. Hundreds were on hand for the three (plus) hour ceremony at Musanze’s outdoor stadium, where the grandstand is covered. The thirty-eight graduates entered the stadium from the far side and processed around to the presentation area, carrying the banner that Redeemer children had made for the event. This was a long anticipated day, going back to the initial vision Bishop John Rucyahana had to care for the many genocide orphans, and the early work of partners such as Mustard Seed Project, Church of the Redeemer and Bridge to Rwanda. Several Mustard Seed board members were present, including Bob Dwyer and Joyce Wingett, who suggested the name of the school. Families were there to watch students graduate, teachers shared in the sense of accomplishment, and other dignitaries filled the stands. Bishop John Rucyahana, recently retired as bishop of the Shyira Diocese retraced the schools history, and called the students to a covenant in which they pledged to pursue God, integrity and excellence in their lives. A high ranking official from Rwanda’s ministry of education also spoke, along with several students, including Richard Ndekezi, Sonrise’s “head boy”‘ who visited Chicago last fall. He sends his greetings and love to all the friends he met through Church of the Redeemer.

A great personal privilege for me was being asked to present diplomas. I was the only non-Rwandan granted this honour, aside from the School’s current headmistress. The real tribute is not mine, but goes to those who began the Sonrise School benefit a dozen years ago and shepherded the ongoing support–I simply carry the baton for a lap of the race. It is those people, especially, that I wish could have been here, to see the fruit of their creative labours, and to grant us all encouragement and resolve for the next season.

These students officially finished last fall, but had to wait until March for national exams to be posted. Every graduating high school student across the country must take these exams in order to determine future educational opportunities. Each school, even those that have religious affiliation, is in partnership with the government. So these graduates have been out of class for a number of months. Several of them placed quite high in the national testing, including one who was the top Rwandan student. This is a great accomplishment and honour for the school as graduates now look to jobs and university.

Many said a school like Sonrise could not be built. Others questioned the wisdom of seeking to instill leadership values in children so scarred by the horror of genocide. Those of the first graduating class have crossed a tremendous threshold. They now get a chance to show us all what they have learned. If any people know the meaning of the word ‘hope’ they certainly do, and will continue to define it for themselves and the rest of us.

Scroll over photo for title, and click on any photo to enlarge

Today I did the most dangerous thing I will do in Africa: I rode across Kigali city on the back of a motorcycle taxi. I know, I know…it’s crazy. But I was stranded far from the guest house and needed to use whatever means were available, and Susan wasn’t here to tell me I couldn’t. Besides, it sounded like a St. Patrick’s Day kind of thing to do.

I would like to describe it for you, but not sure it would help. Let’s just say that if you’re of the thrill seeking variety (which I am not, usually) you’ll get it. If not, nothing I could say would sound like a rational defense.

My driver, named Innocent (that helped calm me a little) was good natured, friendly, and competent. I think the speedometer was broken, but it wouldn’t have made a difference, I think. At any rate, I got it out of my system…until next time.
Peace from Kigali.

We are spending a couple of days in Kigali, Rwanda’s booming Capitol. To be here is to be overwhelmed with sensations and stimuli, from people in every direction, to the smell of the air (something’s burning) to frenetic traffic. I don’t know where to look, there is so much happening.

Before 1962 Kigali was just a small dusty town, but with independence came the selection of a new capitol–one that was in the center of the country, and one that wasn’t from where the Tutsi kings had ruled for hundreds of years. Lately there has been tremendous foreign investment in this city, and the rapid growth of tall buildings and spreading development has led some to call this the Singapore of Africa.

Kigali is also home to the Anglican Province of Rwanda and it’s new Archbishop, the Most Rev. Onesephore Rwaje. He has been in office just a couple of months, succeeding Archbishop Kolini. The new archbishop and I shared tea in his office this morning, and talked about the challenges and blessings of this work. Formerly the bishop of Byumba Diocese (in the north of the country) he will now oversee the province, as well as a newly created smaller diocese in part of Kigali. He asked us to pray for pastors and personnel in the 5 parishes that make us the new diocese, in an area near the airport.

I also met today with Bishop Louis Muvunyi, newly installed as head of the Kigali diocese, with leadership responsibilities touching on tens of thousands of Anglican Christians in this city. When I visited last year (then) Pastor Louis served as my driver for the two hour trip to Musanze. Two days later he was elected Bishop. Pastors are lining up to drive me around town. Seriously, he is a sensitive and humble leader with a servant’s heart who will be a powerful leader for the diocese, I’m sure.

The event that brought me back to Africa was the consecration of a new bishop for the Shyira Diocese, located in Musanze, a mountainous region northwest of the capitol city. This is the area where John and Harriet Rucyahana came in the ‘90s to preach the gospel, strengthen the people in the years following the genocide, and do the work of ministry. In addition, Sonrise School was opened and developed, a new cathedral built and many connections made with Christians in other parts of the world. There are about 150,000 Anglicans in this area, and any new bishop here has very big shoes to fill.

In selecting Dr. Laurent Mbanda the leaders of the Anglican Church in Rwanda chose a seasoned global leader (a Compassion Intl Vice President with a PhD from Trinity in Deerfield), experience in the church in Africa and the United States, and a size 15 shoe. He knows just how much responsibility this is, and how full the Rucyahana legacy. But he brings a sense of humility in light of this task and hopefulness in God’s provision and call at this time of his life. We knew the Mbanda’s in the US and it was important, given Redeemer’s connection to this diocese and my personal friendship that I was on hand March 28th for the service.

It was a glorious worship service of almost 6 hours duration, including various choirs, readers, dancers, and even the President of Rwanda as a guest speaker, witnessed by a crowd of several thousand. Near the end the heavens opened and poured—really rained like I haven’t seen since I was a child (memory is a funny thing). I was particularly pleased when the rain shorted out the keyboard with the built-in rhythm section and the choirs reverted to indigenous music with real drum accompaniment. After the service was a reception, to which even the cows were invited!

I’m not sure we have an equivalent here in the US—a service in the church inaugurating leadership where the President would take an active part. Bishops are not just spiritual leaders, but those to whom the whole community looks for leadership, guidance and care. It still works that way in Rwanda.

Bishop Mbanda will serve alongside +John Rucyahana until November, then assume full leadership upon Bishop John’s retirement.

Read something else I wrote on bishops.