Celebrate Recovery Africa Connection

CR is Growing in Ghana

2012-05-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

Teams from Southern Hills Baptist, Tulsa, OK have traveled twice to Ghana, West Africa to share Celebrate Recovery with churches in the last six months. We returned Feb. 10, 2012 from the second trip where we held a 4 Day Training for 40 people to equip them to start a Main Event Night. PRAY for these pastors from 3-5 churches and their Lay Leaders who plan to start CR in Ghana churches.

Thank God for Bishop Francis Afotey Odai whose church, Maranatha Power Ministries, hosted this event! We set up just outside the Shiloh Guest House where we stayed!

Wearing Home Run shirts to tell the Ghanaians that the movie is coming soon! These construction workers are building a District school!

The first Open Share group for men in Ghana!! (They were so excited to have their picture taken for this historic occasion!)

Rwanda

2012-04-03T05:46:00.004-07:00

The time in Rwanda was really good. We held 2 CR seminars, 1 in Muhanga District and another in Karongi District for churches that have previously attended CR training seminars. They are progressing well in starting CR and people are beginning to feel safe to open up and talk about some hurts in their lives for the first time. It is a slow process because the people of Rwanda have been through so much pain, it is hard to even comprehend. 1,000,000 people were killed in 100 days during the 1994 genocide. Everyone in the country was affected by it one way or another.

CR is starting in Rwanda with Large Group meetings to give people a chance to think about their own lives. They will gradually add Open Share groups as people feel safer to talk to one another. Later they will add Step Study groups.

Both the Leader's Guides and Participant's Guides have been published in their local language of Kinyarwanda.

Please pray for the people of Rwanda as they go forward with CR. Pray for the leader's of these new CR ministries. Pray for God's plans for future trainings and timing, possibly in September.

Monday in Kigali, Rwanda

2012-03-26T07:23:00.003-07:00

Saturday & Sunday we had meetings with Deliverance Church Kitengela, on the outskirts of Nairobi. On previous trips I had met the senior pastor and another pastor and they were very excited about learning more about CR. Two weeks ago, Pastor Peter attended our 4-day seminar in Nairobi to learn how to start CR in their church. They are so eager to get going that they asked me to help introduce CR to their church and begin training some key leaders and church members.

We had great meetings and they have an awesome CR leadership team made up of 4 men and 4 women. A Kenyan friend from another CR came over to assist them as they begin. He also shared his own CR testimony. It was so powerful. I met so many wonderful people with a heart for serving the Lord.

Today I flew from Nairobi to Burundi then on to Kigali, Rwanda. It’s cooler here and everything is so green. It has been very dry in Kenya but in Rwanda the rains have come already. I have a slower paced schedule this afternoon to relax a bit and connect with some friends then my friend and translator Pastor Jean Baptiste arrives this evening.

Tomorrow we start the day early as we drive about 1 hour to Gitarama for our first CR seminar. I’m excited to see what they have done with CR since our last visit. In the afternoon we drive on to Kibuye on the Rwanda-Congo border to have another CR seminar on Wednesday to encourage their CR ministries. We drive back to Kigali on Wednesday evening.

Please pray for God’s wisdom and guidance for the 2 seminars. We don’t have a training plan, just go and see what they need and help them based on where they are. Pray for greater understanding of their culture to better help them with CR. Pray for travel mercies as we drive through the rolling hills across the country. Pray for renewed energy and good rest for us.

Friday night in Kitengela

2012-03-23T11:01:00.005-07:00

I am back in a small town close to Nairobi and the Internet connection is more reliable. There is more catching up to do.

Wednesday Margaret and I took the kids to see their mother in prison in Eldoret. She continues to do so well. Nolega was convicted of murder and sentenced to die, she was retried and her conviction was reduced to man-slaughter and she was given a sentence of 15 years to serve. She became the pastor of the women’s prison, started CR inside and is now given privileges to go into town unsupervised to purchase supplies for the prison. She is scheduled for release in December 2016 but is hoping for an early release because she has proven that she has truly reformed.

After spending time with their mother, we took Calvin, Brian, Augstine and Elzabeth (left to right) to a local zoo/park for the afternoon. There were animals from within Kenya like lions, monkeys, crocodiles, reptiles, ostriches, parrots, etc. There was a huge playground too. We really enjoyed our time together. We were so tired we all slept during the drive back to Kitale.

When not with my kids (they were in school) I visited with several church leaders and prison officials Kitale and the surrounding area. It was so good to hear stories of lives changing through CR. I was also able to visit with several friends in the area.

I saw my friend Geoffrey at Oasis of Hope, a center that helps street kids get off the street, back into school and have productive lives. They are having such an impact on these once forgotten and hopeless children.

This afternoon I flew from Kitale back to Nairobi in a 35 passenger plane then David met me and tool me to Kitengela on the outskirts of Nairobi. Tomorrow and Sudnay I will be training churches in the area on how to get their CR ministries going.

Thanks for all of your prayers. Other than a scratchy throat because of dusty roads, I am feeling well. Pray for the people attending the seminar tomorrow, that they will have open hearts and good ideas about how to move forward with CR. Pray for wisdom for me and the pastors and other church leaders who will be facilitating the training. Pray for renewed energy as I have been going at a pretty steady pace since arriving in Kenya.

Tuesday Night in Kitale

2012-03-20T11:23:00.002-07:00

I’ve had limited Internet access so I have a lot of catching up to do since my last post on Friday night.

Saturday
We visited 3 prisons for the first time in Western Kenya - Kakamega Main for men, Kakamega Women’s and Shikusa Farm Prison. At Kakamega Main we met in the prison yard with several hundred men, from those in Remands (not convicted) to those who have been condemned (sentenced to death) from all denominations. They we very eager to learn about Celebrate Recovery and excited to be starting it later this year when we come back and train their prison officials.

We visited the women’s prison and were warmly welcomed by beautiful singing. They sang several songs and I can still hear their sweet voices praising our Lord. CR was started there a few years ago by a chaplain friend who attended a CR seminar in Kitale. She trained some leaders (inmates) to carry it out. Most have since been released and they are excited to getting it going again on a broader scale and with more support.

We visited Shikusa Farm Prison and met with some of the CR leaders (inmates) to discuss how it was going. They have about 150 men attending the Large Group teachings. CR was started there recently by a chaplain friend who was transferred from Kitale Main Prison where CR originally started. They will be starting their first step study group very soon. We met with many of the 500 men that reside in this prison and heard testimonies from some of the men that have already started CR.
It is amazing to see how God is spreading this ministry in the prisons by either transferring prisoners from one place to another or by relocating prison officials. CR is changing so many lives and truly rehabilitating men and women during this challenging time in their lives.

Bishop Moses and I made the 2+ hour drive to Kitale through beautiful countryside. It was nice to see my friends again and settle in at my friend’s house where I am staying this week.

Sunday
Sunday morning we attended church and spent time reconnecting with friends and family. I had a wonderful reunion with my 4 God-children. They have grown so much and their English had gotten very good so we can communicate easily now. We had a wonderful day of relaxing and enjoying spending time together.

Monday
I met with some churches and encouragd some along with their progress with CR and with others that are interested in starting it. It was great to hear how CR is impacting people’s lives and helping churches by providing a way of healing for church members. It is bringing reconciliation and hope to many.

I visited Purpose Driven High School which was opened since I was here last year. I spoke to the students and encouraged their education. In the afternoon I took my kids shopping for new shoes, always a special time when we are together.

Tuesday
Today it was back to prison. I visited Kitale Main and Women’s prison. Many of the men’s CR group members that were here last year have been released. Two of the former CR leaders are now pastors and have started their own churches outside, with CR at the very core of the church. Inside, the men’s CR ministry is growing again with over 60 men attending Large Group meetings. They are starting a new Step Study group very soon.

The women’s prison is always a special place to visit for me. That is where my God-son was born. It is so heartbreaking to see so many children in prison with their mothers, up to the age of 4. Yet at least they get to be with their mothers when they are so young. There has been a real turnover of inmates which is good, that means they are not staying inside that long. We heard testimonies from 2 women that murdered their husbands. They are finding peace and healing.

In the afternoon I met with another church with CR. Through CR they have an amazing outreach into the villages and so many lives have been transformed. Prostitutes are now seamstresses, drug addicts are learning computer skills. They are finding healing and hope for a different life.

Tomorrow I take my God-children to Eldoret (about a 2 hour drive each way) to visit their mother who is in prison. They have not seen her since I was here last and they are very eager to see her. I am looking forward to spending the day with them.

Thanks so much for your continuing prayers. Please pray for travel mercies for tomorrow as we journey over less than ideal roads to Eldoret. Pray for a wonderful reunion with their mother. Pray for a fun day with the kids. Pray for my health, I still have a scratchy throat on and off but it seems to be getting worse with some dry coughing now. I have been talking non-stop since arriving in Kenya plus it is hot and dusty so that doesn’t help either.

Friday Night in Kakamega

2012-03-16T11:31:00.002-07:00

The CR Introduction seminar went really well today. We were expecting 60-80 people but 125 came to hear about this Christ-centered ministry called Celebrate Recovery. About half were from churches and the other half from prisons from all over the Western Provence. There were Protestants, Catholics, 7-Day Adventists and Muslims in attendance. They were all so open and eager to learn more.

We sat with a small group of senior pastors that are part of a pastor fellowship in the area to develop a strategy for when we come back later in the year to do a more in depth training like we did in Nairobi this week. We also met with the prison leadership for similar discussions.

Morris will go visit his family tomorrow who lives nearby then return back to Nairobi while Bishop Moses and I continue the ministry here.

There are 4 prisons in the Kakamega area and we are scheduled to visit all of them tomorrow. Wow, that is a lot of prison time! God is opening so many doors here. After that we will drive to Kitale (about 2 hours) where I will be the next few days.

The next few days I will be visiting existing CR ministries to encourage them and reconnect with many friends and of course my 4 God-children.

Please pray for open hearts during the prison visits tomorrow, both the officials and inmates. Pray that we speak His words during our time there. Pray for safe travels and a good time of fellowship for Morris and his family. Pray for travel mercies for Moses and I as we drive to Kitale. Pray for a great time of fellowship and reunion with friends and my 4 God-children.

Friday Morning

2012-03-15T21:29:00.002-07:00

We completed our seminar yesterday with much excitement about how to move forward with CR. There was a great deal of thoughtful brainstorming and plans being made on how to make CR successful and grow throughout Kenya. Praise the Lord!

The Assistant Commissioner of prisons and Principle Chaplain (over all the prisons) came for the official closing. They also read a letter from the Commissioner himself, saying that he wanted to attend CR and I should plan to do a seminar for the senior officials. He was very supportive of CR in all of the prisons. God is good.

Morris & I flew to Kisumu on the banks of Lake Victoria in the afternoon and were met by Bishop Moses who drove us 1 ½ hours to Kakamega. We arrived and learned that half of our hotel had no electricity. They moved us to some smaller rooms but we have the essentials. Welcome to Africa :-).

Today we have a CR Introductory meeting for pastors and prison officials in the area. We are expecting a good turnout.

Thank you so much for your prayers. Morris is feeling much better and my throat feels fine now and no sign of catching the cold that has been going around. Pray for open hearts at the seminar today and that we speak God’s words.

Thursday Morning

2012-03-14T19:42:00.002-07:00

Today is the last day of our CR seminar. It has been exciting to watch as they begin to experience CR for themselves and capture the vision what it can do in their own lives and the people they minister to in prisons and churches. They are so open and eager to learn more.

Yesterday the CR leader for Athi River prison shared his CR testimony. He wrote it out following our format and read it. He was so open about himself and it was really powerful.

Today we focus on the very practical steps of going forward and beginning this ministry in their churches and prisons. We will have an opportunity to nail our burdens on the cross and share communion together. Then a senior official from prison headquarters will do the official closing of the seminar and show their support for CR in the prisons.

This afternoon Morris and I fly to Kisumu then meet a friend who will drive us to Kakamega in Western Kenya. Tomorrow we hold an introductory seminar for senior pastors and prison officials in the area. We will come back later in the year to teach a 4-day seminar to equip those that want to start CR.

Pray for open hearts and for God’s wisdom to show the way forward in starting CR in the churches and prisons that have attended the training this week. Pray for travel mercies for Morris and I. Pray for the seminar that we will hold tomorrow in Kakamega. Pray for good health. A few people attending the seminar this week have colds. Morris started getting sick yesterday and I woke up with a scratchy throat this morning. Pray that Morris heals quickly and that I don’t get sick. Thanks so much for your prayers, we couldn't do this without them.

Sunday

2012-03-11T05:10:00.005-07:00

Saturday Update
Yesterday morning I went to Athi River Prison to meet with their CR groups. God is really doing some amazing work there. Two officers that have a passion for CR started it with a group of 20 men last year. They meet every Friday afternoon where they break into two groups and do their Step Study workbooks. On Saturday mornings they have a Large Group meeting. There are Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and Atheists together in this Christ centered ministry. The healing has been amazing. At the end of the step study (which every man completed!!), they wrote the things they found freedom from and were willing to forgive on a piece of paper and nailed it to a cross, then built a small fire and burned them in the middle of the prison yard.

There was one inmate, Joseph, transferred from Kamiti Maximum security prison in Nairobi to Athi River. He was at Kamiti during our first visit 3-4 years ago and heard a group of us share testimonies and talk about CR. When they asked for people interested in joining the first CR group at Athi River, he was very excited to join. He is now the CR leader.

They had a “graduation” in late January where many prison officials and local church leaders heard testimonies of several of the men from all religious backgrounds. Because of hearing this, prison headquarters fully now endorses and supports CR and has asked us to help them implement CR in all 93 prisons in Kenya! They are even funding the trainings. Athi River Prison was granted an office specifically for CR and they designated a classroom for CR. God is so good.

At Athi River, they have started the second “class” for CR with 36 men. Some men from the previous class are leaders now helping the second one. They would have more people involved but are limited by space. I met with them yesterday and taught the lesson HOPE at their Large Group meeting. They shared with me their interpretation of the lesson HOPE. Joseph was inspired to paint a picture about HOPE, including the acrostic. I asked him to teach HOPE from the painting. It was very creative and inspiring. They sang a song about CR that they wrote. I recorded a video of part of it and hopefully can upload it at some point.

CR has been going in other prisons for some time, started by some chaplains that have experienced the healing of CR also and it has helped so many inmates find healing. They have been very dedicated while facing many challenges. After this experience at Athi River, Prison Headquarters is now fully endorsing it and making the prisons accountable for the progress of it. The officer in charge of Athi River said that he will not grant a transfer from one prison to another unless they have gone through CR. Did I mention that God is good?

Sunday
Today I attended church at Children of the Promise Church in Kawangware, a slum in Nairobi. The senior pastor, Bishop Amos Wasala, attended our CR seminar in 2009. He started CR in his church but it has been a challenge as he is the only person trained. He is sending some church leaders to the 4-day seminar that starts tomorrow so they can be trained then get it going strong in their church. He asked me to “preach” today, so of course I talked about CR. It impacted so many people and it seemed like half the church came forward asking for prayer for things they struggle with, mostly unforgiveness. Now it's time for one of the simple pleaseures in life, having afternoon chai on the porch at Methodist Guest House with the house cat curled up beside me. :-)

Please pray for the people that will be attending the seminar that starts tomorrow morning, that it be the right people that God wants there from both churches and prisons. Pray for open hearts. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide Morris and I as we teach.

Friday Night in Nairobi

2012-03-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

My flights went smooth and I arrived in Nairobi last night, met at the airport by my Masai warrior friend, David. Thanks so much for your prayers.

Today Morris and I had meetings at Prison Headquarters with the Director of Rehabilitation and Director of Social Welfare. Both of these Godly women are on fire for CR and have witnessed firsthand the impact of this ministry in Kenyan prisons. Too say that they fully support CR is an understatement and want it in all the prisons in Kenya! Praise the Lord.

We met with Pastor William at ICC (International Christian Center). A group from this church attended a CR seminar last year and have been preparing to launch it in their church. They officially launch it this Sunday at both of their campuses.

Morris and I spent time with Pastor Peter from Deliverance Church Kitegela. He attended a CR seminar in 2008 and faced some challenges when they attempted to start it in their church. During this trip I will spend 2 days with them, helping them find a way to move forward working with their church leaders.

I took a nap this afternoon as I try to get my days and nights on Kenya time. We are 11 hours ahead of California time.

Please pray that I am able to get good rest and adjust quickly. Pray for ICC as they launch their CR ministry on Sunday. Pray for my visit to Athi River Prison tomorrow where I will be teaching their Large Group Meeting while encouraging their CR ministry. Pray for those that will be attending the 4-Day CR semianr that starts on Monday, for open hearts and for Morris and I as we teach.

Preparing to leave for Kenya and Rwanda

2012-03-05T14:15:00.002-08:00

Jana O’Guin will depart March 7th for Kenya and Rwanda and will return March 30th. I will be traveling to and from Africa by myself but will be with African ministries partners and friends throughout the trip. We will hold a Celebrate Recovery Seminar for Pastors in Nairobi so that they will be equipped to implement Celebrate Recovery in their churches and prisons, hold a Senior Pastor Introduction meeting in Western Kenya, visit several CR ministries to support and encourage them. I will visit friends and CR ministries in Kitale and of course my 4 beautiful Kenyan children. I will fly to Rwanda to hold follow up seminars for churches starting CR.

Wednesday, March 7 – Depart LAX in the afternoon on a non-stop flight to Amsterdam, arriving the morning of the 8th. After a 1 hour 20 minute layover it’s an 8-hour flight to Nairobi, arriving the evening of the 8th. Kenya is 10 hours ahead of PDT.

Friday, March 9 – Meet with ministry partners to finalize plans for the trip. Visit churches and prison officials regarding CR ministries.

Saturday, March 10 – Attend a CR meeting at Athi River Prison just outside of Nairobi to witness firsthand what God is doing there through CR.

Sunday, March 11 – Give the morning message at a church in Kawangware in the slums of Nairobi.

Monday – Thursday, March 12-15 – Pastor Morris Opati and I will hold a Celebrate Recovery seminar for pastors and prison officials to equip them to start CR in their respective churches and prisons. We will be teaching the Celebrate Recovery curriculum, facilitating small groups, giving our testimonies, and equipping them to begin CR programs.

Thursday, March 15 – Morris and I will travel to Kakamega in the evening following the seminar in Nairobi.

Friday, March 16 - Hold a Senior Pastor Introduction Seminar for churches and prisons in the Western Region of Kenya. Visit Kakamega prison’s CR ministry in the afternoon.

Saturday, March 17 – Morris returns to Nairobi. I spend the day with friends while visiting churches and prisons then traveling on to Kitale.

Sunday – Thursday, March 18 - 22 – Spend time in Kitale with friends, attend and encourage CR ministries at churches and prisons. Spend time with our 4 Kenyan children and many local friends at Purpose Driven Academy, Oasis of Hope, and Sister Freda’s Hospital.

Friday, March 23 - Fly from Kitale to Nairobi.

Saturday – Sunday, March 24 - 25 – Meet with a church in Kitengela (outskirts of Nairobi) to help their CR ministry grow strong.

Monday, March 26 – Fly from Nairobi to Kigali, Rwanda. Connect with ministry friends in Rwanda.

Tuesday, March 27 – Drive from Kigali to Muhanga (1 ½ hours) to meet with churches with existing CR ministries. Hold refresher training and help them continue strengthening their ministries. Drive to Karongi in Western Rwanda.

Wednesday, March 28 - Hold refresher training for churches in Karongi District and help them continue strengthening their ministries. Drive back to Kigali.

Thursday - Friday, March 29-30 – Connect with the PEACE office in the morning then begin the trip home. Depart Kigali in the afternoon for Nairobi. A late night flight departs from Nairobi, arriving in Amsterdam in the early morning. After a 4 hour layover in Amsterdam, take a non-stop flight on to LAX arriving around noon on Friday.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.”

2011-03-01T07:26:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been filled with meetings with churches and prison officials to help them take CR to the next level. On Sunday attended a great church that is preparing to hold the 40 Days of Purpose campaign then launch CR church wide. It was great to meet with their CR team and discuss strategies for the launch. It has been a great time of reunion and fellowship with many that have attended previous CR seminars here in Nairobi.

We’ve set plans (God willing) for coming back in late August to hold additional trainings in Nairobi - for senior pastors, follow-up for those that have started CR and for new churches that have yet to be trained. We will also meet with prison chaplains to help them take CR to the next level.

I am packed and almost ready to go to the airport. Thanks so much for your prayers, this could not have happened without you. Please pray for travel mercies and good rest on the planes, smooth connection in Amsterdam and safe arrival at LAX.

2011-02-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

Hmmmm, how do I summarize the last few days? I think time sped up while I was in Kitale because it went by so fast.

I visited prisons and churches and heard so many testimonies of men and women whose lives are changing through CR. I heard from men who found freedom in prison, a women who is HIV+ that now has hope, a man who realized the impact his anger was having on his family, an alcohol and drug addict turned marathon runner who is now one of the fastest in the nation, I could go on and on. God is good.

I had a great time with my 4 God children. I took them to visit their mother in prison and had an awesome reunion. She is the CR leader in the Eldoret Women’s prison and the ministry continues to grow. She is scheduled to be released in 2016.

I attended a small group meeting where we shared a good meal and had a nice time of fellowship. I visited the family of a young woman that passed away of breast cancer leaving 3 small children. I got to experience life with my Kenyan friends and their family that I stayed with. It was a very special time.

I am back in Nairobi now and looking forward to what God has in store these last 3 days in Kenya before I return home.

Please pray that I am open to what God wants me to do and experience during these last days. That I am His “Muppet” as I meet with various churches and prison leaders. That I have His words as I speak at church tomorrow. For His wisdom as I begin thinking about and tentatively plan for the next trip.

Day 2 in Kitale

2011-02-22T09:20:00.000-08:00

On the 1 hour flight from Nairobi to Kitale I could see how bad the drought is here. There was very little green anywhere.

It has been a time of renewing friendships. I had lunch in Kitale town with Margaret and Moses at Twigs (some of you know the place). We visited the new campus of Purpose Driven Academy where they are building a high school. It is a very nice location just outside of town surrounded by corn fields. It’s very peaceful and a great environment for learning. The construction is coming along nicely and will be opening in a couple of months.

I had a wonderful reunion with my 4 God children. They are very healthy and getting so big. It’s hard to find the words to describe the joy of spending time together. I spent time with their new “house parents” that will be raising them along with their own 4 children. They are all settling in their new home very well.

I had great meetings with the prison chaplains from Kitale and Kakamega and heard about how CR is changing lives in prisons around Kenya and people that are doing so well after being released from prison. I have yet to hear of someone that has gone through CR in prison, go back to prison. That is so amazing because up to 90% of people released from prison normally go back in a short period of time.

Had a nice visit at Oasis of Hope, an awesome center that helps street kids transition back to schools. I spent some time with a group of college students from Saddleback that are staying here for 7 months doing various ministries. I’m staying in the home of my friends Margaret and Moses and enjoying the time with their family.

Please pray for the next couple of days when I will be visiting churches and prisons that have CR or are in the process of starting it. Pray that I will be able to hear where they are and guide them as they progress with their CR ministries.

2011-02-20T04:53:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I met with a pastor friend that is the Senior Chaplain at Malindi Prison on the Kenya Coast. He is attending seminary in Nairobi until the end of the year. The CR ministry at his prison continues going strong with men from different denominations and religious backgrounds. Many of the men that were in CR last year when we visited have been released and none of them have gone back to prison! That's unheard of here in Kenya. One man has been accepted into a Bible College to become a pastor. It is wonderful to hear of so many success stories.

In the afternoon my friend Shawna, who was in Nairobi on business earlier in the week, went with me to an orphanage for street boys in Kibera Slums. She is a gymnast and taught them a few tricks and then we played games. These 8-16 year old boys are doing Life Hurts God Heals, led by a pastor who attended a CR seminar 3 years ago. It was a pretty tough visit. The boys were forced into this orphanage and their level of care is what shall I say.... sub standard. We brought them a snack of milk and bread and they were so appreciative. We hope we demonstrated God's love to them in some small way.

Today I attended all 3 services at International Christian Centre (ICC) church with Morris and Pet. Pastors and leaders from their church attended our CR seminar in September and their senior pastor visited Saddleback Church in October and met with Pastor John Baker. They are very excited about CR and have been preparing to begin it next month. I spoke briefly at each service then a man from the US that works for an NGO shared his story of coming to Christ at Saddleback. It is indeed a very small world.

Please pray for ICC as they prepare to begin CR. Pray for safe travels for me tomorrow as I fly to Kitale. Pray for a wonderful reunion with my 4 kids there and lots of friends. Pray for the churches and prisons I will visit, that my time there will be an encouragement for them and that God be glorified.

2011-02-18T10:02:00.000-08:00

I'm having a good time in Nairobi visiting churches and pastor friends, building relationships and making new ones. It's great to see the thorough planning in work and support of the senior pastors to launch CR by churches that attended the CR seminar in September of last year.

A friend of the family is in Nairobi on business for a couple of days so I'm showing her around a bit too which is fun.

Thanks so much for your continued prayers. This has been a very good time in Nairobi and I will be here until I fly to Kitale on Monday morning. I come back to Nairobi on Saturday and visit more churches and encoaurging them before traveling home next Tuesday.

Pray for the churches in Nairobi as they move forward in launching CR. Pray for the meetings I have on Saturday and Sunday with various pastor friends and make more church visits.

2011-02-16T09:40:00.000-08:00

The last couple of days in Rwanda was very nice and gave me a chance to begin reflecting on the mission and processing the experiences there. The beginning of the trip was very exciting (not in a good way) with John getting sick less than 24 hours after arriving in Rwanda then he and Dave going home without ever leaving the capital. I’m sad that they didn’t get to see the beautiful countryside and meet the amazing people that attended both CR seminars. I know God has a better plan and had a really good reason for that. That’s another one for my list for when I get to heaven :-).

Besides that, the seminars went so well. The people are excited to move forward with CR and start this ministry. The newly translated materials will not be ready soon enough (another 3 weeks) for them. It was great to see their excitement. I truly believe that God has great things in store for the people of Rwanda through this life changing ministry of Celebrate Recovery. What a blessing to get a front row seat to watch it unfold.

Being without a team in Rwanda was a new experience for me although I had 2 Rwandan brothers with me so I was not alone. It was a time of learning more and more about the culture and the people, things I might have missed otherwise. It was a very blessed time. I journaled so much to capture as much as I could, if I keep up at this rate I’m going to have to buy another journal for the rest of the trip!

I flew back to Nairobi this afternoon. The short 1 hour 10 minute flight over Lake Victoria was nice. It was great to see my Kenyan brother, David, meet me at the airport. I’m settled in at my home away from home at Methodist Guest House.

Please pray for me as I make the mental transition from Rwanda to Kenya. Pray for time of connection with others, encouraging their CR ministries and enjoying a slower pace for a few days. Pray that I am open to those unplanned God appointments along the way.

2011-02-14T10:51:00.000-08:00

Saturday we drove to Musanze in Northern Rwanda. The drive was beautiful. The trees are taller and it’s a bit cooler. On the way we passed a wedding party walking down the middle of the road. The bride and groom were surrounded by about 50 people who were singing and dancing as they went. It was quite the sight to see.

Yesterday I attended service with standing room only at Anglican Church of Rwanda Kajigeja with Pastor Jean Baptiste Ndayambaje. He preached a sermon on the Beattitudes (8 principles) focusing on denial. I gave my testimony that supported his sermon. It was all so well received. The people are so warm and friendly. The music was awesome!

Afterward we had a wonderful time of fellowship in the pastor’s home with leaders of the church and his family. It was great to see Ester (his wife) and Hope and Abraham who are growing so much.

The church is located in a rural area at the base of a volcano and only 3k from the borders of both Uganda and Congo. It is surrounded by maize fields and potatoes.

Today we enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation and had some down time as I wind down from my time in Rwanda and prepare to go to Kenya for 2 weeks on Wednesday. Tomorrow afternoon we drive back to Kigali.

Please pray for another day of enjoying the beauty of Musanze then safe travels back to Kigali in the afternoon. Pray for all of the people that attended both seminars last week, that God shows them the way forward with starting and continuing CR. Pray for me as I begin to make the shift mentally from Rwanda to Kenya, but not before I leave Rwanda!

2011-02-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

We completed the CR seminar today for pastors and church leaders from 64 churches across Karongi District in Western Rwanda. The seminar went really well. They are very excited to be getting the first copies of the newly translated materials in their local language of Kinyarwanda in a couple of weeks so they can launch CR. God is so good. Afterward we drove through the winding roads over many hills back to Kigali, the capital, where we will stay overnight. I am listening to a thunderstorm as I type this.

Tomorrow we make the 4-5 hour drive to Musanze District in Northern Rwanda near the Uganda and Congo borders where we will attend Pastor Jean Baptiste’s church. (He has been my translator this week) He was transferred there last year and has been preparing the church to begin CR. Late last year he took his church through the 40 Days of Purpose and baptized 829 people!! God is doing something amazing in that church and I’m looking forward to visiting it and spending time with Jean Baptiste’s family again.

Please pray for the pastors and church leaders that attended both CR seminars this week. That God will show them the way forward and lead their steps as they start this ministry. Pray for safe travels as Claude navigates the roads through the beautiful landscapes of Rwanda.

PS I tried for about an hour to upload 1 photo and it wouldn't go through so the pics will have to wait.

2011-02-10T07:54:00.000-08:00

We completed Day 2 of our 3-day Celebrate Recovery seminar and it is going very well. About 70 people from across Western Rwanda are attending. Today they learned about Large Group meetings and Open Share groups, and then they had the opportunity to experience them for themselves. They are very excited about how this ministry can help the people of Rwanda. Several people told me they believe this can be a process that can help them deal with the pain of the genocide.

Tomorrow we finish the training and teach them how to start Celebrate Recovery in their churches. They are excited to learn and they have so many questions. I can’t wait to see what is going to happen here in Rwanda through this ministry.

I have read several books about the genocide and survivor’s stories. It is very different to sit across from someone and here their story of survival. Wow! It is not my story to tell but I will just say that God must have a special place for them in heaven for the sacrifices they made.

John Brennan and Dave Lopez arrived home yesterday afternoon safely. I can only imagine the disappointment they must be experiencing from not being able to complete “our planned” mission. Please pray for them. We know God had other plans and will use this for good.

I am doing well, am very healthy and enjoying the company of my Rwandan companions, although I do miss John and Dave. It is very peaceful here at Lake Kivu and I am enjoying the beauty of Rwanda.

Please pray for our seminar tomorrow, that the pastors can see a way forward with starting Celebrate Recovery. Pray for the teaching, that it be clear and just what they need to hear. Pray for safe travels for Jean Baptiste, Claude and I as we drive back to Kigali tomorrow after the seminar. Pray for John and Dave as they transition back to being in the US and processing the early departure.

2011-02-08T11:01:00.000-08:00

Today we completed the follow up CR seminar in Gitarama. It went really well. They had many questions as they learned how to make this minsitry a safe place for people to come and deal with issues in their lives that separate them from God and others. We focused on the Large Group meeting and Open Share time and the group guidelines. They were very excited to go back to their churches and implemment the things they learned. We also developed a plan for the next time we come on how we can help them continue to grow their minitstries.

After the seminar, Jean Baptiste, Claude and I drove to Kibuye in Karongi District in Western Rwanda. We are staying at Bethany Hotel on Lake Kivu- a very peaceful setting. Tomorrow morning we begin a 3-day seminar for churches in the area to learn how to start CR for the first time. I am excited to see how this goes. We learned so much in the last 2 days that I threw out all the scripts that we had prepared to teach and instead will use what we learned in Gitarama and teach in a way they need to hear it.

Of all of the trips I have been on this by far has required more flexibility and adapting to changes. John's stomach issues are cleared up and no problem now but his blood pressure is a bit low so we decided that it was best if he went back home. He is feeling fine but we thought it best that he not be out trekking around remote parts of Rwanda right now. That will have to wait for next time. Dave, being the servant that he is, is traveling back to the US with him. Their flight leaves in just a few minutes from Kigali and arrives at LAX in the early afternoon tomorrow. I am continuing on with teaching the CR seminars and have 2 Rwandan friends traveling with me and helping out.

Not much of what has happened on this trip has been "our plans" but we all know that God has a better plan and that He will use this somehow for His glory. I have to admit I am a bit curious what He's going to do with this.

Pray for the seminar tomorrow and for the people that will be attending. Pray for open hearts and for me to be the "Muppet" and speak God's words. Pray for safe travels for John and Dave. Pray for the three of us as we adjust to the "new plan".

Day 1 of CR seminar - seeing God at work, again

2011-02-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

It is Monday night in Gitarama Rwanda. Today was the first day of a 2 day follow up seminar for people that have previously attended Celebrate Recovery trainings. There was a good turnout with over 70 people attending. We had no agenda for the seminar and just came to help them, wherever they are in starting the ministry.

They spent the morning telling us what they have done with CR so far, what is working well and the challenges they face. I was blown away by the reports from twelve churches that are in various stages of starting CR. Some started and had so many questions that they were waiting for us to help them move forward, others have continued along and have a few simple questions. Three groups are at the 4th step and that we are here to help them through that process. I think some people were getting discouraged but most are pretty much on track and just need some minor adjustments. It was encouraging for them to know they didn’t have far to go to have a healthy CR ministry.

There were many questions from senior pastors so after hearing their reports, I focused the training on the senior pastor’s role. They had lots of really great questions. The Holy Spirit did the teaching today, He just happened to use my mouth. Praise God, it was just what they needed to hear in a way they could hear it. Thank you Lord.

They asked if we would demonstrate a Large Group meeting and Open Share groups for them so after lunch Pastor Jean Baptiste taught the first lesson on Denial and then broke into Open Share groups.

A lot of good questions and issues came up from that experience so tomorrow we will focus on the Small Group Guidelines and other questions that will arise. Overall I am very encouraged and excited to see how CR is progressing here in Rwanda.

Please pray for open hearts and minds tomorrow of the people attending and for me to be the “Muppet” for God and let Him continue to speak through me. Pray for safe travels as we drive about 3 hours to Western Rwanda tomorrow after the seminar. Pray for John and Dave as they are in Kigali until John gets back fully on his feet.

Adjusting to God's Plans

2011-02-06T07:04:00.000-08:00

Friday "we planned” a low key day and a nice lunch and fellowship with a pastor friend. Reality was a bit different. We had a good morning of processing our visit to the Genocide Museum and reflecting on the people of Rwanda and what they must have experienced.

We went to lunch with Pastor Hesby and John wasn’t feeling very well. He felt a bit dizzy so we took him to the King Faisal Hospital to get checked out. It turns out he has a stomach bug and they wanted him to be admitted so they could give him some IV antibiotics and get his blood pressure better, it was a little low. He is getting excellent care by one of the best doctor’s of internal medicine in Rwanda. God is good. And thanks to Eric at the PEACE office who arranged for his care and knows everyone at the hospital. Moses, Eric and Jean Pierre from the PEACE office have been amazingly helpful and everyone here is so supportive.

John is feeling much better and as the doctor put it this morning, “on the road to recovery”. Funny, I think I’ve heard that somewhere before.

We have gotten quite the education on the Rwanda health care system. For example, we had to pay a deposit of about $10 for them to treat John in the emergency room. Interesting when you consider that much of the population of Rwanda lives on less than $1 a day.

Our trip plans have changed somewhat (ha ha). We stayed in Kigali (the capital) instead of going to Gitarama yesterday (Saturday) as planned. We were scheduled to attend church there but instead we read scripture in John’s hospital room this morning. The “new plan” is for Dave to stay in Kigali with John and Jean Baptiste and I will travel to Gitarama (1 ½ hour drive) early tomorrow morning to hold a 2 day follow up seminar for churches that have been through previous CR trainings. When John is strong enough, he and Dave will join us for the other planned seminar to teach new churches in Kibuye how to start CR.

We are all learning a new definition of being flexible. We know God is in control and will use this for His glory, but we don’t have to like it. :-)

Please pray for complete healing for John and for Dave and I as we continue to adjust to God’s plans. Pray for John's family to have peace to know that he is in God's hands. Pray for safe travels for Jean Baptiste and I as we go to Gitarama and teach the follow up seminar Monday and Tuesday.

In Kigali

2011-02-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

We had a chance to sleep in a bit this morning, but the guys were up early ready to start the day. After breakfast, we sat outside and had a nice devotion entitled "Declare Great Things" from Luke 24:33-35, Isaiah 26 and 1 John 4. It was a great reminder to speak boldly about Jesus.

Nairobi traffic was pretty light and we made good time going to the airport for our flight to Kigali. We had a great prayer time on the ride, reminding us that this trip is about doing God's will, not ours.

The flight went well and we were met by Claude from the PEACE office. A short thunderstorm poured on us on the way to our guest house. We spent time with Moses, and settled into the house. It has a nice view overlooking a valley with many green, rolling hills in the distance.

We had a very sobering visit to the Genocide museum. This is John's first time to Rwanda and the reality of what the people here experienced in 1994 really made an impact. Reading books is one thing but visiting the memorial and hearing first hand accounts makes it real, the best history lesson he has ever had. Even as my 4th visit to the museum, it is still difficult.

We went into town and took care of some logistics - got Rwanda Francs, air time for phone and modems and lots of water. We had a great meeting at the PEACE office about "our plans" here and worked out a few details. Praise God, the translation of the CR materials is complete and God willing we will see printed copies before we leave.

We had a nice dinner at Chez Rogers and now are back at the house blogging then will hit the hay pretty soon as the jet lag is kicking in. Tomorrow is election day for local elections and has been declared a holiday so we have a light day to rest up and get ready for our 2 seminars next week.

Please pray for good rest, health and connection with friends.

We are In Nairobi!

2011-02-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

3 planes, 2 trains and 2 automobiles later and we are safe and sound at Methodist Guest House in Nairiobi. Our connections went smoothly and we arrived with all of our luggage to be met by our dear friend David at the Nairobi airport. We stay here tonight then have a 12:30 flight to Kigali, Rwanda.

Thank you so much for your prayers, everything has gone very smoothly. Please pray for good rest tonight (we are 11 hours ahead of CA time here in Nairobi) as we begin adjusting to Africa time and culture.