Kids Small Groups

It is truly difficult still to fathom but today is it...the last full day of ministry in Rwanda.  And it was another FULL, fun, and faith-filled time of ministry together as a team.  Despite much wear and tear in long hours of ministry, intermittent sleep, and waiting patiently along the journey the team continued to step up and step up BIG.  We broke into 3 teams today and headed in different directions to maximize our ministry potential:

CGF Kimironko - Teams Danaher, Samuelson & Michael served at their home base church. Pastor Michael brought the powerful message about the Holy Spirit for about 45 minutes while then Teams Samuelson & Danaher worked hard to lead almost 60 kiddos in children's ministry.  They did two skits - the Good Samaritan and the Parable of the Sower.  There was great discussion to review the Bible stories and then how to apply it to their lives.  The best moment was having all the kids gather around a LONG sheet of butcher paper leaving their own unique mark (handprint) on it.  The team reaffirmed that each handprint represents how much Jesus loves them.  What a beautiful image for the church to keep.  And Kennedy & Dakota were exceptional rockstars intentionally tying it all together from the beginning with worship until the very end final play time.  Well done, small but mighty team!  And the grand finale to a WONDERFUL time of ministry with Pastor Michael & children's led by Teams Danaher and Samuelson was coming full circle with the 1st home visits we did a week ago.  Those families were now invited to church to be blessed with a very large bag of corn.  It was wonderful to see these genocide survivor families at CGF beaming with the blessing.

CLA Nyaraturama - Team Rosser & Liza could not miss the opportunity to FINALLY see Kids Small Groups (discipleship) in action.  It was an unbelievable moment to see the intentional process of discipleship that CLA has embarked on over the past few years. And we were blessed to not only have Conor share his testimony in the 401 group but also assist these 10 students in beginning to write out their heart stories. God's perfect timing! And what beautiful stories that are beginning to unfold.  After an hour with Mary & Ken's 401 group we got to pop our heads into the 301 group and the two 201 groups.  The four 101 groups meet the other Sundays @ 10:00 am as there isn't enough room for all to meet for discipleship.  Isn't that the best problem EVER when the program is getting too big to meet all at once all together.  Praise God for what He is doing through Jean's leadership at CLA and these young disciples being raised up in His army.  Exceptionally proud of and prayerful for the 401 students being commissioned in just over a month on their first-ever CLA PEACE Trip. 

Omega - And then the rest of the team mustered together a lot of energy, enthusiasm, and creativity as they ministered to almost 200 kids at Omega.  Pastor Allan led the eldest class of 10-13 year olds helping them to dive deep into the Book of Acts. Specifically, he unpacked Acts 8 as Philip shared the good news with the Ethiopian eunuch. The very practical challenge from there was for this group to begin to write out their own personal testimonies to share with their friends, family, and neighbors who may not yet know Jesus (or boldly walk with him day-to-day).
Then the other rotations were led by our all star teams of parents and students. There was worship, which of course would not be complete without "My God is So Big" and a few other high-energy moments of Rwandan songs and even Freeze Dance.  There was plenty of games and activities out on the grassy field areas.  And then of course the time wouldn't be complete without a dramatic rendition of a Bible story.  The team pulled together WELL to close out our ministry time with a well-oiled machine of rotations keeping the kids from 3 years all the way up to 13 years engaged.  Not to mention it was quite a humid day despite the overcast skies.  Well done, team!








After a refueling lunch and then a stop at the market to pick up supplies, we had two very precious home visits under Odeth's loving leadership through Healing Centers.  Christine's home (1st picture), is where a beautiful beaming woman of God lives with complete faith in Him. She and her 5 children struggle with minimal income but God has richly blessed her and the team was deeply blessed by her heart.  Likewise, for Florence's home (2nd picture) below.  Her heart's desire is for her 3 children to achieve their goals (the littlest two want to be a doctor and a soldier).  And sadly her daughter is not aware she is positive...so be praying for her and her daughter's health as they are doing well with medications at this time.  And pray for God's provision so they can go to the plot of land she owns as opposed to renting a two-room VERY small home. And what an amazing coincidence that this home is one that the Gant family was blessed to spend time in back in January. No accidents at all...all wonderfully deep connections in these home visits.



Tomorrow we will be blessed to visit the ministry Mama Joy has started to get women out of prostitution and into viable careers (sewing, basket weaving, hair saloon...yes saloon not salon is how it is spelled here).  The team is sure to be touched by the incredible things she is doing there with CGF.  And then sadly but surely the team will begin their rest and reflection process. There is a SLIGHT possibility there may not be internet connection where we are going, so if there is not an update rest assured we are taking some VITAL time to reflect on all that God has done during our time in Rwanda.  So on that note PRAY for the team's hearts as they have ministered for many LONG and EMOTIONAL hours that will now slowly but surely sink in as they slow down to remember it all. Pray that the lifelong change sets in now so they are ready for ALL that God wants to do in their lives once they return home.  Mighty things to come in this debrief process much like this entire trip has gone.  No doubt about that.