Sunday

We all rolled up at the Anglican cathedral this morning for the English service at 8.45am, which was led by an American team and attended by a medley of nationalities with their hoard of offspring.  Our team member Grace, preached a message of Jesus’ encouragement not to be afraid - ‘Fear not…’ This was very appropriate and greatly appreciated (as you will understand later in the blog).

Before the English service had finished we could already hear the beautiful sound of African singing floating down the cathedral corridors from the main hall, where the Kinyarwanda service was getting underway at 10am.  Both services though distinctive in their worship styles were upbeat, but were tinged with sadness as the Archdeacon, Samuel, had suffered the great loss of his 17 year old son on the Tuesday before we arrived.  

As we entered the cathedral, packed with the Kinyarwandan congregation singing their hearts out in the indomitable African style of worship, one familiar figure sat in uncharacteristic melancholy.  Wearing his dog collar, but taking a rest from leading the worship this week, Samuel sat, surrounded by a congregation that love him and is trying hard to help support him through this period of extreme sadness.  Here in Rwanda it is customary for friends and family to visit the bereaved every night for the first 7 nights, to spend time with the family, play cards and generally carry them through their period of mourning.  The pastor, who introduced the service this morning invited people to continue to visit the family in this way.  The funeral, which took place earlier in the week was attended by a thousand people.  It was good to speak briefly to Samuel after the service.  He explained that he and his wife had been married for 20 years so had decided to celebrate by taking the family away on a family retreat.  In their 20 years of marriage they had never taken a holiday together.  On Tuesday morning, just before breakfast, Samuel had gone out to a quiet place to pray for his family.  While he was away his son and daughter had gone down to the lakeside.  As his son, stood on a jetty he lost his footing and slipped, falling into deep water.  So deep was the water, that it took the family 40 minutes to recover the boy’s body.  There are few words you can say to a father telling you such a tale of tragedy of the loss of his only son.  One of our translators, Gilbert, who had driven the family to their lakeside retreat was quite disturbed when he told us of the distressed phone call he received from Samuel on Tuesday morning, insisting that he drove back immediately to collect the family.  He questioned  why Samuel had not even enjoyed one whole day with his family and struggled to understand why at the very same time that Samuel was praying for his family, God seemed to have taken his son away.

As we pondered on these events, Grace commented succinctly that of course Africans have the same heart and the same emotions as everyone else the world over, but here death seems to be so much nearer. Another helpful perspective was shared by Isobel; that even as the son’s life was being taken away, his father, Samuel, was praying for him. Coincidence? We think not.

Andy’s message at the Kinyarwandan service was focussed on Matthew 28 where the angels invited the women to ‘Come and see…’ and then ‘go and tell…’ Christ’s resurrection changes everything for all who believe in him. Death is no longer the end and our resurrection is assured. We have a message of hope that we must share.

One choir after another dressed in their long robes, contributed to the worship, with one of their number singing a few words, and then the whole choir joining in a response, swaying rhythmically as they sang.  Archbishop Rwaje officiated at holy communion and announced that today’s service would be longer than usual as there were so many items to include, this was not music to the ears of the white visitors who were unaccustomed to 3 hours services in a very warm environment!  Nevertheless it was interesting to witness a thanksgiving service for the life of a godly man who had died 20 years ago.  We were unclear why this was being celebrated today, but it was attended by a huge extended family, many of whom were decked out in their fine bright clothes, some of the men with white roses in their button holes.  This was then followed by another thanksgiving service this time for a young couple who had married a few months ago and were now expecting their first child.  The young man told the congregation of the difficult times they had been through in their short marriage, not least having to attend the police station on his wedding day, to give a statement regarding theft at this workplace, which culminated in the imprisonment of most of his work colleagues, and his ultimate dismissal from his position!  It was an interesting, if complicated tale of woe, but throughout this difficult time the young man emphasised how wonderfully supportive Archdeacon Samuel had been, remaining constantly by their side.  As Samuel stood by their sides this morning and shook the young couple’s hands, I expect we were all praying that the same steadfast love and support of Christ and his Church would be carrying him and his wife Grace right now.

After about 3 and a quarter hours we finally peeled our sweaty bodies off the plastic chairs and walked a few streets away to have lunch in a restaurant overlooking the whole panorama of Kigali.  It was a very relaxed lunch, mostly due to the African pace of service, but it was wonderful just sitting watching huge African kites enjoying the thermals and gliding over the city as we waited for our food to be served.  Unfortunately our lovely lunch experience came to an abrupt halt when we sauntered back to the cathedral to find the car window had been smashed and the radio stolen.  With very improvised tools we then began to clear away the broken glass from and with a little persuasion, Andy chivalrously laid out his jacket for the ladies to sit on as a bum protector, on the seat that had been peppered with glass fragments.  Having disturbed poor Brandon from his family down time, we then drove round to show him the second part of his car that we’d trashed in 24 hours.  He had a quick look at the latest damage, simply waved his hand in the air nonchalantly and commented, “Bummer!”  Back at the hostel Paul then scoured the rubbish bin for raw materials and having secured a card board box and plastic sack, he deftly fashioned a replacement window, which any African off-roader would be proud of!

Another interesting day came to an end and we wait to share with you what the next few days have in store.

Sleep well and good-night.

Grace, Isobel, Hannah, Paul, Andy and Jonathan (coming back from Kigeme to join us on Monday)