This country is beautiful. It is very tropical, with banana, mango, and papaya trees growing everywhere. Everything here is GREEN, except the dirt-- and it is very red.
Today was a day to tour the facilities in Kigali and Kayonza and meet some of the people in Rwanda involved with Africa New Life Ministries. Most of us on this June mission trip are first-timers to Rwanda except for Katie, her husband Ryan, her sister Hannah, and Hannah's husband Zack. Katie is our team leader. Katie is a PA I worked with in Moscow.
We toured the 1st school started by Africa New Life Ministries. The New Life Christian Academy in Kayonza is very impressive, and is one of the top schools in the country of Rwanda. The students there are amazing. I was humbled by their faith. Many of these students are orphans and live at the school full time. We had lunch with the group of children sponsored by a Baptist church in Idaho. We had fun with them, singing and watching some pretty funny dancing....mostly by Zack, our team's dentist. Zack & Hannah, Katie and their parents Bruce & Carmen made a home visit with the young man they sponsor. They brought the family a month's supply of food, and a goat! We could not let the goat ride on the bus with us humans, so the poor animal was tied to the back of a bicycle for delivery! And he did not like it one little bit. Arden managed to capture this on the photos here.
Tomorrow, Arden & I are going to visit the 2 children in Bugesera that we sponsor. Tune in for update and more photos!
If you are interested in reading more details about our mission and the people we see in clinic and their stories, go to medinrwanda.blogspot.com. This is a blog posted by Katie Fisher, our team leader.
I have found the people in Rwanda to be very friendly, they smile all the time! Twenty years ago in 1994, in a span of 3 months, 80% of the population of Bugesera was killed in a mass genocide. There are still many people here who bear the scars of this horrific event. Even today, they remain strong in their faith in God. Everywhere we look, we see clear evidence that in just two decades, this country has made tremendous strides towards healing, forgiveness, and rebuilding a society free from prejudice.
Day 2, Saturday in Kigali, Rwanda
Brenda & Arden Arrington
We woke to a cool breezy, morning with rain clouds in the sky.
Our first stop of the day was the Ntarama National Genocide Memorial. This was tough. No pictures allowed inside the church, and with good reason.
Almost all of the people in our group sponsor children for Africa New Life Ministries here in Rwanda. Even medical missions like ours are structured around home visits to meet your sponsored children. Today we met the two children that we sponsor in Bugesara where we will be doing our clinic Monday-Thursday.
This was a marvelous day for us both.
Day 3, Sunday
The two-hour long service at Africa New Life Church was unforgettable. The praise team was made up of 8 musicians and 7 outstanding vocalists. We have never seen anything like it. It was beautiful, uplifting music,
After church we had lunch at the original Hotel Rwanda, which has been renamed. Lunch was great and the hotel is beautiful.
Day 4, Monday FIRST DAY OF CLINIC
For more information on Special Medical Cases go to medinrwanda.blogspot.com
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BIBLE TRANSLATION CRITICS BY STEVE FINNELL
Did you ever notice that the self appointed arbiters of Biblical translation accuracy spend their time criticizing various translations. Ninety-nine percent of all translations give an accurate, trustworthy account of the gospel of Christ. The problem is not that men cannot find a translation that tells men how to become saved by accessing the blood of Christ. The difficulty occurs because men reject the clear teaching of Scripture.
God's message in 99.5% of all Bible translations is the same.
TRANSLATION COMPARISON
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. (NKJV)
Ephesians 1:7 So overflowing is his kindness toward us that he took away all our sins through the blood of his Son, by whom we are saved. (The Living Bible --Paraphrased)
Ephesians 1:7 By whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his favor, (The Better Version of The New Testament by Chester Estes)
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins, in accordance with the riches of his grace (The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible NIV 1983)
All of these translation say the same thing. All men need to do is believe the message.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.(NKJV)
John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the Way---yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except through me.(TLB---P)
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. (TBVOTNT by Chester Estes)
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.(TTC-RB NIV 1983)
All of these versions of the Bible say the same thing. Why would any one criticize God's translations.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NKJV)
Acts 2:38 And Peter replied, "Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you also shall receive the gift, the Holy Spirit.(TLB--P)
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Let each one of you repent and be immersed, in the name of Jesus Christ, in order to the remission of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(TBVOTNT by Chester Estes)
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (TTC-RB NIV 1983)
All of these translations say the exact same thing. Repentance and water baptism are essential in order to have sins forgiven, and following that, men receive in indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit Himself.
There is no problem with the translations. The problem is that men reject the clear teaching of Scripture.
YES, GOD IS SMART ENOUGH TO GIVE MORE THAN ONE ERROR FREE TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE.
TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS, MEN WHO READ THE BIBLE WITHOUT ASKING GOD TO REVEAL HIS TRUTH TO THEM
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com
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