Sadly I've just deleted the two posts which I hadn't sent as was waiting for pics! So, as we begin our homeward journey I'm condensing all into one post.
It's a delight as usual to be back in Rwanda and we've been very comfortable and enjoyed staying with Marcie. She's moved to a large house behind the local hospital having previously moved into my house in the cathedral compound. Further to walk to the cathedral, about 40 minutes, we've only done it once and have made good use of Bosco to taxi us everywhere in the city, and Peter when going further afield.
We went to the Kings Palace, happy to see the ceremonial cows and their keeper singing to them. During the dowry ceremony pre wedding there is usually a cow who enacts calling in the beasts as he sings and whistles. You can apparently rent the real cows, horns decorated to parade before your guests.
We then went on to the ethnological museum at Butare which is very interesting. Then on to meet up with Jean Paul and his friends once again. He is now halfway through his final year and working on his dissertation.
The following day was thanksgiving and we were invited to a Thanksgiving Dinner with a mixed expat group, most enjoyable evening with lots of entertaining conversation and of course too much food.
It's the rainy season, very glad I brought my rain jacket and umbrella, when it rains it is with intense monsoon delivery. After Sunday's English service we were able to meet up with
Apollo for lunch at Safron the Indian restaurant, always good and very reasonable.
Then to evening service with lively worship led by the Glory Worship Group. It was a special service as a young couple converting from Islam were admitted to the church and baptised. The service ended with the entire congregation in a large circle dancing and singing enthusiastically. I wish we'd been able to take a photo....but I was too busy dancing!
The following morning at 5am we left for Akagera National Park, I love going as there is always something new to see, if not new species then different behaviour of the animals. This time the zebra were licking the soil for minerals and a mum and youngster were rolling in the sand on their backs, helps get rid of fleas etc. We saw just one elephant in the distance, also a hippo who was miles inland from the lake, I think he'd been so busy munching that he'd lost track of the time,he was now looking for a little pool to keep cool from the midday sun. We were 8 hours on safari and pleased to get to the lodge for a shower etc....I got locked in the bathroom.
A large family of baboons live by the lodge, they entertained us by appearing at the pool and sizing up the different sun beds before deciding which they were going to snooze on. An
early boat trip which took us further around Lake Inema than I've been before, I was eagle
eyed and spotted a croc before the guide, they are quite difficult to see, you just become
aware of an evil looking eye focused on one and they're submerged in the water.
We did a night safari in the evening, finding bush babies, so small and difficult to spot
Which I've not seen before. But no leopards, nor did we see any lions throughout either day.
However, Peter did take us out after the boat trip and we spotted a large gathering of elephants on the opposite shore of one of the lakes, really good but not like seeing the animals up close
On we drove when as we approached a bend in the road we met a very large Bull elephant head on, (we've been told this is the ele who dislikes cars and will bash them and try to
push over). We retreated slowly, he kept advancing, large ears flapping! Peter managed to get us to an area where he turned the car should we need a swift getaway. So we continued to watch and the ele walked with purpose to a watering hole where he happily cooled himself down, After the excitement we were happy to chill by the pool and swim.
So Wednesday back to Kigali, unpack, then repack ready for the next adventure. At 4.30 we left for the Virunga National Park in the north, home to the mountain gorillas. Rhonnie was tracking but I stayed at a guest house for the morning. Rhons group moved tothe top of the volcano and she was a long time getting to them and suffered from very painful leg cramp later that day. On we drove to Gisenyi for an overnight stop and walk by Lake Kivu. I had hoped we could go and look at Busasamana which is 18 K from Gisenyi, but short on time as we had to be back in Kigali for an evening service of soaking prayer
This service was again well received. Rhon and I decided to go to Cactus for dinner, but there were many cars outside so we went on to Heaven and had a great meal.
We actually needed a rest so we're glad to just to a bit of shopping on Saturday
And thank goodness we did because Sunday was totally full on.
8.30 collected to go to Kanyinya to be welcomed very enthusiastically by the members, lengthy singing and dancing. How good to see the roof on the church building, I wish we could not build walls as it's wonderful not to keep God in 4 Walls but to look at his creation all around. 2 new folk were welcomed with a symbolic washing of their feet. Rhon and I preached and taught 2 songs which the congregation found hugely amusing. I
celebrated Communion and 3 hours later we ended the service after Rhon presented Pastor Cedric with vestments and a baptismal shell.
The Girls Friendly Society was being launched, we had a necessary rest before going to the cathedral for the last hour of their service. Then we had the evening service and Rhon and I were preaching again, the people were laughing as we enacted being prepared to meet an elephant and being scared, yes we did have a theological point.
We were very tired so another quietish day yesterday, Theo stopped by with Grace and the new baby then one of the pastors took me to his home for a chat which turned into a pastoral visit. Rhon went around the hospital with the chaplain for several hours ....we were both even more tired. Managed a rest before taking Marcie out for dinner.
Now almost ready for the first leg of the journey home, not looking forward to negotiating the security dogs and police as we head into the airport, hopefully it won't take too long to get to KLM desk and drop off the cases.
So, aurevoir Rwanda, I'll be back Jan. 13th
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