15 February
Last night, we enjoyed a joyful and boisterous farewell with singing, dancing, and food. We all shared our personal highlights, and were given beautiful clothes made from traditional fabric. We also had a tremendous storm with thunder and lightning, which, given our stunning mountain location, lit up the valley. It felt almost as if the weather wanted to join the party! This morning as I write this, we're packed and ready to go. We're looking forward to seeing our families and church communities again so that we can share all that we have seen, heard, felt and learned (although we might need a short rest first). Bwana Asifiwe.
14 February
We are all a little giddy with the thought of being at home with friends and family coming fast on the rails. Before that we have enjoyed a busy Ash Wednesday. We were invited to attend the 7.30am service at the hospital when Bishop Mike spoke of abstinence, fasting and alms giving, in a humourous, if not entirely understood way, by our hosts! This was followed by an interesting conversation with the Vicar General regarding the church's involvement in social issues such as family planning, youth unemployment, and women's health. Finally we moved to the cathedral to take part in a far from sombre service, nothing like what we have ever been to, signalling the beginning of Lent. It is also St. Valentine's Day when the church marks an acknowledgement of an all-loving God who blesses those who love one another as Jesus implored his disciples to do. This all-loving God is ever present in everyone we have met in Kagera. Their kindness to a group of strangers, nine very English priests, has been overwhelming. Thank you Kagera, we have been filled with love.
13 February
Today in Tanzania the team all went in different directions to gain further experience and understanding. Bishop Mike and Mark went to NAPS, the Anglican primary school where they presented a gift from Ringsfield CofE Primary school, within our own Diocese. This was gratefully received as you can see in the photo. Bishop Mike and Mark popped in to visit the retired Bishop of Kagera +Aaron and his wife Kevina. Nicola spent the morning with the Chaplain of the hospital, a few people spent the morning recovering from a few tricky days of sickness (which by the end of the day all are definitely on the mend) and Clive and Gail went to the local government special needs school. Upon gathering together again Clive and Gail shared how profoundly moved they were by the love the staff and volunteers (one of which is Penina - wife of Bishop Darlington) have for these 120 children of differing abilities and acute special needs. Many have been abandoned as babies and live in the two dormitories. There was obvious need for space and resources for these wonderful children. There is much to think about and reflect upon.
12 February
The intrepid group of three who have been visiting Lweru and Biharamulo dioceses (Diane Grano, Linda Pepper and Bishop Mike) left Lweru this morning following an early breakfast of omelette and chapatis and made our way with Bishop Godfrey (Lweru) to Biharamulo for a meeting of the bishops together to discuss the further development of the link. Bishop Mike presented Bishops Darlington, Vithalis & Godfrey with pectoral crosses. These were inscribed with the same design as that on the crozier of the Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, namely a crown and arrows (depicting St Edmunds royal and martyr status) and on the back the outline of a wolf.
The bishops expressed a concern that the future diocesan bishop appointed as Bishop Martin’s successor be someone keen to foster the strong ties between the dioceses and Bishop Mike promised that he would invite the link bishops to write to the Vacancy in See committee about this as this committee has responsibility for putting together a statement of needs for the diocese in respect of a future diocesan bishop.
After a delicious lunch of fish from Lake Victoria the team sped back with Bishop Darlington to join the rest of the group in Kagera to enjoy some rest and relaxation for the rest of the day.
11 February
Bishop Mike, Diane and Linda have had the incredible privilege of visiting the Dioceses of Biharamulo and Lweru. Meanwhile, we have had an amazing time; visiting many churches, large and small, talking with pastors and evangelists in very rural churches and in more urban settings, and seeing so much of the wonderful countryside. We are filled with awe at the tenacity and determination of so many as they work with so little yet see their churches grow so much. We have been impressed by both Bishops visions as they seek to discern God’s way forward throughout both dioceses. And we have loved seeing the joy on so very many faces as congregations meet with us and welcome us so warmly. We are truly thankful to God for this ‘coming together’ of all three Dioceses in partnership with us.
Our journey took us on a bone shaking ride with Bishop Darlington to Kasange Parish, a town that felt it might be at the end of the line and in terms of local geography it was as it is where Tanzania abuts Burundi and Rwanda. An amazing reception from the local congregation at the town limits was followed by a joyful procession through the town to the church. The Revd Canon Sharon Colburn was invited to preach, powerfully reflecting on the transformations that can happen the closer we get to God. Such was her preaching and the congregation's appreciation for our visit we received many gifts including soap, bananas, dried peas and peanuts. The Bishop was similarly blessed and his gifts included a live chicken that bounced it's way back with us under the rear seat of our truck.
If the day was not already full enough of new experiences as honoured guests we had first dibs on the boiled goats head at lunch time. You do really never do know what God has in store for you when he is in the driving seat.
10 February
Chicken, carpet and eggs given us as gifts, car in ditch and chaplain in too deep …Saturday in Lweru
A really interesting and full day spent at Kagera Christian Training College. We explored together Wholeness and Healing in the Christian Tradition, Mental Health and Safeguarding. It’s exciting to see the leaders of the future being so open to thinking and pondering the traditions as well as new ideas, (especially as today was a rest day for them) but they engaged with enthusiasm. And an unexpected extra meeting for Katy with George, the Diocesan Development Director on the Development of Women and Gender violence in Kagera. So much to talk about and explore..may our conversations continue!
And lots of laughter at my expense. Never been to church covered in so much mud before!
8 February
Today was an amazing adventure into the beautiful Kagera countryside. We drove along tarmac roads that turned into rough tracks which became pathways! Huge Amazon like rivers snaked along our way the colour of chocolate sauce. We arrived at a remote church high on a plateau. You could see forever up there! And what a tremendous welcome we received and a huge lunch. The Church community were curious about life in Suffolk and so glad that we had come to visit them. One person said that it strengthened the bonds of love between our two Dioceses. They also demonstrated how the motorbikes we had sponsored had been put to such good use. We finished by singing the hymn How Great Thou Art , them in Swahili and us in English. Wow! It cemented again the strong links between us.
7 February
We had an amazing day. We began by visiting a church that +Martin blessed and the Archdeacon joined our party. We travelled to meet the priest who will receive a motorbike, the pictures are the Archdeacon outside a new church they are building because the congregation doesn't fit and the priest's family.
Then we travelled further to meet another priest and his congregation where we shared food, fellowship and worshipped our amazing God. We were inspired by their faith and the dedication of the priests and evangelists and felt very loved.
6 February
After the visit to the hospital, two of the team spent some time with Thomas, who leads various projects that contribute towards sustainable living for the local people. He does this by teaching people how to grow their own food. On completion of training, the family gets a start-up kit, which includes a manual foot pump for water. He also builds tanks that collect rain water. These are built for schools, churches, communities, and individual homes. Where there is no tank or rain water, the women have to walk to the river and carry buckets of water back to their homes. This can be quite difficult for them. Thomas shares a little of what he does in the video. The video ends with some behind the scenes highlights. Many blessings in the midst of challenge, God is so obviously present in the daily lives of this amazing community. We have much to learn.
Sharron, Nicola, Gail and Katy went to the Kagera Hospital today which they found inspiring yet quite emotional. We were shown around the whole complex as well as the teaching and training site. The hospital has a new Chief Medical Officer who has brought the whole staff team together with a vision of hope for the future. The areas that really struck the team included the cramped labour ward, the one incubator for babies who need intensive care and the laundry where everything is being washed by hand. Yet despite their many, many challenges, the staff of the hospital show amazing flexibility, generosity and hope. The atmosphere was so encouraging to be in and the hospitality was outstanding. We took our gifts of medication, reading glasses and bandages which were greatly received.
5 February
Psalm 96 'I will sing to The Lord a new song' We started the day with a very impressive rainstorm which delayed our start, but when we got going it was another full day. We visited the primary and second schools and at both we were welcomed with lots of joyful singing and dancing. We joined in with enthusiasm to the delight of all. We even offered our own song and learned a new one to bring home. Watch out for 'Oh, how I love that man from Galilee' at a church near you soon!
4 February
One of the verses from today's psalm 104 is v 33 - "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being". Today we witnessed that many times over, whether we were at the cathedral or at Kumwuzuza where some of us witnessed Bishop Mike blessing both a water tank and a motorbike bought with funds sent from St Edmundsbury & Ipswich. Sunday worship is pure joy, the congregations are thriving and growing and we saw evidence of that visiting two new builds both partially completed; a large church in Kbanga and the new cathedral at Mgwanza. It is quite astonishing, the vibrancy, the colour, the passion the people of Kagera have for our Lord. 'Bwana asifiwe'.
Today we attended a five hour church service where the Bishop blessed a motorbike which is used for priests to get to the outlying rural areas, and also blessed the new water tank which collects rain water for the villagers to use, so they don't have to walk to the river which is quite a distance and walk back with heavy filled buckets on their head. I'm blessing is seeing the joy of the Lord in the midst of poverty. Count your blessings.
3 February
Arrival at Kigali and the drive to the border all went smoothly. At the border we were sorting visas out for some time and the cash machine ran out of money! One thing that has struck me is the amazing palette of greens contrasted with the deep red soil. Everywhere is so lucious.
Our arrival at Kagera Diocese was met with singing, dancing, food and Bishop Mike’s second bouquet of the day. Our guests are being wonderfully hospitable to us and we are learning a few words of gratitude.
The first night we were all totally exhausted and in bed by 8pm. Church begins at 7.30am tomorrow so a good nights sleep is definitely required. (The Revd Canon Sharron Coburn)
2 February
"We left Suffolk in bright sunshine if cold weather in the mid-afternoon and arrived at Heathrow around 5.30pm - to meet the happy band of travellers to Kagera - 9 of us in all. Our cheerfulness was tinged with the disappointment of one of our party being unable to join us because of coming down with covid two days ago - rotten luck for the Revd Roland Bareham and we will miss him.
Otherwise our experience this far has been very smooth - quick check-ins at Heathrow and Rwandair have been very efficient thus far. We are readying ourselves for an overnight flight to Kigali and then a 4 hour taxi ride from Rwanda to the Tanzanian border - and thence to our destination - bring it on!"
25 January 2024
Children of Brampton CofE Primary School record themselves singing in their assembly offering a message to Kagera.
