Rwanda Mission Partnership

Hi, my name is Dani and I was a part of the last Day 4 team that went to Rwanda. When I first heard about the 2004 trip I was keen but a little apprehensive as I’d never been out of Australia before (actually make that Western Australia…) And being a young gal of 18 I wasn’t quite sure what I would face or how I would be treated when I got there. But after arriving at Kigali airport and being greeted by a whole host of smiling faces, I just knew that we were going to be well looked after! And the hospitality of the Rwandan people is really what touched me the most during the time that I was there.

We went to the house of a child sponsored by one of the team members through Compassion, and little Solange’s family was so happy to see us! They brought out a huge tray of soft drink bottles which I know would have caused them much sacrifice to buy but they lavished their hospitality upon us and treated our visit like a huge celebration! I feel so privileged to be able to sponsor a child myself in Rwanda - his name is Crispe and I cannot wait to see him and give him an enormous hug when we’re back there next year!

While in 1994 the world was oblivious to the things happening in Rwanda, today it is a different story.  Many people have done their part over the past 10 years to ensure the legacy of the Rwandan Genocide is positive and that it never happens again.

Here are some links to websites that provide details of the events of 1994, captured on video, in photographs and in the written word.

• A Time Line of Events
• Ghosts of Rwanda - Video, Photo’s and Articles about the Genocide
• Traditional Justice - the Gacaca or village courts

For more stories of Rwanda and news from Rwanda as it is today - stay tuned to this site!

I recently found out about a conference coming up in Uganda in May next year (2007) aimed at equipping local church leaders and connecting locals with western partners in mission. It is geared towards developing the emerging/missional church movement in the African context and informing the western church on ways to partner with African churches in culturally acceptable ways (not the traditional colonial approach).

I was particularly interested in this as it seemed many of the ideals Amahoro Africa - the name of the organisation and the conference - were promoting where also those John and I were trying to work with.

It looks like John will be attending the gathering and I am hoping that I will also be able to get along as the organisers have since shown interest in the CUF-Day 4 partnership and feel we might have something to add to the gathering.

You can read more about Amahoro Africa here. They have a blog which you can view here and there is specific information relating to the gathering here.

The Mission Partnership was formed in 2003 when John Mihigo, pastor of the Christian Unity Fellowship in Rwanda made contact with Andrew Rigg, founder of Day 4, in Australia. This led to the establishment of an ongoing partnership between the two organisations, culminating with a mission team from Australia visiting Rwanda in 2004.

The partnership has continued from that time with Day 4 involved in fundraising and supporting the ongoing work of CUF in Kigali and elsewhere in Rwanda. This includes community development projects, such as the installation of rain-water tanks on Mt Kigali, payment of a stipend for school teachers in the CUF community school (Unity Academy) and the purchase of land for a church plant in rural Rwanda.
Another team from Australia will be visiting Rwanda in June 2007.

This is just a brief overview of the many things we have achieved through our partnership over the past 4 years. For more information send us an email or join in a discussion on this blogsite.

My (John Mihigo’s) addition:

Thank you Andrew for this blog. In recognition of the things you wrote up here, I want to thank you on behalf of Christian Unity Fellowship, my community on Mt. Kigali, and country as whole for our indispensable partnership that is obviously God-ordained. Once more we are praying for the upcoming trip next year. We look forward to it, and we think it will even be more fruitful than that of last year. I know you must be doing the same. It is never too early to plan for, and pray for such projects. I therefore ask that you mobilize as much prayer as you can, from your end, so that God will be honoured by this trip much more.

Keep up the good work. ‘Your labour in the Lord is not in vain’.

Well - after more than 2 years - Day 4 are taking another team to Rwanda. I am suffering from Rwanda withdrawal and can hardly wait to get back to Kigali and to see my Rwandan “family” again. John has told me that Gladys is still referring to me as her brother-in-law!

A lot of things have happened since we were last there. The church building is almost finished now. We were able to fundraise for roofing, seating, doors and windows and, I think, plastering (John will be able to tell you more). It will be a different place from the last time we were there.

One of my favourite projects is also up and running - I’ll get John to tell you more about this too - it’s the AIDS outreach. Last I heard it was being run by John’s nephew, Fred and involves educating the Mt Kigali locals about AIDS, how it’s transmitted and how to prevent it (abstinence model). The program is based around cultural plays and other interactive methods of delivery.

It looks like there will only be one other Rwanda 04 veteran going with us this time - that’s Dani. Dani was 18 the last time we went and the youngest member of the team. Now’s she’s 21 and still going to be the youngest team member.

The 2007 team consists of:

John Korn from Binningup Beach Christian Fellowship
Colin Rigg from Harvey Church of Christ
Sue Knight from Harvey Church of Christ
Ron Georgie from Harvey Church of Christ
Dani Faed from Mt Hawthorn Baptist Church
Kylie Flemming from Bunbury Church of Christ
and
Me, Andrew Rigg from Binningup Beach Christian Fellowship.