Arriving in Kigali at the beginning of a 3-week STEP (Short Term Experience Placement) with the Diocese of Shyogwe, my first impression is that Rwanda is a surprisingly beautiful country – very green (both verdant and also green in the environmental sense), organised, safe and clean – probably the cleanest and neatest African country I have ever visited.
I arrived mid-afternoon 1st March in Kigali airport, a small and organised regional airport. Smiling welcomes all round, no problem with immigration or luggage. 20 minutes later I exited to meet Diocesan Head of Education, Marcel Sebahire, in the Shyogwe 4 x 4 Landcruiser. Despite the foreboding look of the 4 x 4, the roads around Kigali surprised me – the scenery, road conditions, manicured gardens, absence of litter, were better than my local area back home, Killiney Ballybrack in Dublin!
A little over an hour later I arrived at the Halleluyah Guesthouse, Zion Hill Diocesan Centre, in Muhanga and my new African adventure was beginning.
Going back a few weeks and leading up to this, I was more than a little concerned about the visit. I hadn’t visited Africa for any length of time for nearly 25 years and this was going to be my first visit to Rwanda. I was also concerned about how much value I could add to a wonderful and resourceful organisation that is the Diocese of Shyogwe, led by the charismatic Bishop Jered. I had prayed about this and am still doing so, but I have been spiritually buoyed up by all the wonderful support and prayers I have received from everyone back home, not to mention the daily prayers and sense of welcome I get from interacting with all the amazing and faithful team at Shyogwe. It is a privilege to experience.
Attending my first service at Nyamagana Parish, the day (Sunday) after my arrival was special. It was the formal opening of the church by Bishop Jered following rebuilding. Bishop Elect Louis Pasteur and a whole host of clergy from the diocese were there with a congregation of between 600 and 700 people. The clergy procession, with me strategically placed beside the Bishop Elect for translation purposes, circled the church 3 times before Bishop Jered marked the formal opening by pounding on the front entrance with his crozier. The door was opened and the ribbon cut jointly by the two Bishops and myself, representing all the CMSI supporting parishes from Ireland.
The service followed with amazing gospel music from 5 different choirs, dancing from a troop of children in national costume, various readings, presentations and speeches from Bishop Jered and Bishop Elect Louis Pasteur. The speeches were mainly ‘thank yous’ to all involved in the building of the church. Special mention was made of the various Irish parishes involved, and I was able to present prayers and greetings from them as well.
What made it all special for me was that everything was translated by the Bishop Elect or Leonard, the Diocesan Development Officer, who beside me for the complete 6 hours of the service! It did include full Holy Communion as well as Bishop Jered’s last confirmation of around 20 people. It transpires this was the parish Bishop Jered was brought up in, so it was doubly apt he could do the opening and also say farewell formally as Bishop.
Most of the church was constructed with funds raised by the congregation members themselves, and a lot of volunteer manual labour too. CMSI link parishes contributed funds for the roofing materials, which are the most expensive aspect of the building. Despite needing some finishing (floor tiling and the reception room behind it) the church looked amazing and there was beautiful sunlight coming through, illuminating the joyful celebration of the service. Senior clergy and elders of the parish joined in a meal together after the service.
One of my great uplifts to the start of each day is My Rock and My Refuge, daily devotions in the Psalms by Timothy Keller. What seemed particularly apt for me was Sunday’s Psalm 33:1-9 “Sing joyfully to the Lord…” presaging that impactful service at Nyamagana.
I have now just finished my first incredibly busy week seeing and experiencing all the Social Enterprise (and other) Organisations in the Diocese, the objectives of this week being to research and understand the various businesses. Next week will be spent speaking with the various management groups to assess the key issues and the final week will be working out a way forward for those organisations, as well as helping them address some of their issues.
This last week has been a wonder – bringing me across the length and breadth of the diocese and allowing me to meet with great people, pastors and parishioners alike – all full of joy and the Holy Spirit.
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