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Appleseed Travel Journal

Women Have a Lot to Talk About!

Charlotte, a young spunky Rwandan gal we’ve known for some time, looked piercingly throughout the mixed crowd of men and women and declared, “You know we women have a lot to talk about…and God can use that for his glory!” Our group of almost 70, cheered and clapped and shouted lots of “Amen’s!!!”

Charlotte

Anne, long time disciplemaker in her own right, shared her story of coming into house church gatherings. Just the idea of inviting others to come to her home, sit in a circle, read Scripture together and each one (man or woman) having the opportunity to speak, share what God is saying to them, pray, talk about their challenges freely and openly was a completely different experience. She said, “For us women, we have found a new freedom even though we have challenges.” And, it’s really true. Disciple Making Movements are lifting so many women in Rwanda from a place of not only feeling less than, but culturally, being less than.

Anne and Charlotte

Anne went on, “You know women are not like men. When we began the women showed so much interest in the things we were talking about. We prayed on Tuesdays and Thursdays that God would lead us to persons of peace as it says in Luke 10, and in the early mornings and late evenings before and after working we would fellowship with people on the streets or in their homes. The women we talked with they really liked what we were saying and they would bring other women and then those women would pass on what they heard to their family members and their neighbors. There began to be revival in our area even though we faced so many challenges. We had been told we could not speak in public, but we can see that Jesus used women in ministry. There were so many times in the Book of Acts where God used women. We women have also received the Holy Spirit and even we women have gifts to be used by God. We are praising God because He himself is using women in Rwanda, even though still today we have challenges of men not allowing women to use all of their gifts.”

And now back to incredibly charming Charlotte who was really challenging the men in the group. She said, “I can show you women here who have reached so many people. For example,” and she pointed out Anne Marie, who has been in the movement for years, “Anne Marie has started 130 churches and another lady Geraldine. I want to tell you, it’s amazing what this lady is doing alongside of her husband. They have started 54 house churches in their village and the husband is now reaching people in Sudan. And, Eugenie, she has reached many disciples and started DBS’s and house churches. She is no longer afraid and has by herself baptized 10 women. There are so many women who are illiterate and they don’t have a place to belong in church because they are ashamed. Today God is using them through storytelling to reach men and women and their children. So many of them are at home with their children and they have the opportunity to teach their children and to model to them the lifestyle of serving Jesus.”

Eugenie and Geraldine

And, then Anne Marie very seriously stood up to share her testimony of how God is using her, a rural woman, living in Rwanda, “God is using me in this way of storytelling with women. After I received this message the first person I reached was a woman. We have so many women and those women have so many burdens. When you share with them they are so happy. I didn’t use my Bible. I used storytelling. I have no education, but I am very good at memorizing. There was one time I memorized the passage in 2 Kings 4:1-7. There was a woman with a problem because her sons were to be slaves. I tell those stories word by word. In this story she has the same problem as we women. The problem of poverty. I told her God can use what you have with no outside help. I prayed for her and I left. She became a disciple. I am using so many stories. It’s God who helps me.”

Ann Marie

These women are serious. They’re serious about God, they’re serious about the Gospel, they’re serious about standing up, walking tall, being who they are and who God called them to be. There aren’t words to explain my awe of these women who have many reasons to be doing something else other than sharing the love and message of Jesus Christ with their neighbors. Physically to touch them, they are stronger than any body builder you might meet. They work hard, I mean seriously hard. They make bricks; they carry huge bundles on their heads long, long distances; they work in the fields with hoes I can barely lift. They gather wood to build fires and start every meal with flour and a few vegetables. Money for medical, school fees, food, and rent is always a challenge. Many are widows or single moms struggling on their own. Yet, they have one thing always on their mind: Where or who can I share Jesus with today? The evidence is there. Today there are many moms and grandma’s who belong to Someone and each other. They have hope today where yesterday they had nothing. Inspiring, challenging and amazing. That’s the kind of women we get to hang out with in Africa.

God Movements – Out of Control

At the heart of God Movements are the stories of changed lives:

  • A prostitute who becomes a fruitful church planter
  • A drunkard whom God is now using to set many people free
  • A former Muslim sheikh who is transforming lives with the love of Christ

But there are other words that national leaders use to describe these movements which they help facilitate:

  • Out-of-control – meaning that they cannot be directed by man’s programs or organizational charts
  • Belonging to God – one person and one organization cannot take credit for what is happening
  • Holy Spirit led – beyond the plans of people

Here is Bahizi trying to provide a picture of the God movement taking place in Burundi showing disciples making disciples down to the 17th generation in one case. Exciting to see!

Bahizi explaining map of God movement

This was shared by Bahizi at the Disciple Making Movement Practitioners conference in Rwanda where 60 people gathered to learn from 8 different African presenters and trainers (along with us).

Women challenged and equipped all of the church planters with a special encouragement to other women.

Worship was plentiful and full of energy as always!

And those who were new to church planting had the opportunity to go out in the field and experience house church, their love for God's word, and their determination to continue reaching and discipling others.

You Respond to Flood Victims

No, we did not make a request for financial aid to the flood victims in Eastern Uganda. However, one of you responded from our prayer request and I just wanted to brag on the kind of partners that you are. Here is what David R. wrote when he sent in a gift for the Ugandans:

“We don’t have a choice….we have to help when disaster to our brothers and sisters like this happens. We just have to.”

Amen! And, no, this is still not a request for special giving. I just wanted to share what Appleseed has already helped accomplish. We will continue to monitor the situation and observe how the government there continues to respond.

Here is Henry’s report:

We found the people who have survived are lacking food and other home needs. With the money you gave, we bought maize flour, soap, salt, and sweets for the children. We did the best we could though the people were many. The government offered them tents where they are staying in now, but they still lack anything to sleep on and cover themselves. We found out that when their houses were swept away even their clothes are gone. We will continue to assist and are so happy for your supporting us in this time.

As for Brooks and myself, we are nowhere near these devastating floods. We have been holed up in Nairobi for a few days and are now transitioning to Rwanda where we will be facilitating a conference for Disciple Making Movement practitioners. More on that to come…

Safe Arrival But Tragedy in Uganda

On a personal note, Brooks and I arrived safely in Nairobi, Kenya after the typical 48 hours of travel and long flight, etc. Though Brooks is still healing from her accident, we are grateful to be in Africa and ready for all that lies ahead.

However… news from our friends in Uganda demonstrates the harsh realities of life in Africa and even the fragility of life itself! When just arriving in Kenya we received this report from the Ugandan leader, Henry:

“Yesterday the rain rained and landslides occurred at mt Elgon many people are dead. I was there today we found out 11 homes of our house churches are destroyed with water and many are dead with their families. It has destroyed four villages. The number of the dead people total is unknown. We need your prayers…”

Indeed, the news headlines confirm the difficulties in the region: “Mudslide strikes Bududa again, over 70 feared dead.”

Authorities in Bududa district are digging through heaps of mud along river Manafwa in search of survivors and bodies after a landslide swept through an entire village killing more than 70 people on Thursday.

We are sending relief funds to Henry and do not know much more than has been reported so far, but would appreciate your prayers for the people affected!

First picture is of Henry walking among some of the devastation:

Henry walking among devastation
mudslide devastation
 

South Sudan

The missionaries came.  They were Rwandese.  They wanted to come to that far, far place because no one has preached there.  – Morris

 

Morris – South Sudanese

Morris - South Sudanese

 

When we saw Justin, country leader of Rwanda, for disciple making movements, there was one thing on his mind:  the unreached peoples groups living in the nation of South Sudan.  God had placed in his heart a passion and a longing to share the love of God with people who have never heard in this harsh and difficult land. 

 

Since we’ve seen him, he has taken a group of four others from Rwanda into South Sudan, which is very, very far.  Last week we finally had the opportunity to talk to them face to face about their first experience in doing cross-cultural missions.  They told us, “There are no churches, only grass houses.  They have no toilets there.  They think if you use a toilet you will never be able to have a child, so they go out to the bush.  When we were there, we saw that every man carried a gun, a knife and a spear, and sometimes the traditional bow and arrow.  They must have all these things because the other tribe will attack them and take their livestock.  They also live close to the national park in Uganda where the wild animals live.  They must protect themselves from lions and other animals which will attack them.”

 

Sylvester—one of the four missionaries—emphasized, “Justin trained us for a long time.  He told us many times, our boss is Jesus Christ.  Nothing will happen to us.  We saw this happen.  If there is another tribe coming to make an attack on the village, the witchdoctor starts beating the drums.  Because of the grace of God on us, we made deep relationships and nothing happened to us.  We were able to be sustained because of God’s grace.”

 

Sylvester holding a gift of a drinking cup made from a gourd given him by the South Sudanese

Sylvester holding a gift of a drinking cup made from a gourd

 

Jean Marie told us, “To see so many young and old men so lazy was hard.  It puts all the burden on the wife (wives because they are polygamists) and daughters.  They say the women work like a donkey and the men are very lazy only making and drinking alcohol.  The men do not help their families. Family life is very hard; the wife takes care of everything. Disease and sickness is a real problem.  So many people die.  There is no hygiene and the people smell very bad and the water is polluted.  They live with so very many challenges.”

 

Jean Marie

Jean Marie

 

With a huge smile, Emmanuel shared about how hospitable the people were to the team “even though they thought we were very strange.  They had some expectations of us (monetarily), but we showed them love in so many other ways.  We played sports with them, like running and soccer, especially with the students.  We got a soccer ball and divided into teams of boys and girls.  They really like that so much.  Even during the soccer matches, there was not even one person who was there and carrying a gun.  We were with them for one month.  Many times we sat around in a circle with the fire in the middle.  They made benches from logs with sticks for legs and we sat there.”

 

Emmanuel

Emmanuel

 

Food is scarce.  Housing is temporary.  Poverty is great.  “The people cried so much when we left them.  We want to go back soon and teach them how to build strong houses.”

 

It’s exciting to see Africans come to the realization that “missions is not just for the whites.”  As each team member shared his experience, there was no doubt about the intense love they feel for these people and their desire to go back as soon as possible.  While living amidst these people, they started five Discovery Bible Studies. Thirty-eight people have been baptized. Plans are being made to go back as soon as possible.  Please pray with us for them and for a people who are desperate for relief from the immense burdens of just trying to survive.

 

Rwandese Team:  Jean Marie, Emmanuel, Morris – South Sudanese reached, Sylvester, and translator Adam

Rwandese team

 

Photos from the field

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