PASTORAL REFLECTIONS ON ORPHAN SUNDAY

My family has now been back in Rwanda for 3 months. I felt our first 3 months most important task is to listen well. CCR is doing very well. In fact, I cannot think of much more that we could have hoped for in her 3 ½ year life span. Even the difficult seasons we’ve faced have made me conclude much like Joseph that “God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done (Genesis 50:20).”



In many ways my spirit feels much like how it felt in 2006. We had labored in Rwanda for one year with a simple agenda – plant a church among Rwanda’s thought leaders. We settled into life by teaching ethics at a university. We walked government offices seeking a church registration. When the registration was granted it came with the instructions to develop property. Then our community discovered that one of Rwanda’s premier property locations was available. The Lord could have found others, but He chose us. I was struck by what Keith Green called, “Holy Fear.”



Since those early days much has been done. Hopefully, God has been glorified in both the labor and the fruit. Yet, I see more in the calling. As I wrestled with the opportunities in the fall of 2006 that became the fruit of 2010 I sense that God again intends to again take us to a new place for His glory.



We have an easy CCR temptation to settle into comfort. Something inside me says, “Ask God for more.” I see several crucial areas that CCR must address if we are to become all God intends. One is the issue of Orphans and Vulnerable Children.



This past Sunday CCR joined other churches and organizations around the world to remember Orphan Sunday. We entered with little agenda. We entered with no 3 point sermon. We entered with no project proposal. We entered with no program. We just came seeking, expecting, and waiting. As I struggled with a Sunday planned for discussion and prayer my wise wife stated, “If these issues could be solved with a 3 point sermon it would have been solved a long time ago.”



As in the past God’s glory has been shown through reflection I thought maybe this season also would honor the Lord by reflecting on the past Sunday’s discussion and discovery.



For the last few months CCR has been studying Romans. As we come to Romans 8 we explore adoption. J.I. Packer wrote in Knowing God, “Adoption is the highest privilege that the gospel offers.” Some theologians contrast Paul in Romans to James’ letter. An interesting observation is that Paul uses the illustration of adoption to go to the deepest theological description of God’s relationship with man. Then James boils the pragmatics of faith down to simply caring for orphans and widows (James 1:37). It seems there is no contradiction between the two writers. Instead, they build upon one another’s thoughts. We are adopted into God’s family. Therefore we represent God to the world by taking the most vulnerable into our family.



CCR has a tradition of weekly Holy Communion. We also have a tradition of open communion where all who believe in Jesus’ resurrection are welcome to take communion with us despite their ethnic, racial, national, or denominational heritage. This Sunday we chose to place our Communion focus upon adoption. All of us who believe in the resurrection and surrender our lives to Jesus’ leadership are adopted into God’s family. No task or performance is required to belong in God’s family – only acceptance.



CCR is made up of many who at this season of life would be considered influential. However, almost all of them have personal stories of rejection, crisis, and refugee living. Some as young children were separated from their family. At their most destitute points someone found them and cared for them as if they were their own child.



Most of our CCR families of African descent care for children who are not their biological children. Frequently, this care is for extended family members. For instance, an adult sibling has passed away and their children are cared for by their adult brothers and sisters. In many African vernacular languages there is no word to describe a cousin. Instead, the words “brother,” and “sister” are applied to all age mates in an extended family.



A few of our CCR families are considered “heroic” in their extra-mile efforts to care for children outside of their extended family. Some are the first families others turn to in crisis. Their homes are filled with children. Sometimes these children are true orphans. Sometimes it is just a safe place for a family in crisis. Sometimes their home is just one of Kigali’s youth’s favorite places of play. Yet for each of these families when others draw attention to them, they have a habit of pointing to the Hero of Heroes – God Almighty. When questioned about their reasons for such hospitality and inclusion they may humbly disclose that during their childhood they lived in a season of turmoil. In this season another gave them an extra measure of care. This generosity and compassion from others created a deep sense of both duty and love. How could they do anything else, but extend compassion?



As we came to our traditional sermon time we set aside the sermon format. I decided today’s discovery would be best as a discussion. I asked 5 from our Kigali community to participate with us in a panel format. My Uganda radio days lived again for just a few minutes. It seemed in our uncertainty a community discussion was more important than the discoveries from a pastor’s study.



Our panel included Bonita Munyemana, a dear friend who works as Gladney Center for Adoptions In Country Facilitator; Roger Shaw who with his wife Faith have taken in 20 Rwandan orphan children; Eddie Mwunvaneza, my CCR co-pastor who also has initiated orphan care in Rwanda; Keli Shreck, our colleague whose family has adopted 2 Rwandan boys; and my wife, Jana.



Our discussion had many powerful moments. Eddie told of the care he received as a youth. He spoke of how in situations that seemed tragic others had seen great potential in him.



Roger became passionate as he told his story of coming to faith and the impact of being a “doer of the word instead of just a hearer.” He challenged us to live beyond a life that is easy to control and manage. He called us to step out in a world of sacrificial living instead of management. (This came as quite a contrast as Roger is a successful businessman and entrepreneur. His words were preached most powerfully by the actions of his life.)



Bonita and Jana fleshed out of the current situation in Rwanda. Their thoughts were powerful as they came with no N.G.O. fund raising agenda. Rwanda has 1,000,000 children in vulnerable situations. A few years ago, 13% of Rwanda’s households were headed by children. There appear to be 200,000 double orphans in Rwanda. There are 4,000 children in orphanages in Rwanda.



Bonita shared with us Rwanda government’s agenda of de-institutionalizing the care of children. The hope is for children to be raised in a family. She even made the statement every child has a right to a family.



Keli was the quietest of our group, but also the one who I was most eager to hear. Keli told of her journey and the call of adoption. She told of how her family went from a quiet house with 2 girls to a rambunctious one with 2 more boys.

Throughout the day, I felt inside my spirit that it was appropriate to deal with the embarrassing and uncomfortable. I kept watching and our crowd was on the edge of their seats. A question that I thought must be in our crowd, but not disclosed is, “Can someone love an adopted child as they love a biological one?”



I decided to ask Jana to tell an embarrassing story and she agreed. When we were in Uganda our Luganda was not good, but it was better than our current Kinyarwanda. We could hear and follow conversations. Ruth came into our home shortly after Ethan was weaned. Thus for a short time Jana nursed Ruth. Once while we were at a Kampala Kids League game Jana overheard a Luganda conversation.



“This woman cannot love this African child as her own. See those children playing those are her real children. When she grows tired she will leave this African child behind.”



The cruelest actions of humanity always begin in silent thoughts. They next are spoken in a seeming secret meeting. Anonymity is one of the cruelest forms of gossip. It is the tool of cowards masquerading as community leaders. These two women thought vernacular provided a means to build hatred and suspicion under the guise of concern. God saw children in need of homes.



Jana chose not to answer in Luganda. Instead she chose to answer with the universal language of mothers. Jana began nursing Ruth. The gossips were silenced.



As Jana told CCR this story our body applauded.



We closed with a video. Our five panelists disbursed so they could be in places to listen. We prayed. We closed. No project proposal was formed. Yet, in the uncomfortable and embarrassing God moved and continues to move.



One of our body members comments has sent me into a deep ponder. From our wounds we heal. Sometimes a scar remains. Sometimes it is a source of strength. Sometimes it limits our action. It is wise to listen to healed wounds.

A few in our midst grew up in polygamous African homes. A few in our midst grew up in Western nations where polygamy masquerades as serial divorce. Those tragedies left deep wounds. The healed chose to be faithful to their spouse and children. Yet, somehow the idea of non-biological children felt too much like step children in a dysfunctional family. Maybe, for our wounded healers the idea of raising non-biological children as nieces and nephews is more palatable than as sons and daughters?



Who knows? What if my agenda is not God’s? How will He chose to solve the problem of vulnerable children? What if we are interpreting the “family of God” through lenses of western nuclear families and God is more concerned about our clan compassion and cohesion?



So I leave yesterday with simple pastoral reflection. Adoption is the highest privilege that the gospel offers. Our faith is most clearly displayed in care for widows and orphans. Rwanda has many children in need of families.

What would God have me do? What would God have my church do? What would God have you do?

LIVING, HEALING, AND BUILDING IN A BROKEN COMMUNITY

Thank you to the many from our community who have given Ruth an extra measure of prayer and concern the last day as she broke her arm. God continues to amaze us with the love and labor of both our Kigali community and the community that with tears sent us to Rwanda. I sometimes hesitate to even mention when our children are sick or injured. I notice that the welfare of children is one of those issues that quickly stir emotion. The Lord has created this emotion of love called compassion to be part of our created order. If we live and breathe upon this earth we feel physical pain when our loved ones are in pain. Our guts hurt when our community hurts.



Sometimes in our shaky guts moments we don’t communicate well or others may not listen well. Inaccurate illusions further create wounds in our Kigali community.



Our family serves in Rwanda with a community of called people. My understanding of the Old Testament stories of calling is that they are always painful events. A crisis arises in a community and an individual through a series of previous events is the one God has chosen to lead a community to an answer. The series of events that have prepared one to lead leave one tattered and humble. The called would always prefer for someone else to go, but deep in his spirit he also cries out, “Here I am. Lord, send me.”



My Kigali community is largely made up of two groups. The first are Rwandans who are well educated and trained. Their parents and grandparents lived as refugees. In their refugee living they were placed in a location where they developed professional skill. As adults they made a choice to return to Rwanda and build. They could have chosen to stay in a foreign land and do well, but inside they could not live with themselves if they did not return home. Thus they return with both joy and trembling.



The second community is one like I. We are not Rwandan, but Rwanda courses through our heart. We also have professional skill and education. We could choose an easier life. Yet, something within us ticks and we cannot escape our Rwanda call.



These two called communities wrestle with their children’s present and future. Two questions quickly come to mind. First, if I go to Rwanda where will my kids go to school? The second, is if I go to Rwanda where will I take my kids when they are injured or sick?



The Lord put in my hands the answer to the Kigali calling question of “Where will my kids go to school?” In the process the answer was not just for me, but for our gathered called community.



Yesterday, my daughter Ruth broke her left arm. It was not a complex fracture. She is well. However, it was one of those days that reminded me of how the Lord has guided our community. It had its moments of uncertainty and pain. It had its moments of resilience and compassion. It also had its moments of struggle and even anger and frustration.



In the middle of the morning, Kigali International Community School (KICS) Headmaster, Trevor Maxwell called me with the news that Ruth was injured. I left my office at Christ’s Church Rwanda (CCR) and walked to KICS. I found Ruth in pain from a fall. Trevor thought it was likely just a bruise. Her arm had no distortion. However, she was unable to have a full range of motion. After about 15 minutes of holding Ruth it seemed her pain was not going down.



My memory went back to a day nine years previous when my oldest daughter Sophia was in a similar situation. At my urging she took a risk while playing on the monkey bars and fell upon her arm. She was in pain, but had no distortions in the shape of her arm. For two days I lived in denial while Sophia suffered. Finally, when I woke up from my denial I decided that maybe we should get an x-ray. We went to a family friend, Dr. Abdu Shirazi in Kampala, Uganda. Dr. Shirazi took one look at Sophia’s arm and proclaimed, “Green tree fracture.” He did an x-ray to accurately confirm his suspicions. Then Sophia spent 6 weeks in a cast while I spent 9 years kicking myself for not listening to my daughter’s pain. Repentance bears fruit in changed thinking and behavior.



On Friday, 5 November my Lord gave me an opportunity to display my repentance. Though it was unlikely that we would find a fracture I would not allow days to go by while my daughter suffered and we did not know what the problem was. Thus we went to King Faisal Hospital for an x-ray.



Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. We saw others in much worse shape than Ruth. We waited for the greater wounded to be treated before us. Finally, our turn came.



After the x-ray we were met by a doctor who recognized us from years before. He looked at Ruth’s x-ray and proclaimed, “Green tree fracture.” The bone was not completely broken through, but it was broken and needed to be in a cast for 3 weeks.



The doctor looked familiar. We asked a few questions and a story was disclosed. His name was Fabian. He met us shortly after we arrived in Rwanda in June 2005. We spent 6 months visiting churches to meet pastors and people so that we could labor in community. He was one of those initial people we had met at a Kigali church (Christian Life Assembly – a delightful friend and neighbor in Kigali.) We had forgotten him, but he not us. We had been at King Faisal Hospital for other matters – dog and monkey bites, broken bones, concussions, and malaria. When our son, Caleb had broken his arm, Dr. Fabian had attended him.



Dr. Fabian set Ruth’s arm and we thanked both he and God. As the arm was set we made a few phone calls to family and friends with the news. Trevor Maxwell heard the confirmation of the break and called us. He wisely suggested that we get copies of the x-rays so a few other doctors who are part of our community could double check Dr. Fabian’s findings.



Thus we went to collect copies and wander through hospital bureaucracy. After the wait a technician and a bureaucrat began giving us copies of Ruth’s x-rays. While throughout the day we had been treated with compassion, wisdom, and grace these two fell into the recurring complaint of many. “Rwanda has poor customer service.” It was beyond obvious that these two considered our request for an x-ray copy to be a waste of their time. Then they began their editorials. Most of the editorials were in Kinyarwanda, but on occasion they would insert English. It was one of those passive / aggressive taunts. The English insertions always included the phrase “no fracture.” For a brief moment I did the math. I am 6’1.” I weigh about 195 pounds. At 43 I still am about as strong and fast as I was in my 20’s. These two were short, poochy, and probably as physically weak as they were intellectually deficient. My tolerance for those making fun of my daughter’s pain was below zero. Or maybe, I could do something more sophisticated such as write an editorial in a paper or just visit their boss who is a friend. Then something stirred inside where I realized these two were wounded in need of healing. I was not to be their healer, but I could pray for them to find one. For some reason these two had neither technical nor professional skill. They also had a character deficiency that preferred to judge in jealousy instead of extend compassion to wounded child’s family. Their lives must be full of much more pain than Ruth’s.



I also remembered reading Rwanda hating blogs about men such as these two. The bloggers convince the world that Rwanda is a basket case. They neglect to tell the stories of those in my Kigali community who have lived wounded lives, but who choose to heal and build. They neglect to tell stories of regret, repentance, and redemption. They neglect to tell about life in Rwanda as it is and as it will be. We live with wounded people. A few are pure knuckleheads. However, most seek to heal and build.



I walked away thankful that one of our called communities questions was answered. Yes, in Rwanda when my children are sick or injured we can find help. Childhood illnesses and injuries can be treated.



I also walked away thankful that God had used some in my community to build a school called KICS. Five years ago those of us who desired to someday send our children to a university in the United States were in crisis. Today, we have a school for our kids and their future is good.



Yet, at the close of my day I visited families whose grown children were now planning to marry. Life was good. Refugees had returned and were building. Their extended family had gathered from inside Rwanda, Uganda, and the United States to celebrate this most sacred ritual. Pastoring can be delightful and last night was a treasure. Hope and love abounded. As we planned we visited. A familiar issue came up. New families have children. Those children have educational needs. KICS is the answer for which those families long. Yet, our community needs are greater than the KICS facility capacity. We have hundreds of kids waiting to attend KICS. Some of their parents don’t come to Rwanda to build because they cannot find an adequate school. Some of their parents send their kids to boarding schools outside of Rwanda while they remain.



Compassion moved inside of me again. I left the pre-wedding party, walked to some vacant land near KICS and prayed.



Rwanda has been kind to me. We live, heal, and build with a community that has been broken. Yet, there is more to do. May God give us the resources and strength to return God’s grace to others.

OUR HERO

The dictionary defines a hero as a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
Our world clamors for heroes. We have a strange fascination with those who do the extra-ordinary. Grocery stores check-out counters are filled with magazines that tell us the stories of celebrities. Maybe they just scratch a hunger for a life substance beyond food. Political columnists banter between seeing political leaders as either a contemporary messiah or demon. The sports industry thrives on our hunger for heroes. Yet heroes require more substance than physical prowess.

A few of us discovered far too late that we were surrounded by heroes who preferred to be ordinary. Church may have had an old man who faithfully did ordinary tasks. Only late in life did we discover his untold stories of heroism in a war he preferred to forget.

Missionaries are hero makers. Our business is to tell stories. At our best we tell stories of a carpenter turned itinerant preacher whose resurrection 2,000 years ago changed the world. As the stories continue we tell stories of our carpenter’s followers who spoke with conviction, served with compassion, suffered with dignity, and blessed following generations with their hero’s vision.
The marketing game we participate in encourages us to make the ordinary extra-ordinary. Sometimes at our worst moments of just shameless promotion we turn either ourselves or those gathered in faith with us into heroes when the season of accounting for the substance of one’s life has yet to arrive.

For the last 2 weeks I have been moving to a new office. I’ve changed offices 8 times in the last 4 years to try to be where it appeared God most needed me. It’s been exhausting. However, I think I’m finally settling into the long-term role and place where I may most show the Lord’s honor.

As I’ve unpacked I found an old prayer journal from 2006. I don’t often journal my prayers. However, in seasons of desperation I do journal. Finding an old journal has convicted me that I labor with and for a true hero. He is Yahweh God, Sovereign Lord, Creator of the Universe, Redeemer of Humanity, our Provider, our Protector, and our Friend.

Heaven forgive me for making men heroes who have yet to be held to account for the substance of their lives.

Dave, Ruth, & Sophia with Aloysius Iga, Isaac Sanyu, Andrew Lwere, & Joy Kifuku

In early 2006 our family had spent 6 months in Rwanda. We came to Rwanda in weakness. God had removed from us all that we held as comfortable. Our years in Uganda had changed us into people who were no longer compatible with our past. We had a dream to church plant among Rwanda’s thought leaders. Our dream left us isolated from our past community. Yet, we were struggling to even secure the most basic government documents. Rwanda was very expensive. Our kids were struggling and we saw no school option for them. A few friends and we decided to educate our children in a couple garages with parents as teachers. We dreamed of starting a school. All we had was our Hero.

On January 6, 2006 I wrote, “Thank you for the many friends you are bringing to us here. May our home be filled with the blessing of visitors … The financial costs continue to be greater than I could anticipate. My ability to fundraise and communicate is very limited. We need your providence in a mighty and miraculous way. Give us our daily bread… I see options of ministry. May we have your vision. May you give us favor from government officials. May we have a great measure of your wisdom. I ask for you to let us see what we are to do – Disciple? Gather? Seminary? Church plant? Community Development? Please help us process a registration with wisdom and divine timing…. Help us to find the right place to locate. Give us property that will place us in a position to make the greatest impact for you on this city. Let it all be in your timing… But greater than these questions, give us you. We want you most… Thank you for our kids – Their joy, abilities, and insight. May you bless them immensely. Help their school go well next week. May teachers rise up for our school. Use these years in Rwanda for their development. May they find memories of joy here.

Another season of prayer in a younger day at Queen Elizabeth Park, Uganda

On February 7, 2006 I wrote, “Lord, I come to you groping for guidance and wisdom. It appears we are being hurried and redirected…. I see opportunities, but don’t know all that you intend to do. My dreams in Uganda rarely materialized. What went wrong? Was it me? … Or did you intend to do something I could not perceive? Were you preparing us for something we did not see? For another time or place? Part of me hungers to church plant. Part of me fears to church plant. I hunger to preach and see you change lives. I fear the responsibility and countless failures. Give me your wisdom.”
Today I sit in my office and remember our hero. The events of the last 5 years are not the results of man’s plans or labor, but the results of our Hero. On occasion we have been able to participate with Him. While we struggled in weakness our Hero:

Sophia's Baptism with Vital Byabushi and Fred Ssenkumba

■Gave us many treasured friends from many denominations, nations, and organizations.
■Always provided for our needs. We were never hungry or without a place to sleep.
■Our finances have yet to make sense, but huge debts have been paid. Most recently $1,356,000 was given to purchase our current church and school facility.
■Used our past and present to build relationship wealth among our region’s government, media, academic, and business leaders.
■Clarified our task was to plant a non-denominational church for Rwanda’s thought leaders. He continues to gather in ways we cannot imagine. Some Sundays now see as many as 350 people attend Christ's Church in Rwanda (CCR).

Caleb's Baptism with Gasangwa Family

■Used many diverse people from fellow believers to agnostics to refine our thinking about how our faith community should build in Rwanda.
■Facilitated the completion of our church documentation.
■Gave us one of Rwanda’s most visible properties for church planting in an estate that represents Rwanda’s vision for the future.
■Allowed us to be the boots on the ground to bring over 200 of Rwanda’s brightest young people to the United States to study (Rwanda Presidential Scholars Program.)
■Filled our hearts with peace and joy.
■Gave our children many diverse friends. Kigali International Community School (KICS) has over 200 students from over 30 nationalities.
■Gave our children a school and made their years in Rwanda a joy.
■Provided teachers time after time, year after year in response to prayer when we had no idea how it all could come together.
■Pressed us hard like a coach who loves and believes in His team. We thought we would surely brake. However, He was always there at our lowest and loneliest points.

Ethan's Baptism in a Baptistry we did not build

■Took us through past seasons that were much like Joseph’s and Esther’s. We came to conclude our past disappointments were needed for the Lord to prepare us for such a time as this.
■Stilled our fears of failure and losing the favor of man while reminding us that we must ultimately fear the Lord more than all else.
■Allowed us the joy of preaching and seeing Jesus change lives.

Ruth Baptism with Hixson, MacGruder, and Rossington Girls

Thus we conclude our thanksgiving to our Hero. Our short list does not give Him adequate honor. We are privileged to serve in Kigali.

Also, you may see why in our best moments we ask for you to pray and labor with us. Our Hero is amazing.

Imana ikurinde (May the Lord Stay with All of You),

Dave

OCTOBER PRAYER BULLETIN

Dear Family and Friends,

We can hardly believe it has been two months since we returned to Rwanda. Our internet has been poor so our communication has been inconsistent. However, we may have found a better internet service and we hope to return to our habit of regular communication. As we arrived in Kigali we found all was well with Christ’s Church in Rwanda (CCR) and Kigali International Community School (KICS). Those who labored in our absence did a fabulous job and we are very thankful for those the Lord brought to serve with us.

We’ve spent our first two months visiting and listening to seek understanding of what the Lord would ask for us to be our next steps. An interesting listening mode was that Dave taught history to KICS secondary students for 6 weeks as the KICS history teacher did her final fund discovery. Spending his mornings with high school students confirmed his deep suspicions – teaching is hard work and teenagers can be both exhausting and exhilarating. Listening to Kigali’s youth for 6 weeks has brought new insight.

This month we ask for your prayers for the following matters:

1. Thanksgiving that our children have adjusted well to Rwanda. Rwanda is home. Sophia won first place in a writing contest (http://expatyouthscholarship.com/2010_winners/EYS04.html). Caleb and Ethan are playing basketball and enjoying their friends. Ruth is blossoming with new discoveries. Timothy has found friends who may be as fast as he, and he’s running more than ever. We consider it a treasure to raise our children in Kigali.

2. KICS is doing well. Ruth’s 5th grade teacher will take maternity leave in January. Please pray for another quality teacher to arise to take her place.


3. CCR is growing and maturing with between 300 and 340 people attending most Sundays. We see several key areas of potential growth that require attention. Please pray for:

• Disciplining and training of more CCR leaders.

• An opportunity to begin a CCR university campus ministry in 2011.

• The proper time and opportunity for CCR to begin growing a ministry for Orphans and Vulnerable Children. CCR is joining other churches in remembering Orphans Sunday on November 7. May God direct our prayers to appropriate thoughts and action.

• May God give us wisdom and vision to lead CCR for His glory.

4. New co-workers: Rusty and Onawa Linden and their children, Evey and Salome leave for Rwanda on October 25. May their final preparations and journey be ones filled with divine appointments. May their final goodbyes be filled with joy. May Rwanda show them the kindness it has shown to our family.

5. Jana’s mom, Jan Tarbet will join us in a few days to spend a month with our family. We are all eager for her return to Africa. We can’t wait to show her our lives in Rwanda. May her travels be full of safety and peace.

Thank you for your prayer, support, and encouragement that sustain our family and ministry.
Imana ikurinde (May God keep all of you),

Dave and Jana

AUGUST PRAYER BULLETIN

Dear Family and Friends,

Our season of healing, renewal, and discovery in the United States will soon end. We begin our journey home to Rwanda this coming Wednesday morning, and arrive in Kigali on Thursday evening. Thank you to so many who have provided encouragement through this last year.

This month we ask your prayers for the following matters:

1. Rwanda’s upcoming elections on August 9, 2010. May our Sovereign God use this season to fill our hearts with peace. May He appoint those to lead who can usher in justice and establish systems to bless coming generations. Christ’s Church in Rwanda (CCR) is spending 40 Days of Prayer for these elections.

• You can find a guide to the CCR 40 Days of Prayer on either our ROC Partners Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&suggest¬e_id=407052306470#!/topic.php?uid=376017779133&topic=14270

• Or on our blog at http://jenkinsinrwanda.blogspot.com/2010/06/christs-church-in-rwanda-40-days-of.html

2. Thankfulness that our year in the US resulted in the discovery of more like minded partner to pray, counsel, encourage, and support our ministry. May God be honored through the stories of God’s work at CCR, and Kigali International Community School (KICS).

3. Our children’s adjustment back to Rwanda. The last year has been one of stretching and discovery. May the coming year be one of settling and maturing. May our kids do well spiritually, academically, and socially as they return to Kigali friends and KICS.

4. Discernment, Wisdom, and Vision: As we return to CCR we will find that she has matured in our absence. Some suggest that our role is to provide vision for CCR to reach God’s intentions. May our return be a season of listening, discerning, and discovering.

Thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement that sustain our family and ministry.

Imana ikurinde (May God Keep All of You),

Dave and Jana

COMING HOME

Dear CCR Family and Friends,

It has been a long journey. We are coming home. Thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement over the last year. We do not know how we would have made it without your friendship.

We will arrive in Kigali on Thursday, 12 August on SN Brussels Flight 0465 at 6:50 p.m. I will look forward to seeing many of you face to face again. I am eager to hear the stories of God in your life of the last year.

I am in my office now organizing and packing for the journey home. I came across a document I crafted over a year ago that shows how faithful God is during our seasons of struggle. Some of you last saw Jana in late May 2009 as she was struggling with intense abdominal pain. We traveled to Nairobi with our daughter, Sophia seeking answers. After two weeks we could find no answer and Jana’s pain was increasing. I put Jana and Sophia on a plane to the US. I was so concerned that I wrote a letter giving my 17 year old daughter, Sophia legal authority to make decisions on her mom’s behalf. My worry was that Jana would be so incoherent from pain that adult responsibility would fall upon Sophia.

Jana and Sophia arrived safely in the US. However, a tumor was discovered on Jana’s colon. My son, Timothy and I returned to be with them for surgery. We assumed that we would be gone just a few weeks.

However, a few of you had dreams of a long departure. It seemed that some of you sensed by the Holy Spirit that for God’s glory we needed to be gone for a season. We are thankful that you were able to share your sense of God’s leading to us before we departed.

Jana had a successful surgery. On August 3 the tumor was removed. We celebrated as the results were non-cancerous.

However, an old familiar pain returned to my life. I had pain in the back of my shoulder that radiated down my left arm. Doctors found that I had 2 herniated discs in my neck. Fortunately, a shepherd at our home church, David Odor had a brother who is one of Oklahoma’s better spine surgeons. On September 29 Dr. James Odor, removed the 2 herniated discs and fused 3 vertebrae in my neck together. The pain departed and in its place came a little less flexibility.

Jana and I will return to you different physically than when you last saw us. We’re a bit stiff and have some God marks in our life. These are marks of grace. We all have scars whether emotional or physical and ours are just a bit more pronounced. Scars give us ample opportunity to tell of our God journey. I can run again. Jana is still a joyful host. God is our healer and guide.

Some of you cared for our children in our August absence. Those who remained in Kigali (Caleb, Ethan, and Ruth) joined us in late August. In September, our family was together in the US nurtured by our family in both Rwanda and the US.

While Jana and I healed our children began school in the US. They did well. Sophia was in drama. Ethan played sports. Caleb excelled academically. Ruth and Timothy made many friends.

During our absence, shepherds from our home church, Quail Springs Church of Christ, Tom and Sue Gooch spent several months serving with all of you. We will be eternally grateful for their flexibility and servant hearts. Also, some of you stepped into roles that Jana and I had served in the past. We are very grateful. Now as we consider our return we ponder what new seasons God will have with CCR as we have all matured and discovered.

We had hoped to return to see all of you in March shortly after I had my last doctor’s appointment. However, at that point we realized that we had lost approximately 1/3 of our financial support.

Support comes from a community. President Kagame has said, "Others can walk. We must run." Our first four years in Rwanda were spent running forward and we had spent little time renewing friendships in the US. It seemed God used our financial struggle to build our Rwanda partners in the US.

Thus for the last few months we have traveled extensively in the US to tell the stories of God’s people in Rwanda. We hope that through these months God’s honor has been shown. Though we tell our story it really is your journey and we feel honored that God has placed us together for this season of life.

Now as I sit and organize, discover old letters, and remember God’s care; I must proclaim we serve the Lord of All Creation. He is Sovereign. He guides the details of our lives and the history of nations. We can never understand His ways, but we know He is a God of eternal love.

In the next few days our CCR 40 Days of Prayer will conclude and Rwanda will have national elections. I regret that simply due to meeting those who wanted to hear of Rwanda, support discovery, and available plane tickets we won’t be with you on election day. Our absence neither reflects a lack of confidence in God nor His people in Rwanda. I trust that in future days we all shall proclaim that yes God has left marks on our life and changed us. Sometimes we limp. However, by God’s power our spirits run with hope and persistence. Our days of struggle were the greatest days in the season of eternity He gave us on His created earth. With God’s strength we will participate with Him in building our community to bless future generations. He has and will guide His people to our eternal home.

Imana ikurinde,

Daudi

PASTORAL REFLECTIONS ON UGANDA’S HOMOSEXUALITY DEBATE

For the last year I’ve cautiously watched a debate in Uganda. She is a nation very dear to my heart. My family treasures the eleven years of grace we spent there. Three of my five children were born in Uganda. Two of my five children carry Ugandan passports. Uganda taught me some of my most difficult but treasured lessons of life. I truly can say, “I grew up in Uganda.”

The debate that I have watched concentrates on David Bahati’s introduction into the Parliament of Uganda legislation related to homosexuality. I pastored a small church in Uganda. I volunteered my service with both children’s organizations and media. I have many diverse friends in Uganda. My friendships range from Uganda’s political and media leaders to church members to children who are now the youth of Uganda. I’ve watched as some of my better Uganda friends have become adversaries in this debate. I’ve grieved at what appear to be a lessening of the bonds of friendship in a search for community solutions.

A year ago, I left the Great Lakes region to seek physical healing. While gone I have gone on a pastoral sabbatical. On occasion a friend who knows that I lived in Uganda and consider the protagonists in the debate my friends asks for my perspective. I have cautiously spoken. I’ve read a few stories of homosexual pornography being shown in church. I thought surely that was a media exaggeration. Several weeks ago I saw a television documentary and realized the media reports were true. The profane had entered the sacred. It seemed to me that hatred was overtaking love. When hatred overtakes love the consequence is that fear overtakes courage. In such an emotional climate ignorance overtakes understanding. Such a debate can create opportunity for humanity to fall into our most destructive nature. In such a season it is time for voices of reason and love to speak.

I do not speak under the banner of the church I pastor nor the organization that has sent me to Rwanda. My views do not represent those bodies. I gently asked friends of mine in the media if they would consider a column from me on the homosexuality debate. Though I on occasion do write for independent media outlets none has asked for me to write. In a way I breathed a sigh of relief. I would prefer to be quiet.

Yet on my sabbatical something stirs. Possibly, it is the Spirit of God. Maybe, He is asking for me to write just as a God seeker. This blog is a reflection of that spirit. On it I will not hide under any title, position, or relationship network. These are only the reflections of me as a Jesus follower seeking understanding.

Uganda’s history tells of homosexuality being introduced into her land of fairy tale kingdoms by outsiders. Her history tells of this introduction leading to violence being directed against faithful young Jesus followers. The Baganda found the practice of homosexuality abhorrent. Baganda faced competing interests between Muslim Arab traders, French Catholic missionaries, and Protestant missionaries from the United Kingdom in the early 1880’s. Many believe that Kabaka (King) Mwanga was influenced to become a homosexual practitioner by Arab Muslims. When his pages resisted his homosexual advances it led their martyrdom on June 3, 1886. I cannot imagine that these old stories do not impact today’s perceptions. What I now find ironic is that though Uganda’s early Christians were the victims of homosexual violence some Uganda Christians are now advocates of the death penalty for homosexuals. I believe history teaches that the path of grace and redemption bears the greatest fruit.

It is my perception that Uganda’s prevalent same gender affection is a mark of grace and community. Some of my better advisors have pointed out that Uganda’s tradition of same gender affection is one of the reason that homosexuality tends to be so rare in Uganda. Young men freely express their affection to one another and to the older men who mentor them. Young women also freely express their affection to one another and to the older woman who mentor them. There is no unmet affection need in Ugandan culture for same gender affection. Yet, I observe that one of the first uncomfortable moments Uganda’s visitors experience is watching same gender affection or even experiencing it firsthand. (To be clear for my Bazungu friends hand holding and close physical affection is widely practiced among Uganda friends of the same gender.) Many expatriates assume this same gender affection is a reflection of homosexuality. I believe that assumption is deeply flawed. Same gender affection is a mark of a healthy community.

As a pastor I have experienced some of what stirs our emotions so passionately. I wept several times as I listened to Ugandan youth tell me stories of being seduced by expatriate practitioners of homosexuality. The times when I heard these stories were times when Uganda’s cultural practice of same gender affection and poverty created an opportunity for exploitation. Since I only pastored a small church in Uganda I assume that those who pastor larger churches have more stories to tell than I. During these times my emotions have been full of anger and rage. Deep inside me I sensed the call of victims for justice.

I also have had the experience of being part of a poorly organized international organization that was unable to decisively deal with gross moral failure among its personnel. In those seasons I have argued against cover up, for justice for victims, and for the perpetrator to be removed from his position. I believed that removal and discipline of the perpetrator would actually lead to his personal healing and redemption.

I have also several times while on a ministry sabbatical received a phone call or e-mail from an expatriate friend or colleague crying out for help. My friends had become exploiters. They had removed themselves quietly from positions of influence and leadership, left Africa, and sought healing. I cried at the loss, wrestled with both compassion and anger, and prayed trusting in redemption.

Maybe, this is my biggest concern with Uganda’s debate on homosexuality. It seems that the debate has centered upon judgment and neglected redemption. For those in the daily political arena judgment is part of their responsibility. For those who pastor our responsibility is to explain God’s justice and pray for it. Yet, we entrust justice to God. Out of humanity’s self inflicted disasters we seek to be tools of redemption and healing.

Out of this seeking to be a tool of redemption I offer four suggestions upon Uganda’s debate of legislation related to homosexuality. The first suggestion is to respect the development of democratic institutions and practice. I was at this year’s National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. when United States President, Barak Obama and Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton chose to speak against Uganda’s legislation on homosexual practice. Afterwards, I apologized to my Ugandan and Rwandan friends with whom I shared breakfast. It was my understanding that the breakfast was for the purpose of prayer and that political banter was not to be practiced. It was also my understanding that remarks made at the Prayer Breakfast would not be reported in the media. However, it is now clear these remarks have been widely reported.

I believe that we live in a global community in which it is acceptable for friends to widely and graciously advise one another. However, I also believe that sometimes global advice can degenerate into the powerful manipulating those who have less global influence. I found it disturbing that though David Bahati was the author of Uganda’s legislation and Edward Ssekandi is the Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not mention a phone call to either of them. Instead, she clarified that she had called Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to voice her disapproval of the legislation. It seemed to me that a phone call to President Museveni communicates that the United States government is more comfortable with a developing nation where one individual personally influences national policy than one in which democratic practice is debated and decided in community. David Bahati saw a problem in Uganda. He introduced legislation that he saw as a solution. Now, Uganda debates his proposal. This is how parliamentary democracy functions. We in the west would be well served to allow Uganda to debate and decide without our manipulation. Those of us who are only visitors or friends to Uganda must allow Uganda to develop her own democratic institutions and practice.

My second suggestion is that the time has come for the repeal of capital punishment for sexual offenses. Ethicists around the world still are debating capital punishment. We will likely debate this issue until the end of time. For some it seems that their belief in the sanctity of human life calls them to conclude that punishment that includes the loss of human life falls into the pitfalls of revenge. This offers no communal or personal redemption. It perpetrates cycles of bitterness and resentment that lead to more violence. Others will argue that because human life is sacred the only acceptable means of justice is capital punishment. If life has been taken in anger it must be taken so that humanity’s call for justice is met. Both will quote extensively from the Bible. The pragmatic will debate if capital punishment actually creates a safer society. For my argument, I conclude that though humanity is capable of great evil capital punishment should only be considered when human life has been taken. It should be removed as a justice option for those who offend community sexual morals.

Those of us who observe the pragmatics of capital punishment threats in the face of offended sexual morals notice that frequently this threat is a tool of revenge. It is used as a means to remove offended family honor and elicit financial compensation for the loss. This practice must simply stop. It is time to remove capital punishment as a means of justice in face of offended community sexual morals.

My third suggestion is that legal and institutional means must be developed to protect children. Many of us have experienced the tragedy of Uganda youth being exploited by homosexual practitioners. At each one of those moments we ask ourselves, “How did this happen? What can be done to prevent such tragedy from happening again?” Most of us find the systems in Uganda that should protect children are weak. David Bahiti did see that there are legal holes in Uganda’s legislation. Others have noticed that Uganda’s government services to protect children are understaffed and underfunded. Again, I believe the answer lies in democratic debate, common sense legislation, the strengthening of institutions, and in developing a culture where community leaders are empowered to protect children.

My last suggestion may too strongly reflect my own experiences and wounds. If these are not the thoughts of Jesus follower I ask my community’s forgiveness. My suggestion is that international organizations serving Uganda must be held accountable for the behavior of their expatriate personnel. The incidents of homosexual practitioners exploiting African youth that I know all concern expatriates. Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs should require all international organizations to clarify their mechanisms of international recruitment and screening. Background checks are almost uniformly required in US churches and ministries, but may be lacking in recruitment for international organizations. Though I’ve personally felt weary each time I must bring a police report when I renew my work permit I now see how this is a valuable practice that should continue. When an organization becomes aware that her personnel have been involved in illegal and exploitive relationships they should be required to report it to Ugandan authorities. Too frequently the knee jerk reaction is cover up and a quick exit of the perpetrator. If an international organization is found to have poor screening mechanisms and a culture of cover up I suggest they should leave Uganda and their property be given to another organization that is serious about caring for Uganda’s youth.

The debate concerning legislation on the practice of homosexuality in Uganda is a necessary one for a developing nation. After all a nations future is her youth. Such debates can at times degenerate into a loss of reason, love, and redemption. I am only a God seeker offering my limited wisdom. It seems to me that there are four vital components to this debates resolution. First, those of us from outside Uganda must respect the development of her democratic institutions and process. Second, the time has come to repeal capital punishment for sexual offenses. Third, we must further develop legal and institutional means to protect children. Lastly, international organizations must be held accountable for the behavior of their personnel. May Uganda continue to prosper and bless others as she has blessed me.