Thanks to Team
Member Terry Howlett for the great photos.
Our hearts overflow with gratitude to the Lord, for He has done great
things! Perhaps we could have asked for more, but it's difficult to think
how, though we definitely learned more about how to do these trips nearly
half-way around the world on a smaller budget in the future—primarily regarding
our travel expenses. Even so, it was all worth it. There is so much good
news to report.
We expected 100 pastors for the conference in Rwanda, and the numbers
rose to 200 before we left the states. When we arrived, much to our surprise
and delight, there were over 300 pastors in attendance! We were expecting
100 children for our two-day Bible school and had 261! Don't ask me how
but God somehow provided for all of them. He multiplied our gifts for the
children like the loaves and the fishes. It was so amazing. No child left
without gifts (plural) in hand. Every child raised their hand to receive
Christ. We pray the Lord will guard the seed that was sown in their hearts
to raise up strong future leaders for the nation of Rwanda.
We also ministered to 105 spiritually hungry women. About half of
them carried tiny babies on their backs in a knapsack of sorts made of
large scarves, which they mysteriously tucked around their waist. If I
tried this the baby would be on the floor in seconds! In spite of tending
little ones and nursing newborns, they hung on our every word. Days were
long but everyone pressed on. Opportunities for such a spiritual feast
are negligible to non-existent in Rwanda. We hope to be a part of a growing
group that will change that.
We housed and fed over 400 men and women both spiritually and physically
and probably close to 100 children for three days. We saw a move of great
repentance among the pastors for bitterness and unforgiveness toward one
another, for which we are deeply gratified. We went to train leaders to
bring reconciliation in a tragically war-torn country with a long history
of civil strife and horrific genocide and succeeded beyond our wildest
hopes and dreams—all to the praise and glory of God. We pray that the message
of forgiveness and reconciliation will continue to ripple across Rwanda
and the entire continent of Africa. Again I say, He has done great things!
We are looking forward to returning in the future. In fact, Chuck Jamison,
one of our pastors, is already planning to take a team back next year.
My heart rejoices.
Both our men's and women's teams were magnificent. We ranged from
26 to 62 in age. We worked 12 hours a day, remarkably with little of the
effects of jet-lag. With the exception of a flu-like bug among a few of
us, we wonder how we could have asked for more. Every topic we offered
was relevant and life-changing. We went with the commitment to be FAT:
flexible, adaptable and teachable. And we were. We ebbed and flowed together
without a moment's discord in spite of the fact that things rarely went
as planned. We returned home with great respect and admiration for one
another.
I left Rwanda with many incredible memories, but I want to share
three in particular that still bring tears to my eyes: First, watching
300 pastors walking down long dusty roads into Ruengheri to receive from
us was deeply moving and humbling. Many came because they heard of the
conference by word of mouth. They slept on mats on dirt floors at night
and got up each morning to put on white shirts, suits and ties, most of
which were too small or too large for their very thin bodies. Many are
unpaid and untrained, but they have a hunger and thirst for the things
of God. They all had two things in common. They were poor and they were
determined to serve the Lord.
The second memory that deeply moves me was the elated screams of
the women as we handed out the Bibles in their language. All but nine pastors
had Bibles, but most of the women did not. What a thrill to put the most
important book in the entire world into their eager outstretched hands.
The last and most profound memory I will always carry with me is
of all the very small children carrying infants in knapsacks on their backs.
The youngest I saw carrying an infant was probably no older than two. Most
women work in the fields by day to grow enough to feed their families.
The older children carry the babies out to the fields (some- times quite
a distance) to nurse and then return home. They have to do this because
if the baby is near its mother, it will want to nurse often. I pray I will
never be the same or live the same ever again. I now completely understand
what Hilary Clinton meant when she said it takes a village to raise a child.
In places like Rwanda, it truly does take a village.
And how can we thank you enough for your incredible generosity! Without
you, none of this would have been possible. You will have one more crown
to cast at the feet of Jesus when you arrive in heaven. Our entire team,
Chuck and Linda Jamison, Thomas and Jessica Thompson, Terry and Nina Howlett,
Bernadette Musekura (our Africa Leadership and Reconciliation Ministry/translator
connection), Carrie Baker and myself, thanks you from the bottom of our
hearts. And our dear brothers and sisters, the pastors, women and children
who attended the conference in Ruengheri, Rwanda, thank you as well. I
only wish you could have been there. It was fabulous! We will never forget
it. We loved doing it! Perhaps you would like to go with us sometime.
All glory and praise to our mighty God! And once again, on behalf
of the entire Rwanda team, thanks to all those who prayed, helped with
finances, gifts, bibles and the ABC theology books!
The Rwanda Team
P.S. For all of you who might have thought we would be hot, the weather
in Rwanda could not have been more perfect. It was around 50 degrees at
night and 70 degrees in the day. It rained a little one day.
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