Into Rwanda: Prayer Bulletin

Dear Prayerful Friends and Family;

Thank you for remembering to pray for us even when we are unable to explain our prayer needs. We are taking a few days off as a family and with the older Henderson girls (Carly and Laney) on the shores of Lake Kivu. As we explained a few days ago, we’ve been occupied in the labor room for months. A few days of quiet has helped clear our heads. Though we’ve been in the labor room the Lord has done some amazing things. It seems we need more time to be quiet and see His hand. This month we would request your prayers for the following matters:

I. Thanksgiving:

A. New Adoption Ministry: We were blessed in March to have our Senior Minister from our sponsoring church, Dr. Mark and Sharon Henderson with us as we held our Grand Church Opening. During their stay they visited The Sisters of Hope Orphanage. Mark saw over 40 orphan infants and prayed, “God, this is unacceptable.” In his spirit he felt God responded, “I agree what are you going to do about it?” Thus the Hendersons and we began a new journey. Jana began walking government offices and a new ministry has been born. Six weeks ago, the Hendersons joined us and yesterday the finally completed all the paper work for their two new sons, Nate and Zach to immigrate to the U.S. Their family returns Sunday to the U.S. We are thankful that God has chosen to use us to give the most destitute of Rwanda unprecedented opportunities. Several other families are now working with Jana to do further adoptions. May the Lord use Nate and Zach to bless many others as they are blessed.

B. 2007 Rwanda Presidential Oklahoma Christian Scholars: This summer we worked with John and Kelly Osborne to select the Top 10 Performing Secondary Students in Rwanda to attend Oklahoma Christian University. It was a delightful experience. A little less than two weeks ago, they left Rwanda. Before leaving they had a couple glitches in acquiring student visas, and it seemed that the Lord allowed us to know the right people at the right time to get them through the glitch. We are thankful for the many friends the Lord has given us during our stay in Rwanda. May these young scholars excel in their studies, be faithful to their covenant, and in a few years return to participate in building a new Rwanda.

C. Arrival of New Co-workers: Our load has been lessened and our spirits lifted by the Lord answering prayers for more workers. This month we have been joined by several exceptional people.

1. Brian and Christy Dolinger: Brian has come to become our Principal for Kigali International Community School. Christy is developing our KICS Library. He has worked some very long hours in the first few weeks and provided much needed leadership. Those of us who began with a dilemma two years ago on how we could stay in Rwanda without sending our children to boarding school are now amazed at how God has transformed our need into His ministry. KICS opens next week with 85 students from over 10 nationalities. Fifty percent of our students are Rwandan. Though we are still small it appears that the Lord intends for us to be one of Rwanda’s academic leaders. May the Lord do more with the Dolingers than we can dream about.

3. Bryan and Holly Hixson: Dave has spent months being consumed with the details of administrating our new facility. It’s been a learning curve into what Nehemiah must have gone through. Bryan has arrived and is in the process of assuming the Administrative Leadership of the ministry. Holly has become our KICS Chemistry teacher on short notice, and also is formulating plans for an Educational Center. May the Lord use the Hixsons to build a Tower of Light in Kigali.

II. Renewal: In the mid-1930’s a Renewal movement broke out of Rwanda called The East African Revival. It thoroughly changed missions and churches in Sub-Saharan Africa. Those who saw it remarked on the great depth of its spirituality, but also in hindsight saw that its engagement with the structure of society was too little. Many are now praying that we will again see something historic spring from Rwanda in our generation. Would you join us in this pray? May God purify us and separate us from the world’s ways and reasoning. May we unite completely with other believers. May a Tower of Light and Life arise from the ashes of the Rwanda disaster of 1994. May what God intends to do touch all aspects of society in the Great Lake Region.