June5 - Another day filled with God's blessings.....

Ministry Partners,

It's been another beautiful and busy day for us in Rwanda.

Alfred arrived early and we had breakfast together so that we could be at the Bible Society early this morning.

We discovered that the cost of the Bibles had gone up. I had hoped that the value of the dollar would be more here and that we would get an additional amount of Bibles like we did last year but that was not the case. Although we were given a 5% discount the money we wired was short of actually purchasing the 4,000 Bibles that I thought it would. But we have really found favor with Octave the Manager, who apologized for not informing me of the price change.

He told us that they always do a year end tally of everyone who purchases scriptures from them and he informed us that IRM was one of the top 5 Bible purchasers in the country of Rwanda last year!!! And because of that he felt led to add the Bibles that we were short to meet our desired 4,000. Then he said he would arrive on Tuesday morning, the morning we are traveling to Changugu, at 6:30 to facilitate his men loading our truck so we would not have to pay for storage somewhere until then. The guest house where we stay is letting us share one of their supply rooms for the Bibles we will use in the Kigali area as well as the 96 cases of water Alfred purchased today. The store room they gave us last year was already taken.

We did some banking and I can tell you it is far different than what I am used too. LONG waits, an hour or more is not unusual, and each transaction is done at a different window.....deposits, withdrawals, transfers, exchanges, ect., ect.....................

We headed back to Moucecore around noon but we were to busy for lunch so we grabed some jerky and a granola bar. Then Alfred was off to town while I spent the afternoon doing paper work and making calls to previous contacts and new contacts.

Alfred advised that we purchase all our water at one time to procure the best price as well as he said since it is the dry season and that the water would very soon start getting more expensive. Besides it is bottled here and there is no use paying a huge price for company transported water in Changugug and Butari. Once again God went before us as he was able to purchase the 96 cases for 3,000 frw each instead of 3,500 frw,.

Pastor Peter went first thing this morning to the Commissioner Generals office at their instruction and was shifted from one office to another by the staff there. Finally about 3 o'clock Emmanuel, the man we met with the Commissioner on the day of my arrival, found Pastor Peter waiting in the hall and within a few minutes Pastor Peter had the signed document for us to do the prison ministry in hand. Thank you Jesus, for sure.

Emmanuel even saw to it that the days, now past, that we were to go to Nsinda and Relima Prison (ooops Correctional Facilities....new name) were rescheduled for tomorrow and Thursday. They told us in our meeting last week how important it was to them that we continue to do evangelism in the prisons here. It appears they were serious. Pastor Peter will have to return to the office on Friday to obtain the signed paperwork for our ministry to the TIG camps as it was not available today. Please pray that it will not take all day....according to God's will. 

 God's blessings continued to pour out upon us today as Alfred went to the printers to get our Discipleship Booklets printed. Last year we paid $.60 each but today we paid $.50.

I was informed by Pastor Al that there were new Foursquare missionaries here in Kigali, Rory & Pam Frink, so I emailed them before I left PDX and they gave me their contact number here. I called them this afternoon and they graciously invited us to a very delicious dinner along with Pastor Fidel and his wife and friend. Pastor Fidel said he met Pastor Ron at the Foursquare Convention but we were unable to visit much with them as they had to leave right after dinner.

But we had a wonderful lengthy visit with our hosts and Alfred and I both liked them very much. They live right behind Kimiroko Correctional Facility and they are interested in the ministry we are doing as they were also involved in  some Prison Ministry in the states. We could tell this was the beginning of a good friendship. Because of our conversations I invited them to accompany our team of 7 going to Nsinda tomorrow. Everyone is to meet here at 10 to go to Kayonza, where the prison is.

For those who have heard me speak of her, I will see my special friend, Katilda, tomorrow, Lord willing.

On the way home Alfred purchased our bread and honey to go with our Peanut Butter for our traditional lunches tomorrow. 

It's after midnight so best call it a day, I'm feeling fine just but not sleeping well. Too excited about too many things I guess.

We are all praying and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the American team on Friday evening.

Appreciate your continued prayers,

Arlene