Africa Report 2010
January – April, 2010
One can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.
Abraham Lincoln
To all of you who prayed faithfully for three months, who supported us financially, who sent chocolate midway through our time away and emailed your love, to all of you who believe in what we are trying to do, here is the belated scoop on our trip.
Mission #5 was planned primarily as a teaching mission, and that certainly happened! During February, March and April, we offered four 5-day courses, two 3-day course and about six 1-day sessions. Numbers are generally insignificant, but we can tell you that we presented to over 180 students, mostly prison chaplaincy workers, but also pastors, priests, teachers, local authorities, representatives of the police and military, Justice and Peace and various women’s initiatives.
Never before have we had the privilege of working with such a diversity of students and ethnic groups. It was often a challenge to live together comfortably for a week – in very close quarters in our rented ruins – and learn to enjoy each other despite the regular lack of water and electricity. Day 1 was often tentative: Who are you?
Why are you here? Should I trust this fellow beside me? I am tired, discouraged and unwell. Day 5 was usually a time of tears and hugs: Is it over already? Do I have everyone’s email? When should we plan a follow-up? I think my uncle knows your uncle. Eileen, did you have hot water this morning for your shower?
We presented the Basic Training in Restorative Justice several times as well as the Victim-Offender Mediation Protocol and three new and extremely difficult sessions on Sustainability within a Restorative Justice perspective. Just.Equipping is a training organization. We do not attempt to set up anything in the name of Just.Equipping, but rather to support and equip local people in their work in justice issues in their own communities.
This is why we felt that sustainability had to be addressed this year. How will the projects that have begun as a result of our teaching be maintained? How can the local chaplains and volunteers continue under their own steam and with a sense of pride in what they are accomplishing?
The fact that J.E is not a financing agent makes life very difficult. The overwhelming reaction to seeing a white person is: Here comes money! We pay accommodations, meals, books and supplies for participants in our training courses. Many NGOs also pay a generous per diem amount. We feel that as volunteers, we are humbly offering our expertise and this does not merit paying people to receive it, a practice that simply encourages the ‘receiver’ mentality. We also decided to cut down dramatically on transport money for people to attend sessions. There were many raw feelings around these and other financial issues, and we will continue to pray for wisdom in this area.
Perhaps one of the most encouraging moments of this trip came at the very end - our first day with the students in Bujumbura, Burundi. Several of them had been with us in 2008 and they quickly reminded us of what they had learned about RJ then and how they have tried to put it into practice. Seeing their commitment two years later to victims, offenders and community, to listening, truth-telling and reparation, in one of the most difficult places in the world, is encouraging and motivating.
This trip stretched us all to the limit, so we must trust that God will somehow use it despite our human frailties. We take comfort in the hope that his word scattered across the Great Lakes Region will bear fruits of peace, modicums of justice, and perhaps some relief from the incredible daily suffering of so many marginalized people.
The Congrégation Notre-Dame continues to be used of God in their faithful support of Just.Equipping. Christophe and Jean-Claude: we could not have managed without your help on-site. I have named some of you, but there are many others who have contributed to this mission – you are appreciated!
We have been repeatedly encouraged by Don, Sharon, Norm and Carol. Our Lady of Victory is a wonderful host. Thank you to Irene, Jacqueline, Gaston, Grandpa, Garry, John and Frida for keeping business running at home. The beautiful pictures are from Jeff. This report is dedicated to Pierre who stayed the course while all around the edges were fraying.