Rwanda, December 2008

by Canon Cris Fouse

This mission completed the training of the 270 catechists of the Diocese of Kigali, Rwanda in Anglican Liturgy and Prayer Book Worship. Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, who is also the Bishop of this diocese, had specifically asked me to teach them how to use the Prayer Book in its fullness, and to explain the reasons why we do things the way we do. He had also asked me to make sure that they understood the range of worship styles in the Anglican Communion, from Low-Church Evangelical to High-Church Anglo-Catholic.

Because CFM had the funds for only two trips instead of three, the remaining 200 catechists were combined into one group. Although some were totally illiterate and many had only a 4th grade education, they love the Lord Jesus Christ and they know their Bibles. They are very eager to do the best job they can in teaching the people out in the villages and in the bush. It was a delightful, if very tiring, mission. Everyone enjoyed every day and did not want to end the sessions even when it was getting dark.

The photo is of me with my wonderful interpreters, who worked very hard to translate from English into Kinyarwanda and the reverse. They also interpreted for me when I visited Rwanda in February 2008.

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