June 14 - Remera Prison

Ministry Partners,

After 70 entrances into prison facilities and speaking to 1,000s and 1,000s of prisoners I must admit that I was nervous this morning as I was seated inside the prison. It had been 11 months since I had spoken to a group of this size, 3,000.

The woman from the Commissioners office, Jane, met us there and did a wonderful job introducing our team after she first grabbed a rhythm instrument and joined in with one of the choirs. She is a tiny thing who looks 21 or so but told us she is 30. She is a christian and so bubbly, I really like her.

  

 Arlene & Jane

But oh how I enjoyed the 2 choirs of men that sang songs of worship. I cannot explain it but once I heard the powerful men's voices years ago it became one of the things that blesses my heart every time I come. At one point, before I began to speak, Alfred led the prisoners in a worship song and once again Jane joined us on the platform bringing a rhythm instrument for her and one for me. God was smiling for sure as he stretched me out of my box and the prisoners must have enjoyed watching us join their worship time, at least it seemed so by their smiles and even broader grins.

They seemed to really enjoy the new object lesson for salvation, Eph.2:8-9, the one for being a child of the King, a Prince, and the one for what it "looks like" when we don't forgive. I am so thankful for the new object lesson materials that the Holy Spirit gave me to use this trip and for the results we watched him bring today.

The Rwandan partners as well as I have experienced a battering from the enemy for a number of months and we all claimed that it was evidence that we were going to see God pour out his power on this trip like never before. Jesus has the victory in all IRM does and He has the victory in my life and each of our partners lives. The enemy knows he has no victory in our efforts but he is so stupid that he thinks he can convince us otherwise......... we have kept our focus on Christ and we know the truth, the victory belongs to the Savior!!!!!

Like Nehemiah who would not come down from the wall but rather he stayed focused on what God had called him to do so are we. That was important for us to remember today when we were informed first thing this morning that one of our partner pastors had some difficulties and would not be able to minister with us this year. And then this afternoon we were informed of the robbery at the IRM office, done by a trusted security guard. Here are some of the major things that were taken:

1. The office computer and copy/scan printer - purchased by Alfred
2. Our battery operated sound system
3. Lg. tubs of supplies I had intended to use this year
4. A 100 church seating chairs

I am so proud of our partners here as we stand firm together even though just like Gideon's army we don't have the weapons we "thought" we needed but we know, without a doubt, we have just the right God given weapons we will need. We are giving God praise for His goodness and faithfulness to us.

Yes indeed we have seen and will continue to watch God pour out His power as never before as we stand firm and focused.

Late tonight plans changed and tomorrow I was invited to speak in a new church for me. We were told it is a Pentecostal church called  Kamashashi Parrish of about 700. Pray for open hearts for the Gospel as well as understanding the challenge to forgive.

Please continue to pray for the IRM team and the ministry God has called us to do here and for me in getting restful sleep. Our team appreciates knowing you are standing with us in prayer.

Blessings to you from the land of a 1,000 hills and a 1,000 smiles.

That none would be lost,

Arlene

June 13 .......

Ministry Partners,

Today really has been a one of a kink day although It started out easy with another traditional breakfast.
Please pray for me as I am having a hard time getting over jet-lag this trip as evidenced by waking at 2:30 this morning. Of course I could think of lots of things that needed to get done today and ended up getting up and making a "Gift Bag" out of some of your donated items to give to Commissioner Dativa when we go to her office again.

Alfred called and was informed that Dativa's schedule was too busy and we would not going to be able to see her. We decided to go by her office and leave the gift bag and ask if the new request letter for IRM to enter the prisons had been signed, But when we arrived we were asked to wait as Dativa wanted to see us. As we waited in the outer office there was a mother there with her 3 week old baby boy.

 

 Oh what a cutie and of course I had to ask if I could hold him and the mother graciously let me do so.

Without a scheduled meeting we spent 2 hours with the Commissioner and too many God breathed things happened to write here not the least of which was to be told we now have direct access to her office. We talked much about how IRM could support the prisoners who just had a fire in their prison and lost everything!!! Dativa of our arrival. has given us one of her staff people to accompany us to each prison in an effort to expedite our entrance and having them prepared ahead of our arrival time.

We left her office to run errands and I told Alfred that if there was a chalk line showing how
many times we criss crossed Kigali it would look like a spider web. I was so very thankful for Pastor Peter's wife, Merculie, and his son, Abraham were so very helpful today. Because of their help we were able to finish our errands much quicker.

 

During our errand running I had the opportunity to meet a lady from the Rwanda Twa tribe. I was happy to give her a donated scarf and a tract.


Upon returning to the Commissioners office we found certificate to enter the prisons was signed and waiting and we found that the 5 prisons we requested had now grown again,,,,this time to 8 !!!!!

Before we returned to Moucecore we made a quick stop to the printers and they said they would deliver the Booklets to us at Moucecore, which they did.

It's 10 and I will retire early so I can be rested for tomorrow crusade.

Thank you again, your partnership makes this ministry possible,

That none would be lost,

Arlene

June 12 - Bibles

Ministry Partners,

Today, we had a traditional breakfast and headed to the Bible Society of Rwanda to contact Octave and purchase the Rwandan Bibles.
After we found out the cost and exactly how many Bibles we could purchase the next step was to go to the bank, write a check on our account, get the money and then deposit the cash in the Bible Society account followed by taking that slip of Deposit back to Octave to prove that we had actually paid for the Bibles. If we had just given a check to Octave we would have had to wait at least 24hrs. for the check to clear before getting the Bibles.

 Over the years I have found Octave to be such a helpful person to work with and it was a bit sad for me to find out that he is being promoted to another position in the same office. I am sure the new person I will order from will also do a great job but I will miss Octave. He told me that when I notified him before I came and informed him that I was sorry but I would not be able to purchase as many Bibles as prior years that he and his staff made it a matter of prayer every morning. As I said I am going to miss working with him!!!!

At one point Pastor Peter arrived looking, as they would say in Rwanda, "very smart" in his usual suit and tie. He and I have some of the most fun discussions where we continue to learn from each other. Having wonderful friends, family really, like him and his sweet wife Merculie is a treasure given to me by the Lord. 

Next was a stop to order Discipleship Booklets to go with the Bibles. As seems to be the norm, the young man Alfred dealt with was a friend of his........I have ceased to be surprised!!! Alfred dickered well and procured a very good price for us.

We went back to Moucecore and Alfred sent our driver to get 32 cs. (12 bottles ea.) or water for the team as we do ministry. We had the traditional IRM lunch, a peanut Butter and jelly or honey sandwich, also making one for Philbert when he returned. Lest I forget everyone then had the customary water with a flavor packet from the states. I didn't realize how much they would like them when I started bringing them a few years ago. Sugar free and so much better than the glass bottled sugarie sodas here.

The water had no more than been unloaded than the beautiful Bibles arrived and were also unload.

Then it was an opportunity to sort suitcase items while Alfred went to get a Modem so I, hopefully, will be able to access the internet easily without trying to use the in house internet access. We'll see!

We ate dinner early for locals here, 6pm, fish, fries, fresh gr. beans with onions and carrots, rice with red sauce and of course pineapple.

As I was about to finish this post the man I met yesterday that is forming a Biblical Institute here with a number of local churches stopped by my room to say, "Lady, you better get ready to preach! My pastors want you to come to their churches and preach. When I return from Uganda in a couple of days we need to talk. OK?" Interesting, I just love the way God does things. He told those Baptist pastors about the story of this Foursquare Evangelist Pastor and they want me to come to speak to their churches!!!!! I am smiling at God's great goodness, I hope you are smiling with me.

Before closing this blog for today and getting to bed by 11 (I promised myself) I would like you to see the photo I was trying to post yesterday concerning the guys working hard at setting a new prison itinerary after the current requests from Correction Services Commissioner Dativa. My first prison crusade is Saturday, I will try and notify you here of the changes as they are about to happen .

  

Bishop Alexis, Pastor Peter and Alfred

I'm so excited I don't know what to do with myself. Thanks again for your faithful prayer covering.

That none would be lost,

Arlene

June 11 - Prayer changes things

Ministry Partners,
I am living proof that exhaustion and earplugs (that silence the barking dogs and EARLY morning rooster's crowing) were a very good combination as I slept until 8:40. I probably would have slept longer but by overusing my earplugs last night ( :-) ) they were worn out and did not conceal the loud talking next door.
We had a rushed breakfast of an omelet, French toast, fresh pineapple and Rwandan tea and headed into towm.
Today we watched God provide for us in ways that can only be called miracles and I know they are only the first of many!!!
Alfred called the Commissioner of Prisons (Dativa)  and asked if she was in and if we, Pastor Peter, himself and I,  could have an impromptu meeting with her today? Such a thing is unheard of here, meetings must be requested,  in writing, FAR in advance.Yes she was in, be there at 11:30. When we arrived she was already in a meeting so we waited about 10 minutes before a tall beautiful woman in African dress exited.
Dativa gave me a huge hug and asked how I was while asking us not to sit at her desk area but rather the area reserved for "conversation with friends".
She asked us not to go to one prison as the area I would preach from is under construction but approved us to go to a Youth Prison and then informed us that they had closed one (new to me)  prison I had requested to go to and they had dispersed the prisoners to Butari and Mpanga Prison. Because she wanted those prisoners to also hear the Gospel she asked if we would consider going there. Although I had not planned on going back there this year I told her we would be happy to comply with her wishes.
She is also setting up a huge day event for us at the prison that caught fire, having herself and lots of other Gov. officials there. Because of that new request involving the participation of other offfficials she asked if we would write up a NEW request to enter prisons document for her to sign, promising we could pick up our new stamped/signed document on Friday.
No time to explain here, the event will be one of my great stories to blog later or when I return. Please pray that not only would the prisoners have prepared open hearts for the Gospel but so would the Gov. officials. A meeting worthy of praise to the Savior.

We were in her office about an hour and when we left there sitting outside the inner office was the lady who had left Datvia's inner office earlier...........waiting to go back in to finish her meeting with Dativa.

Alfred informed me, last Sat., that he found out that although the money would be received by the bank here on Monday we would not have access to the money until Friday!!!!! Being here for a week with no funds was not something I would ever choose so asking that you pray that we would find favor with everyone we encountered was a very important request, for sure, as our funds were released to us while we were there today. Praise to Jesus again!!!

Then Pastor Peter, Alfred and I met with another IRM partner, Bishop Alexis, at his office as we discussed a new itinerary according to Commissioner Dativa's requests. We took the new document to the printers and then took it back to Dativa's office for the official stamp and her signature.

Pastor Peter had other errands so he left us while we stayed in town to purchase some supplies for the Welcome Dinner and the IRM lunches. It was so late we decided to have dinner in town before heading to the airport to check on my luggage situation. They told us some had just arrived and we could go in and see if mine was there. The luggage was everywhere so Alfred got a cart and I began looking, yes there was 1 bag, I kept looking, yes the 2nd & 3rd bag but the 4th bag appeared to not be there. I went through the myriad of bags from the plane again ..... and there was the 4th bag. As we were heading for the final security checkout I could see others were not a fortunate as me because they were back at the "Lost & Found" office with an empty cart.  
The bags had been in Brussels so long that you would see that the TSA had plenty of time to go through everyone's bags as I observed suitcases partly unzipped and although mine were not unzipped the zip ties were cut off. In every bag I had a printed sheet of the contents with the bag weight inside and on the top of the contents as well as I carry a copy with me. In checking the inventory sheet of one bag it appears the TSA personal that checked mine either liked Peanut Butter OR they we not sure what it was and wanted to try it ........ 2 jars were missing. I think I am fortunate and blessed that they left 3 for me!!!!!! Another reason for praise.

I met a man, from the East Coast of U.S. who is staying here that is starting a Bible Institute here and his church affiliations is large in the U.S. and here. He want's to distribute our Discipleship Booklet and whenever time allow this year or next perhaps he has invited to have me speak to some of them. An unexpected praise to Jesus.

So as you can tell God has poured out His grace and faithfulness in the 1st day. For some reason it will not let me add any photos tonight. It is 1:30 am so it's way past time for bed.

Thank you so much for praying for us, words cannot tell you how much your partnership is appreciated.

Arlene

JUNE 10 - Please pray........

Ministry Partners,

Praise the Lord I arrived safe , sound and ever so tired tonight at about 7PM..........but I did not leave the airport secured area until 8 o'clock.

 

The officer who checked me in said I needed to apply for citizenship when he found out this was my 11 time to visit. :-)

 

It was sure really wonderful to receive my Rwandan greeting and hugs from Philbert,  Pastor Peter and Alfred.

Although I arrived safe and sound none of my luggage (4 pieces) did not. In fact no one on the plane received their luggage. We were informed that the the Brussels airport employees had gone on strike just prior to our boarding the the plane and they had not loaded a single bag!!!! 

PLEASE PRAY THAT THE STRIKE IS SETTLED QUICKLY.

And that every one will get their bags in good order. I met 3 other team doing everything from children's ministry to soccer ministry to medical ministry and every one has such needed supplies in their bags.

Please make sure Pastor James and Annette Paulsen get this message as I have not been able to bring up their number in my Viber app.

My bed here at Moucecore looks very inviting, it's 10 o'clock and I am so tired I will make this short.

I am happy they gave me the same room I have almost every year, first room on the right as you go down the hall for those who have stayed here with me before.

It is a wonderful blessing to be here and for my feet to touch Rwandan soil again. Thank you for your faithful support that makes this possible.

That none would be lost,

Arlene

June 9, 2014

Ministry Partners,

Today has finally arrived................................. 

 

Flight time is 7:25, I'll be posting soon......... hopefully.

Arlene 

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
   my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. 

Psalm 28:8

June 8. 2014

Ministry Partners,

It's hard to believe that my 11th trip to the Great Lakes Region of Africa begins tomorrow. It will be my 11th time to the beautiful country of Rwanda and my 2nd time to the beautiful but much larger country of Uganda.

  

I am excited to once again be involved in ministry with our wonderful Rwanda Partners and meet the new Partners that Alfred has brought on board in Uganda.

A couple of days ago I received the following update from our ministry Rwanda Partner, Rev. Peter:

"Praise and glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ. It has been confirmed today morning that the certificate authorizing you to enter Rwandan prison facilities given to you last year is still valid and there is no need of processing another one all that remains is for you to come. Wishing you a safe flight next week warm regards. Rev Deyali Peter and Merculie"

 

 Thank you Jesus for this "YES" answer to our prayers and thank you to all of you that have been praying concerning our application to enter the Rwandan Prisons. Please continue to pray concerning our application to enter Ugandan Prisons and for our complete trip in general but especially that the Holy Spirit would prepare their hearts for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we would watch God pour out His power as never before. 

The following Itinerary will help you follow our ministry journey.

   

 As the internet is up I will try and post so you can follow the events of the day. Please leave comments we love to here from you.

That none would be lost,

Arlene