Small groups help to build Florida's house

Florida is a widow and lives with her 2 children in Gashubi and is part of the Muyange Vineyard small group there. As part of a government development plan Florida had to replace her thatched roof house with one of metal sheeting. Six folks from Muyange and 8 from Gashubi spent the day helping Florida to build her house. Brendan and Pat went to help out for a while and enjoyed the fun atmosphere. Afterwards we all got together and gave thanks to God for the blessing of community that works together to help those in need and prayed for blessing on Florida and her family in their new home.

Antoine interpreting for Robert on Sunday morning at Muyange Vineyard Church

For the past 2 weeks we have been blessed with a visit from our friend Robert Stovall who pastors one of our partnering churches in St. Louis, Missouri. Robert's visit was primarily a Pastoral visit. The wise and gracious way that he helped us evaluate our lives on the mission field was very beneficial. Robert also presided over a 3 day visioning and strategizing time for the Muyange Vineyard and the Rwandan AVC with Antoine, Florence, Val and Pat.

We had a training session with our leaders in Holy Spirit ministry which Robert helped them to put into practice during the Sunday morning service. It is exciting to see what God does when we invite His Spirit to come and minister to us.

Thanks to the Hope Vineyard and Robert's wife Kim for allowing us to 'borrow' him for two great weeks.

 

 

 

 

                   

In February Pat and Antoine attended the week long PAVLN (Pan African Vineyard Leaders Network) conference in Nairobi. It was a great opportunity to connect with Vineyard Leaders from many other African countries and hear about the great things that God is doing through the Vineyard around the continent. We had great times of prayer and discussion about the way forward for the Movement in the coming years. New friendships were forged and old ones renewed. The week ended with an excellent teaching on the Kingdom of God lead by Derek Morphew. Thanks to the Kenyan AVC for hosting a wonderful conference.

Brendan and Amore handing out cards

Silvere reads the Christmas story for the children

Children at the Chilliwack Vineyard made cards with the Christmas story in Kinyarwandan to go in the shoeboxes at Christmas. Unfortunately they arrived late so we passed them out last Sunday. The kids were all very excited to receive the cards and enjoyed comparing the coloring of the lovely pictures of the birth of Jesus. Thanks and blessings to the Children's Church at Chilliwack

Eager participants in the Community Health Seminar

Sorry for the long silence but this year has been so full of good thing happening that I have hardly had time to get anything on the blog page. In January we had a team from the Maritimes come and do some very cool stuff with the people in the Muyange Vineyard Church. More than 90 people turned up for 3 days of great teaching on basic hygiene and health care. The folks took it all in and had many relevant questions for the trainers. We also had a marriage seminar and ministry times with our small group leaders and youth group. What a blessed time it was and we are most grateful to Beth Wood and Sheryl Darrow from our home church the Halifax Metro Vineyard and Rick and Wilma Coates from the St. Croix Vineyard for all the hard work they put into making it a successful and enjoyable ministry trip. There is much follow up to be done and the people in the village are very excited to learn more and teach others the practical things they have learned.