Bishop Mullen and Pr Harvey Blomberg visited our Companion Synod, the Taiwan Lutheran Church, in May
The two bishop's Mullen and Chen
 
Outside a large downtown congregation, an informal time with Pr Blomberg, Bp Chen and Bp Mullen
  
A gathering with clergy--in the center--working with a translator-- enjoying local cuisine.
  Oh no, not another hat for the bishop!
Meeting with a scholar
Companion Synod Covenant ---January 2008
Pr John Rutsindtwarane and Bishop David Mullen rejoiced to sign the Covenant which lays out how our companion synods will assist each other over the coming years. The Covenant was drafted in Rwanda. Pr Lucy Kolin, serving at the request of Bishop Mullen, assisted in the development of the draft.
Click on the Covenant link to learn how this relationship as companion synods will take shape over the coming years. What an exciting time for both of our Synods!
Companion Synod Covenant
Rwanda 2007
  
Market day with goods on display , Pr Lucy with LCR pastors at Kibungo, Conferring with pastors at Nyagatare
This past July and August Pastor Lucy Kolin (Resurrection, Oakland) was sent by the Sierra Pacific Synod to serve in and with The Lutheran Church of Rwanda (LCR) for six weeks. Her primary mission, according to Bishop David Mullen, was to meet with LCR leaders to draft a Covenant between the two church bodies. That document is meant to serve as a guide in our life as companion churches. In meetings with Bishop George Wilson Kaliisa and other members of the Bishop’s office, with Lutheran World Federation staff, and with LCR pastors, evangelists, and lay leaders, Pr. Kolin gathered ideas, language, and vision for the covenant.
“I was struck by the profound theological insights and wisdom of LCR leaders, by the connections they saw between the history and circumstances of our two churches, and by their awareness of all the LCR brings to this ministry of equals.” The current draft of the covenant is now circulating among Synod and LCR leaders to create the final version to be signed later this fall.
Pastor Kolin served in a number of other ways as requested by the LCR. She preached and led the new English language service at the Kigali parish, provided training in Lutheran worship to local pastors and the Kigali parish English language worship committee, consulted with the Lutheran World Federation-Rwanda program and with Congregations Rebuilding Community in Rwanda, the congregation-based organizing project directed by Pr. John Rutsindintwarane. She also met with Emily Freeburg of the ELCA’s Washington, DC office regarding a Youth Conference in Rwanda next year, and visited the women and youth of the Kigali parish and with potential funders like the Clinton Foundation/Partners in Health and Waterlines. In addition, Pr. Kolin visited students and ministries supported by Synod congregations, met with Robin Strickler regarding the school project, and visited Rwandan members of her Oakland parish and other friends made in five previous visits to Rwanda.
“Just a year after the visit of our Synod delegation led by Bishop Mullen, the Lutheran Church of Rwanda is remembering that visit with joy. I saw more positive changes in the countryside: more housing and roads being built, power lines appearing in the rural areas, and gacaca and peacebuilding efforts bringing deeper levels of reconciliation. However, there are also continuing challenges, including a widening economic gap in the capital, which needs to be addressed by people of faith and by the government so that it doesn’t provide new cause for hatred and division. The LCR has an important role to play in this effort.”
“I have beautiful memories from this visit, including being part of a traditional women’s dance on my last day in the Kigali parish. This dance which features graceful hand and arm movements is said to have been inspired by the dance of the Ugandan crane. I’m not sure my dancing was as graceful as either the cranes or the Rwandan women, but I loved being invited to dance alongside my sisters.”
Pastor Kolin is preparing a power-point presentation about her summer mission trip and would be interested in sharing it with Synod congregations. Please contact her at: lucyk@pacbell.net.
Rwanda Connection 2006
The Sierra Pacific Synod delegation returned home with new appreciation for the people of Rwanda--their challenges, hopes and great faith. They also took many, many pictures! Below is just a sampling of photos taken by Pr Stacy Boorn, but enough to get a flavor of the experiences of our 14 travelers.
Pictures below:, left to right: Ginny McBride is welcomed to Ngarama parish in North Rwanda by Pr Bernard Mbarushimana, his wife & daughter & parishoners. Center: Ten young people were confirmed. Right: People traveled to Kigali to celebrate Liberation Day, July 4.
  
  
A "check" representing the offering gift from congregations and individuals of the Sierra Pacific Synod was presented by Bp Mullen to Bp Kaliisa, also shown in the center picture. Far right is the children's choir and Bp Mullen enjoying the experience.
  
Long horn cattle are herded in north-eastern Rwanda, walking uphill to the Ngarama parish church, zebra at Akagera National Park.
More photos can be seen in the August 2006 issue of the Praxis newsletter, available in the Archives section at the bottom of the NEWS page.
September-October 2006 photos
The Lutheran Church of Rwanda is assisting people with sustainable development along with spiritual growth.
Local people above are participating in training in Mumeya where Pr. John is training them in community development. This group is building a dispensary. They've moved (on their heads and on bicycles) 170 tons of stones, dug a latrine, cut mud bricks and met with the sector's engineer. Next, they'll be meeting with the mayor and with a Catholic nun who is an architect. They are in a VERY rural area.
Returnee transit camp near Tanzanian border. About a thousand people are here, with most staying a week to three months before being relocated in Rwanda.
The tents have been set up on the border with Tanzania because Tanzania has been summarily deporting Rwandan nationals living in Tanzania. The Lutheran Church of Rwanda has been coping with the emergency by gathering food and blankets from local people. Pr . John said one woman had been living in Tanzania for twelve years, married to a Tanzanian and had five children. She was deported back to Rwanda leaving her husband and five children behind.
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