February-March 2020
The last 6 weeks of our time in Rwanda for this year were very good and exciting for us. In the past couple of years, we have not had a very busy schedule, and we wanted that to be different this year. Our schedule had us travelling to the Eastern Province and the Northern Province (some places were 4 hours away from Kigali). We have seen over 700 pastors and other church leaders during this time. The response from them has been very good.
February began with us completing the 3 months of training that began in November 2019 with Kicukiro District. This is the district in which Dave was installed as an Elder. The attendance was good all the way through the training and we ended with graduating 42 men and women. This might be the last group that goes through the full 3 months. This year we started doing the training in 2 days, but were able to reach more people. They obviously don’t get the full training, but they have found that what they receive in these 2 days is very helpful.
Lynn continued her work with her Search for Significance group, and although it started out with 9 people signing up, we ended with 3 but they came consistently throughout the training. The men and women with whom we work are so very busy with church and family commitments, that it is difficult for them to commit to something that takes more than one or two meetings.
We have again had the privilege of spending some time with Dave and Edith Hiebert while they were here with Jean Paul and Dinah Seneza. Dave & Edith have been coming to Rwanda for several years and spend 6 weeks in Jean Paul’s home, visiting people in the community and forming friendships. Each day they go from one home to another, listening to the men, women, and children, praying for them and helping them in unique ways. Many people know them, have spoken with them, and would call them friend.
We have had a couple more training sessions with a small group of men and women from several different churches. I think I wrote about them in our January newsletter. It is a very eclectic group, but they love the Lord and are eager to learn more about leading with a servant heart.
One event that Rwandans have in great abundance is the wedding. Every weekend, all year there will be at least one. The leaders in ADEPR (the church with which we work while in Rwanda) are often expected to be at all the weddings from their chapel. Add to that the weddings of family and friends and they can be at several weddings in one weekend. We’ve seen up to 5 weddings planned in the same weekend in just one chapel. (We only went to one!)
The weddings have several parts:
- the dowry, where respected older men from the groom’s family goes to the bride’s family and negotiates the “price” that will be given to the bride’s family. This will have been agreed upon by the two families three or more months ahead of the wedding.
- the civil wedding, which is done in court, which could be two weeks before the church ceremony. They are officially married but are not seen as being married and do not live together until the church ceremony.
- the dowry ceremony where there is a lot of pomp and circumstance and is just done for tradition. But this is my favourite part. Traditionally the groom’s family offers cows to the bride’s family for the honour of marrying their daughter. Usually they agree upon a money amount rather than cows. But part of the dowry ceremony has two “cow herders” coming and singing the praises of the cows that have been given. This ceremony can be very humourous as the families “negotiate”.
- then comes the church ceremony, and surprisingly to me, the parents are often not at the church ceremony. I’m not sure why.
- after the ceremony, they have the reception where gifts and Fanta are given and there is much dancing and joy.
- after two months of married life, the couple’s family and friends go to the marriage home to see how the husband has prepared it for his wife.
We enjoy the dowry part of the wedding and that is usually the only part we attend. We don’t go to all of the weddings we have been invited to, as we could be going to 10 or more weddings each time we’re there.
We completed our schedules training in the first week in May. We had been to 11 districts out of 30 so we still have some work to do! Our favourite part of the training is when we get the pastors to pray for each other. They love it because it rarely happens for them. They pray for others but who prays for the pastor?
Our translators have all had wonderful servant's hearts, willing to work for us for MUCH less than they could get almost anywhere else. We have been exceedingly blessed to work with them, and they were blessed as well.
Simeon - now in Canada, married, and recently had their first baby (Nora).
Marcellin - given full time translation work for 3 months and is working on completing his master’s degree in law.
Sylvie, also given full time work recently after agreeing to work for us, married last year,
and now expecting their first baby.
And now Alex, who, as well as the others, has a missionary heart and has been very helpful
to us as our ears and mouth for the past 2 months. He will be going to a Netherlands university
(Tyndale Theological Seminary) on a full scholarship!
Our trip back to Canada was a very stressful time. We were scheduled to leave on March 31. Then, due to Covid 19, our Canadian Government (and our children) were saying we needed to get home asap, so we changed it to leave on the 20th with no penalty for changing the ticket. We asked if we could leave earlier as everyone everywhere was saying get home! We got tickets for the 17th but had to pay for the penalty. However, our travel agent didn't pay for the tickets right away so AC took them back. Then we were given Friday (20th) again.
On the 17th during the night, I was awakened with the thought that we had to go the Brussels office and check on our tickets. We went on the 18th in the morning to Brussels Air. We told them we had flights for the Friday (20th) and just wanted to confirm them. A very friendly ticket agent said that there are no flights on Friday, Thursday is their last flight, and that flight is full – “BUT,” she said, “the good news is you were automatically put on Thursday's flight when Friday’s flight was cancelled.”!!!
So ... we left on the 19th, home on the 20th, and there were no more surprises. It was a little more circuitous when we reach Canada, having to go to Montreal, Ottawa, then Winnipeg. We were so glad to be home. We could clearly see God’s hand through all the changes (at least after the fact).
If you have any questions, please ask us, or if you want to donate now, please follow the link. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please let us know.
Warm regards,
Dave & Lynn Kehler
Bridges Beyond International Ministries
November 2019 Update
December 10, 2019
We have been in Rwanda for 6 weeks, and in some ways the days have gone by quickly. We arrived on Saturday, November 2 and were taken to the Dove Hotel (ADEPR’s hotel and convention centre) where we stayed for the first 5 days while we looked for a place to live (ADEPR paid for this - surprise blessing!). This gave us the opportunity to try to rent a smaller place with a smaller rent. With Jean Paul Seneza’s help, we found a small(ish) apartment and moved in on November 7. On our first day here, while painters were coming in and out, Dave’s Mac Laptop was stolen. Since then, nothing that we are aware of, has happened. When we tried to contact the landlord through people who know the language, his response was to hang up on them. It is now in hands of the Rwanda Bureau of Investigation to pursue this further. Please pray that either we will quickly have the laptop returned to us (Dave is really missing it!) or that we can at least get a police report for our insurance claim when we get back to Canada at Christmas.
Now on to happier news …
We began training 50 pastors and leaders in Rwamagana (approx. 1 hour outside of Kigali) in leadership training – The Heart of a Servant Leader, and Authentic Leadership. They have a very large area and some of their pastors have to come quite a distance which is a hardship for them as we don’t provide transportation or food (we provide hard copies of the syllabus). For these reasons, we suggested, instead of coming every week, it might be easier for them to come for several days and complete the training with one trip. The Regional Pastor agreed and planned this for December 4-6. This was a great time with over 100 leaders attending and completing the training. This might become a new format for us to do in other areas of Rwanda.
We started another group of pastors and leaders in Kigali in the chapel where Dave is one of the elders. There were approximately 60 men and women in this group, and we began what will be 3 months of weekly training. The response has been very positive, and some of the pastors have been through this training more than once. Some have told us that it is a prophetic teaching because we talk about things that we couldn’t possibly know.
Lynn has been connecting with women individually for several years and in December, began a study group with some of them. The response so far, has been good and they seem excited to continue.
On Monday, November 11, Ambassadors Football began training the 150 coaches who came from around Rwanda. Fifty of these coaches were trained in level 2 and 100 new coaches were trained in level 1 – including Dinah, Jean Paul’s wife.
The next week (18th-23rd) was the Rwanda Ambassadors Football Second Annual National Championship. The first few days were filled with skills training for the 150 kids who attended as well as playoffs for the 10 teams (5 girls’ teams and 5 boys’ teams) ending on November 23 with the championship games. It was very exciting! They played on a turf pitch under lights and had sports radio announcers doing a play-by-play which only added to the excitement – especially for the kids!! World class coaches from Brazil, South Africa, UK, Kenya and the US, were involved with the kids in teaching football skills as well as teaching about the Father heart of God, and the children learned many Bible verses which were recited at the championship game. Jon Ortlib (AF founder & President) was joined by his son, Henry (media expert and photographer) and daughter Heidi (TV producer). They are working together with this event to produce a top-notch documentary. We are eagerly anticipating seeing it.
During that same week, Steve and Lorraine Thomas, and David Freeman joined us in Kigali. Steve is the leader of Salt & Light International (the family of churches we connect with) and David is a leader in his field of teaching teachers in many countries. We are very grateful that Jean Paul organized a marriage “staytreat” weekend. It was very well attended, the worship time was great, and the teaching from all three was excellent. We were also able to “pick their brains” and received some counsel regarding our work here. It was time very well spent.
Along with all of this, we continued with our regular schedule of Dave preaching on Sundays – so far, we have been in 6 different chapels, this last Sunday he preached 3 times. We love doing this, sometimes staying in Kigali and sometimes going out to the countryside.
We are excited that we will be back in Canada in a couple weeks to celebrate Christmas with our friends and family for 3 weeks – and then back to Rwanda for 3 months.
We thank you for your prayers and interest in the work in Rwanda. Your financial support would also be greatly appreciated and will be a huge encouragement to us as we look ahead to the end of our budget year, needing approximately $25,000 to meet the budget. Your partnership will help us to continue the work we are doing in Rwanda. Lives are changed as these leaders go back to their chapel with tools to better serve their congregation. Children’s lives, families’ lives and neighbourhoods are changed as children go back to school and become positive role models in their classroom and communities because of Bridges Beyond’s connection with Ambassadors Football. Individual’s lives change through mentoring as they are confronted with the need to make different choices in their lives.
If you have any questions, please ask us, or if you want to donate now, please follow the link. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please let us know.
Warm regards,
Dave & Lynn Kehler
Bridges Beyond International Ministries
Our summer in Canada - 2019
We are in the back stretch of our time in Canada for 2019 leaving for Rwanda on Friday,
November 1. We’ve had a very busy 5 months and are expecting another busy 5 months ahead.
Lynn, her sister Colleen, and her brother Larry
We landed in Winnipeg on April 16, reconnecting with our family and church family for Easter. It was a great weekend. Immediately after that weekend, we left for Grand Forks, BC for my nephew’s wedding and had another good weekend connecting with extended family. From Grand Forks to Chilliwack and Vernon, visiting friends and family, back to Regina to visit our grandkids, and home again, all in 2 weeks!
The next weekend we went for our first of 3 trips to The Pas, Manitoba and enjoyed getting to know the pastor couple – Jason & Sylvia Foster and their family. On the third visit, we did some training with their leaders. It was great fun getting together with them again, and look forward to doing it again when we get back from Rwanda.
Finally, we were able to have extended time in Steinbach, getting together friends. Those couple of months sure felt like a whirlwind to us!
At the end of June, Dave spent a week in Cleveland, Ohio, for the Ambassadors Football International Leaders Conference. It was a great time of meeting with other AF leaders, gleaning wisdom and experience.
We spent 5 days in Calgary, going to the Stampede – it was a great time!! People are surprised when they hear that Lynn loves this so much. She’s like a little kid when the horses gallop past.
In September we had our annual fall banquet and were treated to great food at the Heritage Mennonite Village Museum, and enjoyed an excellent concert put on by the Eastman Men’s Choir.
Toward the middle of October, Paul Musungu, from ADEPR, (the church we work with in Rwanda) came to Steinbach for 2 weeks. It was a great time of introducing him to our church family, and to our Salt and Light Central family. He attended the Salt & Light National Leaders’ Conference in Winnipeg and very much enjoyed the worship time there and at Calvary Chapel. We visited the Human Rights Museum and the Mennonite Heritage Village Museum. He was encouraged because what he saw as our history is similar to life in Rwanda presently. It gave him hope then to believe that where Canada is now can be where Rwanda is in the future. Of course, we had to do some shopping so he could take gifts home for his family.
Now we look ahead to the next 7 weeks in Rwanda. There is some new training ahead that we are looking forward to, a pastors’ conference with Steve Thomas and the top leaders in ADEPR, taking some women through a book study, as well as the Ambassadors Football National tournament. We will tell you more about that in our next update. We will be home for Christmas with a quick turnaround back to Rwanda on January 7.
We thank you for your prayers and interest in the work in Rwanda. Your financial support would also be greatly appreciated and will be a huge encouragement to us as we look ahead to a very full 2 months.
If you have any questions, please ask us, or if you want to partner now, please follow the link.
Warm regards,
Dave & Lynn Kehler
Bridges Beyond International Ministries
Samuel's Story
Bridges Beyond—Connecting to Empower—Impact story—Samuel
Samuel was a vagabond (his words) on the street, stealing, not in school, and making a problem in the community. His younger brother was learning from him. His mom had no means of income and was living in a rented home with no hope. Her first husband was killed in Genocide. She birthed Samuel and was pregnant with a second child when her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident.
BB—Connecting to empower—Jean Paul
JP came to Canada and was discipled by Dave for 17 months. He felt God’s call to return to Rwanda. We continued the relationship and the discipling. JP got promoted within the church. In the meantime, God set up a meeting in Brussels with Jon Ortlip (President and founder of (www.ambassadorsfootball.org) and Dave after which Ambassadors Football came to Rwanda. Jean Paul is trained in using football and the pitch to reach children, something JP is passionate about.
Samuel is invited onto the pitch and we (JP, Bridges Beyond and the local community) assess the need and chose to help. Initial support with school fees, sewing classes for mom, sewing machine, and regular follow-up, were involved in making every effort to ensure success.
We are NOT project based or focused, we are Christ centered and person focused, engaging the people on the ground to determine the root of a problem and together developing and implementing a strategy to bring real, sustainable change. We have been implementing this approach and are seeing remarkable success.
Please watch the following 5-minute video that is Samuel’s Story. Real impact in real lives.
Thank-you!
Update January, 2019
January 8, 2019
Hi friends,
We had a great time with family at Christmas and many laughs were had by all. He had surgery for a macular hole in his left eye which was successful although complete healing could take several months. We have been enjoying our extended stay in Canada while Dave deals with the situation with his eye. We see this as a positive thing because it allowed us to stay in Canada a little longer 😊and it made it easier to change the way we do some things in Rwanda.
Highlights from 2018
As 2018 closes and we look ahead to 2019, we have much for which we are thankful.
We are very grateful for the awesome privilege of being God’s instrument which He constantly tunes and retunes and uses for His glory.
As you know, we have recently (in the last year) started a not-for-profit organization which is designed to help us continue our work in Rwanda considering Dave’s retirement from Calvary Chapel. Bridges Beyond Ministries International is now officially registered as a Canadian Charity.
A new National Executive was put in place in ADEPR for a 5-year term. ADEPR is the denomination with which we work while in Rwanda and we look forward to working with this executive.
One area of which we are so privileged to be a part is the national strategy for reaching and discipling the children using Football (Soccer).
- Jean Paul is the National Team Leader for this ministry.
- Seventy-five coaches/missionaries have been trained in teaching football as well as teaching the children about Jesus Christ.
- Currently, this ministry is active in 25 communities around Rwanda with 2,500 boys and girls involved (ages 7-14).
- In August they held the first national championship which was a huge success and surpassed anything Ambassadors Football has done to date.
- Dave has been appointed as a member of Ambassadors Football Global Board of Directors with the responsibility of overseeing the leadership in Rwanda.
While in Canada:
- Lynn has enjoyed connecting with the women in Calvary Chapel, mentoring, pastoral ministry, and just appreciating having coffee with them.
- At the North American Leaders’ Conference, although Dave was unable to attend due to recuperation from surgery, Lynn was able to address the group to update them about Bridges Beyond.
- Dave & Lynn were privileged to preach (Dave) and present a Bridges Beyond update (Lynn) at various churches and connected with many partners, friends and family.
Plans for 2019
- Our flight has been booked for January 15th, returning April 16th.
- Formalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ADEPR and Bridges Beyond.
- We usually renew our visa in November as it expires every two years in December which is usually a painless procedure. As we were not in Rwanda this fall, our visa has expired. This means we need to get a letter of invitation from ADEPR and then renew it for 2 years while we are in Rwanda. Again, mostly painless, but a little more involved.
- Work with Pastors with whom we have previously worked in training their leaders—4 days each week.
- Train the Ambassadors Football Rwanda (AFR) national leadership team in Authentic Leadership
- Participate in training an additional 75 coaches.
Needs?
- Prayer, prayer, prayer;
- for wisdom,
- for continuing and increasing favour with ADEPR leaders,
- for complete healing in Dave’s eye and our general good health,
- for energy, endurance, and perseverance to do the work as God calls us,
- relational connections,
- safe travels to and from Rwanda as well as driving throughout the country,
- the budget for the new year
- at this point we have need for finances for 2019
- ADEPR has been supplying a vehicle for the past 7 years but we have been asked to provide our own
- translator - We have made arrangements for Sylvie to be our translator and were excited about working with her. She has an excellent opportunity for a full time 3 month position which would go until the end of February. She will not be able to do both, so we will need to look for another translator – which is not an easy task.
We thank you for your prayers and interest in the work in Rwanda. Your financial support would also be greatly appreciated and will be a huge encouragement to us as we look ahead to a very full 4 months.
If you have any questions, please ask us, or if you want topartner now,please follow the link.
Warm regards,
Dave & Lynn Kehler
Bridges Beyond International Ministries
December 4/17
November 2017
Six weeks in and we have completed book 2 of 4 with 118 leaders in Kamonyi District. This is the new material Dave has written and it carries our heart for raising leaders, becoming fathers, and for leaders to be people of integrity and character. The material has a strong focus on spiritual fathers raising and training disciples, for an understanding of and moving from our identity.
A Pastor now calls his Heavenly Father "Papa".
We just completed a 3-day conference with the top leaders of ADEPR. We thank you greatly for your prayers. There is always strong resistance from the enemy as we push against the gates of hell.
These leaders have been extremely heavy and burdened and been in shame over recent events in this church (top leaders indicted for embezzling millions). At the end of our time together they were gathered in districts, discussing how to proceed. We saw many smiling faces and laughter—it was so very good.
It was such a blessing to have Ron MacLean, Matthew Frank and Elmer Chen join us for one of our leadership training sessions. For them to see us in action with what we do day in and day out is a profound blessing.
Elmer also addressed the Bible School and visited other centers of higher learning.
Left to right: Jean Paul, Aurélie (CFO ADEPR), Ron, Titus (Uganda), Elmer, Ray (Burundi/Congo), Steve (UK), David Freeman (UK), Lynn & Dave, Matthew (Ron’s Intern), Simeon
Prayer needs
· We are in the final stages of securing our not-for-profit status in Canada. Please be in prayer about this.
· For God’s relational connections in Rwanda.
· For God’s provision of resources and wise stewardship on our part.
· For a vehicle in Rwanda.
· For the people to embrace the concept of raising and discipling spiritual sons and daughters.
Here is a song we have been praying over this situation. I see it as God’s prophetic word.
When she’s crying
When she’s hurting
When she’s fallen and can’t go on
When she’s broken into pieces
In her mourning has lost her song
CHORUS
Who will help the Church
The one that Christ loves
Who will rise up, Who will rise up
How long will we wait, How much will it take
Who will rise up, Who will rise up
VERSE 2
When she’s crawling through the ashes
And she’s calling out for help
When she’s reaching from her kneeling
She needs strength now beyond herself
BRIDGE
For every brother who has need
And every sister on her knees
We’ll show the mercy we’ve received in our lives
And all the world will finally see
The love that makes a family
If He’s alive in you and me, We will rise
EssentialWorship.com
This is the state of the church of over 2 million in Rwanda. Each year there seems to be an extreme crisis in leadership. This is now the 3rd national Executive we are working with and in March a new one will be installed with a 5-year mandate (none of the Executive we have worked with to date has lasted 5 years). We believe God wants to put His Nehemiah in place to rebuild the walls. Please pray with us.
Murekatete Lynn Kehler
Byiringiro David Kehler
Elder @ large; Calvary Chapel; Team Leader Bridges Beyond, ADEPR Missionary Rwanda
For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. Rom. 1:11,12
While in Canada +1-204-326-0584; While in Rwanda +250-787-830-151; www.thecalvarywebsite.com
November 10/17 Newsletter
We have been in Rwanda for 3 weeks and it has been quite busy. Our schedule for this term is that we will be training on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Our Fridays are kept for connecting with the young men and women whom we are mentoring/discipling.
During this last year, the church has been again or should we say, continues to be in a perpetual state of chaos. In May, 4 of the 5 Executive were arrested on allegations of embezzlement and fraud. A very large sum of money seems unaccounted for and the Dove Hotel, which people thought was paid, is not and still has a very large mortgage. A forensic audit has been completed and the implications are that where there has been smoke, there is indeed fire! While we are not involved in any of these things, it impacts us as we have relationships with many people and attempt to develop trust.
We regularly and continually say that, “Everything rises or falls on leadership!” If Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords and we submit to Him, if we personally walk in the light the enemy cannot gain a foothold. So, the issue here and everywhere is and continues to beleadership!!
Currently there is a constitutional crisis as the church has not been functioning according to its constitution. There is strong pressure on the board of governors to step down, and the chairperson already has. It seems a team will be appointed to study and make constitutional recommendations, consulting all levels of church members.
As we are bringing a humble, servant leader mindset, a call to walk in the light and in personal submission, to move in grace rather than legalism, to become free of the love of money which is the root of all kinds of evil—we are in a battle.
The success we have is strongest and most evident in one-to-one relationships where we see a changed mindset and world-view.
Jean Paul Seneza is committed to reaching and working with the children in his area—this is the heart of Christ. He no longer cares about or is impressed with position or title.
Aimable used to be on the Executive – the only one who was not arrested. He is walking in the light and submitting his life to his personal pastor. Amiable has not had any desire to return to hishome village where it is still dark and heavy as a result of the genocide. He has wanted to forget about this part of his life. He now has an increasing burden and love for his home village, which he does not understand, other than it is a gift and a mission from God. He is going back there, connecting, praying and asking the Lord, “How can this village and these people be redeemed?” We continue to meet regularly and grow relationally.
Odette has retired from her work at the ADEPR Head Office and has begun a counselling ministry after completing the Peer Counselling Program. She and Lynn get together regularly and continue to grow their friendship.
We take great joy in these individual changes as we know that this is the essence of reformation.We are in prayer about gathering a group of young leaders and pouring our life into them. We need God to move and be clear on this.
We have been told the Executive wants us to go to Uganda for about a month to train the leaders. They are very much for us and with us. Dave meets with Viateur (Secretary General), a relationship that began several years ago, and Lynn meets with Aurélie (CFO), a new friendship is just in its beginning stages. We met with Efraim (Legal Representative) and he expressed his desire to walk with someone with whom he can speak of the things of his heart – something that is rarely done, especially among leaders.
Simeon continues to be a valuable part of our team. He is vulnerable with us and eager to serve the Lord by serving us. We are blessed!
We are so thankful for your prayers as that is how we are able push against the doors of hell. We praise God for His goodness and His mercy as we continue in what we feel He has called us.
Dave & Lynn
October 27/17 Blog entry
We have arrived - over a week ago! Our flights were great and the times in the airports were pleasant. Jean Paul met us at the airport and then went out for a light dinner with Viateur (the new Secretary General on the executive and a dear friend) and Joshua (another pastor and friend). The internet has been very poor since we’ve been here which is why not many have heard from us since we landed.
We landed on Tuesday last week (17th) and got to our new home at 12:00 midnight. At this point, I (Lynn) had not slept for 30 hours. I tend to not sleep in the plane - too many movies to watch!! Dave got about 6 hours sleep, so needless to say, we were pretty tired when we reached our home. (Why do people say what is needless to say right after they say it is needless to say???) We both slept for 11 hours! Jet lag seems to be affecting us more each time we come here. Dave has recovered quite well, while I am still sleeping a lot during the day. I have also started a new medication which might be affecting this. Thankfully, this week has been set aside for recovering from jet lag and settling in to our new home.
Let me tell you about our new home. It is beautiful!!! It has a large living room/dining room, large kitchen (which our cook, Lillian, loves) with all new appliances, 3 spare bedrooms, 3 washrooms, and a large master bedroom with a walk in closet and an ensuite washroom. It is a 10 minute walk to city centre, 10 minute drive to ADEPR (the church we work with here) head office, and is quiet considering it is right downtown! God is so kind and His gifts are beyond what we could even ask. If the internet starts working, we will try to add pictures when we send out our newsletter.
Pray for:
- opportunity to connect with the executive - we have not as yet
- connections with new friends, and reconnection with old
- God’s timing re communicating with the past executive
- Training of a total of 120 pastors, deacons, evangelists in 3 different areas, that they will be empowered, equipped and will go and make disciples.
- It looks like we will need our own vehicle — $20-25,000 Cdn
- General health.
- Ambassadors Football training local missionaries to reach out to children—Nov. 12-17 Training of 60ish locals to carry this ministry—establish a national team and strategy.
- Salt & Light International top leaders conference—Nov. 21-29—God’s Spirit to move and make us one, to do church together, to break down strongholds and barriers and whatever the Spirit leads you to pray.
Praise for:
- Contacts already made - I met Aurelie (the new CFO) and will be having coffee with her later today (23rd)
- Training times and areas have already been designated and we are looking forward to meeting a new group of men and women
- New home is wonderful and peaceful—10 min. walk downtown, 10 minutes to the office, 15 minutes from Jean Paul—new and peaceful.
- Began training in 3 regions (118) and it is peaceful.
- For now, we have a vehicle provided.
- Jet lag is done.
- Connecting with Jean Paul & Dinah, Amiable & Dorothy, Lynn with Aurélie (New CFO).
- Our internet seems to be working now.
September 6, 2017
Greetings our friends,
We have been having a great time this summer, refreshing, connecting with our grandchildren and our family and church family. It has been a great time of recharging our batteries.
This time in the church community is bitter sweet as Dave’s time as a paid pastor is nearing an end. December 2017 will be the last pay cheque. We still look forward to serving and connecting but will have a little more freedom with our time while in Canada.
We just finished re-writing the leadership training material—now 24 sessions instead of 30 and much more relationally focused. Really, it brings the heart of who we are into the work. While we were in Toronto in June, we met with the Equip Canada people and they introduced us to their new training, which is completely different from their original work. Hopefully we will have a partnership agreement in place soon with them and then plan to use the Authentic Leadership material. This is a highly intimate, highly relational training focusing on living and moving in grace rather than legalism. It is an excellent teaching and we look forward to adding that to our training material.
Simeon has been growing and learning much as he has been spending time here with us. He has been enjoying living with different people, but our home continues to be his home base. He has been doing the training from John Bevere on the Bait of Satan, where he is learning about overcoming offence. He is now half way through Spiritual Warfare for Every Christian, by Dean Sherman, an excellent teaching. He will then continue with Undercover, by John Bevere, which is about submitting to leadership. Rob Balfour has taken him through a New Testament and Old Testament survey and he is now in the middle of learning New Testament Greek. We felt that especially with Simeon’s gift for languages he should learn this while he is here. It has been great as Rob tutors Simeon and requires tests and exams to be completed—so wonderful.
Our flight has been booked and we leave for Rwanda, Lord willing, October 16th and return on December 17 for Christmas. We love Christmas in Canada and use it as a time to reconnect with family and friends. We will go back to Rwanda in early January but are unsure of the exact date.
For the past 5 years we have lived in Kagarama and have enjoyed the quietness of the neighbourhood as well we have appreciated our landlord. When we go back to Rwanda, we will be moving to a new house which we will be renting from Rev. Joseph, the Vice Regional Pastor in Kigali. It is to be a training centre for the smaller group leadership training and also has space to host some of our international guests who will be coming throughout our 6 months in Rwanda.
Jean Paul and Jean Claude were in Cleveland, Ohio for 6 weeks of training with Ambassador’s Football. They are now taking it back to the Rwanda and in early November will have a coaches equipping time. The plan is to reach out and train the 6-12 year olds throughout the nation. Literally, using the access to schools that is so available and the blessing from government authorities, the timing is ripe and we need to act. Jean Paul began working with 30 children on his own, and the next day 100 children showed up. He was told by government official and pastors that they were going to send all of their children to Jean Paul for training. The Holy Spirit is moving.
November 20-29 we plan to have some of the national leaders from within our S&L family of churches join us for a time of ministering to and connecting with the top leaders of ADEPR. We also plan to go throughout the nation with the gospel of hope.
Please pray that we will hear God’s leading for this conference and that we will be executing His plan.
We have been communicating with the new Executive and they are eagerly awaiting our return to Rwanda. Most of them have already been with us for leadership training and now we anticipate a local people taking more and more of the initiative.
Please pray for wisdom as we work with the Executive.
Pray for a good working relationship.
Finally, we have been “gifted” with a not-for-profit number in Canada, however, it still needs to go through the formal work of getting registered. To date, we cannot issue receipts under the name Bridges Beyond, but that is the plan. Until that happens, we can continue to receipt support through Calvary Chapel.
Please pray that everything regarding the charitable organization will be finalized sooner than later.
We continue to covet your prayers and support as we do what God has called us to in Rwanda and other countries as He leads us.