The Adventure So Far

Dearest friends and family,

Our trip thus far has truly been an adventure. We feel truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to experience all that we have.

Sunday was truly a life changing day for all of us. We had the pleasure of attending the worship service of our host church and it was indescribable. After a wonderful worship session, Tim sang 'How He Loves Us' for the congregation and it was beautiful to say the least. Afterwards, Arlena preached a powerful sermon from Genesis 6. While she preached, the rest of us went and had the pleasure of serving well over 130 kids in children's church. To see them interact and respond was awesome. Nate told the story of Daniel and the lions den and then talked about being scared and learning to trust in the Lord. After church an intense game of "Duck-Duck-Goose" ensued, where Glenn's inner child took over. :) I had the distinct pleasure of comforting a very young child who just melted my heart.

Today, Monday, was a very busy and physically exhausting day. We set up the camp for the kids and I, for one, had no idea of all the things that went into this camp. We unloaded all of our supplies along with 36 cases of soda (which was just insane!) We all worked ourselves silly, but we wouldn't have it any other way. From setting up the cafeteria, to individual classrooms and finishing all the bags to give to the kids...it just was a total blast. And to top it all off, we had our first crazy intense rain storm and praise God, the roof's don't leak! :)

We continue to praise God for all that He has provided for us. We are thankful beyond measure for our hosts...this camp wouldn't have happened without them. They are truly servants of Christ. Please continue to pray for our safety and stamina as the next 3 days are our big, busy, crazy days. The kids start arriving around 10 am. Pray for safe travels for all that are coming. We again thank you all for everything that you've done to help us get to this point. We love you all.

In His service...Stephen

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Monday, November 15, 2010

Focus Topic: Unity/Peace

Focus Team Member: Melanie Greco

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12/Philippians 4:6-8

We were reminded through yesterday’s message that we all have different gifts and that God calls us all to function differently within the local church. As we focus our praying today on unity, let’s pray that these men and women who are serving the people of Rwanda this week would be aware of their gifting and free to flow in that while allowing the others on the team to do the same. God promises that when we come to him in prayer, petition, and thanksgiving that he will flood us with a peace that passes our earthly understanding! As our team prepares for a week of camp, let’s trust that God will flood them with the peace they need to take them through the week.

Prayer: Oh God we thank you for creating each of the ten people of this Rwanda missions team! You have placed inside each of them gifs and abilities that are needed desperately throughout this trip. We pray that you would allow this team to flow in unity. Allow each of them to identify and flow in their gifts while being completely humbled by watching their team mates do the same! God knit these men and women together just as you knit our bodies together, causing each system to depend on the other. We also pray that today and throughout the remainder of the trip that you would pour out the peace you promise in Philippians 4:6-8, a peace that passes all of their earthly understanding! As students step foot on the grounds of the camp on Tuesday, let the reality of this peace flood their hearts, break down walls, and reach places that have been unreachable! We give our team to you to watch over guard and protect. Hide them today under the shadow of your wing. Keep them safe and healthy. In Jesus’ Name! Amen

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Focus Topic: Empowerment and Infilling

Focus Scripture: Joel 2:28-29, Matthew 28:18-20

Focus Team Member: Tim Hussey

We have learned in the last year that the Holy Spirit has two main functions in our life. The first is life transformation and the other is empowerment for mission! Later in the week we will focus our praying on life transformation for our team and those they encounter, today, let’s focus on the empowerment and infilling that is provided through the Holy Spirit in order to bring people into the kingdom of God. In Matthew 28, Jesus Commissions his disciples to GO and make disciples of all nations. What an honor to not only to lead someone to salvation BUT to lead someone to the beauty of what it means to be a disciple of Christ! That is what this team is looking to do this week, pour out God’s love on these young people so that they will be drawn to seek a relationship with Jesus not just a onetime salvation experience. God promises to his people in Joel 2 that he will pour out His Spirit on all people! These men and women who we love so dearly need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to fulfill what God has sent them to do!

Prayer: Jesus! You reign high above powers and principalities! We cry out on behalf of our team today asking that you would send your Holy Spirit like a rushing wind to empower our brothers and sisters to love richly, speak boldly, and exemplify relationship with you in such a way that the young people they encounter this week would not be able to deny you or the desire to be in relationship with you! Holy Spirit fill your workers this week so that they would be able to fulfill Your great commission! Your word says that no weapon formed against your team shall prosper. We pray that as they begin to minister that you would put a hedge around them and the work that they are in Rwanda to do. Protect your workers and the precious plans you have in store. We give you this team. Holy Spirit have your way in them and in the young people they connect with this week! We love you Jesus. In Jesus’ Name we pray! Amen

Ijoro Ryiza from Rwanda

Greetings from Kigali! After over 24 hours of travel, we're finally here! Everyone except Glenn got some sleep on the plane. He's 48+ hours without sleep at this moment and he still hasn't lost his sense of humor. Pray he, as well as everyone else on the team, has a restful sleep tonight. This afternoon we unpacked and sorted 21 suitcases of gifts for the children. We just finished a delicious dinner and the assembly line of packing the gift bags has begun. As I write, there are soccer balls rolling all around the room and our team is spontaneously breaking into song (mostly initiated by none other than Tim). We are compiling the gift bags for the children. Each child will receive a reusable tote, notebook, pen, pencil, toothbrush, tooth paste, bar of soap, washcloth, reusable cup, homemade card, candy, soccer ball, and Bible in their language. Thanks to everyone who donated all these items! We are so grateful to be here and are excited for all the Lord has in store for this week! Until tomorrow, Ijoro ryiza (goodnight)! Michele

We Have Arrived

Hey Everyone!

We have arrived safely in Rwanda, this beautiful country filled with beautiful people. Michele will bring the team update a little later but I wanted to let you know that we are here, we are well, and after over 24 hours of travel, we are in good spirits. We are so excited about the opportunity to minister.

Keep praying for us! We feel them!

Blessings,
Pastor Arlena

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Focus Topic: Health

Focus Scripture: Isaiah 53:5

Focus Team Member: Kely Knowles

What does it mean to be whole? It’s a word we use frequently but very rarely stop to study the meaning. The dictionary tells us that the word whole means “not broken, damaged or impaired, uninjured and unharmed.” Let’s keep that meaning in mind as we meditate on the focus scripture today. Isaiah 53:5 is a verse that is probably very familiar to many of us. The Living Translation words it in such a way to remind us that not only can we come to God for healing when we are sick but we can seek God to keep us from encountering sickness in the first place. The verse reads:

⁵ But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.

Jesus gave his life so that we could be whole! He died and was resurrected over 2000 years ago which means that the wholeness that he promises in this verse is already paid for-our job is simply to lay hold of what he has made available. So as we pray today let’s not just pray that God would heal our team members that may be ailing but let’s pray that his promise would be true that the beating that Jesus took for each of our brothers and sisters who are in Rwanda would provide for their wholeness (in body, mind and spirit) today and throughout the remainder of the trip.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for giving up your only son to be beaten and to die so that we could experience forgiveness and wholeness in our bodies. Jesus, we acknowledge the power of your death and resurrection and cry out for the promises of Isaiah 53:5 to be made true for every person on this team today and for each day of this trip. We pray that you would provide divine health to these men and women. God we also pray that if any person is feeling weak in his or her body today that you would be their Jehovah Rapha- their healer. Be all that our team needs today. We pray that their sleep would be anointed and would provide them the rest that they need to remain healthy as they prepare to minister. In Jesus’ Name! Amen

Friday morning 2:45am.

The team gathers (minus 2) to load up and depart for PHL. Next stop Rwanda! *See prayer support post below.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Focus Topic: Protection

Focus Scripture: Psalm 91

Focus Team Members: All 10 team members ( Pastor Arlena, Michele, Kely, Tim, Heather, Melanie, Nate, Stephanie, Glen, and Stephen)

Psalm 91 is overflowing with the protection he promises to his children. Many times when we hear someone pray for protection, they may use the words, “Hedge of protection”. I recently heard God’s hedge of protection described as a thick, thorny, strong source of protection! How is that for an awesome visual? So as we pray over our team today, let’s picture them, the planes they will fly on and the places they will go surrounded by that thick, thorny, strong barrier that God promises those who hide themselves in him!

Prayer: Daddy, just as little children run to their earthly fathers, we run to you today crying out on behalf of these ten men and women who are giving of their time to go and fulfill your great commission! You promise that “those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High SHALL abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” As our team travels throughout the next 24 hours, we pray that you will hide each and every one of them in your secret place. Give the leaders wisdom, give each person on this trip strength, and fill them with a contagious joy! Let your divine moments begin even now for our team members and those they interact with. God, we pray that this team would be covered with your thick, thorny, strong hedge of protection every minute of this trip. We place these ten precious people in your hand-Jesus have your way in and through them! In Jesus’ name we pray! Amen

Rwanda Missions Team - Leaving Tonight

Friday at 2:30am we make our way to the airport & wheels up is at 6:12am on our plane to Rwanda. Keep checking this blog for updates on our ministry. We appreciate your prayers!

Blessings,

Pastor Arlena