Tuesday blog

Due to a lack of internet connection this blog is running late!

Tuesday morning was spent tying up loose ends. Andy had a few meetings, the banana fibre cards were finally checked, catalogued and selected for us to bring back to the UK with us (coming soon to a church near you), Isobel was shown two options for accommodating a teacher from the UK and she re-visited the King Solomon Academy to take photos to go with the job profile we will be putting together. It appeared that a local goat had recently given birth in the middle of the school field, and as Isobel approached slowly, so as not to scare the suckling kids, a little lad appeared as if from nowhere, concerned as to what this mystery 'muzungu' (white person) might want with his prize beasts!  He was easily distracted when she wiped the greasy finger prints from her camera and shared with him a selection of the goat photos she'd taken.  At this point, realising he had a photographer rather than a goat rustler before him, pride got the better of him and he called for a mate to come see the photos too!

Overnight Heather had managed to get onto the internet to see that she had passed her prescribing exams and is now a fully fledged prescribing nurse. Alan and Eleanor celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary (sheer bliss) so out came the champagne kitkats to go with our morning drinks. After an exciting lunch of hard boiled eggs (yes, again), toast and fruit, we paid our bills, packed up the land cruiser and climbed on board for the journey to Gasabo diocese. In order to enable six people to travel comfortably in the back, most of the cases went on the roof rack. As they were piled high, the various owners (us) looked on anxiously as a parent might do when giving their precious child over to the care of teachers on the first day at school. The cases were strung together with rope which was then tied to the roof rack. We clambered into the back of the car hoping to see our cases the other end.

The journey was pleasant, uneventful and relaxed. On reaching Kigali, we stopped at the side of the road and sat waiting. Archdeacon Samuel got out, and stood on the pavement talking on his phone. We sat, engine running, time passing, Samuel on his phone. When asked what was happening, Samuel said that he was waiting for someone. He went on to say that on Saturday he would be going to the wedding of his godson and just then his godson showed up, accompanied by a lady who was not his future wife. After exchanging greetings beside the busy road and whilst Samuel continued to talk with his godson, the lady proceeded to get out a tape measure and began taking Samuel's crucial measurements. His chest, his arms, his waist, his hips, his outside leg!! All measurements were noted down on the outside of a paper bag that had some shopping in it. The conversation continued, people walked around them. We watched and wondered....what measurement would be next? How would it be accomplished? Who would hold the tape measure? Surely not...... Six pairs of eyes stared in anticipation. The lady took hold of her tape measure and with a flourish - put it into her bag. We sighed with relief on Samuel's behalf. The conversation ended, Samuel climbed back in to the car and our night-time tour of Kigali continued.

On arrival at the guest house in Kigali, there was a hold up as we tried to wheel our dusty cases along the rocky path to our rooms.  Unsure as to what was happening in the darkness, we all gathered around to see the driver and a couple of others staring at the ground.  One was stamping his foot forcefully and another was grubbing around in the darkness selecting a substantially sized rock, which he then threw onto the floor.  On closer inspection we noticed a tiny baby snake slithering sideways along the path in a desperate plea to escape the menacing rock .... alas in vain....  We all felt a little sorry for the little fellow, meeting such a grizzly end, but we were also all wondering where the rest of its family might be.   This was happening right outside our rooms and we all noted that the gap under our doors was clearly big enough for his parents to crawl through!  I'm guessing that we all shone a torch under our bed clothes looking for his relatives before settling down to sleep!

Before turning in for the night we trooped down to a very large hall, where 5 places were set for us a at a large empty table. Rather curiously two chairs were stacked at each place setting, and as we sat down and tried to reach the table surface, it became evident why.  We were presented with a hearty meal, totally devoid of eggs - allelluia!

Isobel and Heather soon discovered an intriguing additional feature to their accommodation - situated in adjacent rooms it became apparent that when one of them turned on their 'shower,' it water began to flow abundantly out of the shower head next door!  Having both disturbed eachother at different times by this fascinating feature, they decided the only way forward was to synchronise the turning on of their taps!

Give thanks for all that was achieved in Byumba; for safe travel down to Gasabo diocese; for all who responded on Sunday morning.
Please pray for our time in Gasabo diocese, that we will fulfil all that the Lord has for us to do; for our visits to parishes and different projects; for contiued energy and enthusiasm.