July 4

Ministry Partners, I found this on a site called Heart to Heart by Holley and thought it was a good prayer for today. Arlene

Praying for America

Lord,

Thank you for America.

We were founded on faith in you.

On the day when we celebrate our heritage, draw us back to your heart.

Help us remember who we are and whose we are.

Bless our land with peace.

Give our leaders wisdom.

Provide hope for future generations.

We're grateful for all you've done for us and humbly ask for your favor.

Amen.

NEWTIMES - Rwanda Newspaper Article

Ministry Partners,

I thought perhaps you would like to read the article that appeared in the Rwanda Newspaper - "NEWTIMES" on June 10th..





Arlene

June 19...............

Ministry Partners,

We arrived in Portland safe and sound tonight at about 9pm.
The team has become like family this last very busy three weeks, it was hard to say goodbye.
Awesome and overwhelming were words often spoken as we watched God do amazing things.

Thank you so much for your prayers for the teams activities and health. My violent coughing has returned so I would appreciate your continued prayers.

It's almost midnight so I am off to sleep in my own bed.

Arlene

America, here we come..........

Ministry Partners,

It is so very hard to believe that today is our last day in Rwanda.

Yesterday we met with Pastor Deo and the Prison Fellowship staff. They fixed us a delicious Rwandan buffet and gave gifts to each one on our team. Once again it was a time of singing and dancing, this time you REALLY would be surprised who and even with a Sycamore tree bark hat!!!! The hugs and tears from Rwandans and Americans that followed seem to be common between us now as we know the time for our departure is near.

This afternoon Pastor Roger, Alfred and Arlene met with the IRM Core Team, pastors from the Foursquare Church and Chaplins from Prison Fellowship who will do follow-up in the 3 prisons with the spiritual leaders who took the training. As they turn in their monthly reports it will help Pastor Roger, my pastors and I determine how this pilot program is doing.

Last night we had our final Rwandan dinner of fish, fries, spaghetti noodles, sauce and oranges for desert......hum, I had hoped for some of the delicious pineapple.

Today we went shopping for Rwandan coffee and picked up the last few gifts for family and friends, our plane leaves at 7:50pm.

We have so much to give God praise for but it will be very difficult to have adequate words to describe what we have seen God do here. Words.........there just aren't enough, the right kind or enough time here to discuss such amazing events.



See you soon..............

Arlene
for the team

Final Day at Nsinda Prison

Dear Prayer Partners,

Today was our final time of teaching and work at the last prison.
Jon and Roger had an awesome time with 57 spiritual leaders while Arlene, Dorothea and Tanya had their second day of Women's Conference with over 400 women. The smiles, the hugs, the times of confession and release of bitterness and guilt was astonishing.

We gave out the paper certificates to those men who completed the course. It seems really insignificant to us but one of the men who found out the last hour of our training that he was being released from prison came back in his street clothes and received his certificate before leaving the prison. He was so extremely excited and the joy poured out of him as Roger and Pastor Peter prayed with him before he left.

Roger awoke with new energy and feeling much better with his cold.

Dorothea was completely exhausted but the Holy Spirit filled her with strength and boldness greater than anytime on this adventure. Many women's lives were touched today by the teaching and witness of Pastor Dorothea and Arlene.

We are back at Moucecore resting for the night. We have several meetings tomorrow and then packing on Thursday. Thursday night at 7:50PM we board the plane to leave Rwanda.

Please pray for Arlene, it is very difficult to say goodbye to her son Alfred and his wife Blessing. There will be many tears as we leave this beautiful country with absolutely beautiful people overcoming an incredible history only made possible by God's forgiving love, His grace and the Holy Spirit's work of Reconciliation and Restoration. We have all been deeply affected. Our lives will never be the same.

Please pray for our final days of packing and travel. We arrive home on Saturday, June 19th in Portland at about 11:00PM.

For the team,
By God's grace and love and mercy,
Pastor Roger

June14th

Ministry Partners,

It's so very hard to believe that our time here is almost over.

Our "Thank You" dinner went well last night with 21 present. Tears abounded as many shared what it meant to them to be part of this combined team by prayer or action. The wife of one pastor who helped said she prayed every day for us and the prisoners although she could not go herself....someone there had murdered her first husband and 5 children. Rwandans and Americans crying together and giving God praise together for what He has allowed us see him do on this trip. No more words.......

The men did the 2nd day of training with the pastors at Nsinda Prison while the ladies went with me to do errands, banking and finalizing "bill paying" for services for the team.

We had a very interesting lunch guest.....Pastor Cornelius. He was the head pastor at Nsinda prison for three of my trips but last year when I came they said he had been released. I never knew his "story" but he seemed to be a gentle, quiet spoken man. Every time I saw the photo of us with Alfred I wondered what had become of him. Alfred contacted the prison and was able to obtain his contact information to advise him that I was here. He made a 2+ hour ride to come and bring me a photo of his wife, family and church family.
After we had chatted a bit I asked him how long he had actually been in prison and he said 4 years adding....all that time without a trial !!!!! When he finally did go to trial he said he was found innocent and that he was not bitter as he knew God had allowed him to be there so he could share the gospel with the other inmates. I was so glad to finally know his "story" one of courage by God's design and not hatred and anger.
He will meet us at the gate at Nsinda Prison tomorrow and sit in on the final training and certificate presentation.

Also tomorrow, Pastor Dorothea, Tanya and I will finish the second conference day with the women at Nsinda.

With God's strength the team is doing well but continue to pray for Rogers health. We have been told that so very many of you are praying and it is very evident here.

THANK YOU

Arlene
for the team

June 12

Ministry Partners,

The very fact that I am writing this post is proof that God is concerned about even small things like laptops that refuse to work. After being told that the hard drive on my computer was locked and the computer tech Tim (on another team also staying here) made a Skype call to Mike (the computer tech at my church) I was told that nothing could be done until I returned home as there must be something wrong with the keypad. Tim worked on it for 2 hours and put the password in every way possible and then some and it just would not unlock.

I went to bed saying "Regardless of the circumstance I will give you praise Jesus as you ARE in control". As I woke the next morning I was talking to the Lord, telling Him how much I needed the computer when He told me to pick it up and open it, which I did. I opened it and the screen was still black as I typed in the password AGAIN and taa-daa the screen opened right up. I heard Tim talking to someone in the hallway and took the open computer for him to see. The look on his face was priceless as he did a double take and I said "Boy, do you have a story to tell your techie friends". Our laughter and praise was a great way to start the morning.

Yesterday the team went to the Colonels Village (Alfred has dubbed it the IRM Village). There isn't enough space to tell you the laughter we all had as a new driver, Aaron, and then Alfred drove. If you have never had the absolute pleasure of taking a ride with Dorothea and Tanya you are really missing out. I was sitting between them and they both had us laughing so hard our sides ached. Of course Roger and Jon had never been on this village trip before so their remarks coupled with our laughter made for a VERY memorable ride up, you would not believe it but at times Jon was actually speechless !!! I think Pastor Roger had had enough from all of us as he decided to safely drive the Colonels NEW jeep down the hills back to Kigali. Only a jeep could go where we went....up, down and sometimes sideways and I am NOT joking.
Our time at the village was wonderful and the evening concluded with a dinner of roast goat (on a stick) and roast matoke (a starchie green banana) with the village leaders. Looking up at the star studded sky made it a most wonderful end to a terrific day. There is just nothing like seeing people receive Christ's gift of salvation and then so filled with joy at receiving a Bible of their very own that they sing and dance, giving God praise.
We arrived at the Colonels and after he greeted us he drove us home. Since he does not worry about getting a ticket the ride was VERY interesting around corners and bumps. All with Roger, Alfred and Aaron (all former DRIVERS)in the back seat. Of course dear Dorothea just couldn't resist a whispered comment "He'd better be careful, the back seat is already full of ex-drivers". Have you ever tried not making a sound while you are laughing so hard that you can't catch your breath?
Thanks a lot PASTOR Dorothea !!!!!

A few nights ago we were returning to Kigali after dark and were stopped at a check point by 2 police officers. Alfred told them we had been to Nsinda prison doing ministry and the officer asked for our passports. Alfred handed the officer two of my tracts instead. The officer went to the front of the vehicle and looked at them in the headlights then waved us on. Do you know anywhere else in the world where a Gospel tract would work in place of a passport??????

Today, we were at Nsinda Prison where the new warden is a tall, young, very handsome man. I think I have found favor with him as he insisted on carrying my backpack and personally escorted the women to the Women's area and stayed to introduce us. The women had worked so very hard to make the area presentable and had a mic system set up and the area covered for us so we would not be in the sun while sharing. About 350 women were added to the Lamb's book of Life. I will never have accurate words to convey what the gift of a Bible means to them.

Even Pastor Roger's and Jon's teaching area was surrounded with used tarps so the Pastors Training would not be interrupted by the other prisoners.
It was a good day for all but Roger is still struggling with health issues.

Tomorrow we will be at the Foursquare church here and then hosting a "Thank You" dinner for those who have helped us so much.

We are seeing God work at every turn, your continued prayers are appreciated.

Arlene
for the team