Desire, the driver, listening to the New Testament inside the car as we teach in the church today.   

Another beautiful day here in Rwanda, and I am currently listening to Theophile and Frank share “The Five Purposes of the Church” lesson with 15 leaders of a local church.  Soon, Frank will have me teach a part of the lesson.  

One of the greatest joys I have experienced so far has been with our driver, Desire, who we entrust with driving us everywhere on the Rwanda streets.  Yesterday, he saw that Frank had brought solar audio players, which have a recording of the New Testament that can be played aloud.  Frank let him borrow it for the day, and whenever Desire was not driving, he was sitting out on the porch listening to the New Testament.  Today, after he drove us to the church where we are at, I brought him the audio player to listen to for the day.  He was overjoyed, with the biggest smile across his face, and he kept saying "Bless you!". He told me that he would have just sat around all day waiting for us to be done, but now he could listen to the Bible.  His joy over being able to listen to the Word brought so much joy to my heart!  I want to delight in listening to Scripture like Desire delights in listening to Scripture. 

I know there are many more blessings in store for my time here.  Looking forward to them!

Alison    

    

For those who read yesterday's blog, I just want you to know Alison felt fine today.

God blessed us with a great day working through some of the final details for our six locations of equipping church leaders in Rwanda (see the "Calendar" tab on this website). Originally, we were supposed to teach Rwandan prison church leaders today and tomorrow. Since that could not be arranged, we will spend time equipping leaders in Kabuga instead. When God opens the "prison door" we will enter. The remaining locations are all confirmed (including two refugee camps) and will basically take us from the east side of Rwanda to the west (with a view of Lake Kivu - one of the added blessings along the way).

Copies of lessons in Kinyarwanda are ready. Today we were able to distribute forty-eight English Bibles (provided by Manchester Christian Church). Then we purchased eighty Kinyarwanda Study Bibles (finances provided by multiple individuals). We will distribute these Bibles for any new church leaders participating in the teaching. Along the way we met old friends and met new ones.

I think we are ready with the details. 
I know my heart is ready. 
We get to teach church leaders in Rwanda tomorrow!
More importantly, we get to share life in the Kingdom with Rwandan brothers and sisters!

God is so good!

Blessings,
Frank Rukundo 

Theophile introduces Alison to the Kinyarwanda Study Bible
(eighty KSB's being loaded into the Rwanda Challenge "imodoka" at the Rwanda Bible Society)

     Frank and I arrived in Kigali yesterday, both tired but excited for the next month that we are here.  We experienced a few of God's little blessings for us in the midst of our three flights.  Because Frank has taken so many flights to and from Rwanda, he is now a silver member with United Airlines; therefore, we were able to fly first class from Boston to Washington D.C.  It also meant that since our original flight was first class with United Airlines, we could each have two 70lbs bags (instead of 50) throughout all three flights with no extra charge.  That's an extra 80lbs of Bibles, Passion of the Christ videos, tools, and a printer that were able to come along with us to Kigali.  When we arrived in Washington D.C., ready for our flight to Addis Ababa, the lady at the counter issued our tickets, and we had some conversation with her, learning that she was from Rwanda. Then, when we went to board the flight, they had us step aside, where they then told us we were bumped up to first class for this 13 hour flight. (We think that the lady at counter must have bumbed us up, because when we received our tickets at the counter, they were still economy seats.)  But what a treat first class was!  Our seats were able to recline back so that we could actually lie down to sleep.  Also, our breakfast and lunch consisted of several courses, of which we could choose several options.  I definitely felt spoiled, but it was a major blessing to have a comfortable 13 hour flight.  
     This is my first time to Rwanda and my first time to Africa, so it has been wonderful to meet Theophile and  several other Rwandans here.  I can already tell that this is a beautiful country with beautiful people.  When Frank and I were walking off the plane yesterday, he asked a lady how she was doing, and she said, "I am blessed!."  What a beautiful response, and it resembles the attitudes of most Rwandans.  I can already tell that while I will help teach the church leaders this month, the Rwandans will teach me much more! 
     Frank and I were able to get lots of sleep last night, so we are both rested and ready for the next few weeks.  This morning, the food did not settle so well, so I spent some more time in bed after getting sick.  I am feeling much better this afternoon though, and I will be spending the rest of the day helping to prepare for our ministry.  I am definitely excited for the weeks to come.  I am blessed!

Alison