(Click any photo to enlarge) Rwanda is a place of many paradoxes, or ironies. Its on the equator, but can be very cool at night (thanks for its high altitude); people are warm and lovely, yet the country was plunged into a terrible genocide of neighbor against neighbor; there is an overwhelming natural [...]

By Natasha Carlson   Some of you may know that I've wanted to visit Rwanda for quite some time. One of the major reasons for this was my desire to visit Sonrise School. Being a teacher increased my desire, but I also felt a connection to the school as a member of Redeemer. After hearing [...]

Sam (Center) is led forward by two bishops to make his vows Sunday was a remarkable day in Musanze as the whole area came together to consecrate Rev. Sam Mugisha as the new bishop of the Anglican Shyira Diocese. Bishops represent not only leadership and authority in the church, but also community life [...]

Ordinands Enter the Cathedral Sunday December 11th was a day to be celebrated as almost forty men and women were ordained for service in the Shyira Diocese of the Anglican Church.  A number were Deacons, and about a dozen were 'priested'.  Most of these work other jobs, often more than one, in order [...]

I have wanted to visit the Butaro hospital in Rwanda for several years, having heard a number of great things about its mission. What I didn't realize is that its located within the region of the Shyira Diocese. So last Saturday Bishop Mbanda, Bishop-elect Sam and I drove several thousand feet up into the hills [...]

The primary reason for my visit this trip was to participate in leading portions of a retreat for those to be ordained as pastors on Sunday (most as Deacons, some as Priests). This has been a singular honour, even as I note the anniversary of my own ordination today (December 10th) 16 years ago.  It [...]

One of the greatest privileges of coming to a place like Rwanda is the opportunity to connect with friends--people that are loved and known, and each visit makes those connections deepen and grow. That's true whether they are Rwandans, or very close family like the Hanlons. They moved to Rwanda five years ago from Church [...]

Traveling to Africa from Chicago almost always means going through someplace else, and these airline pathways usually follow the route of the old colonial powers, centered in England, Germany and Belgium, among others.  My trip to Rwanda is taking me through Brussels, where I stopped a day to make the best plane connections. Today is [...]

Traveling to Rwanda involves careful preparation.  While there has been much development over the last ten years, especially, it still serves the traveler to be aware of things to take along on the trip, such as medications and other items that you may not be able to purchase.  It also means being aware of the [...]

The children's choir at St. John the Baptist Cathedral Sundays are always big days in the Rwandan Anglican Church. They start early and run long, marked by joyful and exuberant worship services. When we come to Rwanda it's important that we participate in worship services, not only to signify our unity together in [...]