We are in London, awaiting the final leg of the trip!  Here we say goodbye to Deandra as she is traveling a different route home.  (We said goodbye to Trinita, in Kenya as she started her alternate route there!)

Considering they had a major fire in the international building in Nairobi, things went very well!!  We were set up in tents on the tarmac, and except for a few grumpy passengers - it was great!!  Open air, food, water and lots of places to sit (way more than in the international terminal in the past!!)

This will be the last entry for this year's trip!  See you all in person soon!!!!

The last few days have been a whirl!!  Tying up last minute details on the projects, visiting and lots of goodbyes.  Thursday we also did some more shopping!!  In the evening we were invited  to farewell events - lots of food and some really nice words said, and, of course, we were spoiled with gifts.
Friday we spent a great deal of time packing - what an interesting puzzle!!  Then we went to the Murambi Memorial.  This is a site where during the genocide many people were told to seek refuge, only to be slaughtered - 50,000 killed at this place,  a secondary school under construction.  Very informative about the event, but released all kinds of emotions in all of us!!!
Friday afternoon we drove up to Kigali, as our flight was scheduled early on Saturday.  We stayed the night in another nice guesthouse.  
Now we are sitting at the Kigali Airport - waiting for our 9 am flight which has changed to 12 noon!  Oh well - we had a long layover scheduled in Nairobi, so we have some flexibility!!  The fire last week at the Nairobi Airport is obviously causing some delays!!!

This morning we attended the ceremony for the graduation of our 9 paravets that have completed their training.  It was a wonderful ceremony attended by the diocesean Bishop as well as the District Mayor.  This really showed the working together of the Food Security program with local government!  There was a huge recognition of the role of the Udder Project; Rachael was asked to speak, as well as the certificate included both a spot for her to sign and the Udder Project logo.

This morning we were treated to a meeting with the Paravets!  They presented to us their final project in their training!  It was very interesting, examples of topics:   “Antibiotics  and Their Side Effects”, “Advantages of Artificial Insemination”, “Tick Born Disease and How to Struggle against It”, “How to Increase the Milk Production, and Consequences from Insufficient Feeding” 

This was a wonderful opportunity, and Rachael was able to provide feedback and praise!   We were also able to have a candid discussion of how things are going in each of the sites and provide encouragement for the Paravets to persevere!!!         

In the afternoon we went to another Food Security site, Kibilizi for more teaching and fact finding.  More enthusiasm and excitement over what has been accomplished!  

Tonight we had a meeting with the Food Security team, where we had a presentation on the next proposal for the program.  Part of the presentation was the following:

Go
To the people;
Live among them;
Love them;
Learn from them;
Start from where they are;
Work with them;
Build on what they have;
But of the best leaders;
When the task is accomplished;
The work completed;
The people all remark;
We have done it ourselves.


So appropriate to the way we have been trying to operate!!

Big treat of the day - our friends Roger and Alayne Adams arrived this morning, after 3 days in another area - Bugarama!  Great to have them here, this is the 5th year we've been here together!!

Today we set out on another long drive to explore two new areas that are potential sites for the Food Security Program.  The first area, TABA, Rachael and Carolyn have been to a long time ago.  It was nice to be back in the area!  We met with the Cooperative, then were taken to four farms to see exactly where they are.  Lots done with very little!!  But also lots of struggles due to poverty as well as very poor soil that hampers growing many crops! The hills are particularly steep making terracing difficult and soil erosion a real problem. We were very encouraged by their desire to improve their situation and we feel that, given the right tools, they can overcome many of their obstacles.

After being fed a nice lunch, we headed off for site # 2 - MUBAZI!  Again, a very thirsty group for any knowledge to improve their lot in life!

This morning we went to church in the Kigeme Parish.  So many familiar faces!  Lots of friends.
It was a really nice service, and when the Pastor introduced us, he really outlined the projects we are involved in here.  We were pleased as it's hard to get that information out here!

In the afternoon we went with our friends; Assinapol - APAP Paravet, Felicien-  our newly graduated Vet and our friend Origene to visit a couple APAP farms.  We walked a little over an hour up and down a few of Rwanda's 1000 hills viewing some wonderful scenery along the way. We visited two APAP farms in that time! It puts things into perspective as it indicates how far the farmers must travel to get to town and how far the vet and paravet must travel to visit the cows!! It is a different way of life here and I think that all the Canadian team got a glimpse of that way of life today.

Saturday we visited two more Food Security sites!  In the morning we went to Cyivugiza.  Unfortunately on the regular route the bridge was out, so we had to drive around a long way - 2 hours there, 2 back!!  Lots of Rwandan road dancing!

It was worth it - what we saw there was wonderful.  Pastor Vincent continues to be a mover and shaker and he is really mobilizing the people in the area to do amazing things. They sold off all their goats and are concentrating on cattle now. The area is cooler and goats do not tend to do as well there. They have cleared much more land and have started new crops for food for the cattle and also for human consumption. They are even growing tea!

The cooperative also come together once a week and dedicate the day to helping improve the parish. Below is a picture of a beneficiary moving bricks from the valley up to the church. They can move 10,000 bricks in one day!!! We were tired after moving only two bricks each! They are using the bricks to build a bigger and more stable church for the people of the area.

They are working well together as a cooperative to improve their animal husbandry, their crops and also have set up a savings and credit plan in order that the beneficiaries can start saving their money. Wonderful things are being done in the area. This area was so destitute before with 80% of the people living below the poverty line (<$1 a day). What we are witnessing here is the results of a strong, forward thinking leader (Pastor Vincent) and a group of highly motivated people who want to improve their lives. Akazi keza!!!!! ( Good job in kinyarwanda).

When we returned to Kigeme, we went right into another teaching session with the Kigeme site and the APAP group. It was so good to see everyone again! Rachael has worked with the APAP group since she started coming to Kigeme in 2006. The improvements being made with animal husbandry is great. Their cows' milk production has increased from 2L/day to 6L/day. This is amazing for the area. Historically, they have never been able to increase their cows' milk production. They attribute it to the teachings they have received from the Food Security team and the Canadian team. But, they are also implementing what they are learning and are striving to improve every day. Soon, they will even see more improvements and enjoy experiencing the fruits of their labour. 
The Paraveterinarians (AVI's ) are also working hard to help the beneficiaries in the areas. Based on all the testimonies given by the beneficiaries and the local veterinarians, these paravets are making a significant  impact on improving animal care in the area.

We spent Thursday afternoon walking and visiting APAP farms.  APAP is a group of local farmers we have been connected to for many years!  Last year they were brought under Food Security.Rachael visits as many farms as she can each trip to see how they are doing with implementing all her teachings.

After our walk, we went to the office as Chrysostome, our contact here in Kigeme, had met with and gathered information on new students applying for support for their secondary education.  

Friday saw two more Food Security Sites and teachings!  It is really amazing to see the similarities between the different sites, as well as many differences!  Rachael continues to be encouraged with the reports of increased animal health due to the implementation of her teachings!

Today we had the opportunity to meet with the students in the secondary sponsorship program.  There are just over 105 students sponsored and almost all of them were here.  It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces.  We had some teaching, Carolyn spoke to the students on reaching their potential.  

In the afternoon we all participated in some community work giving the students an opportunity to give back.  We hiked up one of the 1000 hills to help clear land for a new chapel!  What a beautiful spot over looking a nice view.

On Wednesday we travelled to two of the 9 Food Security sites. While at these, Rachael was able to find out from the beneficiaries about how well they are all doing and what's been happening over the past year since we'd been here last.  She was very pleased with what she was hearing.  At both sites we heard farmers reporting that they are seeing an increase in the general health of their cows as well as an increase in the milk production since putting into practice some of the things she taught last year.  More and more farmers are regularly deworming and spraying as well as giving fresh milk and a higher quality diet.

Then Rachael taught on 'heat detection' in the cows so that farmers will know better when to bring in the veterinarian for either artificial insemination, or the bull for natural breeding.