Currently, our stateside leaders are discussing plans for  a summer 2011 Rwanda STOMP trip. In light of this, I will keep this blog live and update you with the information I receive regarding that. Despite my regrets, I’m consoled by the fact that God has an ultimate timeline far exceeding our own. He knows the who, where and why that we cannot see with our limited vision. I trust in that and know that his work continues on in the lives of our Rwandan friends. Our role now is to pray fervently for their country, their safety, and the prosperity of their futures.

I’m signing off for a time with the hopes of returning to this blog in 2011. Until then, dear friends, may you be blessed to be a blessing.

Yours truly, Sarah

Board Members, Staff and Friends of ANLM,

Two more bombs have been set off in Kigali including one at the Market near
our two ANLM Mission Houses. Our senior staff were meeting there together
when the bomb went off and though shaken no one was hurt. They continued
meeting and praying through the night.

Fear has gripped Rwanda and the Government has officially asked all churches
by letter to suspend evening prayer gatherings in public and private until
the elections are completed August 9th because of the danger involved in
having groups of people together becoming targets for the terrorists.

I just spoke with Charles a few minutes ago.  He has decided that it is best
to postpone almost all of the teams that were planning to come to Rwanda
between now and the Aug 9 elections with the exception of one IBC men’s team
because of their previous experience in military and relief situations.

I will be contacting all of the remaining churches who have teams coming and
letting them know that they are welcome to re-schedule their trips for
September 2010 or later.

Charles exact words were, “We have to be honest with our friends now about
the danger that is in Rwanda for this time or they will not trust us later
when we tell them it is safe for them to enter again”.

Please pray for our friends and especially our staff in Rwanda at this time.

I will keep you posted as I learn more. You can read about the latest by
Googling The New Times in Kigali or checking the Africa News section of the
BBC World News sight online.

—–Original Message—–
From: Charles
Subject: Pray for Rwanda

Pray for Rwanda today we had another two bombs  attack. One was very close
to Kimironko Market near the mission house! Just on the main road near the
market.

I pass every day in that area driving home from work.

Last week we had three bombs attacks in the city. Pray for our nation as
we look towards elections

Pray that God will protect us.

Pastor Charles

I’ve heard a lot about this famed troupe and so decided to educate myself on their significance in the Rwandan culture. Apparently, these brightly clad dancers became popular during the 1958 World Expo in Brussels. It is considered a traditional form of Rwandan ballet dating back to ancient tribal warrior dances.

The Intore dancers were initially part of the established Rwanda Army, being skilled in both fighting techniques and dance. (Let me pause here and say that if my Army husband, brother and father were instructed in the fundamentals of rhythm, the world would indeed be a safer place!) In particular, the Intores were renowned for their high jumps, rising 2-40 meters from the ground in a single bound.

The Intore troupe is one of the three fundamentals of the Rwanda ballet. The other two being Ingoma (drummers) and songs. The ballet costume for the Intore men is grass wigs to create a ‘mane’ effect, spears, and bells on each foot to provide the beat of the performance. Women dancers wear traditional shawls wrapped across their bodies in sari fashion.

The dancers act out narratives using flapping bird and swimming fish movements, battle cries, leaps, stomps, spins, hand gestures and facial expressions. Together, these create the fictional world—the setting, characters and plot—without any playbill necessary. The troupe’s graceful movements and complex choreography has been commended and celebrated for its ability to address cultural issues such as power, masculinity, femininity, aggressiveness and the strife between the Tutsi, Hutu and Twa tribes. These concepts are depicted in a kind of staged artistic rivalry, concluding with hugs between performers as a symbol of friendship, forgiveness and love between countrymen. Their performances tell fictional and non-fictional stories of their people with the hopes of passing on lessons for a more prosperous and peaceful future.

Being a bookworm, former dancer, and lover of a good story, I’m especially excited to be introduced to this notable form of Rwandan art and culture. Perhaps we’ll even coerce some of our fellow members to join along. You can bet on me to put on my twinkle toes and get down with the locals.

Yours truly, Sarah

The apostle Simon Peter is a daily source of inspiration when I think about the upcoming Rwanda trip and the men and women dedicated to leading us on the journey. Matthew 14:27-29:

“But immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to you on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.”

In addition to the faith, hope and courage Peter exhibited in this account, what leadership! True leaders are never far from the action. They guide us forward by example. In the middle of a mighty storm, Jesus appeared on the water and who jumped out of the boat to walk the waves with him? Peter. One of the most significant leaders of the faith.

In essence, we are doing the same, friends. We’re  jumping out of our safe U.S.A. boat and following our leaders to Rwanda. “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid,” Jesus told Peter… and all the Peters to follow.

This is the kickoff post of a series of Q&As with the leaders of the Women’s, Men’s and Medical Teams. It’s a casual way for us to learn a bit more about them and hopefully, unify all three teams of the 2010 Rwanda STOMP.

I hope you enjoy this Q&A as much as I enjoyed getting to know these inspiring women. I can’t wait to ‘walk the waves’ together in Rwanda.

Yours truly, Sarah

Meet the Women’s Team leaders: Beverly and Eleane.

BEVERLY:
Q. Hometown?
A. Gainesville, Florida
Q. Married?
A. Married to Bill Atkinson for 27 years.
Q. Children?
A. We have two great kids. Nikki is 26 years old, a nurse at Fairfax Inova
Hospital. She is with us on the medical team. Justin is 23 and graduating from JMU this May. He will be commissioned into the US Army.
Q. Title?
A. Character in Action Program Coordinator Immanuel Christian School
Q. Have you been to Rwanda on a mission’s trip before?
A. I had the privilege of going to Rwanda two summers ago. I, of course, fell in love with the people. I was amazed at their resilience and resolve for forgiveness and restoration after learning more about the genocide.  There are not words to describe the Genocide Museum.
I was very impressed with Africa New Life Ministries and all of the different ministries they have to help the needy people in their country. I loved spending time with the children at the school in Kayonza.  We had a precious unplanned afternoon with some of the children talking, interacting and just learning about their lives and their hearts.  We also were able to meet with the teachers and give them school and teaching supplies.
The medical part of the trip was a stretch for me since I am not medical. It was very interesting and I learned so much. The conditions were unbelievable!  Everyone just fell into their gifted area to make it work. I was glad when I became the person to take patients back to the doctors.  I felt comfortable keeping things moving and helping the doctors.  We saw over a 1,000 patients.  It broke my heart to watch them wait and wait and wait to be seen by a doctor.  The youth were great keeping them entertained.  Tom Joyce, Dwight Davison and Bob Poliquin were great organizers of the crowds; they kept everything in line.  Everyone just did whatever it took to make it work. As little as  2 or 3 dollars can give a person medial insurance for an entire year in Rwanda.
Q. What were/are some common fears you experienced on your first trip to Rwanda and how did you overcome them?
A. I think my biggest fear going to Rwanda was the LONG plane ride.  I know that sounds silly but it was true…it almost caused me not to go on the trip.  I had been to Europe and even to Ghana (twice) but this was 17 hours! But, of course, I made it. God was great and He sustained me.
My other concern (not really a fear) was just the unknown.  All of the what will the conditions be like; how do I make sure I meet their needs; what do I need to do to prepare; what do they really need me to take for them; can I do this??????  All the basic questions we Americans want answered BEFORE we do something.  I learned, as I always am gently reminded by God, that this is a step of faith and I just need to be willing and to trust.  It was a great trip.
Q. What advice can you give to team members regarding what to expect upon arriving?
A. Just be willing to put creature comforts aside. Bring comfortable cotton clothes.  Pack light but bring the things that make you feel human. You will be amazed at how good a cold shower can feel on a hot day.
Q. What goals do you have for your team?
A. To glorify God. Be in the center of His will. To be a servant and to be lead by the Holy Spirit. To be willing to be flexible.  To be blessed by making precious relationships with each other and our friends in Rwanda.  It has been my experience that each person will connect with a special friend in Rwanda that you will always be a reminded to you to pray for and that will be the face of Rwanda and Africa New Life Ministries for you.
Q. What goals do you have for yourself?
A. The same as above.  To help women on the team feel comfortable and help them transition as easily as possible.
Q. Can you share some “God at work” moments with us from past experiences?
A. Well, I can think of two that were amazing.
1) The teachers of the school prayed for Eleane, Deshua and I. I have never felt the presence of God so real as in that time of prayer….PRECIOUS and indescribably humbling.
2) SIFA. The fact that when Cheryl Poloquin met this shy, withdrawn, little orphan girl with this life-threatening condition that she couldn’t open her mouth and was plagued with mouth infections; she came to the team and said we had to help her and the team never batted an eye. They just started brainstorming on how we could make it happen.  Done deal!  That was amazing to me.  To watch the people who have given time, money expertise and on and on to help Sifa has been incredible and it is actually still happening.  I am so blessed to be a part of folks that don’t just sit in a pew on a Sunday morning but live that faith daily.  Praise the Lord from Whom all blessings flow.
Q. Can you share a “funniest moment” from past experiences?
A. There are so many I can’t even remember them all but they usually revolve around “bathroom” issues.   Laughter is God’s gift to us, it lightens any situation.  Embrace the funny moments as precious memories.  Another one is when we were in Ethiopia and they were not going to let us on the plane with Andrew McCoy’s soccer ball. There was a little fear, unbelief at how absurd, and it was just plain funny. Andrew was hilarious.
Q. Any advice on essentials to pack?
A. LEAVE your watch at home because we will be on Rwanda time.   Feel free to bring your favorite snacks with you. Comfortable shoes. Ziplock bags. Lots of patience.  Things you can leave for folks in Rwanda.
Q. To give us a little more insight into your personality, here are some quirky questions:
Favorite food? Chocolate
Favorite book? Whatever I am reading at the time.  Touching stories.
Favorite movie? The most recent favorite is Blindside. I love romantic comedies or true stories that make me cry.
Favorite animal and why? Tucker, our big Yorkie.  He’s cute and precious.  He has such personality and he always greets you at the door with such excitement.
If your spouse or child was to describe you, what would they say? Loaded question….maybe you should ask them. I hope they would say loving and fun.  They would say generous with her time, but they would also probably say controlling.

ELEANE:
Q. Hometown?
A. Don’t really have one.  I am a military brat.  The longest I have lived someplace is here in Virginia!
Q. Married?
A. Yes.  I have been married for 31 1/2 years.  I have been dating my husband for 38 1/2 years. He’s a keeper.
Q. Children?
A. Yes, I have three wonderful children.  They are all adults.  I have one daughter and two sons.  Sarah and Jason are married.  My youngest son, Andrew is a senior at Virginia Tech.
Q. Title?
A. Teacher and Primary Team Leader at ICS
Q. Have you been to Rwanda on a mission’s trip before?
A. Yes.  I went for a two week period.  We went to encourage the teachers at Africa New Life Junior Academy and support the medical team.  I would have to say that we were the ones who left more blessed by the Christians that we encountered there.  They were authentic in their faith and their prayers.  I left Rwanda with a different perspective on worship.
Q. What were/are some common fears you experienced on your first trip to Rwanda and how did you overcome them?
A. One of my biggest fears was snakes!  I don’t like snakes and rodents.  I overcame this by gathering as much information as I could about the types of snakes that were in the area and reading up on them.  The Black Mamba is the snake that is found in the area and I began praying for God to deliver me from this fear.  When we did see a Black Mamba I was able to identify it quickly and God gave me a calm spirit (which in itself was supernatural).  I praise God for allowing me to see His provision in this area.  I had no fear because I knew that He went before me and I was in His will.  He is the master of all living creatures both great and small.
Q. What advice can you give to team members regarding what to expect upon arriving?
A. Expect to be greeted by friendly people who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.  The first thing I did when I got there was to spray myself with bug spray and put my bug band on.  I also put up my mosquito netting.  Although the hotel we stayed in had screens, I felt a little more protected with my own netting up.  I had to use a wire hanger that was left in the closet.  I made a makeshift hook and hung it up from the light (it took me putting a chair on the bed to hang it).  I will remember to bring wire with me!  I have been told that we are staying at the mission house where most beds have mosquito netting.  I slept very well at the mission home.  The food is pretty good!  Their vegetables and fruit are delicious!  The food served at the mission home is safe but don’t count on eating fresh salads outside of the home!  God is moving in the hearts of these people. I consider it such a privilege to be part of God’s work in this country.
Q. What goals do you have for your team?
A. I pray that all who go on this trip will desire a changed life!
Q. What goals do you have for yourself?
A. I am in constant prayer that the Holy Spirit will supernaturally empower me with the type of love for God and His people that only He can give.  I cannot love anyone through my own strength but through His power.  My goal is to put aside my needs so that I can see my neighbor’s needs.
Q. Can you share some “God at work” moments with us from past experiences?
A. When I think of a miracle moment I think of my time with a few orphans at the school.  No agenda, no time constraints, just time talking with and sharing with a few kids ranging from 8 – 17 years of age.  Their love for people and their love for God was powerful.  I will never forget a boy named Espian.  He was a street boy who lost his family during the genocide and was brought to the orphanage at the age of 12 or 13.  We talked about the importance of reading and the importance of understanding what we read.  We talked about life verses and how God speaks to us through His written word, the Bible.  Espian took my Bible and came back with his life verse. At that moment I was stunned and speechless.  Here is a boy whose parents were not part of his life.  The verse was like cold water thrown in my face.  This boy loved His God and knew that even though his parents forsake him, his God will never forsake him.  I pray that God will use him in the lives of many.  There were many more stories to tell throughout the trip.  This was the first!
Q. Can you share a “funniest moment” from past experiences?
A. We had great times together.  Memorable moments.  I don’t know if one stands out as being the funniest.  I guess one of the funniest moments I can think of is when Susan (one of the doctors) got locked in her bathroom when we were ready to leave.  You have to know that Susan is not a tall woman.  She had to climb up on the toilet to look out the window to call for help.  Pretty funny!  When we got to Akagara Park, we held the bathroom door shut when we got ready to leave.  We were all saying goodbye when she realized she couldn’t get out of the bathroom.  We could not stop laughing as we considered her SOS sign using toilet paper!
Q. Any advice on essentials to pack?
A. Essentials: wet wipes, saline solution (it is very dusty), closed-toed shoes, jeans, light jacket with hood, sweater, adapter, sunglasses, bug bands, OFF bug spray, tuna fish packets, individual packed snacks, clothes that you can leave for Africa New Life Ministry, gifts for those who are translating and helping us.
Q. To give us a little more insight into your personality, here are some quirky questions:
Favorite food? A good salad!
Favorite book? Don’t really have one.  Whatever book I am reading at the moment is my favorite!
Favorite movie? Don’t really have one.  It all depends on my mood… sometimes Pollyanna is my favorite movie, other times it is The Greatest Story Ever Told, and then there is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
Favorite animal and why? Dogs (especially Labradors).  A dog is loyal and will never spill your secrets!  Labradors are full of fun.  Their faces have a natural smile that seems to say, “I love you!”
If your spouse or child was to describe you, what would they say? I am not quick to say “yes”.  I need time to think through all the “what if’s” before saying yes to something.  I no longer obsess over perfection (praise God)!  I love talking about the things of God and how they apply to our lives today.  I am more of an introvert than extrovert.  I keep promises that I make.  What I say I will do, I do.  I give 110% to whatever I set my mind to do.  I am passionate about my convictions.

• The population is estimated at 9,720,694 with 149,000 afflicted with HIV. 17,000 of those are children. There are approximately 350,820 orphans and vulnerable children in Rwanda between the ages of 0 and 17. It is estimated that AIDS accounts for nearly a fifth of these: the number of children (0-14 years old) having lost one or both parents because of HIV was estimated to be about 233,700 in 2008.
• The life expectancy of men is 48 years old; women, 51 years old; 160/1,000 children don’t live to the age of five.
• 50% of the population lives on less than $1 a day.
• There is no state religion. 93.6% of the people are Christian; 4.6% are Muslim; 0.1% are indigenous believers; and 1.7% claim no religion. The government permits religious instruction in public schools. In some, students are allowed to choose between instruction in “religion” or “morals.” Typically, if a school is missionary established, it claims a particular denomination; otherwise, the school is nondenominational.
• The official language is Kinyarwanda, but the common vernacular is Bantu. A majority of people also speaks some English and/or French.
• A handful of phrases in the official language:

Mwaramutse. (Good morning.)

Bite? (How are you?)

Muraho (Hello)

Witwande? (What’s your name?)

Nitwa … (My name is …)

Murakoze. (Thank you.)

• Rwandans view education as one of the most important ways to give their children hope for the future. A typical academic year is from January to October. While primary schools are free, the cost of materials required for children to attend (uniforms, paper, writing supplies, etc.) is often too great for the average family.
• 76% of men and 64.7% of women are literate.
• In the arts, Rwandans are renowned for their oral storytelling, music, weaving and basketry. Storytelling and music occupy an honored position in the culture. Homemade xylophones, stringed instruments and drums are among the traditional instruments used to accompany singing and dancing in ceremonies related to birth, marriage, death, harvest and hunting. Basket weaving often indicates a family’s social status. The pygmy Twa are acclaimed potters.
• Soccer (football) is the most popular sport of Rwanda. Basketball and volleyball follow in popularity.
• Yes, there is snow in Africa. Rwanda receives frost and snow in the mountains during the rainy seasons: February to April and November to January. Off the mountains, the average temperate throughout the year is between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Tea is the leading cash crop. In 2002, export earnings from tea were $18 million US dollars (15,000 tons dried tea). Coffee production is second to tea. I can attest from personal sampling that the tea is phenomenal! Yum, I’ll have a second cup, please.

These are just a handful of facts I pulled from my trusty Rwanda guidebook. I’m fascinated by all the stereotypes Rwanda blatantly breaks: snow in Africa; green mountains of world-prized tea; storytellers and musicians abounding. Simultaneously, my heart aches for all the ones that are realized: orphans; HIV/AIDS; illiteracy; poverty. With each page turn, I become more captivated. So I’ll continue to pepper you with my discovers and further education on the country.

As soon as I have the basic info digested, I’ll begin blogging on my general anticipatory feelings, hopes, and goals for the trip. This coming Sunday, January 31, is the first official Rwanda STOMP team meeting in Springfield, Virginia. As I am living in El Paso, Texas, I won’t be attending, but my fellow team members have promised to provide a minute-by-minute replay of all that is discussed. For all in attendance, I’m praying it’s a constructive meeting, and that we begin this Rwanda STOMP with eyes steadfast on all the blessings God has ready and waiting.

Yours truly, Sarah

So I’m pulling out my pointer and my map of Africa, and we shall begin at the beginning:

Colonized by the Belgians in the early 1900’s, the country of Rwanda began a most difficult and ultimately deadly journey over the last century.  Feeling the need to “separate” the people so as not to allow them to gain the upper hand and ultimate possession of their own country, the Belgians began the long process of labeling each and every Rwandan based on their looks and physical features.  Given an identity card stating whether they belonged to either the Hutu or Tutsi tribe, the Rwandan’s manufactured differences began to take hold.

The Belgians, feeling that those labeled to the Tutsi tribe had more pleasing features, gave the Tutsis much power and dominion over the Hutus.  Even over the years of intermarriage between the tribes and physical features becoming a very blurry line, the identity cards remained and thus the status of one tribe being “better” slowly began to take hold. Beginning in the late 1950’s, genocide of smaller proportions took place taking the lives of thousands of innocent people.  The inferior Hutu’s, always feeling threatened by the supposedly superior Tutsi, felt the overwhelming need to eliminate the opposing tribe.  Unsuccessful in the initial genocide of 1959, the tension remained until the breaking point in April of 1994.

The Hutus in power were able to convince even the most common Hutu that all Tutsis were bad and that the Tutsis were a threat to the entire Hutu population.  Armed with machetes and any other blunt object that would inflict the deadliest and cruelest of blows, the blood bath began.  In a period of only 90 days, over one million Tutsis were innocently killed along with any Hutu that in any way supported, helped or aided any Tutsi.  Stranger killed stranger, neighbor killed neighbor, husbands killed wives, wives killed husbands, fathers and mothers killed children, children killed.  The once beautiful lush countryside of Rwanda was pouring forth with streams of blood and piles of dead bodies everywhere.  Often termed a civil war amongst tribes, this deadliest bloodbath was in no way worthy to be called war.  Innocent people, weaponless people, helpless people and even the littlest of children were killed just because someone came along and labeled them a certain way.

The widespread violence of the 90’s, along with the deadly AIDS virus, has left this small country with countless numbers of widows and orphans.  A large percentage of husbands, whether killed in the genocide or imprisoned as a result of being a perpetrator of the violence, have left their families without any source of income or support.  As a result, the nation of Rwanda has an astounding poverty rate of over 75 percent.

Yet, over the last several years, an amazing healing has taken place in this once deadly country.  Known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, Rwanda once again flows with beauty and peace.  The lush countryside is populated now by millions of Rwandans, and only Rwandans.  Lead by the former RPF Leader who was instrumental in stopping the 1994 genocide and is now President, Paul Kagame and the Rwandans have come a long way towards healing and unity. No longer armed with identity cards, the countrymen have left their difficult past behind and are moving towards a bright and hope-filled future.

~ information provided by African New Life

Check back soon for more postings on Rwanda, STOMPs of years past, and our plans for 2010.

Yours truly, Sarah

Yours truly, Sarah