2010 Rwanda STOMP canceled

With great disappointment do I write this: The 2010 Rwanda STOMP initiative has been canceled due to the outbreak of violence preceding the Rwanda August elections. While there have been no bombings over the past few weeks, our Rwandan hosts at ANLM are not willing to risk our well-being. Please see the email pasted below for the full explanation of the decision.

Currently, our stateside leaders are discussing plans for  a summer 2011 Rwanda STOMP trip. In light of this, I will keep this blog live and update you with the information I receive regarding that. Despite my regrets, I’m consoled by the fact that God has an ultimate timeline far exceeding our own. He knows the who, where and why that we cannot see with our limited vision. I trust in that and know that his work continues on in the lives of our Rwandan friends. Our role now is to pray fervently for their country, their safety, and the prosperity of their futures.

I’m signing off for a time with the hopes of returning to this blog in 2011. Until then, dear friends, may you be blessed to be a blessing.

Yours truly, Sarah

Board Members, Staff and Friends of ANLM,

Two more bombs have been set off in Kigali including one at the Market near
our two ANLM Mission Houses. Our senior staff were meeting there together
when the bomb went off and though shaken no one was hurt. They continued
meeting and praying through the night.

Fear has gripped Rwanda and the Government has officially asked all churches
by letter to suspend evening prayer gatherings in public and private until
the elections are completed August 9th because of the danger involved in
having groups of people together becoming targets for the terrorists.

I just spoke with Charles a few minutes ago.  He has decided that it is best
to postpone almost all of the teams that were planning to come to Rwanda
between now and the Aug 9 elections with the exception of one IBC men’s team
because of their previous experience in military and relief situations.

I will be contacting all of the remaining churches who have teams coming and
letting them know that they are welcome to re-schedule their trips for
September 2010 or later.

Charles exact words were, “We have to be honest with our friends now about
the danger that is in Rwanda for this time or they will not trust us later
when we tell them it is safe for them to enter again”.

Please pray for our friends and especially our staff in Rwanda at this time.

I will keep you posted as I learn more. You can read about the latest by
Googling The New Times in Kigali or checking the Africa News section of the
BBC World News sight online.

—–Original Message—–
From: Charles
Subject: Pray for Rwanda

Pray for Rwanda today we had another two bombs  attack. One was very close
to Kimironko Market near the mission house! Just on the main road near the
market.

I pass every day in that area driving home from work.

Last week we had three bombs attacks in the city. Pray for our nation as
we look towards elections

Pray that God will protect us.

Pastor Charles

Another dose of Rwandan culture

The Intore Dancers

I’ve heard a lot about this famed troupe and so decided to educate myself on their significance in the Rwandan culture. Apparently, these brightly clad dancers became popular during the 1958 World Expo in Brussels. It is considered a traditional form of Rwandan ballet dating back to ancient tribal warrior dances.

The Intore dancers were initially part of the established Rwanda Army, being skilled in both fighting techniques and dance. (Let me pause here and say that if my Army husband, brother and father were instructed in the fundamentals of rhythm, the world would indeed be a safer place!) In particular, the Intores were renowned for their high jumps, rising 2-40 meters from the ground in a single bound.

The Intore troupe is one of the three fundamentals of the Rwanda ballet. The other two being Ingoma (drummers) and songs. The ballet costume for the Intore men is grass wigs to create a ‘mane’ effect, spears, and bells on each foot to provide the beat of the performance. Women dancers wear traditional shawls wrapped across their bodies in sari fashion.

The dancers act out narratives using flapping bird and swimming fish movements, battle cries, leaps, stomps, spins, hand gestures and facial expressions. Together, these create the fictional world—the setting, characters and plot—without any playbill necessary. The troupe’s graceful movements and complex choreography has been commended and celebrated for its ability to address cultural issues such as power, masculinity, femininity, aggressiveness and the strife between the Tutsi, Hutu and Twa tribes. These concepts are depicted in a kind of staged artistic rivalry, concluding with hugs between performers as a symbol of friendship, forgiveness and love between countrymen. Their performances tell fictional and non-fictional stories of their people with the hopes of passing on lessons for a more prosperous and peaceful future.

Being a bookworm, former dancer, and lover of a good story, I’m especially excited to be introduced to this notable form of Rwandan art and culture. Perhaps we’ll even coerce some of our fellow members to join along. You can bet on me to put on my twinkle toes and get down with the locals.

Yours truly, Sarah