What are we enjoying in our first week?

We have been in Rwanda for 12 days now, staying in a house belonging to a Christian family who have lent it to us whilst they returned to Germany during the Coronavirus pandemic. We’ve no idea how long we will be in Rwanda or the house or when we will get to Goma, but we are very grateful to God for his provision. Like many we’ve been home-schooling this last week and have settled into a fairly relaxed pattern after much feedback and a few meltdowns from the pupils. 

We asked the kids what they are enjoying most about life in Rwanda.  

For Imogen it is Duplo and ‘my little chickens’. For Zachary it is Lego, the chickens in the garden, fruit (we have yet to discover the limit to his passion fruit consumption), birds and the hammock. For Silas it is ping pong, having yellow-billed kites circling the house, coding, sport after school, improvised parkrun, getting up early and Joe Wicks’ morning workout.  For all of them it is new torches during the power cut, the garden, running around in the rain-storm and Worship for Everyone twice a week. The above picture is from last week’s Worship for Everyone when we used a whiteboard we found in the house to say thank you to God for all of the good things he gives us. 

As for the parents, we are enjoying a slower pace of life than the frantic few weeks before we left the UK, time with the kids, the weather, family devotions and the wonders and joys of staying resourced, informed and connected online. We are so grateful to God for his provision of a lovely house and garden for us to enjoy whilst we await travel to Goma.

Coronavirus in Rwanda and DRC

With around 10 cases 10 days ago in each country and around 60 now, the known, recorded cases of Covid-19 are increasing roughly every 3 or 4 days. Almost all of the cases in Rwanda are from international flights, mainly from Dubai. All of the cases in DRC are in the capital, Kinshasa. Both countries have reacted reasonably swiftly. They have taken measures to isolate and trace known cases. Schools and churches, bars and restaurants are closed. As are borders. All travel between cities and regions is prohibited. In Rwanda, going out for anything other than food, medicine or essential work is met with a Rwf 50,000 fine (£45). To travel in a taxi requires a medical note.

This is a region that is used to pandemics. The most recent Ebola outbreak was last summer. On one hand they are prepared. They have been here before. They can react quickly and have equipment at border posts at least to test for high temperatures. But on the other hand pandemics will always hit the poor hardest. Self-isolation and social distancing are seen as luxuries for the rich for those who don’t live in close proximity, who don’t share water, who don’t live day-to-day. Small shopkeepers, street sellesr, motor bike and taxi drivers, domestic workers and market stallholders have no safety net if they can’t work. And if they can’t work they can’t eat or feed their families.

If Coronavirus starts to spread it will do so incredibly quickly. The healthcare systems are already stretched. Most US citizens have left because they don’t want to have to rely on healthcare facilities that don’t match up to their own with fierce competition for scarce resources. In a recent e-mail from neighbouring Burundi we were told that they only have 20 ventilators for the whole country and 24 dedicated hospital beds.

The church has also responded quickly. The Anglican Church in Goma has been broadcasting in Swahili on local radio. Bishop Desiré has called the Diocese of Goma to 7 days of fasting and prayer for the nations from 22-29 March. He called for a time of repentance for sins and to ask God's forgiveness. To seek God’s intervention to stop Covid-19, the locusts devastating East Africa and for him to heal the sick and to draw near to his people again through the saving power of Jesus.

What are we reading on Coronavirus?!

With the bewildering amount of information and resources online and the sense that we are in a permanent state of information overload and playing catch up, here are links (feel free to ignore!) to the articles I’ve found the most helpful and thought-provoking during the pandemic.

Tom Wright on being a Christian during Coronavirus

When Corona makes us more like the New Testament, Andrew Wilson

How to stay sane during times of isolation: lessons from the Chinese Church, Open Doors

A letter from Italy to the UK: this is what we know about your future, Francesca Melandri

The discomfort you are feeling is grief, Harvard Business Review 

This virus is ravaging rich countries. What happens when it hits the poor ones? Guardian comment.

Pope Francis address on Coronavirus and Jesus calming the storm

How can you pray?

• For the governments of Rwanda and DRC as they respond to the pandemic

• For health care workers here who are already stretched

• For those who have no income as a result of the lockdown

• That we would remain healthy, grateful and prayerful

• That we will be able to get to Goma soon!

Thank you from Martin, Anthea, Silas, Zachary and Imogen