Special Delivery

Sunday, March 1, 2009

 

Today as we walk to church our eyes look upward and our steps increase in speed.  The multitudes of clouds are heavy and dark above us.  Rumblings of thunder are all around us.  It is not a question of if it is going to rain but can we get inside the church before it starts.

 

The pastor at this 10 year old church in Rusumu village has asked me to speak this morning.  His father passed away this week and his funeral was on Friday.  His father was not saved but accepted the Lord into his heart right before he passed away.

 

Just as we enter the church the clouds above us open and buckets of water fall to the earth.  Without electricity and with the dark clouds above us the church inside is very dark.  I look up as rays of light are coming through the roof and realize we are all going to get wet inside.  Tin cans are placed here and there through out the church in hopes to catch the rain drops.  People begin to look for a dryer place to sit.  With puddles forming inside the one round floor drum begins to beat.  Church has started with singing and dancing.  As the rain drops fall on me I wonder how I'm going to see to read the scripture.  It was time to speak but the rain is making some cold.  Everyone is encouraged to stand and dance to the music to help warm them up.   As the word was shared tears began to flow down the cheeks of some.  Many came forward for prayer after the service.  We had a wonderful time together despite the wetness of the day.  The widowed women of the church made me a pocket book to carry my Bible in and a couple baskets.  One basket represents peace and the other represents hospitality.  These women lost their husbands in the genocide.  Twenty five thousand people were killed in this area alone.

 

The common greeting here in Rwanda is going cheek to cheek three times and then a hand shake or a kiss on the cheek.  I notice so many are leaving with damp or wet clothes. The rain did not bring discouragement to them and it did not chase them away.

 

After the service the pastor and a few of us have a soda and share some bread. After our rest we decide to walk up a mountain and visit some of the villages along the way.  Alex and Nesta both school teachers walk with me.  It is three hours of steady walking to reach the top but at least we have the day light on our sideJ

 

We pray with a woman along the way that has just buried her brother. We meet another woman who is blind in one eye.  We pray for many along the way.  They are so happy to have a visit and receive prayer.

 

Children run towards us when they notice a white woman in the area. Not all of the children though….some cling to mama tightly with fear in their eyes!  We climb higher and higher.  Gardens continue up the slopes of the mountain. Coffee bean trees, pineapples and bananas are grown here.  We walk through a forest area that has perfectly straight and very tall trees.  I'm told these trees are used for telephone poles.  The path is getting smaller and beneath my feet are many beautiful rocks…quartz, formica and others.  We enter a very small village full of home brew.  There is a quick rush as the men try to hide their bottles from me.  Before we get to the other end of the village a couple mad men (out of their mind) confront us and try to start trouble.  We quickly move on.  As we leave a village there are always a few children that will follow. As we stop and visit between villages more children gather and follow.  At one point there are about 18 children walking with us.  One of the older ones says "We are so lucky.  We have salvation now. She has come."  I stop in my tracks.  As we stand in the grassy meadow high in the mountains I tell them the truth.  I can not save anyone.  There is only one way to heaven.  Jesus is the only one that can give them salvation.  Before we left that meadow all 18 of them accepted Jesus into their heart.  One little boy that joined us later on accepted Jesus in his heart also. 

 

The miners' village is just a small dot below us as we look down upon it and the goal is still ahead.  The path turns this way and that.  The vegetation is thick around us.  The upward climb brings some challenges as the muscles tighten in the legs and the back pack feels like it has rocks inside.  There is no turning back though as we are all determined to finish our goal.  We arrive at the top around 4:30.  We stand on the historic cliff that overlooks mountains and valleys for miles around.  This is the place that King Rugamza ndori and  Ngagi a leader for the area called Ngunigunzu spent a lot of time.

 

After resting and enjoying the views from the cliff we start our way down.  There are many to greet and pray for along the way but we keep our eye on the time.  We don't want to be caught traveling the slopes in the dark.  It takes us two hours to come down to the valley.  We then start up the other side to the Catholic Parish.  Night has set in and the last half hour of travel we walk in darkness.  We meet a group of teens on our way up.  We stop to greet them and before we leave all eight of them accept Jesus into their heart.  There are so many that have never heard the salvation message. We had a wonderful and full day.  We are happy to arrive at the Catholic Parish.  Alex and Nesta are much younger than I am but we all agree that it is so good to sit and rest.

 

The time of rest is short though.  I have 70 orphans waiting for me.  They realize this is the last night I will be with them.  Tonight we use the flannel graph figures for the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  So many were astonished that there was life for them in heaven.  They asked so many questions.  Hands went up every where when I asked if anyone wanted to ask Jesus into their heart.  Forty to fifty orphans high up in the village of Muhoroko asked Jesus into into their heart.  Then as usual each one received individual prayer before they went to sleep.

 

 

 

Monday, March 2, 2009

 

It rained hard first thing this morning.  So hard that I could not come down to the school until almost noon time.  It is market day and all the goods are displayed in the center of the village.  Cloth, tobacco, bananas, cabbage, soap, beans, rice, pineapple and bread  cover the ground.  There is a section for clothes and a section just for food items.  As I walk through one lady says "We are going to have a good day because a white woman walked amongst us." They believe I bring blessings to their area.  Pastor Leo arrives in the afternoon.  He has come to take me back to Kigali the capital of Rwanda.  As we ride up the mountain to pick up my suitcase the vehicle slides this way and that. The roads are still slippery from the morning rains.  Sometimes the edge of the road comes way to close for me as I view below. I gave the orphans here a big hug and receive beautiful smiles in return.  One orphan tells me I am his best friend.  Waves are exchanged as we ride away.  We begin our journey leaving the villages behind.  Children waving and running beside the vehicle escort us out.

 

Isaiah 6:8 

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?  And I said, "Here am I.  Send me!"

 

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

 

I met Eric Inivuzumugalse today.  He has a book coming out in September through Baker Publishing Co. in Colorado. The book is called "My Father Maker of the Trees". He survived the genocide by living in a tree for 15 days.   Two hundred and fifty thousand were killed in Kigali alone during the genocide.  Many of Eric's relatives were killed during this time. 

 

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

 

In the evening I spoke at the Evangelical Restoration Church outside the city limits of Kigali.  The roads off the main routes have deep ruts. Our car hits bottom several times and then has a flat tire before arriving at the church.  We walk the last little bit.  Power outages are common here in Rwanda.  Almost every night the power is lost for a few hours.

 

Sunday, March 8, 2009

 

The last time I was in Rwanda Pastor Augustine's church was being built.  Today I step into a beautiful church building. The Apostles & Prophets Church of Jesus Christ had about 300 in attendance today.  This new church still has room for so many more.  There are two services held here every Sunday morning.  So my day starts early.  The first service is in English J and starts at 8 am.  The second service is in French and starts at 10 am.  It is a blessing to have people willing to translate for me every place I go.   After the service is over we are on our way to a crusade held at the other side of town.  Another busy day has come and gone so quickly.  We end our day with a cup of tea and bread.

 

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

 

The day has arrived and it is time to return to Nairobi, Kenya.   My suitcase is ready to go but I waited for the final "zip" until it was time to leave.  The final "zip" was just that, "Final".  The zipper broke and I had to make a rush trip to the market area and buy another.  We had not planned time for such a trip but it all worked out.  I made it to the airport in time J

 

As I flew in over Kenya I could not believe how dry the earth had become.  There wasn't any green beneath me.  Rain is so badly needed.  My thirty minute ride from the airport to the guest house took a long time today.  There are riots in the center of Nairobi.  Car windows are being smashed, stones are thrown, store windows are broken, fires started and a lot of stealing takes place.  Traffic is bumper to bumper.  We try to use the side roads around the troubled area but traffic jams are found at every turn.  After some time

we arrive safely at the guest house.

 

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

 

I'm unpacked and settled in my room in Nairobi.

I have not been feeling well.  I wanted to wait until I returned to Nairobi to go for medical help.  Nairobi has the best medical care around.  Everyone that can will come from surrounding countries to Nairobi for their health care.  
I have been put to bed for 5 to 6 days.  If I don't get bed rest they threaten me with I V's and some time resting in the hospital.
 
I have double lobe pneumonia. I have a nurse that will visit me in the evening here at the guest house to do some pounding on my back.  So for now it is rest, rest, rest, rest and water, water water, water, water and a few meds in between.
 
My energy level is "zero" and if I try to do anything I break out in a sweat.
 
Pastor Chris from Kawangware was just here and prayed for me and I would appreciate your prayers from home.
 
I am still smiling :)

 

 

Friday, March 13, 2009

 

It is always a joy to get mail from home.  A box of goodies, letters, or emails are so encouraging.  Today I had a special delivery!  Manley arrived here at about 8:30 pm.  A little tired from his journey and the time change but very pleased to be here.  So we are now together here in Nairobi, Kenya.  Our plans are to travel into western Kenya when I have fully recovered from pneumonia.  Thank you all for your prayers for safety as he traveled.