Starting over again – Rwanda X Street Kids
By Grace Nakajje October 16 2010
Perhaps when one meets a displaced child on the streets may have no idea of what to expect. What runs in mind is to give a biscuit or chocolate or bread or sweats. Infarct no one can imagine such a child can dream of a future of living beyond hand to mouth.
In Rwanda however a strong sigh of new life for street kids is visible. Many have been tamed off the streets of Kigali under a collective effort of a United Methodist Church official. Yes there is a symbol of a new season.
These children now feel the love and hope as they strive to grow. They are exposed to education, shelter, food, health care as well as spiritual growth.
Unfortunately Last Tuesday will be a day yet to remember in the lives of these children after the burial of Reverend Louis Segond Bwanakweli the Dean of District Superintendent for Rwanda.
Bwanakweli died at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas in the United States of America.
The deceased had travelled to the United States to visit with Rev Valerie, Rev Koran and Mrs. Diana Wiley of Austin, Texas Annual Conference to thank them for having visited Rwanda and also identify possibilities of partnerships.
Therefore who can answer questions of sustainability for these children? During the funeral these children sang songs that dominated words of success Louis registered.
“Ok you are gone, should we start off again? You would have lived to enjoy the fruits of your hands. As we sing our voices are your voice”
Although the number of these children is not yet known, they are between the age of eight and eighteen.
John Yaramba the assistant to the Deceased says, Rev. Louis will mostly be remembered for his concern for street children." Most of us still keep strong images of him carrying bars of soap and washing dirty, desperate young boys on Lake Tanganyika and then running around homes and churches looking for their food. He also identified drug consumption as a source of crime and HIV/AIDS for street children in Kigali".
Who was Louis?
Rev. Louis was born in 1961 in NYAKIZU, (BUTARE) in the Southern Province of Rwanda. He fled to Burundi with his parents that very year in the outbreak of ethnic hostilities.
In 1969 he went to primary school at Remera, MUSHIHA refugee camp in CANKUZO Province (Burundi); then at St Albert Secondary School, Bujumbura where he was trained as agricultural technician.
In 1982, he was received in the United Methodist Church, attended the biblical school and was ordained pastor in 1986.
After his education, Rev. Louis worked at Makamba, in Southern Burundi, as agricultural technician but he was particularly interested in the charismatic revival movement which was taking place in Burundi and his call was in the church. In 1983 he was hired by Burundi Scripture Union and worked in the department of Communication. He very quickly proved to be dynamic and gifted and was sent to Nairobi for audio-visual training. The skills he acquired were used to efficiently spread the gospel message of Christ.
In 1990 he left Scripture Union to implant the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) in Burundi thereby becoming its first General Secretary until 1995. While at YMCA he played a very important role in helping war displaced populations in Kamenge and Musaga of Bujumbura with food and shelter. He was particularly sensitive to young children’s plight and he spared no effort to run around that war ravaged areas in spite of the prevailing insecurity.
He had a very high understanding of the Rwandan society and he believed in the church’s role to bring unity and reconciliation.
The trend of the Church in Rwanda.
Louis has died at a time when the church in Rwanda is tremendously growing. There are a number of developments. Church structures are being raised, schools, health units and most of the entire congregation is growing.
Bishop Daniel Wandabula, the Resident Bishop for the East Africa Annual Conference attributes Rwanda to Jesus Christ where he said “I will build a church, not even powers of hell will prevail against it. Jim Reaves sang that song, "This world is not our home, we are just passing through" and Jesus tells us not to let our hearts be troubled but to believe in God and trust in Him. Jesus over came sin, Satan and death. Since Jesus over came, we also will overcome. Jesus says that He went to prepare a place for us and in His Father’s house are many places for us.
As Christians let us remain on the course, let us continue fighting a good fight”. For the Children, Bishop Wandabula said, they will not be left alone. He also re- affirmed the Current National Executive Leadership of the United Methodist Church in Rwanda to continue leading the Church in Rwanda.
In the Message from Bishop James Dolf of Southwest Texas Conference read for him by Rev. Virgilio Vazquez-Garza his Assistant stated “It is hard that Louis is not among us. We thank God for his love and Ministry.
