Arrival in Uganda...

Elder O'Hagan arrived at the Mission Home in Kampala, Uganda this morning.  See if you can find him in the photos below. He is standing behind President & Sister Collings and with his fellow missionaries upon their arrival.  (*Photos courtesy of Sister Collings)

Elder O'Hagan will only be in Uganda for two nights. SURPRISE! He and his companion, Elder Driggs will be departing Uganda at 3 AM Thursday morning for their new area in Kigali, Rwanda. That's another flight to a new country!

Late last night, I received a message from Elder Driggs' lovely mother.  She reached out to me after learning from Elder Driggs about his new companion, Elder O'Hagan and their transfer to Rwanda on Thursday. I am so grateful for the kindness of Missionary Moms who are able to mentor me.  I need all the support and insight I can get!  So, wonderful news...Elder Driggs has been out for a year and a half and sounds amazing. He entered the mission field from Texas, but his family is from Utah.  Elder O'Hagan was born and raised in Texas until he was nine, then moved to Utah, so they have both States in common. Together, they get to discover and experience Rwanda for the first time.

I am surprised that Elder O'Hagan will be starting his mission in Rwanda. I already shipped out his first package to the Uganda Mission address.  Unfortunately, it's due to arrive the week of October 16th.  So, he will miss it's arrival.  I heard that it might be delivered to him at some point, or I may offer it up to the Mission Home in Uganda to use as they see fit.  It's full of delicious ProBar Protein Bars, Peanut Butter, Pro-Biotics and vitamins.  Who doesn't love vitamins?

Kigali appears to be a very nice Capital City. Apparently, the common language in Rwanda is Kinyarwanda. Even though English and French are "official" languages.

Learn Basic Kinyarwanda Words Here...

I found these "fun facts" about Rwanda online at http://africabusiness2020.com/2015/07/21/10-interesting-facts-about-rwanda/

In July, during a Frontier Investors Dinner with His Excellency Williams Nkurunziza, High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda to UK, AB2020 was presented with 10 interesting facts about the ‘land of a thousand hills’. 

1. You can start a business in 48 hours in Rwanda. It takes 11.1 days on average in OECD high income countries.

2. Rwanda is leading Africa’s digital revolution. The Smart Kigali initiative will create access to free wireless internet on public buses, in hospitals, taxi parks, commercial buildings and restaurants, while a partnership with Korea Telecom is creating access to 4G for 95% of the population. 

3. Between 2001 and 2012, real GDP growth in Rwanda averaged 8.1% per annum. According to the Fitch rating agency, Rwanda is experiencing ‘rapid and inclusive economic growth driven by credible economic policy’. 

4. Rwanda has the world’s highest representation of women in parliament. 64% of Rwanda’s members of parliament are women. 

5. A dramatic improvement in healthcare delivery and health outcomes has seen life expectancy in Rwanda rise by 10 years in the last decade. Over 90% of Rwandans have access to medical insurance. 

6. Rwanda is one of the few African countries on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Net primary school attendance is at over 91%. 

7. One million Rwandans overcame poverty between 2006 and 2011. Innovative homegrown development solutions have reduced poverty. For example, the Girinka programme, which provides every poor family in Rwanda with a cow, has reduced malnutrition, increased agricultural productivity and created small business opportunities. 

8. In 2007, Rwanda became the first country in the world to legislate an outright ban on plastic bags. It is estimated that the EU produces 3.4m tonnes of plastic bags in a year, creating carbon emissions and dangerous waste. 

9. On the last Saturday of every month, every Rwandan, starting with the President, participates in Umuganda, a day of national community service. Through Umuganda, Rwandans have built schools, medical centres, hydroelectric plants, and rehabilitated wetlands to create highly productive agricultural plots, and cleaned their cities, towns and villages – making Kigali one of the cleanest cities in Africa. 

10. According to the Ibrahim index of African Governance, Rwanda is one of the only two countries to show consistent overall governance improvements since 2000. It is ranked number one in Africa for Gender, and is one of the top five most improved countries since 2000.

More fun facts:

• Rwanda is also known as the Land of a Thousand Hills because most of the country is covered by rolling, grassy hills.
• The Karisimbi Volcano (4,519 m high) in the Virunga Mountains, is the highest point in Rwanda.
• Mount Karisimbi is an inactive volcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Lake Kivu, Lake Muhazi, Lake Ihema, Lake Bulera, Lake Ruhondo and Lake Mugesera are the main water bodies in Rwanda.
• Rwanda is one of the smallest nations on Earth with size of 26 338 square kilometers.
• Rwanda is the 4th smallest country on the African Continent.
• Rwanda is only one of three countries in Africa where you can visit Mountain Gorillas in the Wild.
• Rwanda is largely a rural country with about 90% of the population involved in agricultural, agro-processing and mineral work.
• The head of the state of Rwanda is its president who is elected every seven years by its citizens. The President has been conferred great constitutional powers such as creating policy along with his cabinet, exercising the prerogative of mercy, negotiating and signing treaties, commanding the army, and declaring war or a state of emergency. The president also appoints the prime minister and the cabinet.
• Kigali in Rwanda is Africa’s cleanest city because they have a consistent schedule in community cleaning days which takes place every last Saturday of the month.

LDS Church in Rwanda Stats

First LDS Church presence in Rwanda: 1993
Rwanda dedicated for missionary work: 2009
Rwanda is legally registered: 2012
Current Church members: 390
Number of congregations: 3

History of the LDS Church in Rwanda

• 2002 : Nelson and Sapna Samuel move from India to Rwanda and hold meetings in their home.
• 2006 : The Samuel's meet another member, Stuart Jackson, and start having meetings together. By the end of 2007, 11 official church members are attending Church meetings, all of whom were baptized in other countries.
• 2008: First branch was organised by President Edward Christensen, Mission President for the Uganda Kampala Mission. 
• 2008: First baptism within the country takes place.
• 2009: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland dedicated Rwanda for the preaching of the gospel.
• 2011: Church meetings are halted by the Area Presidency to resume when the Church becomes legally registered in Rwanda.
• 2012: First missionary from Kigali Branch begins missionary service.
• 2012: In July, the Church is legally registered for the first time. Elder and Sister Renlund visit Rwanda and preside on the first Sunday that the congregation met again.
• 2012: In September, the first full-time missionaries are assigned to Rwanda.

Elder O'Hagan was able to send a brief email letting me know of his immediate travel and he said that he will offer all of us a detailed, personalized update next Monday.  I can't wait to hear all about his last two weeks.

Please continue sending email and keep Elder O'Hagan and all of our missionaries in your thoughts and prayers for safety & success.  

Please consider joining our family as we celebrate Umuganda Rwanda National Day of Community Service...the last Saturday of each month.

So the African Adventure Begins...