Saturday July 21st

After 3 flight delays, 6 time zone changes and 25 hours of travel, we arrived safely in Kigali Rwanda at 7pm on Saturday night, July 21^st.  Without a doubt, the theme of the first day of our trip has been God’s faithfulness and provision.  He has given us exactly what we needed for this trip (and absolutely nothing more!).  

The story of God’s provision begins in the Brussels airport.  After a relatively smooth first two flights, we arrived at the ticket counter to check in for the final leg of our journey only to be told that no ticket existed for Eric.  Despite having checked in at RDU, having bags checked through to Rwanda and a confirmation number for the final flight that was given at RDU, the lady at the ticket counter insisted that there was no Bolash in their system and that Eric did not have a seat on our final flight.  We had already gone through security and ridden a bus to get to this terminal.  Now they were sending Eric back to the United desk to clear things up.   After several attempts to get them to recheck and make sure, the lady finally agreed to call the United desk for Eric and within a couple of minutes, the issue was resolved.  Not only was it resolved, but the ticket they found for Eric was next to 2 of our other team members!  

The next (and most dramatic ) example of God’s faithfulness and provision for us on day 1 was when we arrived at the airport in Kigali.  After clearing customs, we went to retrieve our 13 checked bags and found…..1.  That’s right, 12 of our 13 bags did not arrive with us.  We believe they are in Brussels, but as of the time of this writing, we cannot be sure where they are or when/if they will arrive.  How is this a story of God’s faithfulness and provision you might ask?  The one bag that arrived contained all of our ESL materials.  It was truly the ONLY bag that we NEEDED in order to accomplish our purpose of coming on this trip.  Sure it would have been nice to put on clean underwear today, or to have shaved or put on deodorant.  It would have been nice to have had my vestments for church this morning so that I didn’t have to preach in a children’s choir robe (I’ve been told by the team that I’d make an excellent angel in next year’s Christmas pageant).   There are all kinds of reasons it would have been great to have had the rest of our luggage, but the Lord provided for us exactly what we needed.  It feels very much like when Jesus sent out the 12 disciples in Mark chapter 6 and tells them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in your belts…  The point was for the disciples to have to depend on the Lord’s provision for them.  Now while I have to admit that I do have money tucked into my belt, I don’t have much else.  But I have enough.  

Our team has enough.  We have what we need.  It’s a lesson we’re all learning.  And over this third day that we’re all wearing the same clothes, we’ve all been able to give thanks to God for his provision of our ESL materials.  He’s given us exactly what we need and he’s teaching us to trust in him.  It’s a really good lesson.

I guess the ways that you can pray for us are fairly obvious.  We begin teaching English tomorrow (Monday).  Please pray that the Lord would use these women and all of the work that they have done to prepare their lessons to bless the people of Rwanda.  And if you want to throw one up for our bags as well…that would be great!

Back to Rwanda

Last year, as the Rwanda Partnership Trip Team worshiped with our brothers and sisters from the Gikomero Parish in Rwanda, at the end of the service, Rev. Etienne proclaimed , “You are part of us, and we are part of you.”  They were beautiful words that capture the heart of our Sister Church Partnership with the Gikomero Parish.  Through numerous trips and ongoing prayer, God has been knitting the hearts of our two churches together, and we are thankful to God for that.

On Friday, July 20^th, a team of eight folks from Apostles will board the airplane at RDU and head out on a 14-day journey with hopes and dreams to continue investing in this partnership and to bless our brothers and sisters in Rwanda through the teaching of English.  Our team, which consists of Teresa Kincaid, Jennifer Kromhout, Taylor Waren, Sarah Hughes, Manning Pruden, Hillary Dotson, Eric Bolash and Ford Jordan, will have two main tasks. 

First, at the request of Bishop Jered Kalimba, we have been trained to teach ESL to some of the teachers and pastors of the Shyogwe Diocese.  We will be ‘teaching the teachers’ how to teach ESL.  This will be vitally important as the country continues to transition their national language from French to English. 

Our second purpose will be to continue building relationships and investing in the people of the Gikomero Parish.  We will spend time with them, worship with them and pray with them.  We will also have the opportunity to get an update on the status of the well project and the health clinic. 

Our Team Verse for this trip is Isaiah 55:10-11. 

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Please be in prayer for us as we travel.  Pray for our health and safety.  Pray for our friends and families that we are leaving behind.  Pray for our English teaching and for the relational work we will do with our Sister Church.  And above all, as our team verse suggests, pray that the Lord would accomplish whatever purposes He has for this trip. 

Journal Entry...

As I am sitting quietly waiting to leave for Church, I am praising the Lord that this time next Sunday, our Partnership Team will be worshiping the Lord with our brothers and sisters of Gikomero!  It is hard to believe that after 6 months of preparation, the time is drawing near to be departing for Rwanda.  My heart is overflowing with gratitude at the goodness and faithfulness of our Lord to meet all the financial needs for our trip through many of His generous servants.  We have also been provided mighty prayer warriors.  I have much to be grateful for this morning!   Our team verse is Isaiah 55:10-11.  The promise of God succeeding in things which he puposes according His will has already been evident and I am excited to witness what He is going to accomplish on our trip as we build relationships with our brothers and sisters of Rwanda.  Please pray our team verse for us daily, thank you.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the things for which I sent it.  Isaiah 55:10-11

All praise and glory be to God, His steadfast love endures forever!  Thanks be to God!

Your friend in Christ,

Teresa

The DMV & ESL

Last summer Church of the Apostles announced that they would be sending a team over to Rwanda to teach English to some of the Pastor’s & teachers in our sister church and network. I remember getting excited about this idea and thinking that would be something I thought I could do. But at this point it was only an unspoken idea in my head & heart that I had not made any decision on one way or the other. I hadn’t even really mentioned it to my husband Mike. It just sounded intriguing.

Later that week I had to take our son Brenden to the DMV to get his full provisional driver’s license. As we were standing in line before the DMV opened I was feeling tired and unusually un-social. I was wearing a t-shirt with “Sanderson Athletics” on it; this is the high school our children go to. The woman in front of me turned around and asked who went to Sanderson and we started to chat. Come to find out she used to teach at Sanderson, she used to teach ESL at Sanderson AND she was the first person to teach ESL in a Wake county high school. On top of that she and I both commented on how that morning we acted against what our normal behavior might have been. I was tired and not feeling very social at all and she was unusually open to chatting with someone when she usually likes to stand silently while waiting for something.

Now how about that! Our church had just announced a trip to Rwanda to teach English and this wonderful woman in front of me not only used to teach it in our school system but also now runs a business that trains people to teach English as well as teaching English out of her church; Forrest Hill Baptist church. AND she started a conversation with us when she usually wouldn’t have done that. A coincidence or, as I call moments & events like this, a God thing??

I quickly asked her if she had a business card; when I returned home I called one of the women at church who I knew was helping to organizing this trip and left her a message with the information on the business card. Soon after this I attended an information meeting about going on the trip to Rwanda and took home an application to submit to be considered as one of the people chosen to go on this mission trip. At that meeting I remember asking if anyone had been in touch with the woman I had met but no one seemed to know anything about it. I went home and immediately filled out the application and Praise God I was chosen to go to Rwanda!

  

As we started to meet and prepare for the trip one of the things that was set up for us were the ESL classes we would attend to become certified in teaching English. I kept asking if this was through the woman I had met but no one seemed to know. When we attended our first class I walked in and THERE SHE WAS!!! The wonderful, God loving, international loving woman I had met at the DMV and as I started to refresh her memory of our meeting she immediately said “Yes I remember meeting you & your son at the DMV”. Glenda is an amazing woman who has turned teaching internationals to speak English into an opportunity to share the Gospel with everyone she teaches and I know she has furthered God’s kingdom in her service to others. We learned so much from her, not the least of which is that we need to pray before every lesson we teach and rely on Him in moments of insecurity, frustration or disappointment as teachers.

Thank you God for putting Glenda & I together at the DMV that day and for her love for you that she shares with others who might never learn anything about you!

Jennifer Kromhout

Reflection from 2012 Partnership Team Member, Teresa Kincaid

It seems since I accepted the invitation to be a part of the Rwanda Partnership Team, I have battled a sinus infection. In our Women’s Bible Study lecture this morning, Katie asked the question, “What circumstance am I trying to be rid of which I need to be learning from?” As I wrote this question down, I realized how badly that I wanted to be free of this infection, to feel good, strong and healthy as I prepare for our trip to Rwanda. As I thought about this, I realized the Lord has been teaching me some lessons to help prepare me for the trip in July. He is teaching me that despite not feeling well, when I stay focused on Him daily, I receive the exact amount of energy and strength needed for that day. He is providing time to prepare for Rwanda spiritually and mentally. The Lord is showing me His grace is sufficient and that no matter how bad the pain or worn down I may feel, He meets me at that time and provides what my body needs. I am discovering the Lord is preparing me for this mission trip because He is showing me that I can endure, persevere and be strong when I focus on Him and trust Him. Each day when I wake up and think I just don’t have the energy needed today, I hear His voice say, “Teresa, wait and see what I want you to learn today from me. I am preparing you for Rwanda… with strength, perseverance and endurance to run this race with me!” Today, I say “Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity to know You better and trust You!”

Rwanda Video

A video representing Church of the Apostles's partnership with Gikomero

Water Project Update

We received the e-mail below this morning from the Shyogwe Diocese:
"Greetings to you in Jesus name. Thank for all your support and prayer. I send to you report of Gikomero water project.


GIKOMERO WATER PROJECT:  PROGRESS ACTIVITIES REPORT.


Realized activities:

·         Source catchment

·         Collect chamber

·         20 m3 tank

·         Shelter for pump ,

·         1950m of Main pipe line (from pump to main tank) is finished  it means excavation of trenches, laying pipe line and fill back trenches.

Planned activities:

·         To buy motopump & fittings and his installation and pump will cost 12,500,000 RWF (over $20,000)

·         To connect all installations

·         Construction of main tank (50m3),here we decide that we may start using plastic tank while waiting to get money to build an other one."

The $46,000 we sent was spent on the "Realized Activities".  
We are praying that the additional $30,000 needed to bring this project to completion will be raised.  

Please join us in praying.  

The Water Project would bring water to the people of Gikomero and also the newly constructed health clinic which would then become a Health Center and receive government funding, have a doctor on site, and allow for babies to be delivered.

Pictured Below in June 2011:
Kids playing with the frisbees given to Gikomero Church

Gikomero School, Basketball court and field, and Church (on the right)

Gikomero School Children