The first goodbye

We travelled to Banda today, really to say “goodbye” to our friends there. It will be 8 weeks until we leave Cyangugu, but we decided that we needed to be organised and to start early if we are to see everyone that we want to. There is still a lot to do! The day captured so much of what we will treasure as lasting memories of rural Rwanda :
1. An early start : we had to set the alarm for 0600 on a Sunday morning and leave 40 minutes later.
2. Car problems : the power steering belt broke after 30 minutes, not a major problem, but I felt as if I had done some physical work!
3. Unexpected travellers : our friend Chantal decided to bring her 2-year old with her.
4. Terrible roads : the potholes on the main road become ever worse, the rains have caused several minor landslides in Nyungwe Forest and the side road down to Banda is not difficult, but just bumpy all the way.
5. Broken-down lorries : we only passed 2 today, quite a low tally.
6. The beautiful Nyungwe Forest.
7. The unimportance of punctuality : church had started at 0900, we arrived about 40 minutes late, but by the time we were given breakfast it was 1020 before we all went in, with no sense of rush or stress.
8. Warm welcomes : everyone is so glad to see us, we are hugged by hundreds of people before and after church and there are words of appreciation and prayers for our protection several times during the day.
9. Enthusiastic faith : the congregation was about 1000 strong, with several daughter churches being represented by people who had walked for >2 hours to get there.
10. Long church : with many choirs singing, including the children’s’ choir about 120 strong, it was 1330 when we finished. We had only spoken for about 40 minutes : we are definitely taking longer!
11. Friendship across culture, race and language barriers. There is a mystery here, but unity and fellowship in Christ is also strong reality.
12. The unexpected : we left the pastor’s house after lunch later than we had hoped, but called in to see his daughter with new husband and baby. There we were served our second meal.
13. A late return : we minimised our stay in the second home, but it was getting dark just as we got out of the forest and 1900 by the time we got home.