Visit to Kigali, Rwanda

Recently we traveled to Rwanda with the Chatfields to complete Branch Audits.  

April 20th 2014 marked the 20th Anniversary of the Rwanda Genocide, the worst in human history since the 2nd world war.  One million people (Tutsi and moderate Hutu) were slaughtered in 100 days by the Hutu majority.  

We visited the genocide memorial museum in Kigali.  A very sobering experience.  

It provides a graphic history of the chain of events of that time.  

The international community largely turned a blind eye to the events that were unfolding in Rwanda.

There is a mass grave on site where approximately 250,000 people from across the country are now buried.  

The grounds around the Memorial are reverent and beautiful.  

When the killing stopped in Rwanda in 1994 all the infrastructure and institutions were destroyed and they had to start over from scratch.  

Many may have seen the 2004 movie, Hotel Rwanda.  This event actually occurred at the Hotel Des Mille Collines  in Kigali.  

Hotel Manager, Paul Rusesabagina, was able to shelter over 1200 refugees over three months during the genocide.

We had a chance to visit the hotel.  

We met the Palmers, the couple serving in Rwanda and had icecream and pie at the Hotel.  

In the evening a group of talented singers performed some great music by the pool.  

We stayed in a Hotel near the chapel called the Lamigo Hotel.  It was very comfortable and we had a chance to relax by the pool for a while  

In the last two decades there has been an unbelievable transformation in the country.  It is said that three choices have guided the countries rebuilding. 

 1.  They chose to stay together.  

2.  They chose to be accountable to themselves 

3.  They chose to think big 

Rwanda, now is unlike most of the rest of Africa.  Immaculate pothole free streets, manicured lawns and hedges, orderly traffic.  New buildings, hotels and a convention center are being constructed at an unbelievable pace under the leadership of President Kagame.  Even plastic bags are banned in the entire country as an environmental measure.  All the citizens in the country are required by law to clean the community and yards once a month.  

  

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The economic growth rate was over 8 percent from 2006 - 2012.  Foreign aid accounted for 36% of Rwanda's budget from 2013/14.  

Back to the Airport and return to reality.  

Our Batwa (pigmy) Visit I

 On May 30 we acted as tour guides by taking the couples from Kampala south to Gorilla trek.  We drove about 14 hours on some of the worst roads you can imagine.

We saw some of the cute kids on the way.  

We finally reached Engagi Lodge and they had supper ready for us 

Engagi is Ugandan for Gorilla 

Elder and Sister Squire - our medical couple - not quite sure how to use the napkins 

Beautiful jungle cabins with all the comforts of home.  

Sometimes the Gorillas come right up the  cabins and peek in the windows 

The Elders 

Elder Story, Hannan, Squire, Pres. Chatfield, Wallace, Hansen 

The Girls 

Sister Squire, Hansen, Hannan, Chatfield, Wallace, Story 

Elder and Sister Squire

Tarzan or Monkey?

Engagi Main Lodge with the hills of Bwindi Impenitrable Park 

in the background.  Breath taking 

Other Lodge views 

Famous Fig Tree in the Area - Over 100 years old

Once used as a place of worship, a place of healing, and a place of learning. 

Now they have churches, hospital and a school thanks to Dr. Scott from California. 

We hiked up the mountain and this pygmy group came down to meet us part way.

Notice Ken towering above the others.  A rare occurrence.  

Ken had a special interest in meeting the pygmies that stretched back over 40 years.  

When the missionaries were teaching us about the Gospel of Jesus Christ they explained the importance of everyone being baptized.  This concerned him so he asked the missionaries, "What about people, like the pygmies in Africa that will never have the opportunity to be taught about Jesus Christ? "  They explained that through temple ordinances baptisms would be performed on behalf of everyone.   

Over many years of Scouting Ken has attempted to start fires by rubbing sticks together  

many times without success.  The Batwa showed us how it was done and had flames in a matter of minutes. 

They use the smoking grass to chase bees out of the hollow trees so they can access the honey. 

"How Sweet it is" 

They showed us some of the herbs they have used over the centuries for healing.  

Some are used for stomach problems, wounds, malaria etc.  

One that was interesting is an herb that was used to help a woman produce milk for  

orphaned infants.  They said that is works for women over 70 years old.  

One of the typical huts that they used to live in.  They called them different names according 

to the shape of the hut. 

This one is a two story penthouse suite 

They fit 8 pigmys in the one.  

Camouflage

They performed traditional dances for us with drums and singing.  

This represents the God of the Forest.  Can you imagine them getting any darker.  

They darkened his skin with soot.

They demonstrated some of the methods of trapping animals with snares and traps.

Sister Wallace bringing home the bacon.

Here is the group of us all together.  Can you pick out the two that don't 

seem to fit?  Four members of this Batwa group are over 80 years old.  They sprinted 

up the mountain in their bare feet while we plodded along with our walking sticks.  

This was a very exciting experience for us.  After flying 30 hours, driving 12 hours and hiking 4 hours up 

the mountain we had a chance to meet the Batwa pygmies we were concerned about some 40 years ago.  They 

taught us some of their traditions and ways of life and told us about their God of the Forest.  In turn we 

shared our beliefs with them, gave them copies of the Book of Mormon and pictures of Jesus Christ.  A special time where we were all edified.  

Rainy Season Happenings

Mission Leader Conference 

Once a month President Chatfield trains the Zone Leaders. 

Notice - the tall people (Elder & Sister Wallace) take their place in the back of the group.

Sister Chatfield always prepares a lot of food 

and it is always gone at the end of the day 

Speaking of food, all you escargot lovers, here is a prime local specimen

about 6 inches long 

Our guard, Nelson, cleaning one of the mission vehicles.  All done by hand using a 

bucket and rag.  

Current Elders we are serving with in the Walukuba Branch. 

THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD 

Unbelievable trees and vegetation here 

One of Ken's buddies.  They seemed to hit it off right away 

Three new incoming missionaries 

Sister Nyaga, going home - a native of Uganda  We got to know her well 

because she lived in our building for several months. 

Wallace boys - Remind you of scaffolding at the Lake?

"Lift together" 

Cleaning Walukuba Building in preparation for District Conference 

There are over 400 louvered window pieces.  Cleaned as many as time 

and focus would allow. 

To clean the floors the dump full buckets of water and then use squeegees to push the water 

out into the hallway and then out the door.  

Six new incoming missionaries 

Farewell dinner for Elder Cobabe and Elder Oberhansley

Lest you think we suffer with the food here

Apple Pie and Ice Cream  

Relief Society Activity conducted by 

Sister Wallace 

Jewelry Making and quilting by hand 

Well attended.  We had fun

Who is putting who to sleep?  We have a victor but not by much 

It has been said, "a mission helps you grow in so many ways" 

We can testify that is true.  Look at Sister Wallace towering over the Giraffe