25.02.2014

Church leadership visiting Ruanda and Congo

Seven EKvW leaders led by Albert Henz arrived in Kigali, Rwanda on February 22. The following morning they had several meetings including meeting the German Ambassador in Rwanda. The UEM member churches in Rwanda (EPR and EAR) held their first meeting with them.
The EPR President, Rev Dr Elisee Musemakweli said “we are one as leaders of UEM members to welcome you in Rwanda and in the Great Lakes Region”. Both Churches in Rwanda presented a summary of their holistic work with a high appreciation of the EKvW support through UEM, Wuppertal. They are all committed to the implementation of the UEM Corporate Identity made of five pillars: Evangelisation, diakonie, advocacy, development and partnership.

The Oberkirchenrat, Rev Dr Ulrich Möller and Albert Henz thanked Church leaders for sharing the church work. “Through the Church work, we are positively impressed that your church interventions are located into needy people. We ensure you that we are together in the same boat”.

CBCA in the Eastern Congo is visited by the EKvW leaders

On 21 February the EKvW arrived in Goma city in the Eastern Congo. At the Rwanda - Congo border, they were warmly welcomed by the CBCA leaders headed by the Rev Dr Kakule Molo. Afterwards, in a short welcome church service at Virunga parish, the Goma District Pastor delivered a speech which appreciated the support received by CBCA members during the difficult time of war, population displacement and hard life in refugee camps. “We value being together as UEM members” said the District Pastor. At the end of the service, all visitors joined a choir made of soldiers, policemen and Virunga parish members.

The cruelties of war

On 22 February 2014 the EKvW leaders visited the Free University in the Great Lakes Region (ULPGL), an institution supported by UEM. The presentations made by the Rector and the Deans of various faculties focused on the achievements and some challenges related to the extension of the existing buildings. The CBCA church runs health institutions in two big hospital in the town of Goma where today many of the patients are suffering from the consequences of the last 15 years war. Delegates had an opportunity to speaking to the injured and heard about the hardships they went through in the last years. Shimene is a five year old girl, who was shot in her arm and lost her arm as a consequence.

Afterwards a theatre presentation was organised by APRED (jointly supported by UEM and EED). This impressive initiative had brought together 168 young girls and boys who played a theatre where it was possible to hear encouraging messages. The same was heard being witnessed by women from Rwanda and DRC who are engaged in trans-boarder commercial activities.

Mugunga refugee camp

On 24 February there was the opportunity to have a devotion with the CBCA Central Office and then visit the Mugunga refugee camp. About 21.000 displaced people are still present in the  Mugunga camp. Because the M23 war stopped, some people have joined their homes, but others are still not feeling secure to go to their home, as there is a still an ongoing war in Masisi region, 70 km from Mugunga.

Read more about the EKvW jouney here: http://kirchenleitung-unterwegs.ekvw.de