Rwanda Update #3

Hello friends and family-

We had a great day today! the last one before the coaches come and then it will be a beehive of craziness. You would have all been so proud (especially all you biking fanatics-lawson, are you reading?) we went on a 30 mile bike ride today to the property that KAA-Rwanda is going to be built on. it was georgeous! got some unbelievable pictures. Our guys are doing great. Ryan Schatzman and poppa Newms both pushed it a little hard with the riding and had to take extra long naps when they got back...all around pretty impressive though. Everybody is still feeling safe and doing great. I am so proud of our team...wowsa

Moving story to share: yesterday, we went to the churches of the genocide. churches were the place alot of people fled to as the attackers were coming. Unfortunately, they then became the large group killing points for the attackers. Many pastors and priests gave up their congregations to the killers to save their own necks. some absolutely awful stories. We talked to a 25 year old man named Charles who was one of these that ran to a church (when he was 8 years old). 10,000 people ran into this tiny church and were literally laying on top of each other. He watched as his twin sister and mother were raped and murdered in front of him. his oldest brother picked him up and ran him through the crowd to the back of the room. (this gets graphic...i apologize). while running, his brothers arm was cut off with a machete. Only thinking about charles, the brother used his own blood to cover charles, making it look like he was already dead. He then hid Charles underneath a concrete slab with a hole in it. While shoving him in, he was stabbed through in the back with a spear. in his last breath, he fell on top of Charles to protect him from the grenades that were at that moment flying through the window. Out of 10,000 people...7 survived. Charles was one of them. Talk about an image of Christ on the cross...taking his last dying breath, to give it that we may live. I will not forget that...

Prayer requests

1) continued health and rest. schedule will now get alot harder while beds and food much more "missionary mode"

2) 150 kids and 20 coaches get here this weekend (coaches tomorrow). Pray for spirit led quick reactive decisions to spontaneous needs...and that we would continually "lead out of the overflow"-great quote by Mark Schatzman

3) Speaking and ministry. Matt and Colin will speak on Faith tuesday night for the whole group, while Ty and Ryan Schatzman will be giving there testimonies each 3 times to 50 kids at a time on wednesday ( i believe)

God is so good! protecting us and giving us great hope. Thank you for supporting us with your thoughts and prayers! Spread the word that God is moving!!!

matt and the team