Numbering Our Days

One of the members of our church here in Rwanda is a Senator with the national government.  Her name is Rose.  At the worship service a couple of weeks ago, she was asked to stand and greet the congregation with a few words.  Little did she know that her life was about to change in a significant way.  Four days later, on Thursday, her husband was killed along with six others in a terrible traffic accident involving a large truck, a bus and a pick-up.  The truck, which was overloaded with logs and had faulty brakes, lost control and crashed into the other two vehicles.

 

The truck with the logs on its side at the site of the accident
(photo: https://www.ktpress.rw/)

The funeral and burial were held on the following Sunday.  There were about 800 people who came to the outdoor service from their two large families, the church family, friends and government officials.  

People gathering for the outdoor funeral service

The casket and speaker's tents

It was sad but also deeply moving to see Senator Rose stand and with a strong voice declare confidently “God is good…all the time!  All the time…God is good!”  This was not denial of reality.  Rather it was a courageous facing of reality.  Many Bible verses were read and many songs were sung that reflected the reason for their hope in the midst of what appeared a “senseless” tragedy.  

One of several choirs to sing during the service

Rose, surrounded by close friends and family, sharing at the funeral

A number of people had the opportunity to share words that mirrored the thoughts of those who had gathered together.  Many roses were lovingly placed on the casket as it was lowered into the grave.  And we were able to witness it all.

 

Hundreds of people heading for the burial

Preparing to lower the casket into the ground

It was a long day, and because of language, there were many things said which we did not understand.  However, some important truths are able to be communicated even without words.   Here are some of the things which struck us through this experience:

• We literally never know what is going to happen in the months, weeks or even days ahead of us.  As Rose stood up on that first Sunday to address the congregation, she had no idea how hard she was going to have to lean on her trust and understanding of God in the days to come.  If she had waited “until she needed it” before she dealt with issues of faith, it would have been too late.  We all need to number our days, to use well what we have been given, and recognize that they will come to an end at a time we don’t foresee.  (*See verses below)

• Rwandans know the value of facing death head-on.  With the strong support of family and friends, they deal with the death that has invaded their existence, and then they go on.  Some people in this world, convinced that this life is all that we have, prefer to pretend that death is not part of our reality.  They would rather not talk about it, think about it, or be exposed to anything that makes them think about it at all.  Rwandans in general, and particularly Rwandan believers, are wiser than that.  Death is real.  The important question is what are we going to do about it?

• As we work here in Rwanda, we have a clear sense of our need for God’s protection in our travels.  Just the day before the accident, the two of us drove over seven hours.  Darrell especially spends a great deal of time on the roads, doing teaching and training in all corners of Rwanda.  That is a necessary part of the ministry but there is no denying the risk involved whenever one is driving on the roads here.  Each year this small country has about 5000 traffic accidents claiming the lives of over 500 people.  The combination of new drivers, poor mechanical condition of some vehicles, excess speed and the unsafe driving habits of certain drivers, makes this a dangerous enterprise.  Please pray for God’s continuous protection upon us and those we work with as we travel throughout the country.  Murakoze! [Thank you!]

 * Psalm 90:12 (NIV) > Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

    

    Hebrews 3:7,8,12,13 (NIV) > So, as the Holy Spirit says:  "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert,"…See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.  But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

    Psalm 39:4-8a (NLT) > Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is.  You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.  My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.  We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.  And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?  My only hope is in you. Rescue me from my rebellion.

    1 John 4:10 (NLT) > This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Where’re Ya To?

A number of years ago Laura Lee’s father, Don, went on a trip to Newfoundland.  When he came back he happily shared with us one of the favourite phrases he picked up while spending time on “The Rock” – Where’re ya to? [translation:  Where are you going to?]  Since that time, in our family it has become a saying that pops up from time to time.

As we begin 2020 and think about the ministry that is being shared with our Rwandan brothers and sisters (AEBR) this coming year, it is an appropriate time to step back and ask the question “Where’re ya to?”  So we want to take a moment and give you a bird's-eye view about the different ways that CBM and AEBR will be working together in 2020.

Peace and Reconciliation

Given the history of Rwanda, which of course includes the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, there is an ongoing need to promote peace and reconciliation in this country.  Through Peace Clubs in seven churches and six schools, the project is training people to be personally reconciled with others and how to be agents of peace in their schools and communities.  (These groups have “given birth” to 10 other groups in other communities as they try to spread the message of peace.)

 

Francois and Donatha are members of a Peace Club in Bugesera. 
Their family was driven to poverty due to the sickness of one of their children.

The members of the Peace Club in August making bricks for building a house for this
family. Jean Edouard, the Peace & Reconciliation Project Manager, is front right.

In November, the members of the Peace Club helped in building a house for
Francois and Donatha

Theological Education

This project focuses on three different ways to strengthen church leaders and raise up new ones.  The first is supporting the Baptist students who go to the seminary Rwanda Institute of Evangelical Theology (RIET).  The second is covering the costs to bring in guest teachers to the five different Regional Bible Schools found throughout the country.  And the third is called the Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI).  It is focused on 20 men and women between the ages of 25 and 40, who are demonstrating capabilities as leaders.  ELI is providing them with training in leadership skills and character to help them be in the best place to serve in AEBR leadership in the future.

 

One of Darrell's preaching classes at RIET

Pastor Cyprien teaching students at the Regional Bible School in Ngarama

Andre Sibomana (CBM Africa Team Leader) leading a seminar at the
Emerging Leaders Initiative

Guardians of Hope

Guardians of Hope (GOH) groups have been established in numerous AEBR churches over the years in order to reach out to, support and build capacity in families affected by HIV/AIDS.  As the members learn together, work together, and save money together, their lives have been transformed.  (For more information about these groups, read “Protectors of Hope” in the August 2019 blog post.)

 

Salome learned to sew as a member of a GOH group 

She makes different kinds of bags which she sells to support
her family.  According to Salome, this project has helped
her regain hope and a sense of value.

Church Roofing

With government regulations requiring good quality roofs on public buildings like churches, it became difficult for churches to pay for the metal sheeting used for roofing.  Over the last number of years, as some of the AEBR churches outgrew their current buildings or had to replace aging, leaking roofs, dozens of them benefitted from the church roofing project which provided the metal sheets after the walls and rafters where raised up by the church family.

 

Pastor Abed in front of his church (with a roof!) in Nyagasiga in eastern Rwanda

Literacy and Family Ministry

In 2020, the efforts to increase literacy will take a new approach.  In communities where illiteracy rates are higher (especially among women), churches will establish self-help groups where members are taught skills such as making baskets, sewing, etc. that can be used to generate some income.  But additionally, literacy classes will be offered to any of them who want to join.  It is hoped that this will draw out those who might be shy or embarrassed so that they can learn to read. (To read more, see the April 2018 post "Opening a New World")

 

Laetitia (L), the Literacy Project Manager, with Dorcas, a recent graduate
from the program

A literacy graduating class in the village of Kigarama in western Rwanda

Benefits being passed on, as the Literacy grads try to establish a reading culture
with their children

The family ministry portion of this project is a continuation of an initiative begun two years ago to bring basic training on marriage and parenting to leaders from every AEBR church and chapel.  With the first phase now complete, it has been decided to do another three-year program which will bring the next level of teaching in this area.  The focus will be on: 1) the role of husbands and wives; and 2) caring for your spouse inside and out.

 

Family ministry training with pastors and church leaders in Ngarama

Orphans and Vulnerable Children

There are many children in Rwanda who are orphans or who have a parent who is unable to properly care for them.  The Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Project will be reaching out to about 200 of these children, not only helping them be able to go to school but also providing support and training through mentors and seminars designed especially for them.

 

David, a member of an OVC group, has a disability
in his legs due to poverty and neglect as a child.

Through the program, he has learned how to make bags. 
When he's not in school, he makes and sells bags to help
himself and others with similar problems.

It’s going to be a busy year.  But through the partnership of CBM and AEBR, many lives will be transformed in 2020!  Each one has a name.  Each one is loved by God.  So it’s exciting for us to think about “Where’re we to?”