From Rwanda: July 21-25, 2014 What a marvelous, surprising, radical, gracious, loving God we serve! It never ceases to amaze me what God does when we step out in faith to do something he calls us to. Four years ago, in July 2010, I first visited the Kimonyi Village of Reconciliation in Musanze, Rwanda. I was struck to the heart by the abject poverty, and the hopelessness I sensed. Yet the people sang and praised God as they danced for the visitors. Even as I wept when I saw they had nothing in their home, no furniture, no food, just…
When I initially received an email from Guma Alexandre, my co-worker in Rwanda, saying that we have been granted an opportunity to teach for 3 consecutive days at Rilima Prison in Bugusera, I could hardly believe it. It has become increasingly difficult to get permission to teach/preach inside the prisons and it is only because of the reputation and trust of Pastor Deo Gashagaza, the Director of Prison Fellowship in Rwanda with whom we have partnered the past nearly 5 years, that I still get permission from the Prison authorities. We were able to minister there from May 12-14. Teaching…
I had a joyous time visiting the 600 prisoners here, bringing them news that we are able to begin their sewing school with 25 new machines, all the materials, and a paid professional trainer for 6 months. An anonymous donation has made this possible. The ladies remembered that I taught them in March that God loves them, that he has not forgotten them, and that he has a hope and a future for them. So they praised God in dance and song and as usual I joined right in. Needless to say, the Director of the prison was also elated. In…
In my previous blog I wrote about open doors in Rwanda; well, all I can say after another incredible week is, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” On March 4th I had plans to go to Ngoma prison. But, God had other plans! With Guma Alexandre of Prison Fellowship Rwanda (PFR) we planned to target Relima Prison, a good place for a pilot project we want to establish in 2014. The goal is to go beyond preaching to discipleship, training two outside Chaplains, and starting a skills development program to include carpentry, sewing, electrical expertise, farming, etc. The vision is to…
Dear friends, Thank you so much for your prayers! I am very pleased with the amount of planning we could accomplish with our partners in Rwanda during this week. I am encouraged by all the doors the Lord has been opening in such a short time. Rejoice and continue to pray with us as we see these dreams become a reality. 1. Prison Fellowship Rwanda We agreed to a one-year pilot program at Bugusera Prison, expanding the ministry beyond preaching to include the training of two outside Chaplains to implement a discipleship course with recently converted prisoners and a leadership…
[Ed. note]: Gerrit writes from Rwanda. He is returning the USA on July 29th. Pray for health and safe travels.] I had an opportunity to visit the Mukono School in the Byumba Diocese to meet the new Head teacher, Amiable Umwizerwa, who was appointed in April. The school is administered by the Anglican Church, and supported by the government which supplies food, teachers, books and limited infrastructure. I was totally impressed with the improvements at the school with the goal to bring it up to the rating of “excellent” by the Government. There are new dormitories for the girls, a…
This was my third visit to the Relima Prison as the prisoners requested after my last visit in February that I return. It is currently the dry season in Rwanda, so it is hot and very dusty. The usual bright green foliage is covered with layers of red dust as the last few miles to the prison are off the main road so it’s unpaved; clouds of red dust hung in the air as our driver, Gratien, navigated the uneven road, dodging pedestrians, motorbikes and other traffic. It’s quite a change from the “rainy” season when everything is washed clean…
As this is being posted, I am already in Rwanda, having left Colorado Springs on July 1st, with plans to return on July 29th. I would greatly appreciate your prayers for me and all those I will be working with during this time. Please hold my family in prayer as well while I am gone. This trip will be packed with a lot of activities including preaching on reconciliation and forgiveness inside the prisons and also at Villages of Reconciliation. I will also be following up on the sewing and animal husbandry projects we have been a part of setting…
Just up the road from Ntarama Genocide Memorial site where 10,000 people were massacred in a church is this prison with about 3000 prisoners, 1200 of which are Genocide perpetrators. This was my second visit with Pastor Deo, Director of Prison Fellowship Rwanda, and as is the custom, we delivered some sugar and soap for the sick. Many people remembered me from the previous visit. I preached on the need for repentance and the need to become followers if Jesus. I stressed that they are loved by God and valuable in His sight. They may be imprisoned physically, but if…
Gerrit has been in Rwanda for two weeks now and has had a variety of opportunities on a daily basis ranging from visiting a preschool to preaching at a prison in Bugusera and seeing 100’s come to the Lord. We’ll have more news on the time at the prison soon. In the meanwhile, when he first arrived in Rwanda, Gerrit visted the Kimonyi Village of Practical Reconciliation to take part in the graduation of 9 ladies newly qualified in sewing ( the 10th lady suddenly sadly passed away a week or so earlier). Her husband received her certificate on her…
