New Around the Mission

Groovin’ for Rwanda

September 16, 2010

The workweek is winding down in the bustling town of Washington, DC. On this Friday evening, young professionals from local Anglican Mission congregations gather in the historic Eastern Market’s North Hall. Their footsteps shuffle along the hardwood floor; laughter bounces off the vaulted ceilings. The group isn’t gathering at such a landmark to hear a politician speak or attend a summer wedding, they are putting on their dancing shoes for Groovin’ for Rwanda, a fundraising event to support the As We Forgive Rwandan Initiative. Ticket holders learn swing and “two-step” moves — and get to help a mission team bring reconciliation.

Church of the Resurrection, Church of the Ascension and Church of the Advent joined efforts to host this uncommon fundraiser. “I was really nervous about doing this,” admits Sara Whiting, Co-Event Coordinator. “In the end it turned out to be a lot less work than the yard sale we did, and it was a great success.”

A ten dollar ticket gave access to three hours of step dance lessons by Kelsey Walker, Co-Event Coordinator, some popcorn and a glass of water. Close to 125 people of all ages came out to dance to the Texas country sound of the Dave Gravatt Band. The event generated $1500.

Less than a week later, nine people hopped on an early morning flight to start the journey to Rwanda. They will spend time with their sister parish in Nyagatare and assist Andrea McDaniel, Executive Director of the As We Forgive Rwandan Initiative in Kigali.

The As We Forgive Rwanda Initiative (AWFRI) is a Rwandan-led effort to inspire a grassroots movement of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation nationwide using the power of interactive media, community workshops and leadership development programs.

Film Producer, Laura Waters Hinson, on stage at the Rwandan debut of her film, As We Forgive.

The initiative began after an overwhelming response to the July 2009 Rwandan debut of the documentary film As We Forgive by filmmaker Laura Waters Hinson. Rwandan leaders and prominent reconciliation organizations called for showing the film in every school, prison, church and village in Rwanda.

With extensive experience in international affairs and recent service at the U.S. Department of State, McDaniel has been leading the effort for AWFRI in the country for almost a year and has already managed to reach 35,000 Rwandans through these newly instituted programs.

Team members visit a group of former perpetrators, survivors and returned exiles that make up an active As We Forgive Association in Kininya. As a result of the reconciliation they experienced in the workshop, many have consolidated their farming land to raise animals together.

While in Kigali assisting McDaniel, the mission team reported that following a screening of As We Forgive at a local prison of 5200 inmates, the message of repentance and forgiveness was powerful and opened some wonderful doors for conversation.

From step dancing to conversations about reconciliation, our Anglican Mission congregations in the nation’s capital are making a difference from America to Rwanda.

Get more information about AWFRI
Contact Andrea McDaniel

Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
Categories: Faith in Action