Training is done

Now to a very packed 3 hour bus ride down the mountain.

Then to the airport. 

So blessed to see God's hand at work. 

Ready for the Last Day Of Training

Praises

• Our pastors did so well on their presentations. And one of our biggest challenges is that they have more questions and thoughts 

• We are in good shape to finish early and get to the airport on time without having to skip anything or hurry through something

• We have been healthy and have felt pretty good

• We've been encouraged by knowing these pastors. It's a foretaste of glory. 

Prayer

• I preach a demonstration sermon on Jonah 4 tomorrow (with translation) - it's supposed to be at or slightly above the level they'll be at after this class.  Pray that I would preach in a way that is very helpful to them. 

• We get to ride a bus for 3 hours down the mountain to Kigali and then have to connect with our pastor there and he'll get us to the airport. It should be interesting in many ways) 

• Keep praying they'll pass it on

• And it would be great to feel good while we are on the bus. 

What a thrill today to see these students do their presentations.  What they did today compared to what they would have done a week ago is so different.  We had them sit down and think about how they are going to pass it on and I think it was fruitful.  This is where the rubber meets the road.  I think they will all do it.  

I wish I could explain to you how amazing it is to be training pastors to train pastors to train pastors to study, apply, and teach God's Word.  It brings me to tears at last once every time we are overseas. 

I should mention that our accommodations have been great and the food at the hotel (free breakfast included) and at the training have been very good.  We've been on our own for supper and tried a few restaurants (sit down restaurant - burger and fries and a drink is about $7).  One night we just bought bread and Nutella.  

We've laughed way too much but also had some great prayer times together.  The music at the training has been very fun too. 

As T-Mobile customers we are supposed to get free texting in Rwanda and free 3G.  We couldn't get it to work and I finally bought a SIM card and minutes to use in my phone because we have to make contact tomorrow with a pastor when we arrive in Kigali.  It took more effort than it's worth to get it setup, but when we got it setup, we realized we had to change on setting on our phones to get T-Mobile to work. But it's been a blessing to have that. 

I will be thrilled to be home safely but look forward to making the last day count. 

I'm so thankful for all who prayed.  It's been clear that God is at work

An Amazing Day 2 Of Training

I'd love to get texts.

Prayer First  

Wisdom for John and I to lead the training well and finish it well.  

That these pastors feel the weight of the need to pass this on to those who will pass it on. 

Keep praying for my family and for health and safety.   

Top Praises 

They are really understanding what we are teaching. 

Things have gone so smoothly.  

For the joy of hanging out with John Nett for a week. 

Today

People showed up on time and we were able to start right away. Our biggest focus this week is on Observations - A skill that takes time to learn and often seems too slow.  Every single person in the class is doing very well at making observations.  It's not normal.  

Our group is enjoying each other more and more and everyone seems willing to speak up and share their thoughts.  Some students are exceptionally bright.  We are on schedule (maybe slightly ahead) which also isn't normal.  

Tomorrow we'll see a lot more as to how they are doing as we hear their presentations on Jonah 3.  This brings a lot of clarity. 

It's exciting to see there eyes being opened to what we are doing.   

John and I feel healthy and are having a great time in every way. It' s a very safe country and we are enjoying walking around the city a bit. I only wish more people knew English (it would be even better if I knew Kinyarwanda). 

The sounds and smells and sites remind me so much of where I grew up.  Many times I hear something or see something and think - I haven't heard that or seen that for so many years.  Tonight I just sat outside a bit and listened to the sounds of nature (when the vehicles weren't driving by).  It's hard to believe God lets me go on trips like this. 

Ready for day 2

Thanks for praying.  Day 1 was nearly miraculous.  We aimed to start at 9 and before 915 we had started. It often takes until nearly noon to start because people are slow to arrive. The pastors are from many congregations and it seems they are fast becoming friends. We've had a lot of laughter which is good.

We are seeing them begin to grasp new ideas about studying Scripture. You can almost see the gears spinning and the lights coming on. And then the questions they ask let us know they are beginning to understand what we are teaching, but also why.  It's vital each one understands they are to pass it on to a group of pastors after we leave.  They seem to be getting this as well. 

Prayer 

Pray for my family and especially my wife as she is parenting alone and substitute teaching.  Pray for grace, peace, wisdom, and patience... And that she would enjoy God

Pray that each pastor would truly understand how to make observations of the text. I know some get it.  All of them need to get it. It's the foundation for everything else. We need to really be able to evaluate how they are doing to see if we can continue. 

Pray for health, safety, logistical blessing and sleep.  I've struggled to sleep a bit.  It's hard to live here and not accidentally do something unhealthy.  We don't want any diseases.

Pray for the miracle of every pastor passing on the training to at least 8 more pastors who will train at least 8 more pastors.  That would be over 1000 pastors trained.  Of their churches average only 75 people, that would be 75000 people who would be hearing God's word preached every Sunday.  How does that change a nation?  And what happens if they do the training many times in their lives?  I get excited. 

Again, feel free to text me anytime. I'm so thankful for the prayers. God hears them. 

I'd love to hear from you

I love hearing from y'all.  Send a text if you think of it.  I'm 8 hours ahead.  We had an amazing first day of training.  It surpassed expectations. 

Ready for Our First Day Of Training

PRAYER REQUESTS First - then too many details after that.

(1)  For all the Pastors to show up on time or closet to it (it never happens on the first day but we think it might be possible).  

(2) For a real bond of fellowship to develop quickly (the pastors don't all know one another 

(3) That we make good headway  

(4) That they really understand that material and the need to pass it on.  

(5) For us to listen to the Spirit.     

DETAILS ABOUT OUR DAY - Yesterday was a very full day.  We were blessed to get breakfast at our hotel at 545 (omelette and more) and off on the road by car shortly after 6.  We arrived in Musanze (in the mountains after a beautiful drive at around 9.  PJ went to preach in Pastor Jean Paul's church and I preached in Pastor Zachary's church.  

THE CHURCH SERVICE: When I arrived the service was just starting (it's a process of music and singing.. Kind of waiting for people to show up.  I was ushered into the Pastor's office and we prayed briefly.  Then we walked in to the front row of the sanctuary and sat down.  I was given an interpreter and then we were walked out again to pray again with the other leaders.  It was women's Sunday so they wore special traditional cloths and the focus was on women.  Welcoming guests took at least 30 minutes, maybe more.  The women were raising money through an offering at church to pay for 4 families in the community who didn't go to church who needed health insurance (It's different here).  I was finally invited up to preach shortly after 12.  I had an interpreter and preached 32 minutes on Mark 2 - the paralytic that Jesus healed.  After that we met up with PJ and ate lunch with Pastor John Paul and our chauffeur, Eugene at our hotel restaurant.  It was tasty.   

AFTERNOON - PJ and I want for a walk, made a friend we didn't want to make, and bought some bread, water, and Nutella for supper.  He took a break and I went for a walk and made a friend and found some guavas to buy.  We ate supper together and spent some time prepping and then praying for our first day of training.    

THANKFULNESS - We were thinking through what we had to be thankful for and all the answered prayer so far - and we were amazed.  We also thought about the first time we met - at Hidden Acres in 1992 - and if someone could have stopped in that night and told us that one day we'd both be pastors training pastors together in Africa, we would have never believed it.  Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do, if with his love he befriend Thee. 

A few pics while I have internet

Pics

First Night In Rwanda

I'm struggling to get my keyboard to work right with my phone.                   

Thank you for praying.  We arrived safely at about 7 pm last night.  We made it through the entry process quickly and easily.  My luggage arrived.  Pastor Jean Paul was at the airport to meet us and greet us and get us to the Classic hotel.  It's plenty nice.  Big room. Huge bed.  Free breakfast to order (omelet, coffee, bread, water).              

 Once settled we went out looking for food.  We found a restaurant real close and ordered a burger and fries.  I probably shouldn't have let them put fresh vegetables on it (who knows what water they used).  It was good and fun.                        We bought water and then back for sleep.  I didn't sleep well but we did have air conditioning.  Lots of loud music.  Lots of light in the room from outside.  But the bed was great.                                 PRAY.  (1) We have a 3 hour drive up country and up in elevation to get to church.  A chauffeur is taking us.  (2) We preach in separate churches.  I'm preaching on Mark 2:1-12 (mostly the news that Jesus died for our sins).  (3) We will meet Nicodeme today.  Pray that we have a special bond and unity right away.  It's so wonderful when there is a joyful connection and a bond.  

(4) Pray for our hearts - that we would be sensitive to the Spirit. 

Made it on the plane in Chicago

I can text for free from Rwanda. 

I'll be 8 hours ahead. 

Would love to get messages. 

We were late landing in Chicago and so John and I nearly ran through the airport.  They were already boarding but we didn't miss the plane.  So thankful for God's blessing.

Pray for sleep on this leg (I did yawn is that's good). 

Pray for me as I sermon prep a bit too.

Tomorrow We Leave

No. I have not started packing things in the suitcase but I do have a pile.

In this note I'm just going to mix in info and prayer requests. 

I drive down to Des Moines tomorrow to travel with John Nett.  It was cheaper to fly out of there than Minneapolis. 

My biggest travel fear is the 70 minutes we have to change planes in Chicago (I assume we'll have to change terminals to international) 

I do hope to sleep a bit on the plane.  

Pray that we accomplish much on the plane (including praying)

Pray for strength and power sleep as we land Saturday night after 6 and have to be on thr bus at 6 on Sunday morning.  

John and I will be preaching in two different churches. Right now my plan is to preach Mark 2:1-12.

Pray for God's work in our hearts before we get there.

Pray for my wife holding down the fort while I'm gone. 

Ponder again what God can do since He loves us and calls us friend. 

Pathways Trip To Rwanda - May 2023- For Praying Friends

Please pray for us. 

I'm very excited to finally be heading out on another Pathways trip to Africa. I haven't been since Covid started. We'll be leaving on May 12 and returning on May 19.  I'll be flying with my long time ministry partner, John Nett. This will be my first time in Rwanda. (pic to the right is a Pathways trip I took to Zambia)

What is Pathways? 

A quick summary and then some links that might be helpful.

Pathways is a 3 year (3 times a year for a week of training) program that is attempting to train all the untrained pastors in the world (a few million pastors with an average of a 6th grade education and no Bible training). Sounds impossible. 

2 Pastors from America go overseas for a week together (usually Monday - Thursday training) to help pastors there to learn how to study, apply, and teach the Bible to other pastors who are to do the same thing.  It's multiplication.  It's a ministry of the Evangelical Free Church but we work with all sorts of groups. I think it's the best bang for the buck there is.

Some Links That Explain More

Great Explanation With Details

Main EFCA Site

PRAY

My hope is for prayer.  I don't want to limit your prayers so I give plenty of details.  I hope to update prayer requests daily as we head out on the trip.  

- Pray for our hearts to be ready and for us to walk by the Spirit

- Pray for the right pastors to show up and to come ready

- Pray for unity and a humble, teachable spirit in all of us (me too)

- Pray that they would catch the vision for multiplication

- Logistics and prep prayer is needed too

- This is the first of the 9 trainings - so we are setting precedent - pray for this endeavor

Some Logisitical Details You might Be interested in

John and I fly out of Des Moines on Friday, May 12.

We land Saturday evening in Kigali, Rwanda.

Sunday morning at 6 we take a bus up to Musanze to preach in separate churches.

Monday - Wednesday we train from 9 am to 4:30 pm (plus travel and prep and such).

Thursday starts of normal, but we end around noon to take a bus back to Kigali to get on a plane. 

Friday night we arrive again in Des Moines.

God willing...

If you have questions or want to pray on the phone, I'd love you to contact me.  I'm pretty passionate about this stuff and excited that God lets me do it.