Jerome and Mary follow God’s call to Rwanda
20 years ago God called Revd Jerome and Mary Munyangaju as mission partners to the Church of Ireland. After ministering in Killyleagh Parish for the last 15 years, the couple are on the move again, following God’s call to Rwanda and their mission to the homeless elderly of Kigali.
Growing up as refugees outside their homeland of Rwanda they were greatly affected by the genocide of 1994. Over the years, as they visited family in Rwanda, Mary saw many frail, elderly people who were homeless with no–one to care for them. The children and grandchildren who would have cared for them were no longer alive. Mary pleaded that God would do something for them and then she realised that maybe she could, and so the vision for Bird of Paradise Ministries was born.
Mary and Jerome gave up the home they had prepared for their retirement and now it is home for four elderly, homeless people – the first of its kind in Rwanda. Acknowledging the need to provide more accommodation for the many who are still homeless, Mary and Jerome have just returned to Rwanda to live, initially in one room in the home for the elderly
Since they established Bird of Paradise Ministries as a registered charity, they have received support from many people. A container (below) is now on its way to Kigali containing corrugated sheeting for roofing, zimmer frames, wheelchairs and many other items to be used in the building of a new centre to house more elderly people. Jerome and Mary have left behind family, a comfortable home and a steady income in order to oversee the charity in Rwanda and seek local support.
Back here in Ireland a team has been established to help raise support headed by Revd Bobbie Moore formerly head of Mid–Africa Ministry in Ireland, who accompanied Jerome on a visit to Rwanda in 1995. As a result of this visit the ‘Hoe Sow and Grow’ project was established in association with CMS Ireland – the first practical aid to reach Rwanda in those early traumatic days. There is also a charity shop in Downpatrick which has been successfully raising funds and had a very welcome visit from Archbishop Justin Welby earlier this year.
For more information and to discover how to support Bird of Paradise Ministries please contact Revd Bobbie Moore (pictured above): bobbiemoore1@gmail.com
or Jane Corbett:
janemrcorbett@aol.com