Sunday, June 6th -Rwanda update

"Overwhelming" is the catchphrase often used as we debrief each evening. This is Pastor Roger reporting tonight. We are back in Kigali and will begin our three day pastor training at the 1930 Central prison. But I want to share with you two highlights of the past three days in the Musanzi area. Our team went to the Rehabilitation Center for Congo soldiers turning themselves in. Arlene preached a sermon empowered by the Holy Spirit and we watched over 220 of the 230 present pray to receive Christ. We then gave each of them a Bible and as they received their Bible they went back to their seats without any instruction and began to read. When they all had received their Bibles they began to sing and hold their Bibles over their heads with huge smiles on their faces and exuberant singing and dancing. Without question is was the most moving experience for me so far.
There is much to report on but let me share one other highlight. Bishop John is founder of Prison Fellowship Rwanda; Anglican Bishop for Northern Rwanda and has a huge ministry even for US standards; helped establish a reconciliation village in which over 300 perpetrators and victims reside together in unity and faith.
All of this to say, Arlene gave the message at the 7:30am service today. She wore a white robe and was quite stunning. Please keep praying... the team is doing well but fatigue and emotional overload needs the Holy Spirits anointing to move forward with power and courage. Thank you... we love you... Grace & Peace,
IRM team

Musanzi.....

Dear Ministry Partners,

We are now in Northern Rwanda in the Musanzi area.

Internet service in Kigali has been down so I have not been able to send a new post.
At every turn we are continuing to watch God do great things.

For three days I have struggled with a sore, scratchie throat that does not allow me to get a good nights rest so I would appreciate your prayers. At times when I was to preach, and I am coughing violently, the Lord's hand upon me is so very evident when He enables me to share what the Holy Spirit has given me..... without a single cough !!!!

We have just had dinner and the team has all retired after a long day of travel and ministry. I preached at the Rehabilitation Center for Rebels from the Congo forests and Pastor Roger preached at the Reconciliation Village.

Although the team members had heard me share, back in America, about what God has allowed me to see Him do in Rwanda, they admit they were skeptical but no longer. As we watch the Holy Spirit empower us for each scheduled and unscheduled ministry opportunity, I find I am no longer the only one crying as we see the impact of His love on these beautiful people, forgotten by most of the world but not by God.

Imagine if you will, being the first white people to visit a village, where a car has never been seen before. And yet they cleared miles of "road" so we could visit them. 100's were there and they are awaiting our second visit on the 11th to share the Gospel for a second time, inviting others in the surrounding mountains to attend. We were given the gift of seeing them preform some tribal dancing...it was beautiful, and you might be surprised to know just who did some dancing with them. Jon and Pastor Roger will accompany the women's team on the 11th.

Pastor Roger and Jon have had a tremendous time doing the first 3 day Prison Pastor Training Program at Rilima Prison and the pastors at the 1930 Prison where I preached yesterday are eagerly awaiting our return so they can start on Monday.

Tomorrow I preach at the prison here and in the afternoon Tanya, Pastor Dorothea and I will do ministry with an HIV/Aids group from Bishop John Rucyahana's Church. Bishop John spoke at Mission Connexion Northwest earlier this year. I have been invited to preach at his church on Sunday before returning to Kigali later in the day.

Arlene at Bishop John's Church last year

I am so very thankful for each member of this team, Men and women who love God deeply and allow God to stretch them. Truly, each member of this team has seen God work in such a wonderful way that none of us will ever be the same.

We all give God "Thanks" and "Praise" for allowing us to be HIS ambassadors.

Because of the current internet issues I am not sure when I can get on line again to post. Please continue to pray for.........

Arlene
for the team

May 28 & 29......

The Team and our airport welcoming committee.

Dear Ministry Partners,

Last night was the first official IRM Ministry Team dinner. IRM hosted the U.S. IRM Team and the Rwandan IRM Team that will be working together. Pastors from the Foursquare Church, Chaplins from Prison Fellowship, men and women interpreters, 19 in all.

I shared my appreciation for each one and my heart for the ministry God has led IRM to do here. As we minister together I know we will become fast friends.

Today was our first day of ministry, we went to Rilima Prison.

At first light we saw the enemy try and derail our plans. We were to leave at 9 to go to the prison and it was discovered that today was "Clean-up Rwanda" day. On one Sat. a month Rwandans are required to do clean-up around their homes and town until noon. If you are caught traveling or doing anything else - you will be arrested and taken to jail. Roadblocks are everywhere and the only other thing you can do is stay inside your house.

Alfred, the IRM Operations Supervisor, who was in Kenya for work was to arrive at 9 a.m. today but because of a strike by Kenya Air, all of their flights were delayed.

The enemy has been attacking heavily but God's control and provision and blessing has been evident as Alfred was able to procure a seat on another airline, to arrive at 12:30 but when he was delayed at the Kigali Airport the day was getting so late that I made the decision to go with those present and have Blessing interpret for me as she had done on a previous trip.

As we drove out of town Blessings phone rang, Alfred was just a couple of minutes behind us, asking us to wait for him to catch up.

I am not sure, but I think I have set a record today, every time the enemy attacked to get us focused on the circumstances I found myself saying...."Jesus I give you praise for who you are and that you ARE the one in control here. I give you praise because I KNOW that we are going to see you do GREAT things today. I give you praise, I give you praise, I give you praise...........".

And for a fact, we did see him do great things. From finding great favor with a Deputy Warden, I had met on a previous trip who asked to pray for and with all of us, (this was a first !!) before entering the prison to seeing God add to the Lamb's Book of life.....3,000!!!!!
I cannot keep back the tears, even now, as I "Thank" God for allowing us to see the Holy Spirit at work.

It is 11p.m. and the team has long since retired so I best be off to bed.

So, as I said we are seeing God's care, provision and blessing in a HUGE way.

Your continued prayers are SO needed.
Thanks,

Arlene
for the team

PDX Portland today, Rwanda tomorrow.......

Dorothea, Tayna, Roger, Arlene, Jon

Ministry Partners,

We have arrived safe and sound with only a small change in our flight plan. Due to the strike of the airline employees in France we need to stay out of their air space, we had a change in our flight plan adding about 45 min. to our Belgium to Kigali flight. Imagine my delight and surprise at meeting a friend, Joyce Pepos, a former teammate, and her husband in the Belgium airport.

God has been gracious to us in our “seating”, giving me a bulkhead seat so I could elevate my legs but on the last leg from Belgium He provided 2 additional seats next to me so Tanya and I both shared and were both able to lay flat across them and sleep or rest for a couple hours so my hip is almost pain free. Team leader, Roger, had 4 seats so he also got to lay flat to sleep.

I am so thankful for God’s hand on my health as I traveled. I have had absolutely no pain on the right side of my head. Thank you for those of you who were praying concerning the issues I had been having with that.

We arrived at Kigali Airport about 8pm and all of our luggage arrived with no problems going through customs. We were welcomed by Blessing Mupenzi (Alfred, the IRM supervisor is in Kenya until Sat.morning), Pastor Peter, the translator for the prison pastors training and Alex, a friend of Alfred’s.

I cannot tell you how happy we all were to see their smiling faces.

So, as you can see we have much to praise Jesus for already.

Our rooms at Moucecore Center were ready for us and we are looking forward to a good nights sleep tonight.

Thank you for your continued prayers,

Arlene

for the Team

And away we go.........

May 26 has finally arrived......Rwanda, here we come...

Ministry Partners,
Tomorrow the 2010 IRM Team Rwanda meets at PDX at 5:30am for the beginning of our eagerly anticipated trip.

So many plans, so many decisions, so very many suitcases filled with your donated supplies.

Every team member is as excited as I am to see what God will do on this trip.

Our Team Leader has booked an excellent travel route and the shortest, I might add, that I have ever been on. Portland, New York, Belgium, Kigali (Rwanda). And no 5 ,7 or 12 hour layovers - YEA!!

The 1,000's of Bibles and Discipleship Booklets you so graciously donated funds for are waiting for distribution upon our arrival.

Lord,

Thank you for being a God who goes before us and lives within us.

That means whatever we may face we have nothing to fear

and everything to hope for in you.

I ask for peace to calm our hearts,

wisdom to guide our steps, and your hand holding ours all the way.

We trust what you will do and where you will take us with you. Amen.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take. Prov. 3:5-6

Wherever we're going and whatever we will be doing, God is already there.

WE appreciate your continued prayers,

Arlene
for the Team

My friend, Victoria........

As final preparations for the May 26 trip to Rwanda are in full swing, boxes of Partner donated shopping bags, scarves, ties and other supplies are still being delivered by the postman. The IRM ministry partners continue to be so generous in their prayer support and giving of funds and supplies.

Let me introduce you to one of IRM's local ministry partners from New Life Church.

Victoria & Arlene
Thanks to Victoria's father, James, for taking this photo last Sunday at church.

Victoria has such a huge passion for helping IRM put God's written Word into the hands of the Rwandan people. Frequently on Sundays this young girl, with her bright smile, finds me at church to place another zip lock baggie filled with money into my hands. She then informs me that she has sold some of her handmade bookmarks, had a yard sale or done some other task to raise more money for Bibles. Sometimes it is a family effort for Victoria as her sister, Elizabeth, also helps.

I appreciate so very much each person who uses their gifting and talents to make up IRM's Ministry Partner home team.
"Thank You"

Final preparations are going well and things are getting marked off my "make sure you don't forget" list. Suitcases have been weighed and re-weighed, at 48.5 - 49 lbs., to make sure they are within the airline 50 lb. weight limit.

Your continued prayers are appreciated. Please go to the web site .... www.newlifeirm.org .... and down load our itinerary as a prayer guide.

8 days and counting..........
Arlene

11 days and counting........

Ministry Partners,

I can only offer "Praise" to God for the many wonderful answers to prayer and blessings God is showering upon IRM's efforts to serve the precious people of Rwanda for this 2010 trip.

What an amazing thing that God would allow us to see Him do such great things in Rwanda. Already for this trip, we have seen God speak into the hearts of the government officials that IRM would find favor with them and we would be allowed to implement the Pastors Training Program and Women's Conference for the prisoners. I am so very thankful for the government officials and wardens who have been so gracious and kind toward our efforts.

Although the economy here is not very good, people have heard me speak about the wonderful people of Rwanda and they have seen pictures of the prisoners and villagers with such joy and celebration at having been given a Bible. Because the Holy Spirit has touched the hearts of my ministry partners, you have provided the funds for 1,000's of Bibles and Discipleship Booklets for us to distribute on this trip.

"THANK YOU"

A big "Thank You" to Pastor Deo the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Rwanda for all he and his staff have done to help IRM carry out the ministry God has laid before us. He have been a huge blessing to IRM and I am so very thankful for his friendship.

Just think.....in a few days I will leave America for my second home....Rwanda, it will be my 7th trip and many of the people there are like family for me. I am excited to see them all again especially the women at Pastor Deo's Center.

It's so very hard to believe that these beautiful friends are dying of HIV/AIDS !!!

That none would be lost,
Arlene