Return from Rwanda
July 5, 2007

Dear Friends of Hillside,
Over the past three weeks many of you have been in prayer for Kerrie, Courtney and I as we journeyed to Rwanda to carry out a brief mission.  In many ways your prayers have been answered.  The three travelers have returned safely to Chicago, and with the exception of a possible parasite or two are healthy and happy to be home. 
 
Bishops Samuel (a Tutsi) and Philemon (a Hutu) are the co-leaders of the Rwandan Free Methodist Church.  Bishop Philemon remains in prison as a result of false accusations of involvement in the 1994 genocide.  A human rights commission in Rwanda has reviewed his case and finds him free of any wrong doing.  In fact, while in prison he has established a significant ministry which has led to the voluntary conversion, confession and repentance of many genocidiers and is seeing significant and powerful spiritual growth.  Like Saint Paul and Joseph, son of Isaac from the Scripture, this spiritual leader continues to have powerful impact even while wrongly incarcerated.  Bishop Samuel has been working diligently for the release of his partner in ministry, and has requested the prayers of spiritual partners around the world to this end. 
 
In answer to your prayers and as a result of your support, the mission achieved its intended results.  A new premature baby ward was opened up at Kibagora Hospital, starting from ground-zero, with the help of Kerrie Adams. Over 100 pastors and their wives were trained in conflict resolution and marriage counseling principles.  Courtney provided training to about 50 worship leaders seeking knowledge in Biblical worship and leadership principles.  Hundreds of women received seminars on “Inner Beauty” and the power of worship at an annual Women’s Conference held in Kigali.  Many ancillary works were accomplished as well, ranging from cleaning medical equipment to cataloguing a medical library to providing chaplain care for patients and devotionals for staff, worship leading and preaching in three churches scattered from the south of the country to the capital city.    Your contributions allowed for Medical supplies (breast pumps, electronic thermometers, sutures and more) to be carried to the hospital, a scholarship fund to be established for training nurses, pastoral training seminars funded, and electricity and sound equipment provided to a church in the Gataka district - a church which ministers equally to Hutus, Tutsis and Batwa while caring for many, many orphans. 
 
Thank you for helping your brothers and sisters in Rwanda, Africa.
 
Sincerely,
Pastor Mark, Kerrie Adams and Courtney Hay

June 26, 2007

Dear Friends of Hillside,

As I write this, Kerrie, Courtney and I are packing up our things in Kibogora and getting ready for our journey back to Kigali. Courtney has finished her training seminars which focused on worship, Kerrie has finished her training of the staff in the new unit for premature babies, and Mark has finished his training seminars in conflict resolution and biblical gender roles. The work in Kibogora has been constant but not unpleasant. The Rwandan people have been very kind and generous with their time and resources. Sheila Etherington, the administrator of the hospital has been an exceptional host in organizing schedules, lodging and making connections as needed.

One person who has been very helpful for all three of us as we served in Kibogora has been Rev. Michel Wakana. Pastor Wakana is a very kind, tall man in his mid-sixties who speaks English, French and Kinyarwandan, and has served as our primary interpreter. The renewed heart of Rwanda is seen best in Michel, who, along with his wife, has opened up his home to many orphans and people without a home. The resources are meager in Southern Rwanda, but Michel and his wife are generous in sharing what they have with those in the most need. There are many, many orphans, and many still struggling with the effects of the war. It seems to me that future health of Rwanda will depend largely upon the strength of spiritual leaders like Michel and many of the pastors we met in Rwanda.

The lion’s share of resources that were raised for the trip beyond our travel expenses have been given to the hospital and local Free Methodist Conference. The hospital will use the funds to assist with scholarships for nurse training and the churches will use the funds to offset the cost of pastoral training and worship seminars. The need for training is real. Most of the nurses working have education that is slightly less than American High School equivalent, and most of the pastors have the equivalent of high school education. There are three seminary trained pastors in this region, which hosts over 100 Free Methodist Churches and 109 clergy. The people are hungry for knowledge, but training is expensive. Thank you for your contributions to make this possible for many here in Rwanda.

We leave in the morning for Kigali, the capital of this country. Mark will spend the last week here in Africa continuing to train in conflict resolution and counseling for pastors in the Kigali district. He looks forward to meeting with Bishop Samuel, and to preaching around the Kigali region. Kerrie and Courtney are looking forward to the sights and sounds of Kigali, and will likely spend some time in places like the Genocide Memorial. Continue to pray for us and the people of Rwanda. We are looking forward to returning to Evanston, IL and enjoying the many improvements in the church that have taken place in our absence (new sound equipment, renovated lower level, new landscaping, etc.). I think maybe we should spend more time in Africa – more would get done in Evanston!

Sincerely,
Pastor Mark, Kerrie and Courtney

Greetings Friends of Hillside,

COURTNEY WRITES:
Muraho! Hello!
Greetings from one of the most beautiful places on earth. The glory and majesty of God crashes in on us in every sight and sound. I particularly love it because everyone is singing! Rather than cars and trains and madness, we hear people singing, birds calling and of course, the local livestock. I am however, constantly struck by the juxtaposition of the lush beauty of the land and the often stark realty of the lives of its people. I am humbled but grateful th at God has allowed me to come and share these lives for this brief time, and thank you for your continued prayers for us. Iman Ishimwe.
God be praise!

KERRIE WRITES:
Mwirere! Good Afternoon,
Setting up the premie ward has been challenging but rewarding. It is at ground zero. We painted it, and cleaned and repaired and prepared equipment such as incubators and electronic thermometers. I have put together, at the request of the hospital, several protocols for the care of premature babies. The level of care is excellent for the region, the Rwandan staff are friendly, helpful and competent. The unit is not very similar, however, to what is common in the Unites States. The resources for such simple things as sterile equipment and the electricity to keep oxygen going, are a challenge. The first premie born on the new unit, very sadly, passed away. There are things available in the states that could have easily saved the baby, but these were not available in Kibogora. Still, the future looks increasingly bright, and the nursing staff seem to be benefiting from the training.
Peace.

PASTOR MARK WRITES:
Amahoro! Peace.
It has been a great to joy to be able lead devotions for the hospital and support staff, preach in worship services, and teach. The people of Rwanda are eager to grow in their knowledge of Scripture, though I must say that most of the people I have met have a good knowledge of the Bible. All Rwandans go to school every day as they grow up and Bible teaching is part of the routine in their education. Next week I will be leading seminars on systems theory and conflict resolution as these relate to the Scripture and church and family life. Some of the systemic, emotional and cultural issues that have led to Christian culture being gripped by and suffered under the residue of genocide have yet to be resolved. Every small town we go through has a genocide memorial where the victims are buried, and every Thursday the villages meet for gacaca, locally-led, government encouraged "truth and reconciliation" hearings. Keep this country in your prayers. It is beautiful, with beautiful people and lovely hearts. Mirigwe (short good-bye).
PS. Power goes in and out (it's been our for three days), so internet access comes and goes. Any that have sought to contact us, we apologize for delays or not replying at all. We would if we could!

With deep love and appreciation for you,
Mark, Kerrie and Courtney

6-15-07
Hello Friends,
I think I have this figured out, I hope you receive this. Everything I have heard about this place is true.  It is one of the most beautiful places on earth.  It's kind of like the Smokey Mountains and the tropics merged into one. Today it is storming, so much for the dry season. I leave soon for choir rehearsal.  Since we walk everywhere I will enjoy my trek through the mud.  I visit with a different choir each night of the week.  I speak to their women's conference tomorrow, then have church Sunday, then Monday and Tuesday is the conference with all the music leaders.  Then more choir rehearsals, and oh yeah, I forgot to mention I lead the devotions for the mission staff every morning at 7:30!  (Did I mention that it's in the MORNING!)  So , God be praised, or Iman imimwe, we are being used. Mark and Kerrie are being equally used. I will share more next time..doing so please forgive any errors.
With love and thanks for your prayers,
Courtney

6-14-07
We live in a beautiful house, you would both love it.  The terrain looks a lot like the Smoky Mtns., and we overlook a big lake you could fish in.  I just finished my breakfast, French toast from homemade bread, fresh picked friut salad, and the best tea you've ever had. I will finish the morning studying, then after lunch (fish and chips and egg custard pie yesterday) I will inventory the hospital library, then work with the hospital choir at their practice. I have a pretty full schedule the next few days. I see a different choir every day through the week. Monday and Tuesday they have arranged a conference for all the worship leaders, so teaching all day. Then back to visiting choir rehearsals. Week after next I'll be helping Mark as he does the conference with all the pastors and their wives.  Then they are taking us back to Kigali (a 6 hour drive) to work with the churches there.  I don't know if they have specific things planned for me there. This is truly a remarkable place.  Besides the physical beauty, the thing that stands out to me is the sounds of the place. We hear no mechanical sounds - cars, trains, machines - so we hear the people.  Laughing, talking, yelling, and lots of singing. The place is alive with people.  It is wonderful and I am so very blessed to be here.
love,
C

6-14-07
Dear Friends of Hillside,

Greetings from Africa. This week’s good tidings comes to you via Kibogora, Rwanda. The trip from Chicago to Kibogora was a three day journey, but not an unpleasant trip. We have affirmed through experience what we at Hillside know as a result of one third of the congregation being African. That is, African culture is very relational, very communal.

We first discovered this on Ethiopian Airlines. We were warned by some friends to avoid Ethiopian Airlines because of significant time delays. However, when we checked prices for the journey to Kigali, we found this to be the best deal. Our friends were right, there were significant delays, delays that we believed would botch our two connecting flights, one from Rome and the other from Addis Ababa. Certainly, the delays would have caused missed connections with Southwest or United. But not with Ethiopian Airlines.

They actually wait to account for expected passengers before they allow their next flight to take off. Airline officials in Addis Ababa and Kigali searched the airport seeking the people they thought should be on the flights. We spoke with a pilot for the airline, who told us that we should not worry about missing a flight, all the pilots wait for passengers. That’s why the airline runs late. They are people-centered, not clock-centered.

The Chicago mindset might certainly argue that being clock-centered is being people-centered. After all, with obligations and expectations and busy schedules, keeping others waiting is not people-centered. There is a logic to this which I appreciate. On the other hand, I felt personally appreciated by those who would be willing to delay a flight to be sure that our luggage was on board, and to find that officials were specifically looking out for individual passengers who were names and people, not mere fares.

This is not an advertisement for Ethiopian Airlines. It is a reflection on the difference of cultural values. People in Kigali, and Butare, and Kibogora all have, so far, exhibited the same traits of relational values. I wonder if there is not much we can learn from each other. More promptness and keeping to a schedule has definite value in maintaining healthy relationships, but cutting some slack for the sake of relationships is valuable as well. I am sure God would appreciate it if were to stop and take some time to chat with Him, even if it made us late for the game on the television, and that your church brothers and sisters would understand tardiness to worship services if you had opportunity to help someone on the way.

More from Kibogora will follow next week as we hear from Kerrie about the new neonatal intensive care unit being opened at the hospital, and from Courtney about the 14 different regional choirs she is training, and from Mark about the pastors and pastor’s wives he has the privilege to teach regarding family conflict.

Sincerely,
Pastor Mark