--Two Anglican Primates blessed the Black-cloth tree, planted late last year by the survivors and released prisoners of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The tree was planted as a symbol of hope and love in Rwanda in the Bugesera district, according to the President of the inter-faith body, His Grace Emmanuel Kolini Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda.
Arbp. Kolini and his Kenyan counter part, Arbp. Benjamin Nzimbi led a
delegation from the World Council of Churches to the genocide memorial site in Bugesera in the southern part of Rwanda.  Over a million innocent Tutsis and moderate Hutus lost their lives in the 1994 genocide.  Rwandan churches have come together to form the inter-faith body aimed at reconciling the population.

Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi has been on a seven day visit in Rwanda through the invitation of the World
Council of Churches. Nzimbi, who arrived on 19th April, told the Rwandans that the aim of his visit was to compare and contrast how far churches in Africa have gone in fighting HiV-AIDs. He said that churches have the capacity to overcome any problems that human beings face and vowed to bring together Great lakes cities under one umbrella for the sake of overcoming societal problems.
Greatlakes Region is made up of countries like Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo, Burundi, Kenya and Sudan.

--A hope and transformation crusade is in high gear as churches in Rwanda strive to bring healing to their flocks over the next 100 days. The Episcopal church of Rwanda is the promoter of this crusade that is reaching out to 8.7 million Rwandans. The project is being prepared by Bishop John Rucyahana and Steve Giulieri, an Australian who is the coodinator of Hope and Transformation Project based in Australia. The aim of the crusade is to respond to the 100 days of the 1994 genocide which caused the death of over a million Rwandans. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has hailed the event.

--The Episcopal pastors of Rwanda recently participated in a three day seminar aimed at opening their eyes to fulfilling God's ministry of reconciling the flocks. The seminar was also aimed  at giving them knowledge on 'Gacaca' courts.
''Gacaca'' refers to the traditional courts used by the Rwandan community before the colonial era to judge cases. The cases could be handled by the elders without any corruption. Now the government of Rwanda has come up with a resolution to use Gacaca in order to speed up genocide cases. Under this traditional system 
verbal testimony is given in a way thought to be better suited than modern tribunals.
Gacaca courts seem to be catching on throughout the country.


--Rwandan Coffee will soon be available in the United States, thanks to an emerging partnership between a fair trade cooperative in the African nation and churches of the Anglican Mission.  The Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company is being formed to provide a fair wage for workers in Rwanda and to meet the need of gourmet coffee drinkers in America.  Before the genocide Rwanda was known as a coffee exporter, but its product was generally low quality and was sold for less money.  With the help of experts from Michigan State University and U.S. Aid, Rwanda is now producing high quality, gourmet coffee in its rich mountain soil.  Tutsis and Hutus are working side-by-side in this endeavour, with the slogan 'drink a cup and do good'.  The coffee will initially be marketed through AMiA churches and through a web site.  The launch date has not yet been set.

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