Friday's Blog:

The second day of the Gasabo conference got off to an almost punctual start with more rousing African choruses and frenetic dancing.  The morning sessions’ time keeping was amazingly good with Andy concluding his teaching on Nehemiah.  When reference was made to the Armour of God Andy got all the pastors and wives to stand up and act out putting on the full armour, first with words and then silently.  A sight to behold and a great help to remembering what the Holy Spirit has given us.  We broke for lunch as planned at 12.30pm only to find absolutely no food appeared for an hour and a half.  We sat talking and waiting for a long time.   Three pastors’ wives were sitting just in front of us and could not hide their interest when up close and personal with 'mzungus', possibly for the first time.  They kept running their fingers across their foreheads as they stared at us and after some time, we finally realised that they were fascinated with Isobel and Hannah’s fringes! Though we’d not previously noticed, looking round the room, it was clearly evident that Africans don’t have fringes!  On realising what the interest was about, Isobel lent forward and a couple of ladies felt the hair of her fringe, raised their thumbs and made approving noises!  

Finally a little taxi rolled up and the driver took out a package wrapped up in a pink sheet, the first of a selection of lunch dishes.  The start of the afternoon sessions was pushed further back, when, at the time we expected to present the first seminar, a trio of smartly dressed office workers sat down to address the conference.  Apparently they were representatives from a Christian bank, encouraging pastors to make savings.  Their input might not have been exciting to listen to in English, but in a foreign language it was soporific!

The seminars finally got underway with the men and women meeting separately.  Grace had decided to lighten the mood for the pastors’ wives by inviting one of the ladies to demonstrate how to wear a traditional head dresses.  A beautiful pale blue and pink scarf was immediately pulled from a lady’s bag and Grace indicated that it was to be wrapped around Isobel’s head.  A little confusion ensued as it seemed some ladies were more expert at creating headdresses than others.  One pastor’s wife, dressed in a stunning full length turquoise African dress and matching headscarf was ushered to the fore to demonstrate how to wear a scarf effectively.  At this point there was a ripple of laughter when they realised a mzungu was going to be dressed up in front of them.  Once the scarf was fully in place, Isobel did a little twirl to their great delight, and Grace’s ice breaker had certainly done the trick!  The ladies were fully engaged with the seminar on women’s roles in God’s work of helping in many different capacities.  All listened intently to a touching personal testimony shared by Hannah.

After the conference and a meeting with the Archbishop about the Support a Pastor Program, we were invited to a farewell informal dinner, which once again took an age to arrive by taxi.  We were trying not to look at our watches and mutter about yet one more delay, because during the plenary session of the conference one of the pastors, had commented on his learning over the past couple of days, that ‘mzungus look at their watches a lot!’  With those words ringing in my mind, I’m having a quick look at my watch and signing off for tonight!

Tomorrow - Saturday - we travel up to the Diocese of Byumba, so see you all there.

Good-night.

Grace, Isobel, Hannah, Paul, Jonathan and Andy