African Time verses Rwandan Time

A friend wrote …

“I’ll be there in an hour,” means I’ll see you in 2 or 4 or maybe tomorrow … if it rains. Yes, it’s an adjustment for a Californian to make. The professional people of Rwanda are pretty good about keeping time, but outside of that group, it’s a roll of the dice. I’ve found that many things interfere with people getting from place to place. Many people just do not have transportation … they just cannot afford it. Then vehicles breakdown all the time. Unpredictable rain can delay you for a whole day sometimes. Despite all this, the city is thriving and progressing, as it’s economy has been stimulated by the government’s release of funds and private investor presence. The people that I have met are all hard workers and want to continue their education. Finding jobs to pay for tuition is an up hill battle.

“I’m now used to an hour or an hour and a half long church service in the U.S.A. Here in Rwanda, church can run from 7 or 8 in the morning to 1 or 2 in the afternoon. It’s an all day event. I must admit, it’s hard for me to concentrate that long, it’s probably partly do to the fact that the service is in a different language. Somehow the kids are able to sit through it all. There is a lot of dancing and singing, singing and dancing, dancing and singing, did I mention dancing.”

I found all of the above in Rwanda. Yes I’m home now. And I must apologize. The wireless connection was not as available to me this year as it was in 2006 so I did not blog daily as my desire was. As thought and events come to mind now upon my return, will you give me permission to record them for you in this blog?

Last Leg … Counter Intelligence?

We arrived in Nairobi. Little did we know what would happen behind the counter. 17 people … no seats. 5 stayed behind. 3 bags lost. Pray for return tomorrow. We at Indian food … highlight. Went to Genecide Museum. So touching … beyond belief.

We have arrived in London Town

We are all accounted for and have arrived. We have been sardines, and are now ready to be the Big Tunas. We just hooked up with the Greenhalghs, and they are paging me to board. More details later.

We love and miss you all. Keep us lifted up.

Dr. Cornel Ronald West

You can’t lead people if you don’t love people.
You can’t save people if you don’t serve people.
So the questions are:
What is the depth of your love? and
What is the quality of your service as
you go out into the world?
Dr. Cornel Ronald West

Well it’s time … we are now counting the hours. I’m still at the office doing last minute organization [surprised?]. Typing up the list of in-country people … like just suppose the van doesn’t show up one morning on the way to your church. What is that transportation guy’s number anyway — you know, that kind of thing. But all in all it’s almost soup.

In addition to the Pastor Rick Rwanda Store, we are also piloting a project called “P.E.A.C.E. CDT Laptop Program.” [Let's take a vote on that name.] Through an internet telephone service called “SKYKE” anyone can talk to anyone else all over the world for almost no charge. [ www.skype.com/intl/en/prices/callrates/ ] This program facilitates reasonable telephone/data-communication rates between Rwandan P.E.A.C.E. Partners and United States-based P.E.A.C.E. Teams as a means of ongoing CDT. More details on this Pilot Project, if successful, and approved by the Rwandan Committee at a later date. I just received the laptop, instructions, pastor’s picture, and name so I had to share this Pilot Project with you as part of this daily journal. Pretty great. [And you heard it here first.] What do you think about the P.E.A.C.E. CDT Laptop Program? Please leave me a comment.

Wonderful and precious Julie gave me this gorgeous, hip, and classy shawls to give as gifts to the Rwandan Women’s Leadership at my Rwandan Home Church, The Glory of Christ Church. These shawls still have their tags on them, and there are so many. Bless you Julie for seizing the moment to bless someone else.

I tell you … today in prayer, organized by my own Kathy, I felt so covered in God’s arms … it was as if I was wearing Him and the Holy Spirit as a pair of footed pajamas, that had a tie up hoodie [flannel] … very holely.

Let me end this and go home to finish packing.

Prayer for the Rwandans ~ Day 8
Need
I pray, dear Father, for the needs of the Rwandan people.
I pray this promise in your Holy Word:
For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
Psalm 72:12-13

And the Song asks: “Are you ready for a Miracle?”

Prayer for the Rwandans ~ Day 7

Oppression

O Lord, help the Rwandans to overcome
the oppression they have experienced. Help them to
realize by and through Your strength
they can overcome everything and everyone
who tries to oppress them.

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:9–10

Okay, so how many days left now? Well according to my calculations … “It’s the final count down.”

Was there a miracle today? Well of course there was. There was the miracle of building a relationship with another church organization: Calvary Chapel La Habra. Check out their Web site.

[ http://www.limitlessboundaries.org/main.html ]

They have a mission project, and are focusing on Rwanda. In fact two of our November teams are going to two of the churches in Calvary Chapel’s Rwanda focus. What if we coordinated our calendars, respected one another’s schedules, and maybe even assisted each other with projects for the Rwandan Churches we had in common?

I’ve got to run now. This mule is only half packed. Tomorrow I expect will be a day of workmates praying for me. It will fortify me for the days to come … I pray for myself and for all my teammates … for an extra portion of WISDOM.

And wisdom right now is telling me to get going and get that extra package of Airborne!

Another Mission

Today while driving to work, I looked up into sky blue color and smiled up at God and said, “What have you got cookin’ for me today?” And then just laughed out loud; and kinda keep a grin on my face.

I received a wonder e-mail today from one of the women traveling with me. I’d like to share it with you.

She wrote:

An Aesop’s Fable perfectly illustrates the importance of unity in the body of Christ. A lion prowled about a field in which four oxen dwelled. Often the lion tried to attack them; but whenever he came near, they turned their tails to one another so that whichever way he approached them, he was met by the horns of one of the oxen. At last, however, the oxen started to quarrel among themselves and each went off to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field. The lion saw his chance, attacked them one by one, and soon made an end of all four. Aesop ended the fable with the simple but powerful statement, “United we stand, divided we fall,” which Patrick Henry used later to stress the importance of standing together in a unified love of freedom rather than being divided by petty differences. He knew divisions among the colonies would prevent the establishment of the country we now know and love.It’s the same in the Christian community. We must be united in our love for God lest our common goal of reaching lost souls for His kingdom be sacrificed for the sake of our minor differences.

United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.

Prayer for Rwanda ~ Day 6

Emptiness

God, you are with the Rwandans.
Please do not be silent.
Speak to them and shatter the deafening emptiness to let them know
that they are your beloved.
You will never forget o forsake them.
Fill their emptiness with your incredible love.

Romans 15:13
Isaiah 58:10-11
Psalm 37:3-4

So what did God have stored up for me today. Another honor. The November Team has been asked to help import products produced by widows and orphans to a Rwandan Store which will be on the Saddleback Campus. This at the request of Pastor Rick. What we will be bringing back is What kinds of product would you like to see in a Rwandan store? Let me know.

Only 2 more days then a bus will arrive at Ministry Office 2, at 4:00ish.

Departing in 4 days … only 4 more days.

I’d like to share a letter I got today from a good friend of mine … Our meeting was one of those God moments, right after a live sermon from Rev. TD Jakes, in Palm Desert, California. My new friend wasn’t suppose to be there, and I almost wasn’t manning Rev. DeEtta West’s product table because the conference just didn’t schedule it. Elyvanie is a Rwandan refurgee; having arrived in the US before the genocide. Most of her family was horribly murdered. What are the chances of such a meeting. Oh, and did I mention … in her purse she had a business card of a person she had met many months earlier. That person was Bob Bradberry; yes, our own Rwanda Bob the Director of P.E.A.C.E. Initiatives, Saddleback Church. Amazing, amazing grace. Here’s Elyvanie’s letter:

Betty, you have been a blessing and inspiration to me. Your positive words shows that you spend time with God. thank you so much. I have tuo brothers in Rwanda and one cousin.

Nelson lives in Kigali and works as a principal for one of the school. May be you can introduce to him the purpose driven life book, and he can also introduce it to his school.His phone number is 250-0858-5033.

Marcel is my older brother and he lives in Gisenyi where I grew up and of course where the 1994 crime scene took place.His phone # is 250-0000-0000.

Kayitare is my cousin.His phone is 250-0000-0000.

The orphanage I’am working with is called: Noelle Nyundo orphanage. The director’s name is Nyirabagesera, Athanasia. Her cell phone # is 250-0000-0000. Home is 250-0000-0000.

I’am praying that God pour down his holy spirit in the special and even greater way than on the day of pentecost on each individual who is traveling with you.How great are the feet of those who bring good news.

Laura and I will, God willing be personally delivering Elyvanie’s warm greetings to her two brothers, cousin, and orphanage who she has not seen since leaving Rwanda; bring back to Elyvanie pictures of our family, and beloved country.

Do you ever wonder what God is up to? For me, the not knowing, just makes me tingle and giggle!

Prayer for the Rwandans ~ Day 5

Abandonment

In their darkest hour,
when everyone has left them and they feel utterly alone,
we ask that the Rwandans remember that You,
dear LORD, are with them.

“Never will I leave you
Never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

Last Night of Training

The last night of training. So much to cover … so little time. HIV/AIDS Presentation, money exchange, cell phone scratch cards, suitcase weight, in-country information, health and safety, not a democracy, daily schedule, ministering to children, ministering to each other. I think we’ve covered everything. And what we haven’t covered, God will take care of.

Today I was given our in-country cell phones, first aide kit, GPS, sim chips, literature … and it’s all packaged up and ready to distribute thanks to Kenny and Debra stopping by to pick up their in-country phone. [That was today's miracle.] I would have been at work into the midnight hour. With Kenny and Debra the process was over in an hour. It’s amazing how much time it takes for the simple things. My goal is to create a Check Book Journal just for P.E.A.C.E. Trip Leaders in 2008 — what do you think?

Only 5 days to go.

Prayer for Today

Betrayal

I pray that the betrayal felt by Rwandans does not
destroy their faith in You.
God you are so faithful.
They need to forgive those who have betrayed them,
and do so in your name.

The Lord is my helper; I will not be afriad
What can men do to me?
Hebrews 13:6

Grand Commissioning!

Last Night’s Commissioning

A true description of the event last night is really beyond words. It was a night of excitement, imbibment, enlightenment, and expectation. From 4:15PM the November Team and supporters arrived. Nicole … bless her precious heart … and I set up the room for our expected guest. Tables, chairs, tablecloth, cloth napkins, overlaps, center pieces, 100 balloons, serving tables, music, tv with VHS … we set it all up. Lisa put the Rwandan flag in the center of the room. Laura assisted with balloons, having picked up some food. This morning I realized this 50+ body was not meant for such activity. The food kept coming and coming. Yet I was glad I had Laura bring my insurance food (soul food) [you just never know with potlucks].

One of the objectives of this event was that the Leaders of the team show the team members our servant heart … totally serving all the members, with excellence and humility.

From the very beginning it was obvious that the most honored guest had arrived. If you’re one that looks for miracles, you would have seen one after another, after another last night. In case you didn’t know, that honored guest was God himself.

Roy welcomed each Team Leader who told us where they were assigned in Rwanda. The miracles started with a red apron that completely matched our apronless facilitator’s and my personal mentor, Jane Wallace. Jane showed us a film clip of when Jesus called the name of the disciples [Matthew 10]. Just as we going to Rwanda were called by name. How personal Jane made this story feel to US! It was as if Jesus called to me — audibily — “Betty, daughter. Come.” The miracle of this is soon to come.

Then our own Lisa challenged us! 3 challenges she give us. Did I mention the favors on the table were two scriptures: II Chronicles 20:15 and especially Isaiah 61:1-3.

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, ^[a]

2to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

Responsive readings came next. I was the voice of the scriptures.

Then Buddy gave us an awesome sermon. All the aforementioned props were already set up to compliment his sermon. The film clip, the challenge, the favors on the table, which he had everyone read out loud (see above). And it all ended with an emotional anointing of the palms of our hands.

Rwanda Bob gave us an update having recently returned from Rwanda.

Roy … what an outstanding leader you are! Laura thank you for always being there and for your servant heart. Mary and Carolyn … thank you for your wisdom and heart of God.

What an incredible commissioning.

Prayer for today for Rwanda

Abuse

Although others have hurt Rwandans,
all they have to do is turn to You and they will be comforted.
God heal them, and make them whole.

You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble,
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7

10/27/2007

Today is the day of our commissioning [appointed or assigned to a task or function]. There will be a potluck and an awesome ceremony/celebration. We are exactly 7 days from departure. Just as the God of the Old Testament gave the ancient ones ceremonies and traditions … so too will we have an event to remember and to cherish as we start our journey.

Order of Service

1. Roy will have each “Team Leader” [who are sporting aprons SERVING their teams] introduce their team and where they have been assigned, their Rwandan Pastor and the name of the church.

2. Then Jane will show the Jesus film … the part where each disciple is called by name … just like each of us have personally been called by name.

3. Our spiritual Coach, Lisa will challenge us! Three challenges built on a story of her own.

4. Your’s truly will lead a Responsive Reading … I’ll be the voice of the Bible.

5. What a blessing … it all will end … or begin with a prayer and blessing by Buddy.

Prayer for Today, Saturday, October 27, 2007

Abandonment

In their darkest hour, when everyone has left them
and they feel utterly alone, we ask that
the Rwandans remember that You,
dear LORD are with them.

“Never will I leave you
Never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5