Community Corner
Rwandan Students Express Gratitude with Song on Local Visit
All Saints Lutheran Church welcome African students with a delicious dinner.
Parishioners at All Saints Lutheran Church in Novato shared a meal Saturday night with three students and their principal from one of their sister churches in Rwanda.
There were several highlights at the dinner — including Jim and Jeff's chicken and Mary and June’s apple crumb — but the shining stars were the students who performed a favorite Rwandan song (see video).
Rwanda is still rebuilding after the genocide of 1994. Every person in the country has been effected one way or another by these tragic events, according to the students. For the past six years, All Saints has supported the building of the Lutheran church and school there. Last year, 10 high school delegates from the Lutheran Sierra Pacific Youth Senate visited Rwanda. They enjoyed their visit so much, they invited the Rwandans to visit California this year.
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There are 10 students traveling with two chaperones and three students attended the Saturday dinner. The three students, Charles, Daimcille and Patricia, said they feel grateful to have been selected to take this trip.
Principal Robin Strickler discussed the 43-student school, its progress and programs. There is a focus on sustainability both personally and environmentally as they learn English and prepare for life using Expedition curriculum. Most students speak Swahili, but English is necessary for higher education there.
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Students in Rwanda generally do not follow what Americans would call natural paths to education and often are older because of the sociological turmoil in their country. But today the Rwandan government’s top priorities include secondary education, the students said.
Patricia has dreams of becoming an accountant. She shared her love of books as a bridge for higher learning. The students have visited Hearst Castle, Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Yosemite, Fresno, Sacramento, San Francisco and are on their way to Virginia next week.
What has been most thrilling? All mention riding a roller-coaster for the first time at the Boardwalk. What was most beautiful? Yosemite’s Half Dome. What is the most interesting food? Charles found the cotton candy, sticking and magically disappearing in his mouth.
