Chaya revisited, and garden improvement

I've just gone back to my final 2012 post and added text and pictures. This is the follow-on

David Bucura, pastor at Gasharu for many years, has moved to the main Friends Church at Kagarama now he is Legal Representative again after a 7 year gap. His vision was that the large grounds of the church, guest house, hostel and conference room should be an oasis of beauty and tranquility. It took several years and many discussions before the congregation was behind him. Ironically, a good beginning to the transformation has been achieved even as he moves on. The churches are not separate, however, and Rwanda Yearly Meeting will be held at Gasharu next week.

Those who don't usually come here may be as surprised as I was yesterday. The church administrator and new pastor's wife, Ruth, happy in motherhood after 6 years of trying, wanted to give me a tour. Here she is in front of a plot which was nothing but worn grass and broken down trees, abandoned to the children.

And here is a fine flower bed at the newly secure back entrance.

Some of the land is now being used productively, with beans and isogi (a native vegetable rich in iron) between yet more chaya.

I asked who will eat the produce: church members will share it and the kitchen for the conference facility may also use some.

There may be a grant application in the making here. Success can breed success and there's no question of the communal commitment now. Funds have been found for regular garden maintenance. There are half a dozen mango trees and a couple of avocados, some past their best but some very productive. I ask if the children get any of the fruit. 'Oh yes, we sit them down after Sunday school and slice avocado for them.' I hope to get a picture. If funds can be found the next phase will be to plant oranges and lemons and some young successors for mango and avocado.

Meanwhile, here's a happy conjunction of hibiscus and mango at the entrance to the guest house, and then the macadamia tree which got off to a bad start 4 years ago in the era of the neighbourhood goat depredations but has made a good recovery.