Romans Project: Conference Three - Gahini, Rwanda

Today was a taste of heaven African style. We had an hour and a half ride through the Rwandan countryside to Gahini which was filled with every hue of green imaginable. There were stands of sugar cane, green rolling hills, fields of maize, and banana plantations all over the place. This area of country is rich in bananas. I was mesmerized by the beauty of God's creation here in Rwanda.

The main road was the best I've been on in Africa. In fact, I've come to understand that Rwanda is a bit of an anomaly to much of Africa. Albert told us several stories about their president, Kagame, who has tirelessly worked to bring order to the country and curb the corruption that seems so rampart elsewhere throughout the continent. Yes, they still battle poverty, but its poverty with a different face. Even the village seemed to have a sense of order and dignity to them. One billboard read, "Corruption undermines your integrity, sweep it away." 

This atmosphere of political stability provides a prime opportunity for advancing God's kingdom through training pastors to preach the gospel. Albert told us that over 90 percent of the people live in rural areas and would be classified as poverty level. Farming is the primary occupation in these areas. These farming pastors welcomed us with open arms and were amazed that we would come out to the rural areas to train them in God's Word. This place is fertile soil for the training of pastors through the Romans Project. In fact, on this very site in 1935 revival broke out that spread throughout other areas of Africa. Perhaps God would use Albert Mabasi and the Romans Project to raise up pastors for another revival in and from Rwanda.

As we entered the simply built, church structure, 100 rural Rwandan pastors were bursting with joy through song. One song went like this: "I found my God to be a good God,  my problems are no problem to him." Their clapping and dancing and singing were contagious. Their enthusiasm for learning equaled the intensity of their singing. I was encouraged to see them raise their hands and stand to give answers to many of Rick's questions during the first session - even when several of his questions were intended to be merely rhetorical. As Rick continued teaching, I gleaned information from Albert on the educational background and cultural context of these men. This group was drastically different from the previous two conferences held in the capital of Kigali at Bible schools. God graciously allowed both Rick and me to adapt to the situation and communicate the exact same truths and principles from God's Word, yet in a very different manner of delivery. Our illustrations and examples were drawn from their context of life. So, the lesson on how to study the Bible incorporated illustrations linked with growing crops and the lesson on how to preach God's Word utilized examples from meal preparation.

When Bonheur, our translator for whom you prayed, told me afterwards that he had rarely experienced the kind of oneness while translating for a speaker as he had with us today. I immediately attributed it to your prayers and God's work. Albert, too, was so impressed with how well the time went that he closed by giving credit to the prayers of the saints and the work of God. God richly blessed our time together and greatly honored your prayers. The host pastor pleaded with Albert and us to come back so as to provide them with more training in how to "handle accurately the word of truth" (see 2 Timothy 2:15).

Thank you for praying.