Appleseed Travel Journal

— Room Full / Heart Full

It’s one thing to sit in a room with Africans all from one country, but it’s quite another to sit in one with Africans from ten – Malawi, Zambia, Malawi, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Botswana and Tanzania. And, how did this happen when most of these men have never met each other face to face, even the ones who happen to be from the same country? Only God puts in the heart of man the plans and purposes he has, and sometimes, we are even clued in enough to catch on, “This was not my idea, but God’s!”

Five years ago Roger had an idea to develop an on-line basic training for Disciplemaking Movements and to promote the course via free google advertising to English speaking nations in north African countries. He was immediately flooded with applications. The course contains video lectures, reading materials and practical assignments the students can go out and do in their own villages. Many, if not most of these students, are using their phones to access the course and it has worked well. The first class was held in the summer of 2018. Since then there has been a steady influx of men and women interested and applying to take the course. Currently and for some time there has been a new class starting every month with around 60 students. Of course, not all students complete the course, but the ones who do, are invited into another level of the course and then another and then another. Each level filters the level of interest and commitment to this kind of work.

The men I am sitting with today are some of the results of that course. They have stayed the course, hung in and were then invited to join with others here in Rwanda. Each of them is unique to their country, their culture, their economic situation, their education, but they all have one thing in common. They have experienced the Living God and they are passionate for others to know Him, too. It was nothing less than a privilege to sit and be with them for the past week.

For example, here are a couple of the answers I got when I asked several men why they do what they do. After all, these men make great sacrifices with their time, their resources and often their safety in order to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They spend days away from their families and travel to distant people in the most challenging of circumstances. It’s not easy! So, why do they do it?

Mathias – Tanzania
“It’s a question of being a Christian. I think back over my life and how many times God has cared for me. Remember, my father died when I was young and my mother died when I was 15. Christians were the ones who helped me and my brother survive. My circumstances were very hard. He has shown me his love many times since that time a long time ago. Because of God’s love and compassion, it is my responsibility to obey Him.”

Emmanuel – Uganda/Rwanda/Kenya
“I’ve discovered that it’s my life purpose. I want to live and equip others. That’s why I do what I do. I always pray to God, ‘Please allow me to train and equip just one more person’... in addition to thinking for sure this is my life purpose, honestly, I just want to bring God glory. I’m only here for this one purpose…”

John O – Kenya
“…I can only say that I have this passion for God. It’s the passion that God has for people that motivates me. I can even say it compels me…The situation is that people are lost and suffering great things with no hope. I can only tell you this. It is in my blood to do this. I love doing it. It is what God has asked me to do. Nothing else. Even when I was young, very young, even then I had a mindset to send many people out into missions to help the poor in our communities here in Kenya. There are so many who need our physical and spiritual help. DMM has helped me to do this thing.

Douglas – Uganda
It’s a passion I have for people to know Jesus. Actually, I had a dream a very long time ago. I saw myself in a house with a table with people going up and down getting some things for themselves. When I reached the table, they handed me a key in the shape of Africa. It was a very old key with rust all over it, but you know in my heart I didn’t want that old rusty key, so they told me, “You don’t like it, so give it back.” So, I did. They put a shiny new key in the palm of my hand and told me to take old keys and go and make them shiny. So I left. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that the old key was lost broken people. God gave me a passion and I want very much to do what God wants me to do.

Liliane – Burundi
Because I love Jesus and I love people!

Moses – Nigeria
When I was invited to this conference here in Rwanda, in my heart, I said, “At any cost, no matter what it takes, I must get there. This is the way for me to reach Nigeria.”

— Two Women Thieves

One of our travel joys is hanging out in a room full of African disciple-makers while they tell each other stories of what God is doing in their nations. For example, Bahizi from Burundi was very excited to share with the others what happened with two women who were thieves.

A Muslim woman was invited to join a Discovery Bible Study in her neighborhood with other women. She reluctantly went. There she heard the Bible story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector who admitted to taking money fraudulently and then, after encountering Jesus, promised to pay back four times the amount to those he cheated.

As the woman listened to this story, her heart was so torn that she finally blurted out, “I need to say something to the group right now. I have stolen things from my neighbor and I need to give them back.”

The leader of the group said to her, “If you really want to do that, can we go with you? God is doing something wonderful here.”

So together, several women went with the woman to the neighbor. She then explained that she wanted to give back some things that she had stolen.

The second woman then declared, “How can this be? I have never heard of such a thing. How did this happen that you decided to give my things back to me?”

The first woman then told how she had heard the story of Zacchaeus meeting Jesus and how it made her feel. Then and there, the second woman also wanted to hear the story.

Incredibly, after hearing the story, the second woman declared that she also had stolen some things from a neighbor and was now ready to return what she had taken.

As these two women and the others continued to meet together and learn about following Jesus, it was not long before God was at work among many. The current report is that the two women alone have baptized 28 other women since that time.

— Motorbikes that Multiply

Local disciple-makers and church planters are always looking for ways to increase the capacity for their ministry work. When someone donated five motorbikes to help with transportation in Rwanda, they devised a plan to use these motorbikes well and even reproduce them:

  1. Each motorbike is used to help a leader move around to the areas where new groups and churches are being planted.
  2. Each motorbike is also used to help generate some income for the church planter and his family.
  3. As income is generated, the church planter is to use some of that income to assist another church planter in purchasing another motorbike.

The result? Motorbikes reproducing motorbikes.

Though the plan did not work perfectly, you can see the effort made to take whatever resources are at hand and use them for the greatest good for Kingdom work.

African motorbike

— Why We are Excited About this Leadership Conference

Mathias’ expectation for our upcoming meeting gives you an idea of the faith and strategic thinking of these world-changing leaders:

As we gather together next week, I hope to see a transformative experience within myself and for those being trained in the Disciple-Making Movement Conference in Kigali. I envision a deep sense of personal leadership growth and development, where each individual feels empowered and equipped to become effective catalysts for change in their own communities.

For ourselves, I hope to witness a renewed dedication to our own spiritual journeys... I hope that we will open ourselves up to learning, unlearning, and relearning, embracing new insights and perspectives that will challenge and stretch us. May we be eager to grow in humility and vulnerability, understanding that transformation starts from within.

I anticipate a profound impact on those who are coming to be trained. I hope to see a newfound excitement and enthusiasm among them, as they grasp the vision and potential of disciple-making movements. I hope they feel empowered to step out of their comfort zones, equipped with practical tools and strategies to bring about lasting change. May they cultivate a deep understanding of their purpose in life and their role in sharing the love and obedience to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Ultimately, my hope is that this gathering becomes a pivotal moment for each individual present, a catalyst for personal and collective transformation. Let us come together with open hearts and minds, ready to embrace the journey ahead and inspire one another to be effective disciples who make disciples. Mathias from Tanzania.

Amen and amen! Thank you for traveling and praying with us!

Mathias

— Africa Eve

Excitement. Anticipation. JOY!

Overflowing tears of happiness come, as I realize that Roger and I get to travel to Africa tomorrow. I can think back to all the many Christmas Eves when my children were small (and even big!) feeling the same restless anticipation, thinking, “I just can’t wait!”

Today, as we fill suitcases with last minute items, I think about who we’ll will see, where we’ll be, and what we’ll be doing, my heart ignites with oh so many emotions. For months there have been lots of feelings stuffed down into the reality that its easier not to feel the sadness of being so far away than to acknowledge it. To be away is painful. I miss the people, the smells, the sights, the different tribal customs and the gentle background of African languages spoken all around me. Most of all I miss the familiarity and comfort of being with people I know and love. Just to think of seeing them tomorrow my heart swells from the pit of my gut bringing tears to my eyes. It’s God’s love. It his love for them, for Africa and for the nations and the thousands and thousands of people who love so much, have so little and give it all in so many, many ways.

So, it’s Africa Eve for us! And, we can hardly wait…to step off the plane and smell Africa, see Africa, touch it, hear it, and embrace it and be embraced in return. My prayer is that you may also be experiencing a “Christmas Eve” of your own today, full of anticipation, hope, and excitement for who you might get to see tomorrow, as well.

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