by Billy McClung
Rwanda has experienced more bad weather in the past week or so with thunderstorms, heavy winds and torrential rain.
This has resulted in a number of deaths across the country with many typical mud brick houses collapsing.
Many of you will have seen the short video that I posted on Facebook on Monday of our Rwandan daughter, Kelia. Little did we know that she would go back to her home area just as the rains were starting. I received an email yesterday advising that the family house collapsed and they had nowhere else to stay until neighbours invited them in to stay with them until the house is rebuilt. We are however very thankful that this didn’t happen later in the evening as much of the wall collapsed on to Kelia’s bed (she sleeps in the living room) my wife and I spoke with Comfort Rwanda’s David Gasana last night and he informed us that Kelia’s dad is going to start making the 1500 mud bricks (but then it was later decided to make 2,000 mud bricks so that Kelia can have her own room). In view of this, David has ordered 1,000 bricks so the build can get started. Comfort Rwanda staff will support the whole family to ensure that the rebuild goes smoothly. This isn’t going to be easy as Rwanda’s lockdown regime is much stricter than ours. Despite all that’s going on, she still has a smile on her face!!
Many of the people in Rwanda continue to struggle with the impact of social isolation and the lockdown which has been continued until 30 April at which time it will be reviewed. Unfortunately, many people struggle to access food when they have no income. The government is providing some food and David Gasana is part of the team that is facilitating this.
Please continue to pray for all of our friends and family who live in Rwanda, D.R.Congo, Burundi and South Sudan as they live from day to day during this coronavirus pandemic. Murakoze cyane!