In November 2014, thousands saplings trees were distributed among the parishes of the Lutheran Church in Rwanda. Many of those trees ended up in the area of Matimba, near the border with Uganda and Tanzania.
Over the course of two days, the congregations of Matimba and neighbouring Bwera worked together to unload and plant the trees. Even the higher-ups of the Lutheran Church leaders got involved. Pastor David Ntidendeza, the General Secretary of the Lutheran Church was among church leaders that involved in planting trees at Matimba parish! Also Mr Gerard Muvunyi, Director of Capacity Building transported the trees in a large flat-bed truck to Matimba and helped unload the trees.
The next day, the local Pastor, George Twesige along with his congregation, began to plant the trees outside the churches in Matimba and Bwera. At the same time, dozens of Lutheran Churches throughout Rwanda were also planting trees. Pastor John Rutsindintwarane Bishop assistant was also present during planting the trees in Matimba and Kigali and he expressed his pleasure and biblical massage to the congregations of Matimba; He siad “Yeeeee, congratulations, Pr.George and Matimba parishioners! Pr George, don’t rest, keep up pushing parishioners to take care of their own parish and environment. Challenge them to connect Nehemiah’s message with Rwandan environment. I am truly happy for great team work. Apply Jacob’s intellectual and social capital to unlock you communities from ignorance. We continue to pray for you so that you put faith in action”.
Not only church leaders expressed their pleasure; the congregations also expressed their feelings after planting trees. For example one congregant elder in Matimba parish said; “We have planted trees; hundreds of saplings could begin to grow outside our churches at Matimba and Bwera. I don’t doughty our churches in few years will be surrounded by a budding forest. These forests will not only represent the growth of our church, but they will also protect and improve the environment, making us good stewards of God’s great, green Earth ”.
After planting, the congregations become very protective of their new trees. Two months we planted trees in Bwera congregation, wild animals started to eat the leaves off the small trees that was growing. As a result, members of the Bwera congregation have used branches of a foul-tasting brush to protect the trees from harm! Also in Matimba church, the trees are very close to the church’s soccer pitch. The congregation there has put up a wall of brambles to keep balls and soccer players from accidentally trampling the trees. In a year or so, these trees will no longer need protection from animals or footballers, but we continue to keep planting. The next batch of saplings will need the same care that the congregation has shown this set of trees. A care and love that is similar to the protective love God has for us all.
