Rwanda Journal -- Day 7

Sunday was a very special day for our group. We went to church in Ngenda, where Philbert is the pastor. We were received with such warmth -- and shyness at first -- and extreme hospitality. We arrived toward the end of the children's service where probably about 200 children were present, and then we were part of the later service where both children youth and adults filled the church. And the church was filled with music and dancing, as has been the case wherever we have been in Rwanda. There must be something about the dancing that helps explain the remarkable resilience of these people.

Christ Church Andover, watch out! We're all thinking there needs to be a lot more dancing in our worship back home! (Zero plus anything equals a lot more.) And yes, we have pictures of Frances Jennings Dodson, and Don DeLollis, and Jon Vacik, and Michael Marcinelli, and Elizabeth Walther-Grant, and everyone in our group dancing their hearts out -- yes, in church. There. I said it.

Some in our group expressed surprise that there was no communion. I explained some of the history of the church in Africa and the fact that a very protestant missionary society of the Church of England had first brought Christianity to this part of Africa, which means that they fall far to the protestant side of Anglicanism. They celebrate Holy Communion once a month in most parishes in Rwanda.

Philbert told me the next morning that the members of the church had called a meeting after we all left, to talk about how they had done in hosting their first big group of wazungu ("white people"). They had never seen such a big group before -- only ever one or two at a time in their church. It was a day they will always remember, he told me.

We spent the evening back at the Center for Unity and Peace, where we enjoyed a more relaxed day than we have had until now. Before our evening meal we spent about two hours together as a group, along with Philbert and three members of the REACH staff, reflecting on the week, and talking about ways we can stay engaged with this ministry. It's clear from the experience we have had that members of this group will (God willing) be coming back to Rwanda -- and hopefully with others who want to share this profound and moving experience. We closed the evening with the Holy Eucharist, which we had not shared together as a group until now.

Tomorrow will be the final day for some of the group, and will include visits to homes for HIV care through an organization called CHABBAH, and then into town for one last opportunity for shopping and seeing the city of Kigali. Philbert and I, along with Hilary Greer, a priest from Connecticut who has just arrived, will be driving to Bujumbura, Burundi, for the Amahoro Gathering. Others will continue for a few more days for a gorilla trek and visits to other places throughout the country.

It will be hard to say goodbye to this place and the experience we have just had.