McAllister Prayer Letter February 2008
February 27, 2008
Aaack! Hello, everyone! I’m SO behind in getting this letter to you; my apologies. I have a mental image of a cartoon character who’s out in space wandering around in his suit, fitted with personal jets to propel him along and change his direction. I just got a little boost from my jets redirecting me to write to you!
Current Life Capsule: At the AEE office, catching up on paying bills; meeting with a couple of beneficiaries to pay their school fees or rent and pray for them (Belyse, genocide survivor, rescued from having to recite the horrors as a tour guide at the memorial site where her parents were killed, is doing very well in her second year at university, much better grades, sleeping without nightmares, but still has a poor appetite; Apollo, former bar manager and pimp, now struggling to make a living with her tailoring, has malaria and is discouraged, but still game; she needs a rent catch-up, and we agree I’ll pay for that, and for next month, and she’ll try to manage after that); planning for Friday’s training of Network leaders in ways to do evangelism with street kids and women at risk for prostitution (OUR folks!); trying to capture my co-worker “boss” Charles to discuss the upcoming visit of Australian Bible Society who wish to see a football game and cultural dancing put on by our Network teams. . .let’s see, what else is happening right now? Rejoicing in the results of my visit to the doctor yesterday, who found nothing serious wrong with me, and who treated me extremely nicely (but I’ve apparently developed a respiratory allergy, probably to DUST!). Also rejoicing in the greater freedom my body has as I walk around with less poundage! (My method: skip lunches, eat reasonable and healthy meals at breakfast and dinner.) End of capsule
This week I attended a two-day training on trauma counseling for children, put on by a wonderful friend in World Relief. I was allowed to invite one of my Network leaders, who will help pass along the principles and practice we learned to the rest of our leaders, who need this training very badly. EVERYONE in Rwanda, but especially our population, has been traumatized, and has no outlet. There was much emphasis on the importance of listening well, as a means of promoting healing. Rwandans don’t know how to share their troubles, and also, don’t really know how to listen well. There is much to do in this area. If any of you are interested in working here in trauma counseling, short-term or long, let me know! Even with the language barrier, there is much a person can do, if she is well-trained, has a committed heart, and the Spirit of God.
I have said goodbye to yet another AEE intern, Shannon, and now have a young woman named Susie, from the UK, living in my home. She is working mostly with Cards for Africa, and our circles don’t cross much, but it’s nice having her.
Sam’s news: His father, operated on last month, is still recuperating. He is the one who spent 12 years in prison for no reason, and was found to be innocent last year and released. I asked Sam recently if they paid him anything by way of compensation, and Sam said, “Oh no, no, no! They tell him, you close your mouth and go home.” Sam also said, though, that he holds no grudge or bitterness against the government, because he knows the harm done his family is less than that done families whose members were killed. He says, those survivors are able to forgive the killers of their family members, “so of course I must forgive the government for keeping my father in prison for 12 years.” He is quite matter of fact about this, and seems to have simply made a decision: I will forgive.
Network: We have some funding for a project (we wrote the proposal over a year ago, and the funds have finally come through, but only about half of what we asked for) that will enrich the member associations in various ways connected with evangelism, and I’m the one who will have to do most of the planning and legwork, as Charles is caught up mightily with a new partner that has all AEE working overtime. I seek your prayers for the wisdom and strength (and patience and humor!) I need to carry out this work. One piece of this project is particularly important: to sensitize churches to the needs of street kids and women who are generally isolated and marginalized by the churches. I’m really hoping we can make a difference in at least a few churches.
I’m working with a new ministry called “A Child like Others” (translated from Kinyarwanda), helping children get into school by teaching them banana fiber crafts such as the picture I’ve inserted here (I hope you can see it! I’ve also attached it). It’s challenging and humbling to work with such groups, because they are eager, but untrained as to how to manage their business or find markets. We could use some small business advice here! I mean REALLY SMALL business! This relationship is just starting and I imagine they may join the network at some point.
Personal/Spiritual: I praise God for daily renewals and refueling, so that I can do much more than I think I can, or should be able to do. My Thursday “Sabbaths” are precious, and for the most part, I keep them protected. I love the freedom in those days of reading and praying as long as I like, wandering around my garden with a cup of coffee in the cool morning, chatting with Sam, resting, running errands, visiting a friend. Other days, my mornings begin with an hour of Bible reading, at least some in Kinyarwanda, and prayer. I’m sure that is the cornerstone and foundation of all that I do. I have many lapses and failures, including a quick impatience, which God is teaching me how to curb, but there is so much grace! I can say, truly, “All is well with my soul.” I am making progress in Kinyarwanda, having reached a point where I can boost myself much higher each day because of the foundation I have—new phrases and grammar get assimilated more quickly, I think. Still, omigosh! WHAT a language!
I have stopped writing poems, at least daily, but it was a good exercise and I hope to pick up again soon. Here’s one I really like:
Surfing worship
Out from the beach at Santa Monica the surfers ride the swells and wait.
They mostly know the water’s feel beneath their board,
They watch the glint of the sun on the water, know its color, and its depth.
They paddle gently, alert, relaxed, waiting for their wave.
Several rollers pass beneath them unchallenged,
Crashing in fragmentary fashion on the beach. They know the wave
That will hold together: long, hollowing out into a translucence,
Carrying them jubilant and upright to the shore.
Worshipers here in Rwanda sit their pews like surfers,
Waiting for the wave of praise to lift them off the bench
To shout and sing and dance together, held aloft by a spirit
Of halleluia, that comes when it wills, and goes,
Leaving people exalted, exhausted, and somehow satisfied
For now. Until the next wave comes.
There’s one man in my church—he’s a member of a choir—who gets caught up
Lifted up by this great crescendo of praise, and dances back and forth
In front of us, his hands high in the style of his tradition, leaping
nd pivoting under the control of his joy, and all the people clap
And enter in. He is momentary master of the worship. Master of the revels
Before the Lord most High.
He lifts my spirit; watching him I feel privileged to see a David,
Oblivious to his surroundings, eyes upon the Ark.
Some are gifted, to lose themselves upon the wave:
It will take them where it wills.
JeanMcA@msn.com
Rwanda Missions Trip
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Prayer Letters
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