The Unlikely Investor

Shyaka has been extremely kind to let me step back into writing after a 4 month sabbatical. I’ve got lots of stories to tell and ideas to share, but I’m going to tell the story of an unlikely investor – myself.

Much like many English speakers in Rwanda my family spent many years in the neighboring countries of Kenya and Uganda. For some unique reason we’ve always enjoyed our friendship with Rwandese people. We began visiting in 1999 and always secretly hoped we’d some day live and work here. Though I’ve done lots of things in the course of life from construction to coaching, radio to writing, lecturing to managing small businesses all that I really am is a simple church planting pastor. I am unlikely investor.

The Lord has been kind to me. I’ve got a great wife and kids. We live like a lot of middle class Africans. We pay our bills, struggle to save, and if we ever seem to start getting a head usually an extended family crisis brings us back to square one. Our biggest worry is the education of our children and their future is our continual struggle. We’ve had a few health struggles at an early age, but for whatever reason now are in the best shape of our lives. The Lord has been kind to me, but I’m an unlikely investor.

In 2004 we were again back at square one. My contract to work in Uganda had expired. All we owned was in boxes and storage in Kampala. I had a one year teaching appointment at a little Christian university, Oklahoma Christian University. I was at the bottom of the academic pecking order when the Rector, Dr. Mike O’Neal came to visit me. I thought I was probably in trouble again. He had just been asked by President Kagame’s office to visit Rwanda, and didn’t know why. We had lunch and my mind began to dream, but I’m an unlikely investor.

I was invited to join the trip, came to Rwanda for a week, and for the first time in my life lived like a V.I.P. in the Inter-Continental. It was fun for a couple of days, but after about the third day I called my ordinary Rwanda friends and we went to ordinary restaurants to eat brochette and ebitoki. I’m an unlikely investor.

After the trip I realized it was time to take the risk I had wanted to take for years. Jana and I decided we would move to Rwanda and see what the future would bring. We arrived on June 22, 2005. We were met by a couple friends at the airport, went to stay in a mid level hotel for a couple nights, and then found a furnished home in Caisse Sociale Estate in Gacuriro to rent until we could get settled. We loved the orderliness of the neighborhood. We walked up to a fascinating school building and hall, and started to dream and pray; but we knew how humble our lives had always been and we were unlikely investors.

We found a home like we had always wanted in Kimihurura. It had enough room for our big family and many visitors and lots of trees and a garden. We were so captivated by it that we moved and slept on the floor for a couple months until all our things from Uganda were here. We didn’t have much furniture until our shipment arrived so I took the seats out of our Land Cruiser to use as a couch. But eventually our things arrived, and it seemed our home was always full of visitors. We enjoyed life, but we are unlikely investors.

Our organization was new and to get settled I volunteered to lecture in Ethics at KIST and SFB. It was a learning curve moment for me, and I can’t imagine that my students learned as much from me as I learned from them. I loved their bright minds, questions, and friendship. I thought maybe we’ll just spend a few years in Rwanda in which I lecture and make friends. I can’t imagine anything more, because I am an unlikely investor.

I met Shyaka and started doing some writing for Focus. Occasionally, some one will call me or visit me on the street about something I’ve written, but I’ve yet to draw a letter to the editor or an e-mail response. I hope my writing is helpful, but it’s just the meanderings of a pastor without a church. I am an unlikely investor.

I started the process of registering a new church. Some Rwandan friends helped me draft documents and introduced me to the right offices. I spent a lot of time walking up and down stairs. In fact, I literally wore holes in my shoes. There were a couple times that I thought we would never finish the process of registration. I decided that I’d pray for everyone I met in government offices, try to get to know them, and hopefully make them smile when they saw me. I did not have much agenda and tried to listen a lot. I am an unlikely investor.

The surprising has happened. Our church, Christ’s Church in Rwanda registration was approved. The hall and school in Gacuriro were for sale. For some reason over the last four months in America we discovered enough money to make the first payments. Last week we signed a purchase agreement. On March 4^th, we start church. I’ll be a pastor with a church again, but I am an unlikely investor.

Two weeks ago, I was at RIEPA just trying to learn and make a new friend. I found out that with this purchase we’d qualify for investor status. I just may be an investor.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I serve a surprising God. I may be an investor, but I’d rather you consider me just your friend.