The Rwanda Team
Kilvert and Margaret Croft, Alan and Anne Low, Moyra Wright, Kirsten Bell, Kirsty MacArthur, Lena Glass, Moira Anthony Rwanda Update February 2017
Well, now that all our Christmas celebrations are well and truly over, we’d like to show you how much the children of the Living Church and Mvumba enjoyed their Christmas. As in previous years, the Rwanda team donated £300.00 from their funds for the children and the Living Church Kibungo organised parties for both groups. You can see from the photos they enjoyed good food, Fanta (a local treat), gifts and school workbooks. In a world where most have too much, it is humbling to witness the joy on these children’s faces. For the children in Mvumba, it was their first experience of a ‘party’. We are happy to announce that the Mvumba community have finally managed to rent a field for the current year and we hope to support them by providing funding to secure it for a further 2 years. Ahead of its official launch, our Nursery Project already has 7 full time sponsors for which we are truly grateful. In the next few weeks we shall put together a presentation which we plan to take out to the local community and beyond to reach the target of 60 full time places. The Living Church Kibungo nursery is recognised as one of the best nurseries in the area. The children going into primary school from this nursery are very well prepared to start their educational journey and are academically more advanced. This has only been possible through the financial sacrifice made by the Living Church and its congregation. The Church has very limited funds which have been diverted from other worthy causes. This is unsustainable without our help and your support. The cost of a full-time nursery place is £21 per month (this includes teacher time and all operating costs). If you think you may be able to give a monthly sum (of any amount) to help please contact us at community@kilmarg.co.uk Once again thank you for taking an interest in our project and we ask you to pray for all our friends and family in Rwanda. God bless you. |
Our Rwanda Partnership
Dunbar Parish Church has had a link with The Living Church in Kibungo since 2005. Kibungo is situated in Rwanda's beautiful Eastern Province. As you may know Rwanda was torn apart by genocide in 1994 when almost one million people were slaughtered and millions more left mutilated, disabled and orphaned. Today Rwanda is re-building its infrastructure and community with determination, dignity and courage and is a flagship for African democracy. Our Partner there is the inspirational Pastor Joseph Mugasa, who leads the healing and reconciliation programme countrywide. The Living Church is made up of a group of independent non-denominational Christian community churches throughout Rwanda. They believe that Christians must be active in their community and that involves facilitating spiritual healing reconciliation as well as enabling them to have sustainable communities. Our church has raised funds and provided finance to assist the building of a much needed new community church for the people of the Kibungo area. There is still building work to be completed but already the Church has a large vibrant congregation. In addition to church services, weddings and baptisms the Church is also a focal point in the community hosting a variety of activities e.g. nursery, youth drama/music groups educational support and nourishing meals for orphans & the poorest in the community. DPC has a dedicated Rwanda Partnership group whose aim is to maintain and encourage stronger links between our two churches and create fundraising opportunities. We extend a warm invitation to anyone interested in supporting this life changing project (see contact details). Some members of our congregation have already had the privilege of visiting our partners in Kibungo and all agree that Rwanda is a very special place, one that certainly changes the way you think and act. We are planning another trip and you would be very welcome to join us!
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