There are two reasons Austin Bible should partner with Africa New Life Ministries, and “because they need us” is not one of them.  God’s hand is on this ministry and He is going to bless these efforts whether or not we partner.  The first reason is because of leadership.  Charles Mugishu is a big-picture visionary leader who has built a team of sold-out, high capacity leaders.  At every turn, Andrew Schulz and I were saying, “That person is perfect for the job he or she has been given.”  And being that Rwanda is halfway around the world, confidence in local, indigenous leadership is everything.

The second reason, though, is what I see as most significant.  I believe Rwanda is in the midst of quite possibly the most fertile season of gospel growth in its history and in its future as a country.  The country still bears the humility and brokenness of a genocide where over 1 million people were slaughtered, 4 million were displaced to neighboring countries or refugee camps, and no person survived the genocide unaffected.  Yet, only 15 years later, the joy and warmth and openness is overwhelming.  Rwanda has received the best the Western world can give…stability (no more blind eye to genocide, bursting economy) and Christianity.  Yet at the same time, all the junk of the West is on its way as well.  Christianity is simple right now in Rwanda.  Preach the word, do acts of mercy and people come to Christ. This is a unique window of opportunity to partner with an exceptional ministry in its most fertile season for gospel growth.

Muraho friends!

Oh, how I wish I could bottle the sights, smells, tastes and voices of Rwanda and send it your way through this blog post. 

The people of Rwanda are truly beautiful.  How can I articulate in words the resilience and joy in their eyes and spirits?  Their worship to our Lord pours out through their voices, in their dancing, and in kneeling down before our Maker…no matter the age.

Our third day started with a visit to Africa New Life Ministries’ Dream Center in Kigali.  The children who are sponsored in and around Kigali are invited to attend “Center Day” three of the four Saturdays each month.  (The last Saturday of the month is a mandatory “cleaning” day enforced by the government.)  The children arrive on foot in the morning and are lined up by age for roll call and to be checked for good health and clothing.  The difference between these children and the street children we visited on Thursday is obvious…and the difference is sponsorship.  The sponsored children are visibly healthier and full of more energy because of their access to education, health care, spiritual nurturing and food.

After roll call, the children were separated by age to attend worship and bible class.  Zac, Andrew and I went with the older children to worship and bible class.  I loved looking across the room at the children as they worshipped our Lord and Savior.  Their sweet voices were full of genuine love and dependent pleas to our Heavenly Father.  We also popped in to see the younger children worship...PRECIOUS! Little ones falling on their knees and dancing without inhibition to sing of their love for Him….oh, how we have so much to learn from them.

Our lunch at the Mission House was a quick one (fried potatoes and fresh salad) as we had many things to try to squeeze in before dinner.  Our first stop was the local outdoor market to purchase food for our visit to “Home of Hope” Orphanage later in the day.  All I can say is…thank God for our friend Stephen! He works for ANLM and graciously assisted us in negotiating with the folks at the market to get fair prices on $250 worth of food.  (Rice, Beans, Maize Flour, Salt, Sugar, Cooking Oil and Mangoes) The inside of the market was a sight to see! Fresh and colorful produce stacked high with hardly any space to walk or move at all.  Some local Rwandans say that they do not like to go in there…but we all enjoyed it. (Even the oily ducks charging my legs! Thanks for the cover, Pastor Zac!)

The second market we visited was full of local artisans’ work displayed throughout several small stalls, which are arranged in a small “U.”  My wonderful and dear friend, Samantha, helped Zac and Andrew navigate the stalls to find the best deals on Rwandan gifts for their families.  (Be excited!)

Our next stop was one that we have been praying for with great hope and expectant favor.  We pulled up to the gates of “Home of Hope” at 3:30pm and were welcome by Sister Gracias.  Our new friend, Bonita, called to advise her of our visit---which was such a blessing.  We introduced ourselves and gave Sister Gracias our food gifts from the market and were then escorted down to the children’s facilities.  Andrew spent some time talking with another Sister about the Schulz’s adoption journey, and we all had the opportunity to spend time with the children.  We spent the majority of our time in the 12 month-old room.  Our sweet friend, Anne Kelley, joined us at the orphanage with Jessica Taylor and Jessica’s friend, Molly.  We all sat around in a circle and loved on these precious ones.  I particularly loved the sight of two grown men sitting on the floor, legs criss-crossed, with precious ones in their arms.  It is a vision I will carry with me as it was exemplified a Father’s heart.  How He loves for us to crawl into His heavenly lap and be loved on by Him.

Our visit to Home of Hope felt very fruitful, and our prayers will continue as we walk alongside each other in building a friendship with HOH…and as we encourage and support those one their adoption journeys.

Our day ended with a wonderful dinner at a local restaurant with Pastor Charles (New Life Bible Church) and his wife, Florence.  We were also joined by Samantha Blair, (and three of her friends) and Anne Kelley.  How wonderful to share a meal with so many friends so far from home!

Thank you for your continued prayers.  We feel them in the land of a thousand hills!

~Natalie Green

Ever awoken under the gentle fabric of a mesquito net designed to discourage Malaria?  Ever observed hard working women learning to sew to avoid poverty and destitution? Ever been to a two-room "home" with dirt floors where a widow and her eight (8) children lived? Ever walked among the unmarked graves of more than 250,000 individuals (that's 2.5 sell out crowds at DK Royal Memorial Stadium)?  Ever stopped to consider God's svereignty and its impact on the atrocities like the Rwandan genocide which resulted in over one million deaths in only 100 days?  Ever been hugged by 120 orphans (each one) who were being redeemed by a program that provided food, shelter, love and attention, and one of the top five educations in the entire country? 

This summarizes Day two.  God has not forgotten Rwanda.  And he doesn't need Austin Bible to "rescue" it from its dark history and the poverty and destitution it faces--even today.  To the contrary, instead the amazing rescue plan is He allows us to particiate in his merciful and perfect plan to reach His people for Him.  A wonderful plan which he invites us to "act" in response to the Gospel.  I have a question for you: When was the last time you acted for another in response to the Gospel?  I don't mean casually offering to pray for a co-worker--I mean really moving from your spot and extending yourself and your circumstances to impart life to another thereby experiencing God's plan for you--life change?  I mean risking it all. 

James says it this way in 2:14-17 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." 

You see, like many before me, I left for this trip wondering am I prepared to impact the people I encounter? And, as usual, I had it totally backwards.  God says give me your faith AND your works and I will make you more like my son.  We don't do the real work--that's God's domain and his pleasure.  Rather, He works through us and as long as we are available and ready, he will do great things.  He has already done great things here in Rwanda.  Join us in continued prayer for mission and His Kingdom here in Africa. 

Andrew

Rwanda's nickname "Land of a Thousand Hills" is truly fitting. This is a beautiful country!  Andrew and I arrived in Kigali at 9 AM Thursday, January 14th, after 5 countries and 32 hours in the air.  Our bags arrived with us, which was a nice surprise. Jessica Taylor and our driver picked us up and immediately brought us to the Dream Center, the ministry hub of Africa New Life Ministries.  We drove up to see the  Street Kid's Ministry in full steam. 

250 boys ages 4-15 have an opportunity to eat breakfast, take a bucket bath, sing worship songs in their native tongue, hear the gospel preached, and eat lunch before being sent back out to their world of begging, stealing, and drug use. Some of them are not homeless, they just are not allowed to come home without something to show for themselves. 

Andy and I just sat with these boys, teaching them to bump knuckles and "blow it up" and having them just stare at us. They don't get to see many white people.  Some of them pinch our arm hair and pull because they want to make sure this is really our skin.  One 4 year old boy was fixated on my pockets, being trained to beg and steal, he was just waiting for the opportunity. 

Today was the picture of Africa you have in your mind right now, but it was real for the first time for me today.   Gospel word and deed is making a difference, but man, the need is overwhelming. 

After the Dream Center, we spent the afternoon in two meetings re: Adoption.  Both meetings were very helpful. Andy and I will appreciate a good night's sleep. Tomorrow we do a home visit  to a Sponsor Child's house, then to the Genocide Memorial. In 1994, 800,000 men, women, and children were killed in 90 days.  Today, with the joy on people's faces, it is so hard to believe neighbor turned on neighbor.  It will be a sobering morning.  After lunch we head to Kayonza, where ANLM has a Christian School and temporary home for street kids. 

Natalie Green is in her sweet spot, folks. Thank you for continuing to pray for us.  Pray for Haiti and find a way to help.   Here are a couple videos of the Street Kids Ministry from today.

Zac

(double-click on videos to play)

No homes... but still just boys

Lunch: Porridge and Beans

Vision Trip

Yesterday, Zac Allen and Andrew Schulz left to join Natalie Green and Jessica Taylor in Rwanda. A heart for Africa has been growing in many Teammates at Austin Bible this past year, and we are excited that a Vision Trip has begun to ask God what He might have for us in Rwanda.

Zac called and they had 3 extra hours on a tarmac because of snow... but they are in good spirits, taking some good meds to sleep, and are having a great adventure already. Please continue to pray and check back as the team keeps us updated with stories and pictures. They will return January 20th.

photo courtesy of Jessica Taylor

Go and tell the nations...