After a warm send off by our Kibuyi pastors we headed out early Saturday morning to begin our R & R time in Ngungwe Rainforest. Saddleback recommends that PEACE trips have a couple of days of R & R to rest and to begin processing all that we have learned. Also, it's a time to begin transitioning back into American culture. Believe it or not there is culture shock that happens when we come home.
We spent most of Saturday traveling the winding hilly roadways of Rwanda. We drove through the rain forest and had breathtaking panoramic views for the almost 2 hour drive just through the forest to reach our accommodations.
Sunday morning we hiked through tea plantations where we learned how to pick tea (in case we need to find work here :-)) Our guide showed us several medicinal plants, many of the local bird species, and guided us into the dense forest to where we could see rare Angora Colobus monkeys. We followed a swinging, chattering colony of about 60 black & white individuals as they made they're way through the tree tops eating as they went. It was a wonderful, magical experience.
The afternoon was spent reflecting on our trip, debriefing the lessons learned and planning a return trip. It was a very fruitful time as we shared with each other. We are grateful to have each other on this trip.
We arrived back in Kigali last night. This morning we have a meeting at the PEACE office to debrief with them, finalizing plans to complete the translation of CR materials and begin preparations for our next trip.
Please pray for travel mercies as later today we begin our journey home, arriving in Los Angeles mid day on Wednesday. Pray for good health as we journey home.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday Night in Kibuye, the best place to be on a Friday Night!
We finished our CR Sr Pastor Introduction meeting today. They are eagerly waiting for the publication of the materials in Kinyarwanda (their local language) so that we can have an extensive training to equip them to start CR in their churches, hopefully early next year. This area of Rwanda was the hardest hit during the 1994 genocide and they desperately want a program that can help them find forgiveness. They really seemed to understand how CR can help them by the questions they asked and the hope we could see in their faces. They were so thankful that we came to bring this healing ministry. I think CR is going to make a huge difference to the people of this country.
We've all had some minor health issues but are on the mend. Please continue to pray for our health, just minor colds and stomach stuff.
Tomorrow we travel to Nyungwe Forest, a huge rain forest, for our debriefing and R&R time and maybe a little hiking. Pray for our time of reflection and taking what we've learned here and seeing how to apply it to future trips.
We've all had some minor health issues but are on the mend. Please continue to pray for our health, just minor colds and stomach stuff.
Tomorrow we travel to Nyungwe Forest, a huge rain forest, for our debriefing and R&R time and maybe a little hiking. Pray for our time of reflection and taking what we've learned here and seeing how to apply it to future trips.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thursday's Pastor Training in Kibuyi
Today we trained over 70 pastors from all around the Karongi District in Western Rwanda. They came from miles away. If we did not pay the $2 round trip costs they would have had to walk for up to 3 hours each way.
We gave them an overview of the CR program. Dave and I gave our testimonies which were received with great interest. We also challenged them to pray and decide if this is a ministry they are willing to commit to. It's a hard one for Rwandan pastors because of the confidentiality required and also turning over the ministry to a ministry leader which is not the norm here. They asked lots of good questions which indicates they are very interested and trying to understand.
We are grateful to find that Maurice got his car repaired and it is running strong so we don't have worries about transportation for the rest of the trip.
We are staying at a house in town that serves as the PEACE office for Western Rwanda. It has 3 bedrooms that accommodates our team. We are halfway up the hill and can here a mixture of sounds made by the children, goats, birds and roosters. A happy evening sound.
Jeanne, who is taking care of the house, has made us African Tea, which we really enjoy, and is preparing our dinner with her sleeping infant wrapped in a cloth tied around her back.
Tomorrow we will finish our Senior Pastor Introduction Meeting and get to know these pastors and their culture a little more.
Our prayer requests tonight are for Dave who's stomach is giving him problems. I am feeling better but still under the weather a bit. Pastor Jean Baptiste (our translator) is fighting a long string of headaches and sore knees. Your prayers are working, as always. Please also pray for these 70+ pastors as they consider attending the next CR training in order to be equipped to start CR.
We gave them an overview of the CR program. Dave and I gave our testimonies which were received with great interest. We also challenged them to pray and decide if this is a ministry they are willing to commit to. It's a hard one for Rwandan pastors because of the confidentiality required and also turning over the ministry to a ministry leader which is not the norm here. They asked lots of good questions which indicates they are very interested and trying to understand.
We are grateful to find that Maurice got his car repaired and it is running strong so we don't have worries about transportation for the rest of the trip.
We are staying at a house in town that serves as the PEACE office for Western Rwanda. It has 3 bedrooms that accommodates our team. We are halfway up the hill and can here a mixture of sounds made by the children, goats, birds and roosters. A happy evening sound.
Jeanne, who is taking care of the house, has made us African Tea, which we really enjoy, and is preparing our dinner with her sleeping infant wrapped in a cloth tied around her back.
Tomorrow we will finish our Senior Pastor Introduction Meeting and get to know these pastors and their culture a little more.
Our prayer requests tonight are for Dave who's stomach is giving him problems. I am feeling better but still under the weather a bit. Pastor Jean Baptiste (our translator) is fighting a long string of headaches and sore knees. Your prayers are working, as always. Please also pray for these 70+ pastors as they consider attending the next CR training in order to be equipped to start CR.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wednesday Night in Kibuye (Karongi)
This morning we visited the Catholic church that was next to our guest house. We learned that 64,000 men, women and children were killed on this compound (including our guest house) during the 1994 genocide. It is impossible to comprehend that so many people were killed, some in the dining room where we had our meals, maybe even in our rooms. It is not a large compound so they must have been everywhere there. That was pretty sobering. The church was beautiful as it has been remodeled with moziacs but it somber inside.
The 2 hour drive to Karongi was gorgeous with the green rolling hills. I certainly understand why they call Rwanda the land of a 1,000 hills. I think they underestimated, there must be closer to 1,000,000 hills.
We stopped along the road and met with some members of the Justice Task Force who were driving back to the capital of Kigali. They have been training across the country and had very successful results. We stopped at a beautiful waterfall surrounded by banana trees and small farms laced over the hills. We enjoyed the changing light as the clouds moved across the valley.
The views of Lake Kivu as we approached Kibuye were awe inspiring. We checked into the PEACE House then went into town for lunch overlooking the lake. We visited the Kibuye Hospital and had a great tour by the head doctor. Much progress has been made since I was there 2 years ago. They are looking forward to building a new hospital on the nearby compound.
This evening we are having a relaxing time so we can be refreshed to begin our 2 day senior pastor CR introduction meeting tomorrow. Dave is teaching our translator, Jean Baptiste, how to play pinball on his PDA. We are having a great time of fellowship with Jean Baptiste and Maurice.
Please pray for the pastors that will be attending the meeting. Pray for us that we are the Muppets that when we open our mouth we speak God's words. Pray for my health as I have a cold. My throat is better but my sinuses are not so good.
The 2 hour drive to Karongi was gorgeous with the green rolling hills. I certainly understand why they call Rwanda the land of a 1,000 hills. I think they underestimated, there must be closer to 1,000,000 hills.
We stopped along the road and met with some members of the Justice Task Force who were driving back to the capital of Kigali. They have been training across the country and had very successful results. We stopped at a beautiful waterfall surrounded by banana trees and small farms laced over the hills. We enjoyed the changing light as the clouds moved across the valley.
The views of Lake Kivu as we approached Kibuye were awe inspiring. We checked into the PEACE House then went into town for lunch overlooking the lake. We visited the Kibuye Hospital and had a great tour by the head doctor. Much progress has been made since I was there 2 years ago. They are looking forward to building a new hospital on the nearby compound.
This evening we are having a relaxing time so we can be refreshed to begin our 2 day senior pastor CR introduction meeting tomorrow. Dave is teaching our translator, Jean Baptiste, how to play pinball on his PDA. We are having a great time of fellowship with Jean Baptiste and Maurice.
Please pray for the pastors that will be attending the meeting. Pray for us that we are the Muppets that when we open our mouth we speak God's words. Pray for my health as I have a cold. My throat is better but my sinuses are not so good.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday Evening in Gitarama
Yesterday morning we drove through the lush green rolling hills of Rwanda from Kigali (the capital) to Gitarama. It was great to see so many familiar faces who attended the previous CR training. It was very interesting to have a baby goat roam in and out of the church while we held the training.
Today we completed a 2 day follow up training for those that attended a 5 day CR conference last year. We spent a wonderful 2 days without an agenda and letting God lead the way and of course it was just what they needed to hear. We talked about CR and learned about their culture and how to help them adapt the program to work for them. One church has started training their leadership team and was eager to learn more about how to launch it church wide. Another church had started it and had 58 (yes 58!) small groups and it was going very well. The senior pastor, Jean Baptiste, was transferred to another parish and their new pastor is not familiar with CR so the future of that CR program is uncertain. Pastor Jean Baptiste plans to start it at his new parish with over 3000 members.
Many churches want to have the ministry and were struggling with some of the very foreign concepts and were very much appreciative for our visit to help clarify some things. As a culture, they have a high need to understand things thoroughly. Our timing was very good. Today we helped them develop action plans to start CR in their churches to guide them forward.
One goal that we had when we came to Rwanda this time was to learn more about their culture so we could be more effective when we train CR here. God has put so many people in our paths that were willing to share that with us. It has been a real blessing. One thing that we learned that helps them is the use of visual aids. Another is the need for accountability for starting the program.
Gitarama is the second largest town in Rwanda. We were going to dinner last night and realized that the electricity was out for the whole town. We were able to find a resturant that had a generator so we could have dinner. They had a single light bulb to light up the whole dining room. We take so much for granted.
Please pray for safe travels to Karongi tomorrow morning. Pray for the pastors that will be attending the CR Introduction Meeting on Thursday and Friday, that their hearts will be open to CR. Pray for me as I have a sore throat now. Pray for all 3 of us to have good energy and health for the remainder of the trip. Pray that we continue to be unified as a team as we serve God and His will.
Today we completed a 2 day follow up training for those that attended a 5 day CR conference last year. We spent a wonderful 2 days without an agenda and letting God lead the way and of course it was just what they needed to hear. We talked about CR and learned about their culture and how to help them adapt the program to work for them. One church has started training their leadership team and was eager to learn more about how to launch it church wide. Another church had started it and had 58 (yes 58!) small groups and it was going very well. The senior pastor, Jean Baptiste, was transferred to another parish and their new pastor is not familiar with CR so the future of that CR program is uncertain. Pastor Jean Baptiste plans to start it at his new parish with over 3000 members.
Many churches want to have the ministry and were struggling with some of the very foreign concepts and were very much appreciative for our visit to help clarify some things. As a culture, they have a high need to understand things thoroughly. Our timing was very good. Today we helped them develop action plans to start CR in their churches to guide them forward.
One goal that we had when we came to Rwanda this time was to learn more about their culture so we could be more effective when we train CR here. God has put so many people in our paths that were willing to share that with us. It has been a real blessing. One thing that we learned that helps them is the use of visual aids. Another is the need for accountability for starting the program.
Gitarama is the second largest town in Rwanda. We were going to dinner last night and realized that the electricity was out for the whole town. We were able to find a resturant that had a generator so we could have dinner. They had a single light bulb to light up the whole dining room. We take so much for granted.
Please pray for safe travels to Karongi tomorrow morning. Pray for the pastors that will be attending the CR Introduction Meeting on Thursday and Friday, that their hearts will be open to CR. Pray for me as I have a sore throat now. Pray for all 3 of us to have good energy and health for the remainder of the trip. Pray that we continue to be unified as a team as we serve God and His will.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sunday in Kigali
Yesterday (Saturday) we spent time with our friend Maurice. He came to drive us into town to take care of a few things and he had his son with him who was sick. We offered to go to the doctor with them first then tend to our business. It was a wonderful time of deepening friendships, meeting his 4 children and learning about the Rwandan healthcare system.
Later Jana and I met with Eugenia who runs a deaf ministry. They sew various things and we got measured for some clothing. We went into town and selected the fabric for our dresses. It was quite the experience to design dresses without a pattern and select the fabric. It will be quite interesting to see the final outcome.
We went to dinner at New Cactus restaurant and had pizza with bananas and bacon (yum!) and Maurice offered to share his story of surviving the genocide of 1994. It is his story to tell so I won’t go into here. It gave us a lot of insight into the Rwandan people who lived through the 100 day massacre of over 1,000,000 people. It was a real honor to hear his story, even though it was hard to hear.
Today (Sunday) we attended Louange (Worship) Church in Kigali with Pastor Samuel Rushombo. We met at Saddleback Church last August when he came to attend the Celebrate Recovery conference. It was good to see him again. He preached a great sermon on the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. After the service we spent time talking about CR and how it applies to Rwandans and learned a lot of helpful things that will make us to be more effective trainers of this ministry here. He is planning to attend the next 5 day conference that we hold here in Rwanda next year.
We met at the PEACE office with Pastor Straton and Jean Pierre to review our “plans” for our remaining time here. We also discussed the completion and publishing of the Kinyarwanda translation of CR materials and the next training conference to be held here.
Please pray for the people that will be attending our 2 day conference in Gitarama who attended the 5 day training last year. Pray that we will be the Muppets and God will give us wisdom and insight as we encourage them and answer their questions as they start this ministry. Pray for safe travels tomorrow (Monday) morning as we drive there. Thanks for your prayers, Jana L is felling great and is fully recovered from her sore throat.
Later Jana and I met with Eugenia who runs a deaf ministry. They sew various things and we got measured for some clothing. We went into town and selected the fabric for our dresses. It was quite the experience to design dresses without a pattern and select the fabric. It will be quite interesting to see the final outcome.
We went to dinner at New Cactus restaurant and had pizza with bananas and bacon (yum!) and Maurice offered to share his story of surviving the genocide of 1994. It is his story to tell so I won’t go into here. It gave us a lot of insight into the Rwandan people who lived through the 100 day massacre of over 1,000,000 people. It was a real honor to hear his story, even though it was hard to hear.
Today (Sunday) we attended Louange (Worship) Church in Kigali with Pastor Samuel Rushombo. We met at Saddleback Church last August when he came to attend the Celebrate Recovery conference. It was good to see him again. He preached a great sermon on the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. After the service we spent time talking about CR and how it applies to Rwandans and learned a lot of helpful things that will make us to be more effective trainers of this ministry here. He is planning to attend the next 5 day conference that we hold here in Rwanda next year.
We met at the PEACE office with Pastor Straton and Jean Pierre to review our “plans” for our remaining time here. We also discussed the completion and publishing of the Kinyarwanda translation of CR materials and the next training conference to be held here.
Please pray for the people that will be attending our 2 day conference in Gitarama who attended the 5 day training last year. Pray that we will be the Muppets and God will give us wisdom and insight as we encourage them and answer their questions as they start this ministry. Pray for safe travels tomorrow (Monday) morning as we drive there. Thanks for your prayers, Jana L is felling great and is fully recovered from her sore throat.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
In Kigali
We arrived last night in Kigali safely with our luggage. It was great to be met at the airport by Jean Pierre and Maurice. We got to practice being flexible from the start. The hotel we were booked at didn't have rooms so we checked in to the Diplomat Hotel. It has a nice view overlooking downtown Kigali. We are enjoying a relaxing breakfast in the outdoor dining room. Oh yeah, and our "plans" for the next couple of days are a bit different than we expected. "I will cheerfully adjust, change or drop my planned program to meet the local needs and fit into the local context." We know God's plans are so much better than ours and look forward to seeing what He has in store.
Friday, May 21, 2010
We made it to Nairobi
Thanks so much for your prayers. Our flights and connections have gone smoothly so far. We have just one short flight from Nairobi to Kigali, Rwanda remaining. We are looking forward to being back in Rwanda and seeing friends and what God has in store for us.
Please pray for our last flight to Rwanda, good health (Jana Lopez is getting a sore throat), for a good night's rest tonight, for our meetings tomorrow with the PEACE office, translators and pastors. Pray that we be the muppets for what God wants us to do and say.
Please pray for our last flight to Rwanda, good health (Jana Lopez is getting a sore throat), for a good night's rest tonight, for our meetings tomorrow with the PEACE office, translators and pastors. Pray that we be the muppets for what God wants us to do and say.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
CR Mission Trip to Rwanda
A team of CR leaders from Saddleback Church, Dave Lopez, his wife Jana Lopez and Jana O'Guin are preparing to go to Rwanda on Thursday, May 20th for a Celebrate Recovery mission trip.
What follows is a brief itinerary of the trip. You can follow along day by day and pray for specific things. We will be posting updates and prayer requests periodically from Rwanda (depending on internet connections!) so we can stay connected with you and let you know how to specifically pray for us during our trip.
May 20-21 10:30am LAX to Minneapolis to Amsterdam to Nairobi to Kigali,Rwanda
Lord take us safely and smoothly into Africa.
May 22 Meet with Jean Pierre and Pastor Stratton at the P.E.A.C.E. office. They advise and guide us throughout our stays in Rwanda. It’ll be good to see their familiar faces again.
Bless those who You put in our path to encourage us.
May 23 Travel to visit Anglican Church of Rwanda. Senior Pastor Jean Baptiste attended our CR training in January 2009 and has started the very first Celebrate Recovery in Rwanda! We are anxious to visit and encourage them.
Praise God for Jean Baptiste and his church! Lord take us safely there and protect us all with Your hope and perseverance.
May 24-25 Meeting with our original trainees to determine how best to serve them, answer questions, determine the challenges unique to Rwanda in implementing Celebrate Recovery and encourage them.
Lord, give us ears to listen and the ability to discern what is needed for this special group of men and women. Help us to understand their needs to be more effective in future trainings.
May 26 Travel to Karongi
Help us be Your ambassadors in everything we say and do. These bumpy roads are where our work is today. Help us be accepting and loving everywhere we go.
May 27-28 Senior Pastor Introduction. In Karongi we are meeting about 80 Senior Pastor’s to cast the vision of CR and explain some of the basic concepts. Your donations are helping get them to the training as transportation cost is beyond their means.
Thank God for these men and bless their efforts to help and love their church families even if it means a radical change! Help us communicate clearly with them.
May 29-30 We head south to Nyungwe National Park for down time to process what we have learned and experienced and begin thinking about returning for the next training.
Lord, be with us as we digest all that You have shown us. Help us rest for the way home. Show us Your next steps.
May 31 Travel to Kigali/visit with Pastor Hesbey our friend and head of the Inkuru Nizeza Church Group.
Thank you, Lord, for friends in far places. We are blessed to be Your blessing. Keep them healthy and protected as they work in Your purposes. Protect and prosper our time with them.
June 1 Debrief at the P.E.A.C.E. office in the morning and depart in the afternoon
Lord protect our hearts, Give us insight, Show us how to love others as You do. Make our meeting productive and full of hope.
June 2 Arrive LAX 12:40 pm.
Keep our flights on time, Lord. Give us peace instead of sadness at leaving. Help us understand Your next steps.
Thank you for being a part of our prayer team.
The Rwanda CR Team
Muraho (Hello,Good-bye,Thank you)
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