It’s official: I have been tentatively approved to conduct my study of the PEAR savings-led microfinance program here in the Kigali diocese of the Anglican Church of Rwanda (thats a mouthful, huh!).  After communicating with the Archbishop that I was doing this research almost exclusively to aid them in their work, he was more than happy to have me continue on with my research. So, starting this week I have begun to prepare questions and provide a guide to all of the different research tools that I hope to utilize while studying different savings groups.

I have at this point narrowed my focus to two parishes that both have a large concentration of groups located under the jurisdiction of the pastor of that parish. Since getting the thumbs up I have not wasted any time getting. With the help of two of the Anglican/Hope staff I have arranged for the two pastors (one from each parish) to travel here tomorrow so we can spend some time getting to know eachother before I go out to the village for my research. I hope to learn a little bit about their parishes and about the history of the different groups that I will potentially be studying. If all goes as planned tomorrow, and please pray that it does, I will set up a tentative schedule for the next two or three weeks with these pastors for me to go and study some of the groups that they are involved with. I’ve been scrambling to develop some summary materials for them and to have my translator, Diana, prepare them in Kinyarwanda. Hopefully this will aid in explaining what I would like to be allowed to do when meeting with the members of the savings groups both collectively and individually.

Thanks to all for your prayers and support, it is continually very clear to me that the Lord is making a way for my work here. More to come later, with pictures I hope…