March 24, 2008

Mark and I are in Africa now. We arrived last Thursday night. The airport staff was friendlier than the last time I was here. Immigration only took about 15 minutes. All of our luggage we checked made it here and there is no more x-ray machines at the airport to examine items that are brought in to the country. While both Delta Airlines and Brussels Airlines indicated that we would need a visa upon arriving in Kigali, this was not the case. When I mentioned this to the Archbishop, he assured me that Americans do not have to have visas when visiting Rwanda. I met Mark in the airport in Brussels. I was considerably later meeting him as I had to send half of my carry on items to a new friend in England. Hopefully, Sharon will be able to retrieve the items from the Clarkes in Deal in a week or two. I was very glad to see Mark. He already looked like a very cool world traveler and I looked cooler I know just walking to the plane with him. The staff at Brussels airlines requested a copy of the receipts Mark got when he paid for the extra luggage he brought for us. Fortunately it was not mandatory and we go to board after all. It was touch and go for a moment. The flight was about 7 hours and 45 minutes; however it really did seem much longer. Unlike the Brussels employees on the ground, our flight crew was quite charming. We were taken well care of. Interestingly, although the ground crew insisted that the plane would be full, it only had about 45% of its maximum capacity. Mark slept a good bit on the plane. I had a great view of the French and Swiss Alps as well as the expanse of the Sahara Desert.

Mark asked me several times if there would be someone to pick us up at the Kigali airport. I assured him that someone would. Well, I was wrong and we spent a good bit of time trying to call and connect with our contact. Thankfully, we reached Sam Mugisha. In the end, we took two taxis from the airport over to the Cathedral. We are staying in Faith House at the Cathedral compound. It is the first house on the right upon entering the compound which has the offices and the church. I believe that Sam and Jackie Migusha formerly lived here. We have one housemate, a lady priest from New Covenant Anglican Church in Orlando, Florida. Conlee and Signa, along with the prayer team were there recently for a Journey. Her name is Ruan (Ru-ann) and she is a delight. She is older than me, originally from the Caribbean, and is a therapist as well. We have had some very nice chats. Our housekeeper is Yvonne. She is a lovely young Rwandan lady who is taking good care of us. I was unable to get a couple of pair of pants hemmed before I left the US. Yvonne contacted a tailor and he was at the guesthouse within a couple of hours. He spoke not a word of English, yet he returned with three pair of khakis hemmed quite professionally. It cost about $6 total to have all three pair hemmed.

Our first day here was Good Friday. We awoke to a young adult choir practicing near our house. The voices were quite melodic and enchanting. Later, we would hear the Prince of Peace choir perform at both the Good Friday service and Easter Sunday. We were blessed to have both Fr. Adriaan (a Dutch man) and Fr. Sam lead us at the Good Friday service and then on Easter Sunday. Both have a heart for God and for His people. We worshipped with Swiss, Dutch, English, Americans, and Africans at both of the services.

I am a bit foggy here, but I think it was Saturday that Sam took us to town to obtain a Rwandan cell phone, get some money exchanged, and pick up a few items at the grocery. My good friend, Sam Rutare and his brother Moses met up with us over the weekend. We enjoyed a great dinner at The New Cactus Restaurant on Saturday evening. For Easter lunch, Sam and Moses joined me for a fabulous brunch at the Serena Hotel (formerly the Intercontinental). By the way, both restaurants are within walking distance. I proved it a couple of times now.

Easter Sunday at the Serena Hotel included live music by an artist known all over the African continent. His name is Nimles. He was quite good; although I am not sure he should keep singing Kenny Rogers’ tunes. I took a photograph of Sam and Moses with Nimles. Sam told me that that day was the best day in his life.

Mark missed the brunch as he has still been getting over jet lag. He seemed to have turned a corner when we were invited to a fairly large Bible Study at another mazunga’s home in the area. Mark rather reluctantly went along and lo and behold, there were at least four lovely women about his age there. He perked right up and now he is planning an excursion with them to see the gorillas in the north this weekend.

Today has been nonstop meeting with the pastors here and attempting to explain my program. Although they have internet at the Archbishop’s office, it is fairly unreliable. It is on again and off again and very slow, especially when there are a number of users on it. Not surprisingly, the plans I made for my research have all been changed. While it is not a bad thing at all, it does take a bit of adjustment. The Archbishop seems to have taken a special interest in my work and I have had several occasions to meet with him. He plans to attend some of my work and so I am very much hoping that it goes well. Following a series of meetings today, I will be meeting with young adults, street kids, and both men and women as well as pastors for my research.