Ten Million Hearts

Kigali, Rwanda Photo Randy Vanderveen A view of one of the residential areas in Kigali, Rwanda's capital city. For someone from Northern Alberta, Rwanda is a big adjustment.

Physically, two Rwandas would fit between Grande Prairie and Whitecourt and yet it is home to almost 10.5 million people.

Africa's most densely populated country doesn't provide much opportunity to being on your own, but when here I don't want to be solitary.

The Rwandese people are the reason we are here and what beautiful people they are. Last week, I said the thousand hills gave the nation its natural beauty, but it is the people who make the country beautiful.

The first time we came here we were told our main job would be relationship building with our partner church.

Those relationships are one of the reasons the three returning team members Brian Burkhart, my wife Cheryl and myself wanted to come back.

We wanted to see our friends again, build on the relationships we had developed and make it so the distance between Webster/McLauin and Butare/Nyarusange churches was only geographical and not relational.

I will update you on the trip upon my return in late November. Please do keep us and the Rwandan church in your prayers.

Kigali, Rwanda Photo Randy Vanderveen A young child squats by the door of a church while her mother works on a basket inside the church as a means of making a living. While Rwanda has a natural beauty, it is the people who capture a person's heart.

Here is a specific prayer list for the second week.

Tuesday Nov. 23 Pray for Janice Scott. Pray for her health and strength in Rwanda. Pray that the planning that went into skits for the VBS will be worthwhile and the message will come across. Pray for the team as they teach VBS to Tweens and Teens that the message will be heard and relationships built. Pray for Bob and the family at home.

Wednesday. Nov. 24 Pray for Thomas Bussemeier. Pray for Thomas to be healthy and strong physically and spiritually. Help him guide those of us on the team who aren't builders to do a good job glorifying God in physical labour. Pray for Hannah and the family.  pray for the team as they lead VBS.


Thursday Nov. 25 Pray for Terry Schreyer: Pray for health and strength both physical and spiritual. Pray that he will be a blessing to those he meets and spends time with in Rwanda. Pray for his family in Canada and that when he returns he will be a real witness for Christ and for the work going on in Rwanda. Pray for the team as they do more home visits and as they travel back to Kigali. Pray for safety on the road.

Friday. Nov. 26 Pray for Randy Vanderveen. Pray for wisdom, strength, health and a servant's heart as he works with the team and works in preparation for the return home also. Bless those he comes in contact with that they will see Christ an help his relationships from the last trip grow. Be with the team as they visit the Compassion kids. Bless the time spent with them for both the team and the children.

Saturday. Nov. 27
Pray for the Soucys, the Goodwins, Pastors Andre, Enias and Joel, Gato, Andre, Laurence, Jean and the others who work daily in Rwanda and guide the team. Be with the team as they undergo their debriefing in the field. Make it so the time will be rewarding. Pray for safety as the team starts their trip home.

Sunday Nov. 28. Pray for the team as they continue their last leg of the trip home. Pray for safety, health, a quick recovery from jet lag and an enthusiasm for Rwanda that will be contagious for the Grande Prairie and Webster congregations. Pray for the team as the prepare for the joint service Dec. 6 and as paper work that needs to be done for the team will go smoothly. Pray also that reverse culture shock won't be overwhelming on the return.  Pray also for the next team in Sept. 2010. Pray that the foundation built by this team will be expanded and the relationship and ministry between Rwanda and Webster/McLaurin will grow until Christ's return.