Giteranyi

Wednesday's excursion was to Giteranyi, the farthest part of the diocese, in the corner of northern Burundi where there are borders with Tanzania and Rwanda. Giteranyi was largely evacuated during the civil war and now there is a constant flow of people returning from refuge, mainly from Tanzania, and resettling. Giteranyi is also Bishop Sixbert's birthplace.

Our ride

Our journey took us through the Diocese of Muyinga, where we were warmly welcomed by Bishop Eraste Bigirimana. We learned that Bishop Eraste and Bishop Sixbert had studied together in seminary, even sharing the same room, and had been consecrated together in the same service. They were clearly old friends. Bishop Sixbert said they were twin bishops because of their joint consecration.

Bishop Jane signs the Guestbook

We travelled nearly to the border of Tanzania, and then turned to follow the frontier toward Giteranyi. On the way we made a quick stop to visit the parish of Emmanuel. I remembered the pastor, Papias, from my previous visit, and was touched to see him wearing a Diocese of Edmonton pin. 

Emmanuel Parish

He welcomed us into his church and into his home for a drink and a prayer. Then we were on our way again.

Our next stop was the Kimeza farm. This project is an extraordinary operation. The farm employs over 300 people who work on raising banana seedlings of an improved variety. They also produce organic fertilizer which is used on the farm and in the surrounding area to replenish the depleted soil. 

Workers at Kimeza Farm

 The banana seedlings are distributed among the local populace, enabling them to produce bananas at a commercial level instead of simply for their own subsistence. And by working together, people from different ethnic groups develop trust and co-operation, which helps build a peaceful and harmonious community. Kimeza farm is truly a success story in the ministry of the diocese of Buyé.

Workers at Kimeza Farm

Reaching Giteranyi we were welcomed with singing and drumming at Bishop Sixbert's home parish. Bishop Sixbert introduced us to the assembled group and Bishop Jane expressed her joy at being among these wonderful people and told them that people from Edmonton are praying for them and send their love as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Next we visited Bishop Sixbert's primary school at Gakoni. The children were overwhelmed with excitement as we drove up. We stepped out of the car into a sea of children.

Bishop Jane was the star of the visit. The children were not the least bit shy in showing their curiosity about her white skin and her hair.

We met a group of grade six students and both bishops addressed the class.

Finally, we set out for home along the long and bumpy dirt roads. We all sighed in relief when we got to the main paved highway.

It was another beautiful and memorable day.

Buyé

Tuesday was a full day. We began with a meeting with Bishop Sixbert and a brief tour of the diocesan offices, where we were warmly greeted by several of the staff.

Next we moved on to an audience with the Deputy Governor of the Ngozi province. M. Dieudonné Kiboneye welcomed us in the absence of the governor, and spoke of the collaboration between the provincial government and the diocese of Buyé.

Then on to Buyé itself, where we first toured the hospital. One of the highlights of the tour was the opportunity to see a new HIV/AIDS clinic that is nearly complete. The Diocese of Buyé is building the clinic in partnership with the Diocese of Edmonton and the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund.

The clinic will serve approximately 3000 patients, providing testing, pastoral counselling, treatment follow-up and other related services.

A visit to the Lycée de Buyé gave us the opportunity to meet some of the teaching staff and a couple of classes.

Finally, after a quick stop to meet some people with AIDS we went to Bishop Sixbert's home for a delicious lunch.

After lunch we visited All Saints' Cathedral in Buyé, and the theological college.

Our final stop for the day was in Mwumba parish. The welcome was incredible, with people singing, children crowding around curiously, drummers and dancing. We were introduced to the parish, and then a local literacy class gave a presentation which spoke of family violence and then demonstrated the structure of their classes. The group who made the presentation have all graduated from the literacy class and have been transformed into a microfinance /savings group. This programme, facilitated by the Diocese of Buyé, teaches the members how to save their money for future use, and makes use of some savings to grant loans for small businesses. One man spoke of how he had borrowed the equivalent of about US$40 and invested in a goat, which has since given birth to three more goats. Profit from his business has allowed him to improve the lives of his family. Similar stories were told be several men and women, describing how they are transforming their communities and improving their lives.

It was a very full day, with a lot to take in. It was a real privilege to see how the Diocese of Buyé is living out the Marks of Mission in so many ways.

Bujumbura, and on to Buyé

Monday morning dawned bright and hot. After breakfast we were taken on a brief tour of Bujumbura beginning at Lake Tanganyika. It was a treat for me to return to this enormous and beautiful lake.

But this time there was a surprise in store!

Even Bishop Sixbert said it was only the second time he had seen hippos in person. They just munched contentedly on the vegetation by the side of the lake as we watched.

From Lake Tanganyika we went to the cathedral in Bujumbura, where we were met by the dean and another priest from that diocese.

After our tour of the cathedral we were welcomed by Bishop Pie who chatted with us a bit. Bishop Pie attended our General Synod in Winnipeg in 2007. He also spoke of some upcoming meetings that he will be attending in Toronto and Ottawa later this fall.

Finally, after a sumptuous lunch we got on the road to the Diocese of Buyé, where we checked in to the accommodations that will be home for the next week..

The adventure continues.

Arrival

“Amahoro!” (“Peace”) is the usual greeting in Kirundi. We have heard it (and said it) a lot the past several hours

After a 24 hour trip from Edmonton, Bishop Jane, Tim and I arrived in Bujumbura for a visit to Buyé. We arrived just after nightfall at Bujumbura airport after an 8-hour flight from Brussels, to be met with a warm welcome from our old friends. Bishop Sixbert, his wife Clothilde, and our old friends Dominique and Deo had made the journey from Buyé to meet us in Bujumbura.

Tim, Bishop Jane, Bishop Sixbert and Clothilde enjoying dinner

Having claimed our bags and gone through the immigration formalities, we were driven into the city of Bujumbura where we were to stay the night. After a delicious dinner (I had the Burundian goat – yum!) we were read for bed and dreams of the adventures that awaited.

Over the next ten days I will be making regular updates on this blog so that you can follow Bishop Jane's visit to Buyé, as she meets the people of our companion diocese.

Details of the preliminary visit to Buyé by a diocesan delegation, and Bishop Sixbert's visit to Edmonton in June, can be found in the blog archives.

Dominique, Bishop Sixbert, Bishop Jane, Tim, Clothilde and Deo

Last Glimpses

Tuesday, Bishop Sixbert visited St Augustine's, Parkland, again. This time he participated in Augie's Cafe, a community lunch programme.

Augie's Cafe

After lunch he returned to the Synod Office where he was able to catch up with an old friend and teacher.

Meeting an old friend

Then it was farewell to the Synod Office staff. In the evening, Bishops Jane and Sixbert participated in a gathering of young adults at St Paul's Church. Then it was home to pack and prepare for an early-morning flight on Wednesday and a long journey back to Burundi.

Synod Office Staff

Discussing Partnership

Monday morning Bishop Sixbert met the BADS (Bishop, Archdeacons, Dean – though the Dean was absent). This gave the senior leadership an opportunity to meet Bishop Sixbert and for him to hear about their views on the Diocese of Edmonton and how a partnership can develop between our two dioceses. It was a very fruitful meeting.

BADS

The, it was off to do a bit of touring and shopping. And where better to do both in Edmonton than the West Edmonton Mall? There we saw the indoor beach, the pirate ship and watched people skating at the ice rink.

Pirate Ship at West Edmonton Mall

The day concluded with a barbeque dinner hosted by Bishop Sixbert's hosts in Edmonton, John and Sheila Bloxham.

Skating Rink at West Edmonton Mall

Sunday

Sunday was a full day for Bishop Sixbert. In the morning he visited the parish of St Augustine in Spruce Grove, and preached. Then he travelled through a torrential rain storm to Tofield, for the centennial celebration of the parish of Holy Trinity.

Congregation at St Augustine, Parkland

The church was packed for the celebration. Bishop Jane Alexander challenged the parish in her sermon to think of themselves as living stones. Saying that we tend to think of things that are 100 years old as antiques, Bishop Jane suggested that the parish not see itself as an antique, and not focus on the past, but ask how it is going to engage in mission in its 101st year.

Congregation at Holy Trinity, Tofield

At the end of the service, Bishop Sixbert brought greetings from the Diocese of Buyé, and mused that he was probably the first African bishop to participate in a service in Tofield. He then pronounced the blessing in Kirundi.

Dr Tim Alexander, Bishop Jane Alexander, Bishop Sixbert Macumi, Noel Yuen, The Ven Alan Perry

Then, after some photos, everyone went off to a reception.

It was a wonderful celebration.