Hi David,

Sorry to wait so long to start up again. With summer and playing catch-up after Rwanda, I have been busy.

I'm not sure where to start so thought I would share a little about what I saw and experienced in Rwanda. The trip was intense and wonderful, gut-wrenching and powerful. God is working in amazing ways in Rwanda and I got to experience it first hand.

A verse that came to mind several times as I heard stories and toured genocide sites was Jeremiah 17:9---"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways according to the fruit of his doings." What happened in Rwanda (neighbors, friends, and family members killing, raping, torturing each other) could easily happen here. Earlier in Jeremiah 17 God says "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD...." When are hearts are not surrendered to the LORD we are capable of all kinds of evil.

What was especially hard to witness were the churches where people came for refuge only to be turned in by the priest of that church and massacred. Being religious does not mean you are following the LORD and that was never more evident to me than in Rwanda. It reminded me of Jesus and how it was the religious people(priests) who were responsible for His death. It seems nothing has changed.

Well, that was the bad---- but the good was the healing taking place. So many people we worked with (translators, drivers, pastors, teachers) had the most amazing stories of how God has transformed their lives. God spoke to people right out, appeared in visions and dreams and spoke through others to get their attention. Through God's love the people of Rwanda are able to forgive the most horrendous offenses and the nation is on the mend.

One man I spoke with I wish I had recorded. He was an atheist, John was his name. Said he wanted nothing to do with God. He had read the Koran, Bible, and pretty much every other well known religious book and said he could tell you all about each religion. He thought they were all bogus---man is in charge of his own destination. He is well educated, and extremely smart and said he used to say if I can't see it or touch it I don't believe it!! Well, his brother (whom I also met, Pastor Clement) had prayed for John for 7 years to accept Christ. One day someone John worked with (high up official) asked John if his brother (Pastor Clement) could come see his wife. This man's wife had been suffering for years with personality disorder and depression that was almost debilitating. He had tried everything from different medications to witch docs, etc. and now was even willing to have a Pastor pray over his wife. John thought "what do I have to loose, I am not the one endorsing God"; It will be his brother that looks the fool not him so he agreed. John came along and witnessed demons come out of this ladies body when Pastor Clement prayed for her. She was completely healed and accepted Jesus that night. He said he went home and got on his hands and knees and cried out to God. He finally realized the TRUTH and humbled himself before his God. He surrendered his life to Christ that night and immediately felt God's presence. He now is the father of 8 beautiful kids whom I had the pleasure of meeting and is passionate about sharing Jesus with whomever he meets. He now knows there is much more to life than living for yourself and this world. The spiritual world is REAL(good and evil)!!

I know this isn't a story about the genocide but so much of what he said reminded me of what I have heard you say so I wanted to share. There are many more incredible stories but I'll stop for now.

Believer in the TRUTH