Appleseed Travel Journal

November 9, 2019 — Beauty in Simplicity and Gratitude

Brooks

Sitting snugly with a group of 15 in a village in rural Rwanda, I really just wanted to weep…with overwhelming gratitude. The escalating noise of the rain pounding on the tin roof only intensified the exuberance of the Believers gathered together in Jesus’ name. Simply. No platform or band, or looking down on or up to, just together, in a circle, tight with love, close in harmony. The louder the rain, the more standing, stomping, clapping, and dancing to praise the God they love, overjoyed to be in His presence and the time to be with each other.

Sitting down again, I looked up, and noticed something hanging from the ceiling. As I squinted to see through the shadows, it became clear. What I would take as trash, the couple had lovingly strung from the rafters to decorate their home…a jump rope, a discarded stuffed animal, an old yoyo, dried up leaves, and a piece of ribbon. Old and battered, filthy and broken—unusable—each one. Yet, here they were, hanging high like a shimmering glass chandelier. I was spellbound by the love and thought it had taken to rescue what undoubtedly I would have quickly thrown away. Instead, Mbaruno and his wife had decorated their home with precious items to bring joy and delight to all who lived and entered there.

So, gratitude? Gratitude that I can be with people…who live simply but believe they are royalty, who work hard and know it’s God who is their Provider, who are not embarrassed by who or what they aren’t, but embrace with love and confidence of knowing their true identity in the One who calls them His own. Gratitude that they show me the God we serve is the one who takes the dirty, discarded, and used up and places us among princes and in seats of honor.

We go to give; but consistently we are the ones who receive.

things hanging from a ceiling above smiling people

November 6, 2019 — A Week in the Field

Brooks

A week on the ground, in the field, talking to disciples in villages, hearing firsthand what’s happening in the lives of real people with real stories is always amazing. We try to support, encourage and train leaders who are making disciples who are also making disciples. Any chance to put a name and face on these disciples living in remote areas brings a fresh reality to the transformations taking place. Repeatedly we hear people talk about the insurmountable challenges of African life and the discouragement they faced emotionally, physically and spiritually. Having an opportunity to sit and be with them and hear the hope, the peace and the stability they now have is like hearing one miracle story after another! Here are a few “snaps” from our week:

First, thank you for praying! God kept us safe once again (not to mention all the billion times He has when we weren’t even aware of what He was doing)!

Roger’s post on FB if you didn’t see it:

Not joking. I just posted about (going on) this small-plane ride. Turns out that after dropping us off it had an incident at its next stop. A wheel fell off and it had to make an emergency landing. A wheel fell off??? In any case we feel quite protected by the grace of God.

“NEWS ALERT!
Silverstone Air plane makes emergency landing at Eldoret AIRPORT. It lost one wheel during take off.”

So, praise God we arrived safely in Kitale at the air strip where kids off school now til January were hanging out along the chain linked fence waiting to watch a plane landing.

Roger with children — Getting to spend time with friends and their families in Kitale:

And then south onto other areas in Western Kenya…Here are some pictures from our week:

Checking on farm projects worked by and the profits used by house church families…

Walking up from the garden we met one of the family’s six sons. He and his brother were just getting home from collecting firewood in the forest.

The family’s home. Note the pen for geese attached and part of the structure is a pen for their much valued cow. All of the containers you see (yellow) are for carrying water.

Emelda harvested kale for us to use to help feed those who would be joining us for trainings the next couple of days.

Traveling with a van full of men is always interesting, but you can bet there’s always food involved!!! Note the bag full of mendazi (donuts). Not to mention, a day without getting stuck at least once, rarely happens. I was blessed to be reassured this time (unlike others) that yes, we did have a spare tire.

Bananas, a common sight…and passing through a market area in a village, we often see a couple of women laboring over a client’s hair – a long and arduous task often lasting 6 to 8 hours.

And, can you imagine??? Also a common sight, especially in rural areas…barefoot and walking long distances to market.

Another farm project with a very sweet family…newer disciples Robert and his wife and three children.

Robert, his wife Gladys and their family

We traveled in three different counties, Kakamega, Busia and Siaya on the border of Uganda to reach two homes where 12 women had gathered. In the last six months they have received training and $30 packages of flour, sugar, oil, lentils to start businesses of making mendazi and samosas for selling at the market. Disciple-maker Caren taught six of her disciples, who have each taught six of their disciples how to make, sell, and budget. These women are now finding success and the ability to buy basic necessities to run their homes, as well as helping to pay school fees, purchase pigs or goats, and buy needed medicines. All of these women are involved in making disciples. After meeting with them, we learned that some of donation has made it possible to train and equip 10 more women in the near future. Praise God. This is HUGE! It’s life changing for these women and their families to be able to generate a consistent income through a proven cultural market.

Many women have very little education. The African culture itself is very oral in that they learn quickly and easily by listening and talking. I got to share on using storytelling in disciple-making by telling them the story of Zacchaeus. Then we did a Discovery Bible Study by each one repeating the story, identifying with someone in the story and sharing how they will be obedient to what they learned through the story.

Even though it’s pitch dark, this group patiently waited for us to get to Peter’s home where they had gathered hours before to give me a report. Even John Omondi is spent at this point!

Then we had three days of trainings and another day for fellowship and a strategic planning meeting with the leaders of the movement. There were around sixty people for a New Generations meeting and then around 25 for a leaders’ meeting and then 15 for the strategic planning meeting.

And one last sunset in Kakamega…with all of the heavens declaring the glory of God!!!

October 28, 2019 — The Power of My Testimony

Brooks

Edward who lives in Lusaka, Zambia with his wife and six children recently told me this story. He has been a preacher for many years… without, according to him, much “success.” But, repeatedly he told me, “Now I have learned a new way. It was simple. To learn who this man is, to love and have compassion and to share my life with him.”

Here’s his story:

“There was a time I was doing my personal Discovery Bible Study (DBS) and in obedience to what I read there, I had a desire to go out and make a disciple. I prayed. I went. The Holy Spirit was leading me. There was a man coming toward me in the busy street, but I knew he was the one for me to talk to. I introduced myself. No, I did not say that I was a pastor. I did not want to use the title. I just greeted him and we talked. I asked him where he stayed and he told me. I asked if it’s ok to visit him and he agreed. So, when I saw that man the second time, it was because I went to his place and he received me very well. We chatted. I listened. It’s very important I can now see to make space and time for God to work. We were becoming friends as he shared with me his life. I met with him three times. By that time, I was very worried about him and had so much compassion for him because he was sharing with me the struggles he is having in many areas of his life. I asked him, ‘Why don’t you involve God in these struggles?’ The man was so confused and asked me what I meant. I asked again, ‘Why can’t you allow God to be a part of your life?’ He was really confused and wanted to know what I was talking about. I asked that man three times, ‘Are you allowing me to talk to you about God?’ And, every time he said, ‘Yes.’

“Then, I gave him my personal testimony. I told him about how I was once full time doing so many things, being with girlfriends, drinking, and stealing. I met Jesus in a bus, and everything changed for me. Before that I had a dream and there were two groups. I belonged to one group of men and there was a man sitting in the middle between the two groups. Somehow I knew the man in the middle was Jesus Christ. My friend in the dream asked me, ‘Do you know this is Jesus?’ And I did.

“When I was in the bus that day, I was sitting in a 3-seater. There was a man on my right and a lady on my left. The man stood up and started preaching loudly and then the woman stood while I was still remaining in the middle and she was also telling everyone about Jesus Christ. It was then I remembered the dream. Jesus was in the middle and the Holy Spirit who gave me revelation.

“When I was telling my story to the man, I could feel and even see that there were tears coming from his eyes just from this personal testimony. I told him God loves you so much. First, I gave my testimony and then I gave him the Gospel from John 3:16. We have now started a DBS in that man’s home. There are six in his family and he is well known in his community. His name is Arias and he is 37 years old. That group has been very obedient to what they read in the DBS group. In his home now there are 20 disciples baptized. We had 60 people, so we divided the group into four groups in September. In those four groups now three of them have reached out to make more disciples in their own homes. I can say that one group has reached 15 neighbors, one group has made 12 disciples and another has reached 8 people. I believe we have begun.”

October 26, 2019 — Seeing is Believing

Brooks

Sometimes for some of us, seeing is believing. At last week’s conference in Kigali, participants were given an opportunity to see and experience firsthand where and how a disciple making movement can begin, thanks to our Rwandese host team who took us into an eastern province just outside of the capital city. Those of us who opted to go were squished into Justin’s 30-year-old Land Rover African style, meaning there’s always room for one more. There were six big men in the back, one from Sierra Leone, one from South Sudan, one from Zambia, two from Rwanda; one from Tanzania; three of us in the middle, two from Zambia, one from US; and in the front were Justin and Pascal (Rwanda). No need to tell you, where we were going, we definitely needed that four-wheel drive vehicle!

As the first step in disciple-making, the Rwandese team invited us to pray. Then, they demonstrated that sometimes it takes a very long time to walk the distances of wherever the Holy Spirit is sending you.

Finally, we reached a small clearing where there were farmers hoeing and preparing the soil for planting. The team showed us how they greeted the farmers, introduced themselves and told them they were there to share God’s love with them. Then, as they were talking they also picked up a hoe and started working in the field alongside of them.

Participants learning how to find a person of peace

The third step of Disciple Making Movements was then demonstrated: doing a Discovery Bible Study (DBS). The farmers took us far up the mountain to their newly built home where a demonstration included doing a DBS together and also the elements of soon-to-be house church: praying for one another, worshipping together, DBS, eating together.

The response of the participants from their experience?

“I have seen real people who are doing this. There I saw four generations of disciples. If this can be done in Rwanda, it can happen in Zambia.”

“I learned so many things. I learned to take time, to listen, not to preach, but to love.”

“I learned to go where the people are.”

“I learned to sit and be together. I learned to facilitate, not preach, so everyone has a chance.”

“I learned this is the way of Jesus. It is simple, so simple.”

“My experience was awesome! After finding this person of peace, we did DBS together. I watched and it was awesome! And, the people, they all participated and it was awesome! And, we broke bread together and it was awesome! I have carried a lot. For me, this is the strategy I am going home with (to Zambia).”

October 22, 2019 — Our Hearts are Full After Week-Long Conference

Roger

First, I want to share the praise that I wrote in my prayer post regarding last week’s multi-nation conference in Rwanda:

Imagine… participants from all parts of Africa coming for a weeklong conference in Rwanda. Airplanes, buses, boda-bodas (motorcycle taxis). People arriving and leaving and eating foreign food and meeting together from morning til night. Yet every flight and connection were made. No one ill. No crises. No problems. Everyone in great spirits and excited by all that they received from trainers who are experienced in catalyzing disciple-making movements.

Your prayers carried the day!

Second, I love worshiping with Africans… no instruments… no polished vocals… but a room filled with vibrant, passionate praise with harmonized-voices, and bodies-in-motion… there is nothing quite like it!

Third, there is an undercurrent of love for the Good News of Jesus Christ and a determination that all must know Him. This is the drive behind a conference like this. People just get it! The heart of each person present is to see that every person has the opportunity to hear the Good News of Christ’s love at least one time and to build relationship with the unreached so that ALL may have this opportunity.

Finally, there are the tools and strategies imparted that equip and encourage these leaders. A few of their comments:

Passion for the lost is the driving factor or force… (Elisha, Kenya)

Women encouraged to do the ministry in the movement including the practical side of women doing baptism… (Matthias, Tanzania)

On the topic of orality, I learned that the heart language, or mother tongue, is very much important in telling Biblical stories. I also learned the seven effective steps in discipling through stories… (Edward, Zambia)

I have learned a lot on how I can reach a Muslim or Muslims… (Edward, Zambia)

In leadership we have to humble ourselves in order to lift someone… (Erika, Zambia)

After going on the field and observing the house church and looking for the man of peace, I personally learned that DMM (Disciple Making Movements) is the most effective way of discipling followers of Christ AND the most effective way of teaching God's word to his people.

How I wish you could be with us!