February 20

This is Pastor Tom from Community Baptist - stepping in for Neal today.  Christina, Lisa, and I arrived yesterday tired but ready to go.  After bailing Neal out of jail, we proceeded to the imiruno, a district of Kigaili, where we are all staying in a local house.  It has a great community feel to it, as we share meals and prepare for our different ministries.

Today we were able to attend Harvest Christian Church which is led by Pastor Theophilius, who is serving as our host and guide.  The service was amazing, with singing and dancing going on for over an hour.  At one point they pulled us out of our seats and made us dance, bringing back horrific high school memories that had taken years to repress.  Neal's dancing caused the pastor to think that he was having a seizure, and emergency crews were called.  After order was restored, we were asked to preach.  I think the main reason was to get us to stop dancing.

I had never spoken through a translator before (unless waiting for my mother to explain what I just said to my father counts) and it was a great experirnce.  Although a little unsettling at first, once we established a rhythm things seemed to go well.  Neal preached a great message from John 2, one in which the local pastors struggle through as to the relationship of Christians and wine.  He redirected them nicely to the main point of the passage that the old way of the Law was passing, and He was offering the new wine of life through Him through grace.  It was very powerfully received.

After visiting with a woman who is involved in the MicroSeed program, we were able to go shopping and finally get back to our house to prepare for the next day.  Tomorrow, Lisa and Christina are heading out to Kinigi to work with the mid-wives.  They will be training them on delivery and post-delivery care (which is a major issue with these women).

We will also be visiting the Genocide Memorial and then Neal and I will be heading back to teach the pastors in Masaka.  Please pray for me as I lead them through the book of Acts, one that is very timely for this country at this time.  They have the fire, but need the context of Scripture to wrap it in.  As Christ Himself said,  "If you follow my teachings, you will be My disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  These people need to know the truth so that they can be truly set free from old mindsets and ways of life. 


Again - thank you for your support and prayers.  I can tell  you that Neal is very conscientious about every dollar that is spent.  If you gave money, believe me, it is in good hands and is being used in a way that is truly helping the Rwandan church.