Thursday's Blog:

The team headed up to the cathedral a Kibagabaga, for the annual Pastors’ and Wives’ Conference led by Damascus Trust.  In true African style, at the start time of 9am, there were very few pastors in attendance, but over the next 20 minutes several delegates dribbled in through the open doorway. One pastor began a very soothing African worship song and others automatically joined in.  After a few verses, people began to clap along to the beat and the tempo increased.  There was a wonderful mix of traditional African worship and versions of western hymns, sung in Kinyarwandan, with a magical African twist, all sung a cappella in beautiful harmonious voices.

After about 40 minutes of this wonderful music, the hall was almost full and everyone stood, respectfully as the Archbishop entered the room and then Archdeacon Samuel officially opened the conference.  The Archbishop addressed the pastors, their wives and catechists in Kinyarwandan, but such is his command of English that he turned to the DT team from time to time to include us too.  He began with wonderful words of encouragement to us, thanking us for standing with the church in Rwanda in their mission and church planting.  He stated, ‘This has been my vision since I became a clergyman.  You could send us money through your bank account, but coming to share with us at this conference is adding value to your gift.’  It was so helpful to hear these words directly from the Archbishop’s lips, as this answers a question asked by so many at home in UK, as to why we bother to spend so much money, time and effort to travel all this way, when really giving the cost of our airfare in Rwandan Francs to the poor communities here, would be a substantial financial boost to these struggling communities.  Clearly monetary help is certainly beneficial to these poor parishes, but personal words of encouragement from brothers and sisters abroad, is treasured.

Needless to say, Andy’s well organised timetable did not run to time!  The singing and introductions had been so prolific, that it was break time before he had even begun his first teaching session!  Everyone was provided with milky African tea, or sharp hot ginger to drink and an extremely substantial version of a doughnut, guaranteed to block up any dodgy stomach, as well as a very spicy samosa, likely to create the former!  As all good Brits, we walked to join the end of the long queue, but Archdeacon Samuel then indicated to Isobel that she should go to the front, which she initially thought was showing kindness, though the rug was soon ripped from under her, when he indelicately explained, ‘In our culture it is customary for the older people to be served first!’

Andy was very chuffed that having revised his teaching schedule (looking at seven hallmarks of leadership as found in Nehemiah), he finished the second session dead on time at 12:30pm, only to be thwarted, when informed that lunch wasn’t ready!  So after a short break a third session was squeezed in before lunch. In the meantime the rest of the team were in a back room planning their afternoon seminars, with absolutely no idea, whether this extremely fluid timetable would permit them to take place or not - this is Africa!

The team’s seminar focusing on our identity as children of Christ, seemed to be well received with audience engagement in small discussion groups.  Isobel shared from her own experience how, after being made redundant some years ago, she came to understand that her worth is who she is in Christ and not in what job she does or doesn’t have. It’s an important truth that we need to hold on to. 

After this the furniture needed to be rearranged into formal rows for Andy’s summary session and it was a real treat to hear everyone spontaneously bursting into song as they moved tables and chairs! Andy asked us all to share with another person what we had learned from the day and how it would make a difference to our lives. 

Another day of conference awaits us tomorrow, so until then - good-night.

Grace, Isobel, Hannah, Paul, Jonathan and Andy