Returning from Kigeme
August 20, 2011
By Rev Ed Hird
In our last two days in Rwanda, we travelled with Pastor Paul, Dean of Kigeme Cathedral, to visit Bishop Nathan in Butare. He shared about the way that the Holy Spirit touched lives at the recent Christ Awakening/Butare Convention where Rev William Beasley of Chicago and others spoke. Staying again at the Kigeme Cathedral guesthouse, we visited Bishop Louis, Pastor Samuel, and Rev Ron Browning and team with the All Saints AMiA Church in Pensacola, Florida. We also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial site before we flew home from the Kigali International Airport.
Bishop Nathan of the diocese of Butare was very gracious in his welcome to us, even showing us his cows.
Pastor Paul also attended the Butare Diocesan Convention that so deeply touched so many lives. Click to view Bishop Nathan’s account of the Christ Awakening.
It was such a blessing to have my wife Janice with me on the Rwanda trip.
Rwandan hospitality is a great blessing.
We met with three of the Rwandan Anglican bishops during our visit.
Passing the Cathedral on our way to the bus station heading to Kigali.
God is moving powerfully in the Kigali Cathedral, as they recover from many challenges in the past.
It was great to meet with the Rev. Ron Browning and team from All Saints AMiA Church in Pensacola, Florida. They are in a sister/sister relationship with an Anglican congregation in a very poor part of Kigali where 250 children and others worship in a building that doesn’t have a roof. Rev. Browning is hoping to raise the $10,000 needed to put a roof on that burgeoning work. Click to view the Greeting to Canada from Rev. Ron Browning.
Janice meeting with one of the Anglican Mother’s Union workers.
Visiting the Kigali National Genocide memorial site where over 260,000 victims were buried.
A memorial to the children who were killed in the genocide 17 years ago.
The mass graves from the Rwandan 1994 Genocide
A photo at the Kigali Diocesan office of Archbishop Rowan Williams meeting with the African Primates.
A closer look at the African Primates, including Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini. Click to view the Greeting to Canada from the Kigali Anglican Bishop Louis.
The UN is very visible in Africa.
Stopping but not getting out at the Entebbe Uganda International Airport.
The bright Ugandan colours.
Technically Janice and I have been to Uganda 
The Ethiopian Airlines was a great place to be for the exhausting 22-hour flight back to Canada. We met on the airplane the only American Carl Wilkens who stayed in Rwanda during the 100-day Genocide. He just wrote a book about it, “I’m Not Leaving” which he signed for me on the airplane.
While on the Ethiopian Airlines plane, we were able to read in their inflight magazine about the Royal Honeymoon of Will and Kate which took place in Africa on the Seychelles Islands. There were unlimited movies on the Ethiopian Airlines to help you deal with the stress of flying so long and far. We both watched again the moving Christian-based movie “Soul Surfer” which tells the story about how Bethany Hamilton lost her arm through a shark attack, but did not let that stop her from becoming a championship surfer. The film reminded me that our Christian faith makes a practical difference when tragedy happens. Click to watch a short video clip of the movie.
We loved Rwanda and miss it. But it was good to be back home in Deep Cove on the North Shore of Vancouver.
Rev Ed Hird, Rector,
St. Simon’s Church North Vancouver
Anglican Mission in the Americas (Canada)
http://stsimonschurch.ca
More adventures in Kigeme, Rwanda
August 14, 2011
By Rev. Ed Hird
After a night’s sleep, Janice and I continued our explorations of the Kigeme area with the most helpful assistance of Pastor Paul, Dean of the Kigeme Anglican Cathedral.
The beauty of Rwanda’s hills is truly breath-taking.
Through Pastor Paul, we led a Marriage Preparation session for four couples about to be married at the Kigeme Cathedral.
Pastor Francis is one of the Anglican clergy serving in the Kigeme diocese.
We were fortunate to be there the same time as the team from Christ the Redeemer Pender Harbour, led by the Rev Caroline Spence.
We were privileged to be hosted by the Bishop’s wife Virginia and her family.
Rev Jean Chrysostom and his family.
A music workshop led by Janice in Kigeme Cathedral
The Pender Harbour mission team
Janice Hird at the Kigeme Anglican High School
The Kigeme children did not need much to enjoy themselves.
Lush and tropical wherever you look, with two harvesting seasons each year.
An outdoor Bible Study held on the Kigeme Cathedral grounds.
Some of the newer diocesan outreach facilities.
The Kigeme Diocesan offices.
Being welcomed for tea by Virginia, the Bishop’s wife.
Previous Rwandan bishops
The hospitality of the Bishop’s wife was most appreciated.
The Bishop’s family with Janice
Janice really appreciated the welcome that we received.
The gracious hospitality of the Rwandan Anglicans in Kigeme was a real blessing.
Greetings from Kigeme to Canada
14,000 kilometres to meet these dear people.
The door was wide open to our ministry among the Kigeme Anglicans.
High School education means a lot to the Kigeme Anglicans.
Many people in Kigeme are very gifted at carrying goods on their heads.
Walking up to the Kigeme Anglican High School.
Welcome to the Kigeme Anglican High School
We were given a tour by the Chemistry teacher.
It was starting to become darker quickly as we toured the High School.
A sign encouraging the High School students to wait until marriage.
Day is done, gone the sun, as we finish our tour of the Kigeme Anglican High School
Rev. Ed Hird, Rector
St. Simon’s Church North Vancouver
Anglican Mission in the Americas (Canada)
http://stsimonschurch.ca
Visiting Kigeme, Rwanda
August 13, 2011
By Rev. Ed Hird
Having spent the first day at Rwanda’s capital of Kigali, we took a sardine-packed bus to the southwestern town of Kigeme. 
Before leaving Kigali, we met Bishop Mpango, a retired Tanzanian bishop staying at the Kigeme Cathedral guest house. He is very interested in helping launch people in businesses that can sow back into God’s Kingdom work.
Meeting with Kigeme diocesan staff.
Janice Hird, my wife, led four music workshops during the week at the Kigeme Cathedral.
Upon arriving at Kigeme, we stumbled in on a music practice in the Cathedral. Their passion and giftedness was most enjoyable.
This is a view of the choir from the back of the Kigeme Cathedral.
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say ‘rejoice’.
Janice enjoying being in Kigeme.
Esther sharing about the Healthy Mums Project in which Hilary King has been giving leadership.
Bishop Augustin of the Kigeme Diocese at the All Africa’s Bishops Conference
Anglican Educational Leaders in the Kigeme diocese
Esther has been a key leader in the Healthy Mums Project, which has greatly reduced the infant mortality rate.
Janice Hird with Jeanne D’Arc, Leader of the Anglican Schools
Education, health, and church planting were core values of the original Anglican missionary who came to Kigeme in 1932.
Preaching the good news throughout the Kigeme area.
Meeting the Anglican High School students.
Muraho means ‘hello’ in Kirywandan.
Key diocesan leaders in the Kigeme area. Rev Jean Chrysostom organized our overall schedule for the week and kept in touch by e-mail during our preparations in Canada.
Rwanda is truly the land of a thousand hills.
Logging is often done by hand.
The Kigeme Anglican Hospital was birthed from the original 1932 vision for medical care and healing through prayer.
We had an opportunity to meet the Director of the Kigeme Anglican Hospital. The love of Jesus has been rooted into the DNA of this hospital. The staff starts every day with a half hour of worship.
Ananias is the director of Human Relations at the Hospital. He is also a senior Catechist leading an Anglican Chapel.
A mission team from the Anglican congregation in Maidenhead, UK, came to do many tasks, including rewiring the Kigeme Anglican Hospital.
Thank God for people with electrical skills who can use them for the Kingdom.
Janice Hird being given a tour of the Anglican Kigeme Hospital.
We were also given a tour of the Maternity Ward.
Pastor Samuel is the Chaplain for the Kigeme Anglican Hospital. I found him to be very godly and Spirit-filled.
Pastor Paul Karangwa and Janice Hird in front of a hospital ambulance.
The Anglican investment in health has made a significant difference for local Rwandans in the Kigeme area.
A calendar on the wall showing the Rwandan bishops in both Africa and North America.
It was great to see our previous Bishops for Canada being listed, Bishop TJ Johnston and Bishop Sandy Greene. Bishop Silas Ng is our first Canadian bishop covering Canada.
This poster summed up what the Anglican diocese of Kigeme is seeking to accomplish. Their goal is that everyone plays their part in extending God’s Kingdom and rebuilding their nation.
edhird
