Sunday in Byumba

It is wonderful to wake up to the sound of birdsong and African voices chatting and singing.
Particularly striking are the African sun-birds emerald jewels glistening in the morning sunlight drinking nectar from the flowers outside our door.

Breakfast is African porridge sweet and satisfying, boiled eggs, papaya and passion fruit.

Then to the English service African style singing to a choir and drum accompaniment such wonderful rhythms singing using all of there bodies they enter into joyful praise and worship.
Today is a quieter day now after the excitement of arrival having finally recovered from a very tiring journey to be flung quickly into long trips along bumpy roads to see various parishes and projects which have been started on earlier trips now completed and new projects to be considered and planned for; as we travel we see many very poor dwellings made of mud brick in various states of repair and decay, depending on individual luck and circumstances. Life in rural Rwanda is very hard. One of the biggest challenges is the daily carrying of water. People of all ages from tiny tots to youths and mothers can be seen toiling up long steep hills with yellow Jerry cans full of water. The water sources are often polluted streams in the bottom of boggy valleys every drop has to be carried up steep tracks in hot sun or pouring rain. Then the search for firewood to boil the water to make it drinkable or toiling in the fields to  pay for charcoal.
Our projects initiated by Rob and Jan Hoy is to collect water from the roofs of churches and schools to supply water for the community and to provide them with the Griffaid acquafilter   which is a small devise to purify water to drinking standards. 

    One of the most striking things is the genuine warmth with which we are greeted on these trips: together with the joy of meeting old acquaintances again. There is an exuberance about the whole country with many smiling faces even though so many have to endure real hardship and poverty with many daily struggles to just make ends meet. As I write this there is wonderful worship coming from the cathedral next door as they dance and sing their hearts out.

Mary went with a group to visit the Mother's Union, they organise most of the social work and care in the Parishes. They help people to save and make small loans through micro-finance schemes so that people can start small businesses like this basket weaving for example.