March 29, 2010
As I mentioned in my last blog, Blake and I finally purchased a vehicle. So far it has been very helpful in locating areas that we have not yet been to and has helped us learn the city. What better way to learn how to get somewhere, then drive yourself and get lost, right? While we are here as volunteers, we do not intend to end our ministry in Africa anytime soon. We know that as weird as we may be…the Lord has wired us to be missionaries, however long that may be and wherever that may take us. So with the purchase of the vehicle, we are ready to fulfill many of our goals both in ministry to the Church and as our own personal ministries while we are here.
We are here as volunteers with the Church of the Nazarene…so our main goal is to visit as many of our Nazarene Churches as we can. We plan to visit any church we can locate, not just in Kigali, but in the villages, as we travel across Rwanda, which surprisingly is very small. It stretches just about 10,100 square miles across; it is only slightly larger than Maryland or Vermont. (How’s that for your tidbit of information for the day?) The church of the Nazarene here, and throughout most of Africa, is known as the Church of the Nazarene International. Our purposes for visiting as many local churches as we can find, is to encourage our congregations, and to let them see that we truly are an international church. Matthew 18:20 says “for where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Imagine what we can accomplish for the church if we are able to come together in the name of the Lord, celebrating the good news of Jesus Christ, all across Africa. Our prayer is that we are able to encourage each church to slowly grow, as they are learning more about what it means to live a life Holy and Pleasing to the Lord, while disciplining others and encouraging them in the same way. Won’t you continue to pray with us, and join us if you are not already doing so?