Report on Muhanga crash

Many of you have registered your condolences, prayers and support concerning the recent terrible accident. The following is an update as at Wed 27th April.

An outreach and pastors conference had been going on in Gitarama, now renamed Muhanga, from Thursday 21st April. On the Sunday moning Callum travelled through to Muhanga with Paul Ndahigwa to preach at L'eglise Vivante, Muhanga. The Bishopbriggs and Welsh teams were at Gatenga and travelled through by bus following the morning service, heading for the afternoon outreach. Also travelling through was the church pick up with the sound equipment and seven people. About two miles from Muhanga the pick up suffered a blow out and unable to swerve onto the road siding due to people, it collided head on with a 19 seater minibus coming in the other direction. Four people were killed in the minibus and the driver of the minibus is still critically injured. The driver of the church pickup, a family friend of Paul and brother of Theoneste that some of you know at the Gatenga church died from injuries through the night. Pacifique suffered serious head wounds and a broken leg, but is able to sit up for short periods in hospital and talk. John Ibrahim, a good friend of many on the Street Kids Rescue project was sitting on the sound equipment in the back and was thrown over the pick up suffering head wounds, two broken arms and a broken leg. Although he is making progress he is still in the trauma ward and it is hard for him to bear the pain and the bewilderment of the accident and the very basic hospital conditions. Four others, including Joshua, Paul's son have now been released from hospital. as of the 2nd May there is no further progress - both are still waiting for operations.

Paul, his family and the church have shown remarkable faith and grace in the midst of the accident, insisting that the outreach continue ("we must not let Satan win") with Rachel, James and Becky still worshiping in the choir that afternoon. The funeral of Theodore was dignified, comforting and hope-filled as befits a Christian funeral. We are all determined to continue the work of reaching Rwanda with the good news of God's love in Jesus and no setback or tragedy will stop the progress of God's love and truth.