Dear Family and Friends,
Dear Friends and family,
It is time for an update on the successful mission to Africa August 26-Oct 16. I am excited to tell you of the mighty power of God which I saw.
The church build is progressing in Shyira. They need bricks and sand. When out of funds, His work continued. When I was out of strength, He gave it to me. When I was out of health, He held me up to complete all assigned tasks. I praise His name. When I wished for Jenny’s help, He sent students who lifted bags, set up, and did so many kind things to help me.
FAST TAKE:
1. God’s Amazing provisions during economic crisis
2. 14 hr Kivu Lake Transport
3. Bukavu victories and terrors
4. God’s Tree shaking for lunch
5. Visa miracle
6. Changed Lives–86 decisions in Maranatha school
7. BIBLES MIRACLE
8. Miracles Homeward by Wheelchair.
9. HEALTH RETURNING
HEALTH RETURNING:
Thank you for praying for my health.
Within 24 hours after the request for prayers was sent out, there was a notable change in my strength. By Friday evening I was able to share a mission report for the students of Fountainview Academy. It was 10 hours drive by car and we just arrived in time to set up and give the evening worship program. I am still improving but so thankful I am able to breathe without such a struggle now. Thank all of you who were and are praying for my recovery. God has heard and is answering.
RECAP OF MISSION MIRACLES:
The most amazing thing on this mission was to see how God provided. As I left in August, many warnings were given to me of the impending economic crash which would begin during my mission trip. Knowing that God is not limited by our economic status, and knowing He wanted me to do this work of preaching the final warning, I moved in faith.
Last minute before departure I was blessed with help from my brother in getting the ticket from Nairobi, Kenya to Kigali, Rwanda. Tickets did not catch up with me by internet till I arrived in Seattle. Consequently I feared having to claim the luggage in Nairobi. I had to pay 400 dollars for my luggage weight on 3 bags. But in Seattle during the baggage retagging, a red tag titled “RUSH” was providentially attached which settled all questions as to final destination.
I had no funds for lodging while waiting 20 hours in Nairobi for my connecting flight. I found a spot near a sleeping mother and child in the business lounge and because of that baby, I was not chased out. I was safe there all night.
In Kigali, Rwanda I was so limited on travel funds, I elected to go by bus. Knowing that God is not limited by our economic status, and knowing He wanted me to do this work of preaching the final warning, I moved in faith.
Using church building funds, I took a pickup up the mountain with supplies for the new little church. Jenny’s bread baking money brought donations enough for tin, cement, a little sand, and transporting costs. The little children sang so beautifully in their choir robes we had made for them. The fund raising DVD for their church if now complete and ready for you to order. Proceeds from the DVD will get bricks for the church.
Miracle after miracle came my way as I finished helping the Rwanda church build project and headed for Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to do the evangelistic program in Bukavu. As I reached the border of DRC I had zero funds left.
Knowing that God is not limited by our economic status, and knowing He wanted me to do this work of preaching the final warning, I moved in faith.
GOMA AND KIVU LAKE TRANSPORT
I was met at the border by dear friends who housed me and gave me my favorite food. I preached in Goma for church and then waited for God to provide funds to get the big sanctuary set across the Kivu lake.
Johnson, a tall young man working in the UN, and also who helped translate Bible lessons for children into Swahili, donated 100 dollars to help God’s work move forward. Many helped me onto a big ship. Johnson instructed other passengers to look out for me and gave them his phone number and some air time for telephones. He stayed till it was time for the boat to move. He felt bad I was traveling alone. God was with me during the 14 hours. There were drunks shouting, and doing crazy things like throwing shoes.
Bukavu victories and terrors
Finally in Bukavu, I was met by mission president and treasurer and made very comfortable in their guest room. Soon the sanctuary was set up outside the front of the headquarters and meetings began. The second Sabbath we had a beautiful baptism and expected by the third Sabbath to see another. Sabbath a young man held up his Bible like an Olympic medal. He was so excited to be baptized and be following Jesus. Omar is still writing and asks for prayers for he is persecuted every Sabbath for not attending his school. He takes his Bible and shares hope and courage in hospitals. He dreams of being a missionary and preaching the gospel everywhere.
Suddenly a riot broke out around but not destroying the sanctuary. It was tribal issues. There was a big fire in front of the church and rocks flying through windows. Police and soldiers had to come and prevent it from getting to the point of any one losing their lives. The governor put a stop to the meetings for public safety. Fire fried the switch breaker box so there was nothing left for me to do but move out and onto the last appointment in the country of Burundi.
GOD SHOOK THE TREE FOR LUNCHES
God knew my journey was much longer than I anticipated. He sent a giant wind and shook the avocado tree just outside the door of the guest house. I had daily given a sticker to the little child who brought me a fallen avocado. On that day, I gave out many stickers and wondered what I would ever do with so many giant delicious avocados. I packed a bag with a knife and all those avocados. A student came quickly by bus from Kigali to meet me at the border to travel with the sanctuary and help me all the way through Rwanda to Burundi from DRC. I was so thankful for Steven’s help. We ate avocados and thanked God for food for 3 days. I was still eating these as I entered Burundi. Soldiers blocked our progress with a rifle raised in our faces so we turned back for lodging in the first little village of Burundi. God had us lodge with some very kind Christians working for food for the hungry. They shared their home, food and friendship.
VISA MIRACLE
Upon reaching the border, I was given only 3 days for 20 more dollars. I had paid for visa but the embassy made a mistake in placing April 25 instead of September 25 on the documents and refused to fix their mistake. The 3 day visa made it so I would have to leave the country as soon as I reached my destination at the school. Quick phone calls by Dani Harlimana, treasurer at the Union offices fixed up the right person to get the visa done quickly. Since he used to work in that office, the man helping me from the Adventist headquarters, had me fixed up quickly with final arrangements to be completed on Monday. A passport picture was quickly taken and fixed to the forms, and I was all set for my time in Burundi.
MARANATHA SCHOOL
I did a series on the sanctuary that involved a morning program an hour long and an evening program up to 2 hours daily. On Sabbaths, I spoke 3 times. Students really enjoyed the sanctuary symbols. A very low percentage of the 1000 had given their hearts to Jesus. Their ages were older on account of the war. They had served as soldiers and many were in their 20’s and 3o’s in this secondary school.
So many drew pictures of the sanctuary to get a Final Events DVD in French. I had more pictures than the 260 DVDS so urged them to get pictures in very early to make sure they got a DVD. I was so pleased with participation.
I fell ill and needed assistance getting to and back from meetings. I prayed for strength. As I stood to speak, there was a total freedom from the sickness. I moved about the stage in the sanctuary with energy and by only the power of God did the teachings and warnings He had sent me to do. When I completed the session and called for them to give their hearts to Jesus, I was strong until I finished and suddenly was again as weak as before and crumpled behind the curtain while helpers put away equipment and then assisted me back to bed.
OBVIOUSLY IT WAS ONLY THE POWER OF GOD that brought the highest number of decisions in the history of the school. There were 86 decisions and many more who were almost but held back by pressure from fellow classmates.
I am so excited to see God warning people as He promised the gospel would be preached in all the world and then the end will come.
BIBLE MIRACLE
For all those decisions, we needed a Bible ready to hand them on Sabbath as they came out of baptism waters. I had only 60 dollars. I prayed and asked for transport. I looked up and saw a rainbow. I knew God was working on the Bible prayer. I checked email for any Western Union money. Then I was so surprised. Students started handing me gifts of money. Four dollars or 5 dollar gifts were given. Still I did not have enough. I prayed for a discount at the Bible society and moved in faith. Knowing that God is not limited by our economic status, and knowing He wanted me to do this work of preaching the final warning and of getting these Bibles, I moved in faith.
On the way there I shared miracles with the taxi driver. He had heard my meetings when we did them in Bujumbura. Just before the stop at the Bible society he asked, “Can a Burundi man donate?”. We got all the Bibles we could with the funds and hurried back for evening meeting. During the baptism we were 7 Bibles short.
I prayed and prayed as I packed up everything after Sabbath. I was so troubled by the tears of the girls who had to wait till last to be baptized and then there were no Bibles for them. Some more handed me Burundi franks. God worked another miracle and just before getting on the plane, the 7 Bibles were prepared and placed in a basket for delivery by the business manager of the school. She herself had donated and had helped in handing Bibles during baptism. I wait to hear if each received their Bibles as planned.
God provided from –not the rich— but those willing to trust HIM with their little amount of funds.
TRAVEL HOME MIRACLES
I was lacking funds for the last portion of 58 dollars of my homeward bound ticket. I was so grateful funds were sent. But the tickets were not available for the 15th anymore. I had to settle for departing on the 14th which meant I had a 30 hour wait in Nairobi. I was very sick and wondered how I could tolerate waiting in the airport so long. (lacking nutrition and water) To go out for lodging required a visa into Kenya. Then also a taxi and guest house, and food. I was concerned. But God had a solution. The division leaders had seen the sanctuary program, seen the baptism, prayed for my health and were happy with the work done. They sent taxi and had me lodge in guest house and made sure I had food delivered to the room and taxi back to the airport in time for connections. GOD CARED FOR HIS SERVANT. I was able to rest and get some nutrition making me strong enough for the difficult 3 day trip home.
On the plane, I had a whole row of seats to spread out and sleep.
I was hoping for some fresh figs when I got home. Such an item is very difficult to find. I also wanted blue berries and persimmons. I had not digested anything for many days and these items sounded good to me. I was so surprised to find in my fruit bowl on the plane, a fresh fig. In all the years of travel, I have never seen a fresh fig among the fruits they chose to give to me.
At home, I was treated to all possible things to bring healing. I am rebuilding my strength for the next mission to the Philippines in December.
I praise God for His loving care.
I count it a privilege to be a part of the loud cry as God warns the world of the end events.
Thanks for praying for my health!!!!
Don’t forget to order and donate for the Church fund raising DVD of African children singing. (ROSE OF SHYIRA CHILDRENS CHOIR music DVD)
Your fellow co-laborer in the Master’s Vineyard,
Dr. Rose