42. Games for the Kids - Action for Women Foundation in Kigali

Yolanda leads the kids program.

Aug. 6, 2016
Today Naomi and Ruth Ann had the privilege to help out at a program for the children of some at-risk households in Kigali. The program, Action for Women Foundation (AWF), was founded by Yolanda and Marvin, Rwandan friends we met through connections at Christian Live Assembly (CLA) church. Yolanda and Marvin are professionals who felt drawn to help with the plight of single mothers in Kigali. Many of these women have very few income options and many health problems, which limits their ability to provide for their young families. The program is small, including about 30 women in the Nyabisindu neighborhood. But Yolanda and Marvin have worked with this small group for over two years now, helping them build their own revolving credit fund and a small bakery/cafe business to provide some income and teach business skills.

I believe this was the second year they organized a 3-day children's program for the children of the women in the program. There were about 50 kids, ages 4 - 12. Yolanda lead them in songs and lessons to practice saying their name, where they live and who their parents are.

Naomi and I lead some games we called the "AWF Olympics". Some of the children were very small, so it was a bit chaotic but fun. We passed out hand-made, tin foil medals to each child when it was all over. Then we got to join in the best part - chipatis made by the women!

Note: the photos don't show it, but this was a family effort. Isaac and John did behind the scenes work, blowing up balloons and making medals (a time-consuming craft). Naomi and Isaac both "sacrificed" one of their school uniform t-shirts for the material to make the straps for the 3-legged races. Thanks everyone!

Young participant.

Proud mama.

"Doing our best."

Ready to try 3 legged racing!

Camp counselor-to-be!

The "moms corner" gets chipatis also.

Chipati made by the AWF women for snack time.

Cups ready for the red Kool-aid.

This is the kitchen for chipati production.

Cleaning up.

Games and songs.

Egg relay race.

Naomi gives medals to the 4th place "Libya" team. We made these medals with paper bag "ribbons" and tin foil covered cardboard. (No handy stores for buying plastic medals in Kigali.)

Incredible Yolanda on the L, amazing Marvin on the R, Naomi in the middle!

Snack time!

32. Small Groups Ministry - Alive in Rwanda!

Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016
Today's church service at the English-speaking church we attend in Kigali, (Christian Life Assembly, or CLA) was an interesting juxtaposition for me of church messages 35 years ago and today. It was around 1981 that my dad, a paster in the United Methodist Church, studied for his D.Min and wrote his dissertation on the importance of small groups in the church. Embarassingly, I don't think I've ever read his dissertation, but I've always believed in the central importance of small groups. My Dad did, too, obviously, and so do people today!

At CLA they call small groups "cells" and they are small groups meeting in people's homes on Wednesday evenings. The word "cell" refers to how every living being is made of cells. (Not referring to prison cells!) At CLA, they're purposeful in promoting it and supporting it with Cell Ministry Retreats, etc. Today a good part of the worship service was devoted to promoting joining a cell. I've been tentatively exploring it. In December I got the name and number of the cell leader in my neighborhood. I called and he called back. Still haven't gone, though. So the encouragement today was a good idea.

The "cell ministry" team had a good skit. First each of about 8 people walked across the stage silently carrying a sign with their excuse for why they said "no" to joining a cell. (Nice music was playing in the background.) The signs had words like:

• Too Boring
• Too Busy
• I don't speak a local language (the one white-person had this one!)
• They don't keep time (this guy was marching)
• The people are not my age.
• I am a mature Christian

Then, we heard how cells can change lives, and help our lives be better. We are being the church when we help each other through our losses and sorrows. Because those come. We lose our loved ones and jobs are lost. But others have lived through these things, and when we can share with someone who has "made it through" we are encouraged and can be encouraging. Then we can celebrate the triumphs -- even the small ones in life.

I'm hoping to find a small group here. They say they have one in Kibagabaga!

28. Christmas Cantata at CLA in Kigali

Dec. 23, 2016
A highlight of our Christmas preparations was the "Christmas canata" at the English-speaking Christian Life Assembly church in Kigali. John, Naomi and I went. (Isaac not interested.) We had an inkling that this was a highly produced theatrical piece from the video-ads that were played during the announcements time at church during Advent. But still, I was not prepared for the level of excellent music and drama the CLA troupe produced. Off-broadway quality for sure!

It's free, so the house is packed, and then towards the end there's a Pentecostal call to come to Christ and a love offering taken. I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would. They had a tenor sax soloist who blew me away on the opening number and then, to top it off, they let him play a kind of encore 'guest solo' at the end. I'll have to find out what his name is, because he was unbelievably good. He made Christmas songs sound like jazz classics, and performed them with style! They also had an 10 person acapella choir that sang two "Pentatonics" songs -- do you guys know that popular acapella group in the US? They are quite famous for their "Drummer Boy" rendition and this group last night did it so well. It gave me chills to hear it performed live. All of this was accompanied by a dance troupe of about 12 dancers (male + female) who kept everything lively with energetic, modern + ballet dance. There was also a 30 person choir on the "second floor" of the set, which is where the electric guitars, drums, piano, violin and gospel soloists were.

The story behind it reminded me a lot of the youth productions of "Bethlehem Inn" at FUMC Ann Arbor. They took the perspective of the Innkeeper and his family. The poor guy was thinking he was finally going to earn a decent living from his inn when the Roman census was announced. Then the evil Roman guards arrive in Bethlehem and occupy 7 of his 8 rooms, quite rudely (insulting them as Jews) and without paying. They did a good job of portraying how oppressed people felt in those times. And then, I think this is the first time I've seen a production where the actual birth of Jesus was included on stage!!  The spotlight is on the innkeeper, thank goodness, (mary and joseph are out of the spotlight with joseph in front of mary). It's the middle of the night, and the innkeeper is re-evaluating everything he's done, because he can hear Mary giving birth in his stable! The actress was quite good at making loud "birth-giving" sounds!   

Then the baby's newborn wimper is heard and things settle down into the glowing, beautiful scene that is so familiar. (Well, except all the actors are black, but we hardly notice that any more.) But it was exceptional in some ways because i had a real sense of how anticipated this "savior from bondage" was.

Note to those who want more photos: check https://www.instagram.com/kaczorfamily/ for photo updates! And eventually I will get some new blogs up too! (www.rwandakaczor.blogspot.com)

"Noheli Nziza!"
[Author: Ruth Ann]