Aug. 3, 2013

 Ministry Partners,

Events here continue to change hour by hour.

Yesterday, (Aug. 2) when we arrived at the prison in Ruhengeri we off-loaded Bibles and Booklets and proceeded to The Rehabilitation Center for Rebels from the Congo forests. We found that the 140 ex-patriots were being prepared for release and had a full schedule for the day but we found favor with the Director and he stopped all events and allowed us to do a crusade with everyone present including about 15 of his staff as he advised them that they needed to hear what I had to say. :-)
 

Assistant Director, Arlene, Director

Indeed we had found favor with him as he explained to the men that they do not just allow people to come and speak but he was giving his special permission for us to hold a crusade.

After the responses for salvation and forgiveness everyone on the team had fun passing out bible sets to those present.

Then it was off to Gisenyi to spend two days, returning to Ruhengeri for a prison crusade on Monday.

It was a difficult thing to pass by the refugee center where 1,000's and 1,000's from the Congo now reside. We could see the aging tents and conditions in general ........ it really was difficult .......... hummmm ...... perhaps a good place for a crusade.

The guest house is pleasant although some of us did not have hot water to bathe. I must admit I have never adjusted to a cold shower especially since it is cold here!!!

Today, we went to the prison here, it was a new one for me and the team.
 
 Gisenyi Prison sign

 There were some 4,100 men inmates there and about 3,500 came to the crusade. It is amazing how every prison is so different from each other. To date I have entered every prison in Rwanda except for a Youth Prison of about 100+.

All of the church denominations represented combined their sound systems for us. It was good to see them work together for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As soon as I started to share my message all the team could hear a call to worship by another religious organization. The main voice was soon accompanied by other voices and then by a single voice using a sound system. Eventually one leadership prisoner sent a Internal Peacekeeper prisoner in the direction of the "sounds" and within a few moments the prayers ceased. But that was soon followed by rain that had been threatening all morning. A couple of the prisoners who were running the sound system disappeared then returned with a tarp to cover themselves and the sound board.

Pastor Jerome stated, at our debriefing time, that because of what he had been informed of by the prisoners in leadership about the hardness of the prisoners here, that perhaps there would less than a dozen that would respond to a salvation or any other invitation there but the power of the Holy Spirit was evident as so very many responded to the invitation and prayed the sinner's prayer as the cold rain poured down on all of us.

Following the prayer some left but returned with coats and coverings as they responded in resounding fashion that they wanted me to continue and as I shared what God had taught me about forgiving others and myself my heart was touched with the hunger of these prisoners to have "Hope" for a change in their hearts and lives in this desperate place, a change that only begins with the healing power that God's hand can bring. The prisoners responded in a huge way to the "Forgive others or Yourself" prayer.

When we ended it was raining hard and I held tightly to Alfred's hand as the team made it's was up the 1/2 mile steep, rocky, windy path  with prisoners waving along the way.

Once we arrived back at the van we went inside and met with the warden for a few minutes before going back to the van for a quick lunch.

The men were then off to meet with the Spiritual Leaders for 1 1/2 hours while the gals reflected on the previous events of the day. After the men finished their time with the prisoners and returned to the van Alfred handed me a badly crumpled and worn paper bag saying one of the Spiritual Leaders had given him the bag for me saying, "She reminds me of my mother. I want to give her this gift." Inside was a new, knitted, warm vest. I cannot imagine giving up such a treasured warm piece of clothing while in this cold, barren place.

It was then off to our guest house to have dinner at 6.

At dinner one teammate said, "It was a day of great warfare but greater victory" and so it was.

It was an exceptional day that words cannot accurately express.

Tomorrow is Sunday and we will go to the local Foursquare village church in the morning and then do a TIG Camp village crusade in the afternoon.

I am getting a "bit" tired so your continued prayers are so appreciated.

That none would be lost,

Arlene