Q: Wait, so what exactly are you doing?
A: From August 2014-July 2015, I will be serving in Rwanda as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Young Adults in Global Mission.
Q: What in the world is YAGM?
A: YAGM is a program initiated by the ELCA which sends young adults around the world for a year of service in partnership with Lutheran congregations in a variety of countries. This year, the YAGM program has young adults serving in Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay, The United Kingdom, Jerusalem and the West Bank, Central Europe and Hungary, Rwanda, Madagascar, and South Africa and Swaziland. 63 young adults have been called to serve for this year.
Q. Oh, okay, so you're missionaries.
A. Well, yes, technically. But I want to take a moment to stress that we're not the image of missionaries you may have. Throughout this experience, I've been exploring a lot about what it means to be a missionary. We are serving at the invitation of Lutheran Churches from around the world and are excited about sharing in relationship with our new congregation and community we're serving in. There's no conversion, there's no imposition. We believe that to be a missionary is to live into God's commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves, and in this case, in a global context. Everyone who strives to spread love and peace through relationships and intentional community is a missionary, no matter where you are. By reclaiming the word and being aware of its presence in our year, we live into this new definition.
Q. Cool, so where are you going?
I will be serving in Rwanda. If you're my bank, you may be asking "Rwanda, what country is that in? I've never heard of it." So here's to you Key Bank: Rwanda is a country in Central Eastern Africa. I will be serving in Cyangugu (pronounced Chan-gu-gu), a city on the Western border of the country.
The above map shows where the six of us will be serving next year. I am on the left side, at the circled pin. As you may have noticed, I'm pretty far away from the rest of the group. I'm excited about being on the West border by Lake Kivu, and looking forward to exploring the joys and challenges of being farther from the other placements in Rwanda. Cyangugu is on the border that Rwanda shares with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a few miles away from Bukavu, a larger town in the DRC. There's going to be so much to explore!
Q. So, what will you be doing?
This is the question that stumps me the most. I haven't received any details about my placement other than the city name. I could be doing any number of things: teaching English, working in a congregation doing parish work, engaging with youth ministry, partnering with community NGOs and local groups, or any number of things I don't know yet. I know that my job will be fluid throughout the year. This is the first year for the Rwanda program, so we are all living into this year of questions together. As I am able to learn more information, I will be sure to share it with you!
Q. Will you have internet?
This is a good question. I know that in my first few weeks I will be in orientation in Kigali and have access to wifi. I don't know yet what my internet connection will look like when I get to Cyangugu. I'm hoping that I will at least be able to find an internet cafe. Again, as with so many of these questions, as I know things, you will know things.
As more questions pop up or I know more answers, I will keep this section updated. Please let me know if you have any questions I didn't get to.
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