By Rev. Ed Hird

Having spent the first day at Rwanda’s capital of Kigali, we took a sardine-packed bus to the southwestern town of Kigeme.

Before leaving Kigali, we met Bishop Mpango, a retired Tanzanian bishop staying at the Kigeme Cathedral guest house. He is very interested in helping launch people in businesses that can sow back into God’s Kingdom work.

Meeting with Kigeme diocesan staff.

Janice Hird, my wife, led four music workshops during the week at the Kigeme Cathedral.

Upon arriving at Kigeme, we stumbled in on a music practice in the Cathedral. Their passion and giftedness was most enjoyable.

This is a view of the choir from the back of the Kigeme Cathedral.

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say ‘rejoice’.

Janice enjoying being in Kigeme.

Esther sharing about the Healthy Mums Project.

Bishop Augustin of the Kigeme Diocese at the All Africa’s Bishops Conference

Anglican Educational Leaders in the Kigeme diocese

Esther has been a key leader in the Healthy Mums Project, which has greatly reduced the infant mortality rate.

Janice Hird with Jeanne D’Arc, Leader of the Anglican Schools

Education, health, and church planting were core values of the original Anglican missionary who came to Kigeme in 1932.

Preaching the good news throughout the Kigeme area.

Meeting the Anglican High School students.

Muraho means ‘hello’ in Kirywandan.

Key diocesan leaders in the Kigeme area. Rev Jean Chrysostom organized our overall schedule for the week and kept in touch by e-mail during our preparations in Canada.

Rwanda is truly the land of a thousand hills.

Logging is often done by hand.

The Kigeme Anglican Hospital was birthed from the original 1932 vision for medical care and healing through prayer.

We had an opportunity to meet the Director of the Kigeme Anglican Hospital. The love of Jesus has been rooted into the DNA of this hospital. The staff starts every day with a half hour of worship.

Ananias is the director of Human Relations at the Hospital. He is also a senior Catechist leading an Anglican Chapel.

A mission team from the Anglican congregation in Maidenhead, UK, came to do many tasks, including rewiring the Kigeme Anglican Hospital.

Thank God for people with electrical skills who can use them for the Kingdom.

Janice Hird being given a tour of the Anglican Kigeme Hospital.

We were also given a tour of the Maternity Ward.

Pastor Samuel is the Chaplain for the Kigeme Anglican Hospital. I found him to be very godly and Spirit-filled.

Pastor Paul Karangwa and Janice Hird in front of a hospital ambulance.

The Anglican investment in health has made a significant difference for local Rwandans in the Kigeme area.

 

This poster summed up what the Anglican diocese of Kigeme is seeking to accomplish. Their goal is that everyone plays their part in extending God’s Kingdom and rebuilding their nation.

The Rev. Dr. Ed Hird, Rector

BSW, MDiv, DMin

St Simon’s Church North Vancouver

Anglican Mission in Canada

-award-winning author  of the book Battle for the Soul of Canada

-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback andebook form.  Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.

In Canada, Amazon.ca has the book available in paperback and ebook. It is also posted on Amazon UK (paperback and ebook), Amazon France (paperback and ebook), and Amazon Germany (paperback and ebook).

Restoring Health is also available online on Barnes and Noble in both paperback and Nook/ebook form.  Nook gives a sample of the book to read online.

Indigo also offers the paperback and the Kobo ebook version.  You can also obtain it through ITunes as an IBook.

To receive a signed copy within North America, just send a $20 cheque (USD/CAN) to ED HIRD, 102 – 15168 19th Avenue, Surrey, BC, V4A 0A5, Canada.

– In order to obtain a signed copy of the prequel book Battle for the Soul of Canada, please send a $18.50 cheque to ED HIRD, 102 – 15168 19th Avenue, Surrey, BC, V4A 0A5. For mailing the book to the USA, please send $20.00 USD.  This can also be done by PAYPAL using the e-mail ed_hird@telus.net . Be sure to list your mailing address. The Battle for the Soul of Canada e-book can be obtained for $4.99 CDN/USD.

-Click to purchase the Companion Bible Study by Jan Cox (for the Battle of the Soul of Canada) in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca