Team Inzozi Day 11

Today is a sad yet exciting day for each of us.  We are finishing up the training as we try to let loose the reigns of the projects we have started.  Many relationships have been formed as we have entered into the lives of the people of the Gasarabwayi church.  

We had a great meeting with the ladies this morning of the micro finance cooperative. They have been freed up to reuse the money they have already paid back to invest is other small businesses started up by women of the church.  Rose, Pastor Elie’s wife is the president of the cooperative.  Her wisdom and business sense wowed us all.  This group is setting the pace for economic rebirth in this country.  Within 6 months they returned what they borrowed and are looking for better ways to utilize the money from investors.

Computer training took a little over two hours.  The first half was training on the camera we are leaving with them.  It is funny seeing them try to get used to using a LCD screen on the back of the camera.  We have them set up with a laptop and a modem for internet.  The internet in this region is slow but it will work for their purposes.  Hopefully this will help communication between their church and ours. Who knows, someday a skype session might happen.

Our Interpreter peter instructed on the Proclaimer boxes.  These are little boxes that have the bible on them in audio form.  A large percentage of the area is illiterate so this is an awesome opportunity for all to hear the bible.  Also they can be charged by wall power, solar, or crank so it is totally accessible for people in this area.  This village is almost completely without power other than generators. Pastor Elie setup 5 groups that will have a time and a place in which they meet and anyone is welcome to come.  

Finally they are finishing up training on the Eco-San Toilet.  We are turning over the keys hoping that instruction will be upheld on this toilet.  Their old latrine wreaks strongly and is very unsanitary.  The new toilet will hopefully be maintained on a weekly if not daily basis.  The fertilizer produced by this toilet will hopefully be useful in one of the nearby fields. 

Above is a picture of the kind men who have taken us in can kept us on track over the last week.  The three who really have importance are Emmanuel, Anastose, and Pastor Elie.  These three are the from left to right between the four white people…  We love these men dearly and they have cared deeply for us.  They are very wise and are leaders of the next generation of Rwanda.  We look to them for advice when bringing in new ideas.

As we look through our bags and our clothes we see a distinct red dust that will never wash out.  We know that this dirt will continue to follow us back to the US and we may see it on luggage in years to come.  So it is with the church here.  They will always be in our hearts and our lives even if we never return, they have impacted us.

Tomorrow, as we go to the wild game park, we will have time to process what happened this week, and really understand the long term impact that our relationship with this church will have on both us and them, as well as get to see some amazing animals.  We are signing off early tonight, but we should have some cool pictures for tomorrow.

Mark