Welcome friends and family of the Wesley Rwanda Mission Team! We are one week away from our trip and the excitement is huge! We depart on March 1, 2008 and head to Philadelphia. On Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 6:00AM we depart from Philadelphia and fly to Washington-Dulles. From Dulles we board Ethiopian Airlines for a flight to Rome. After a change of planes in Rome, we continue on Ethiopian Airlines for a flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After a change of planes in Addis, we continue on Ethiopian Airlines direct to Kigali, Rwanda. WHEW!!
From Kigali, our Sister-in-service, Leslie Hafner tells us it's about a 90 minute ride south to the
Urukundo Home for Children. We expect to arrive at Urukundo around noon on Monday, March 3, 2008.
God is GREAT....ALL THE TIME!
As Jesus shows us in John 13:1-20, His followers are to serve one another. Members of this mission team believe we have been called to serve the children of Urukundo, to leave our lives behind, if only for 16 days, and let the hand of God lead us to Rwanda, and do whatever He would have us do. We are much like the "little children" Jesus mentions in John 13:31-35, yet His words are on our heart, " A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Please pray for our team and return to this BLOG regularly for updates and pictures. Lord willing, I'll be posting information everyday while we are in HIS service in Rwanda.
God Bless you and our Team!
Brother Ed
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God Bless all who are about to go on a chance of a life time journey in doing God's work. Take notes and pictures. I look forward to hear your stories.
I know God will bless and use each and everyone of you in this effort!
Shalom
part of the team got together today for a "packing party". we have 22 bags of medical supplies, clothing, educational items, games, puzzles, movies, & toys ready to go. thank you to Rebeka & mom for helping us today!
Annitta
I am so excited to hear all about the work you will be doing in Rwanda. Many of my brothers and sisters here in Kentucky and I are praying for the team and Wesley as they choose to answer God's call to share the Gospel.
You are truly In HIS service!
God Rocks! I'm so happy for your team! The Lord is alive and He lives in each of you. Godspeed for a safe journey!
Betty
God bless all of you as you travel on to Rwanda. Prayers will be said daily for you!
Dear Wesley Brothers and Sisters:
I will be praying for all of you and your safe return. Next Sunday we will have a prayer time during confirmation class and all the students will say a special prayer for you, also. God be with you 'til we meet again.
Faithfully
Your Sister,
Cynthia
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Our prayers are with you. We are sure you will be blessed to be a blessing.
Godspeed
Wow! I'm impressed. Good luck Marcia and the whole team, and I hope all goes well and you all build a fantastic Boys bunk house!
Doug Bauman
i am blessed by the friendship i have with anita hammaker. i am looking forward to seeing pictures and comments from africa. you go with god's blessings and the children will recieve those blessing god so much wants them to have. god bless the entire team and my prayers will be with you. peggy maschke i.e. harleysmompeg
Just wanted to say Godspeed to the Wesley Rwanda Mission team from Wesley Church in Bethlehem's Rwanda 2005 Mission Team. We will be praying for you! I know some of you may be anxious, but know that God is with you and will be with you during your important trip. You are emissaries of Christ--God Bless you!
good luck, God bless!
mom B
Ed, are you praying for more time in Italy?
Hello, everyone! We were sorry to hear about your flight dealys. Don't worry - this is just a road block along the way. You will make it to Rwanda! Remember to bless yourselves as you fly over the Vatican!! :-) We miss you and are praying for your safe arrival. Lots of love,
Lisa and Nick
hi lady sammy sends a big hello also we are going to make julie make her wish today. she had better make a good one for her 16th birthday. mom is here and watching me type i think i will teach how to type instead of watching me. well we love you and you all safe.
xoxoxox
love everyone
Hey Team, It is great to hear how things are going. There was a nice picture and caption in today's paper. Sorry about your delay.
Andy stay in the shade! Paul maybe you will have some gum available to you :). I must say you all look well for being at the airport at 4am. So, Ed did you make a sale to the airline to go IBM. Betty I'm so glad for your sense of humor, I bet those 3 hours went by fast with you around. Shanghai Rummy? I'll have to look that up. Never played. It looks like God brought people in your paths.
If you didn't have that delay, you wouldn't have met those who were meant to hear what is about to take place. Look forward to the next posting!!
We miss you and hope you arrive safe and sound. God bless
God is good! We are with all of you in spirit and know that this experience will change your lives. Safe travels, good health and follow your hearts. In His Name, Sue & Sonny
Hey guys, I'm hoping that you are at least out of airports for awhile-"Thank you for flying Ethopia Airlines this week, we hope you arrived somewhere." Have a great day.
Jesus said go into all the world and preach the word and let your light shine... So shine on team, shine on...
God Bless
Ed - We look forward to hearing about your journey as it continues! You all are in our thoughts and prayers and we are proud of you all!
Cheers my friend!
Your journey is Blessed! Keep alert and enjoy the surroundings. Give to those who will accept and hold in your heart those who don't. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
I do look forward to hear all about your days there.
Charlie Girl
Greetings, Brothers and Sisters in Christ! I trust you are all doing well and enjoying the experience. Keep on keeping on! Be safe, and work hard for God! We love you and look forward to hearing all about your adventure when you come home!
If you cover the cows horns with foil and run a wire from their horns to their tails you will get a better signal. At least that is what I'm told.
Let the fun begin. Your memory banks are already storing stories for years and your hearts are growing daily to take in and love those that you see. Journaling daily will help to keep the order and memories fresh once you are home. Looking forward to hearing of your adventures. Love to all, Sue & Sonny
What a great thing you all are doing and I know it will be a blessing for generations to come. I continue to pray for each of you and hope it will be a blessing in your life. Great hearing from you yesterday, just hearing your voices was reassuring and the excitement was good to hear. By the way, the only Town in PA without floodwall protection is getting a biblical rain!
Paw Paw, I miss you! God Bless to the rest of the team.
Greetings,my fiends! It soundsas though you have had many opportunities placed before you already to deliver your "elevator speech". We have been experiencing a significant amount of rain since yesterday morning, but this morning at 0930 the sun peeked out and it was glorious!! Looking forward to reading your next entry! Be well,my friends!
Dear Team,
As promised the confirmation class said a prayer for all of you on Sunday. It sounds like you are having a wonderful adventure. Was that a toilet in one of the pictures?
Faithfully,
Cynthia
I am so thrilled to hear of your greetings when you finally arrived...all safe. Jen I really liked your view of the children. Maybe Jen and Nate will learn some of the songs and you can come to a some of the Childen's Sunday School classes and teach them what you learned. God Bless!!
Leslie (Mom) and Team,
I am so happy to hear that you made it safely to Rwanda! You are constantly on my mind and in my prayers! May God bless the rest of your trip! Miss you all!
By the way Mom, Valentines are better to send one week before my birthday!!!
Love you,
Rebecca
The pictures of Ethiopia remind me of Honduras after Hurricane Mitch. Frederico you were right, I should be there with the team. God Bless! "Sandia" (watermelon)
To my sister "Lesthlie" don't forget the hokey-pokey. To Pablo xoxoxoxoxoxo :-)
Greetings, one and all!
It was great to hear your voices the other day and know that you had arrived safely. It seems as if the spit-roasted goat has had no ill effects on anyone. Even amidst the rain and flooding concerns yesterday, all of you have been held close in our thoughts and prayers. Reading your blog (and seeing the pictures) has brought tear-filled eyes to many.
Blessings as you continue God's work . . .
I received this note from Bill Wise,"Dear Pastor Tom: How great it is to be able to sit here in Arizona and follow the progress of the Rwanda mission team. FANTASTIC!!!!! I AM SO PROUD OF MY CHURCH FAMILY. I SIT HERE EATING MY HEART OUT WISHING I WAS WITH THEM--MAYBE FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO KEEP FRED AWAKE!! THE REALITY IS ,I WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THE AIRLINE DELAYS."
I know he wanted all of you to read it.
Blessings from home.
I feel in awe of all of the great work you are doing throughout the world. My world travel rarely compares with what you are doing on your missions. I am so impresses with all you do, Paul, Sandy, and Leslie!!!!! Long time, no see, miss you and would love to squeeze some family Chapman time in sometime!!!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your mission all the way from ""Flo-Mo"" Texas!!! Big hugs and love,
Linda Moen-Darr
hey, this is sooo great that you fabulous people are taking the time to help the needy people of Rwanda. I can tell that you all realize that you are EXTREMELY blessed, and want to pay God back. I'm sure that the people of Rwanda strongly apreciate what you are doing.
I will DEFINATELY be posting later on. Please have a safe trip and a great time. Thank you sooo much for making this world sooo much better because of your love. I will definately be praying for you!
Hey Team, I noticed that on one of the tables is the dresses and shorts. Just wondering if we can see a shot of some of the kids modeling off these dresses and shorts etc. That would be great. Looking forward to more posts they are great!!
Hi Ed,Nate, and all of your wonderful team! We are so happy that you all arrived safely and love reading the blog postings each day and seeing the pictures. We wish we could be there to share some of the hugs with the kids. They are precious. Nate - Nick loves the shot of you by the "Welcome to Rwanda" sign,and almost fell out of his chair laughing when he read that your stuff hit the man in front of you on the plane! Even in Rwanda, you can make him laugh!! Eduardo - thanks for keeping us up to date with everything you're doing. I knew you'd have the best time, and I'm thinking that you're considering possible relocation to the Urukundo home. Nick and I are up for it. (We'll have to convince Tess!) Team - keep these two in line for Nick and me! Remember, He will give you wings like eagles to soar. We're sending lots of hugs, kisses, love and big licks from Tess to you all!!
Love,
Lisa and Nick
Fast Freddy you look great in those Eagle green pants!!! Guess who?? Can't wait for the sleep overs!!
FOPA - Happy 57th Birthday!!!!!!!!
Oh, I'm sorry - I typed the numbers
in the wrong order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have enjoyed the photos and the
daily updates. Wish I was there,
also, to hug you and the kids.
JOPA
Mr. Ed you do a wonderful job at explaining in detail what is happening over there thank you for your dedicated responses.
I was speaking with Sam (from KY) and he was telling me of his technical difficulties and frustrations at his church. While walking to his home, I read to him of today's post. When I was finished he was silent. He said Wow. His challenges were small compared to what everyone goes through everyday over there. It was the calm to his storm. The prep work for the foundation looks great. Lot of hand make light work.
Hey Miss Betty, have you lost your marbles yet...I mean have you taught the children how to play marbles?...how about chinese checkers? Louise said that she taught you how to play...that would have been fun to see :).
Blessings to all on your next day of work.
My baby brother, Fred Ogden, will celebrate his birthday March 7th, and I would like you to wish him a happy birthday for me. God bless him and all of you in your work in Rowanda. . . and all those who will benefit from it as well.
Team . . . what a great thing you are doing. The pictures and comments are awesome and keeping all of us informed. Many of us check the blog a couple of times a day to keep up with your progress and to look for new reports. Your work is reaching others as well, as your blogspot address has been shared with persons outside of the Wesley Church family, and all are amazed and fascinated. It's good to know you feel our prayers for there are many on a daily basis, and we think of you constantly. Take a break today, and celebrate Farmer Fred's birthday. Happy, happy . . .
Dad, Happy Birthday from your son, David
Great pictures! Glad you arrived safe and sound!
Glad you all made it safe and sound and doing a great job down there. Take good care and God Bless. I've been keeping up with the daily blogs.
Paul -- speeding! That's not what is meant by God speed!!
Your favorite sister-in-law.
We are looking at the photos and
dialogue at your home, Fred.
Great fun!
Good Photos!
Good Health!
Good Friends!
Hello to each of you, expecially
Betty.
Rose & Geoge
Hello to all of you! I trust you are all doing well and working at a comfortable pace! Ilove all of the pictures, but my favorite is of Miss Betty hugging that child. The look onher face is beyond words! Give those kids allthe hugs you have and share a couple on our behalf! Paul...you have some splainin' to do!!! The youth group is gonna bust your hump for a very long time about this. :-)Talk to you all very soon!
Dear Nate and Dad,
Hi! How is everyone doing? Do you like it there and are you having a good time? From the pictues, it looks like you're all having a good time. Nate, I'm getting lonesome for you and your spastic jokes!! I miss you both. Tess sends love and hugs!
Love,
Nick
Get me a tissue!!! Wow!
Too amazing for words.
I just want to know when is the next trip?
Praise God for all you are doing
I would like to leave a humorus note but at this time humor escapes me. I feel a great inspiration in what your doing and a bit of pride just in knowing that we are of the same family in Christ. I also feel a great sadness almowt to the point of grief but at the same time I feel hope for the future because of your presence there. I thank you for your willingness to answer God's calling to ministry and pray that it is only the opening of the door to even greater ministry throughout the world. I send to you my love. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
your brother in Christ ....Rick
To Dad(Fred),
Happy Belated Birthday! I love you so much and am so proud of what you and everyone there is doing! We are praying for His will to be done through each of you and you to feel strong and not homesick. You are my hero!
Love, Karen, Mark, Evan and Noah
Hi Ed and Nathan,
Christine and I are enjoying looking at your pictures and reading your daily events in RWANDA. What a fabulous, life changing experience for you, Nate and the whole team. Greg is in Yuma and should be home Tuesday and is anxious to check out how your trip is going. You are in our thoughts and prayers that God would continue to bless you everyday as you continue to be a blessing to others.
Greg, Shelly and Christine
Greetings! As I sit here waiting for the remainder of my school work to print off, I spent time reviewing the daily blog! What a great day you all had! I loved the photos of the wildlife preserve. Seeing the "laundry dryers" certainly makes one appreciate all that we have in this world! Leslie, I cannot wait to see the joy on your face as you share your experiences! I am living vicariously through you! Some day, I will be able to join you! Please give my love to "our nursing student". Talk to you all very soon! Love all of you and miss you!
Wow! What a wonderful thing, technology! How inspiring it is to read all that is happening there and the great work you all are doing. The pictures and comments are great! May God continue to bless all of you as you finish up this week. Stay strong, healthy and safe. You're in my daily prayers.
Kathy
Nate, Mr. Keller, and team,
Hello, I am glad you all made it there safely. I've been looking at all of the pictures. My favorite... is the one with all the luggage. People at school have been thinking about you and hope you all make it home safely. We all think it's a great thing you are doing, and can't wait to hear all about it. The kids look so happy to have all of you there. I hope you have a safe trip home. God bless you all,
Michaela
Greetings, Team!
The day wouldn't seem to begin properly if I didn't check the blog to learn of your latest escapades. Each time I experience a mixture of smiles and teary eyes as I read your comments and see the photos. On top of everything else you are sharing with us now, we will be anxiously waiting to hear more upon your return. May God bless you even more during this new week and your final days of work.
Hello Team,
You are all in our prayers. We also wanted to wish Sally a Happy Birthday. She and our daughter, her granddaughter, share the same birthday on March 11th.
Love,
Mike and Shelly
Hello Team,
It was so good to hear all that you have experienced.
I can feel your sense of helplessness as it looks as though the lives of so many are in God's hands.
I'm not a mom, but I was crying. I wish I could just reach out there hold a little one and sing them a lullaby, so they feel that love if even for a short time.
God's plans will prevail. Leslie has shown us so many pictures prior to the mission trip, Paul organized and now you are experiencing what you have heard. God will lead you as to how to help in some way.
Lovin those pictures!! I don't think I have seen Nate smile so much.
Take care and God Bless
Greetings! I missed hearing from you, glad to hear it was a power issue and not a personal loss of vim and vigor! You made me laugh when I read about the Ibuprofen...just like I have been saying for years, "better living through pharmacology". The pictures are captivating! In a few short days you will be on your way home and ready to share your stories. Many of us are anxious to hear what you have to say. Continue to work with the spirit with which you have been blessed! I am so proud of all of you!
I am so proud of what you are doing and feel very blessed to have the
opportunity to follow your mission via email. I know that the children
fell God's arms wrapped around them each and every time they receive a
"hug" from you.
May God Bless all of you and the work that you are doing.
Love
Candy
Dear Team Members:
It is good to catch up on two days of your reports. All of us missed them yesterday, and we commented on it in our staff meeting. And, of course, you were added to our corporate prayer -- as well as our constant individual ones.
Your photos and commentary continue to touch us. Never before has a mission team had this kind of effect.
Know that your are in our thoughts and prayers especially today as you visit the gencide area.
We will anxiously wait to hear more. And, Betty, when you get home, we want a full report on that tea party!
Sending prayers and hugs to all . . . :)
DEAR WESLEY BROTHERS AND SISTERS: I AM SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU--EVEN THOUGH
I DON'T KNOW MANY OF YOU. FOLLOWING THE BLOGS OF YOUR TRIP HAS BROUGHT TEARS,
EMOTIONS, INSPIRATION, AND PRAYERS HERE IN THE WISE HOUSEHOLD. I SIT HERE
TRYING TO IMAGINE HOW YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT MANY OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE SEEN---TRUTHFULLY
I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE THE HORROR OF SOME OF WHAT YOU HAVE WITNESSED ,BUT HOPEFULLY
THE LOVE YOU FEEL FOR THOSE YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED WILL HEAL YOUR HEAVY HEARTS.
PLEASE KNOW THAT WE LOVE YOU, AND ARE PRAYING FOR YOUR SAFE AND HEALTHY RETURN
HOME. I WISH I COULD BE THERE TO GREET AND HUG YOU ALL. [...]
I should have included that the post was from Bill Wise.
My prayers have been with you and will continue to be with you as you return. I hope it is uneventful!
Shalom
Hi Nate, Mr. Keller, and team. All of us are praying for you to have a safe trip home. I hope to see some more pictures when you get back and be able to hear all about it. I visited the Genocide website, and read one of the survivor stories. I can not imagine the pain and suffering they experienced. It must have been very hard to visit there. We look forward to having you back, and hope your flights all go as planned.
Michaela
After reading all that you have experienced, I'm sure everyone is looking to God as what you need to do with what you experienced.
Share, Share, Share,! You are all witnesses to God's work. I hope you all have the chance to move more hearts to continue to help those angels in Rwanda. Some will give presentations, some may even plan another trip, but I wonder if there are those strong in the political arena, who could share with our government.
I look forward to hearing the progress on the boys home and learn of Arlene's dreams. Maybe we can all help again in making these dreams come more reality.
God Bless you all and safe travel back to the states.
Awwwww hey this is emily torres from bloomsburg middle school when you came i was excited to here from someone that has other better things to do instead of coming to school but you did..im still cluelis about how i can go with you guys when you go out there agian...
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