FEAR False expectations appearing real

It was 2010 I was about to head out for Rwanda Africa on my second trip. I was going with out a parent this trip unlike the first one and my heart was filled with false expectations appearing real, what is known as FEAR. Satan was telling me I was no good, I would end up in the hospital, the plane was going to crash, but more then anything I was fearful of going half way across the world without a parent. (pretty normal feeling right) well I praise God today that I didn't let this stop me. little did I know sitting in the tri city's wondering what am I going to do, full of FEAR false expectations appearing real, that I would come across the most amazing experiences of my life. Lets fast forward, past the trip there and do to the first night in my hotel room. I had made it but fear remember.. false expectations appearing real hit my like a truck. All i could think to do was pray so I fell to my knees and after a few minutes of simply asking God to kick Satan out of my thoughts and my body I had a very strong feeling to get up and reach my hand on top of the small cupboard holding my things. All though this felt strange I did it, and I pulled down a book written by Joyce Meyer. An author I always read when I was feeling attacked by Satan. It was written in Rwandas national language Kinyarwanda and I didn't know what the title was. So the next day, I took it to a dear friend and asked her what it meant. She told me the title "10 principles to keeping Satan under your feet" at that point I realized FEAR is really just FALSE EXPECTATIONS APPEARING REAL. In other words it does not exist, all this time I had been making things up and calling it fear. FEAR, False Expectations Appearing Real. the best leadership lesson I have ever learned  and I believe today that I have over come fear. and so can you. Just remember its really just FALSE EXPECTATIONS APPEARING REAL.

Written by Emma Stephens

Rwanda trip 2011 Update

I just received my flight Itinerary, and I am getting excited! It looks like we are flying out on the 4rth of July from Portland to Seattle and then headed to Washington Dc were we will depart for, Our 14 hour flight to Addis Ababa Ethiopia were we will then, depart for Kigali Rwanda and arrive 5 hours later! We are now into the double digits with 94 days and counting! During our mission we will be building a house for a widow in need of a place to live, Working in the two schools Africa Mission Alliance has built both in Butare Rwanda and Kigali Rwanda, I will get to see the Asante choir who I toured with and miss a lot! We will be there from the 4rth to the 19th serving God in many different ways and changing our selves in the process. My dad is taking a step in faith and going to Rwanda for the first time. It will be my third time and I am very excited for what God has yet to unfold into my life. it excites me to not know know what God has for me, I just need to remember to stay obedient and faithful and have my ears and heart open to hear what God has for me.  

Check out the Asante and AMA's Website!

If you want to find out how you can be a part of this..or found out when the choir is performing near you go to http://www.asantechoir.org/ or http://www.africamissionalliance.org/ 

Asante childrens choir

The Asante Childrens Choir, is a choir made up of 12 girls and 12 boys making a total of 24 Rwandan children, ranging from the ages 8-15. Each and every one of these children have been through A lot! Some lost there parents and siblings to HIV-AIDS, others were abandoned, some orphans, and others stricken by a life of poverty and malnutrition. As said by one of the little boys in the choir Patrick
"by the Mercy and Grace of God we were selected through auditioning and now have a home, food, clothes, and the chance change lives by singing in America". That chance came true for these 24 kids the choir toured the northwest of America for 3 months. Directed by Barbara Kayaga, the choir came to America to say thank you for all the ways America is helping there country and to tell there stories through song and dance.
I had the privilege to tour with the choir and help by running child sponsorship  and chaperoning different kids at host homes. It was incredible to meet so many families as they opened up there homes, love, food, and transportation to us.  I was changed in so many ways and learned how to be a part of something so much bigger then me.

 

The power of prayer

Man, I remember being in Rwanda in 2010 a few of our team members were walking through this village were we saw hundreds of orphans and widows and all though it felt like we were watching a movie we all new in our hearts that this was all real! We returned to the bus  visits to our sponsored children. and as I saw people gathering outside of the bus I looked around... this is when I realized there was only a few of us still in the bus. So I left the bus nd walked into the silent crowd to find one of our team members in the middle Stephen Finkelstein had his hands laid on this lady. She was in her 80's and had survived the genocide she said that she has had nightmares every night, and she knows she is close to dieing but she didnt want to continue for eternity in this evil. She asked for prayer that God will take her with peace in her heart and faith that she is going to heaven. Stephen then laid his hands on her and prayed! This taught me the POWER of prayer!! 

4 AM. wake up call

The noise was weak at first, just barely penetrating my dream. I awoke when I realized that the chanting and singing was not part of my dream, but was actually happening. My eyes popped open and I quickly sat up in bed, coming to full alert. The room was nearly pitch-dark, and I fumbled around trying to find my phone. Not just to see the time, but to bring a little light to the darkness. The readout was 4:15 am. HUH???? Clearly the singing and praying, not chanting as I first thought, was coming from the other room. Who in their right mind would be singing and praying at 4:15am? I soon realized it was the children. The 24 members of the Asante Children’s Choir up way before dawn singing and praying. I wasn’t really sure what to think.

I sat in the dark room wondering what would have them up praying, but immediately grasped it must be serious. They continued with the prayer and singing till about 5am. It got quiet again, and eventually I fell back to sleep, but still I wondered.

Later that day Barbara explained. They were crying and pouring their hearts out to God for his provision so that they could come to the US in the winter to tour and sing. And they got up every day at 4am (except Sunday) to do it. After they finished praying, they did their household chores and ran out the door by 6:30am to make it to school on time. Such faith, such determination! Would I ever be so devoted to something that it would drag me out of bed in the dark at 4am? I honestly don’t know.

I think my heart is a bit more like the rich man Jesus spoke of. The man asked what must I do to follow you Lord? At first it was easy, just a bit of a lifestyle change. But then Jesus told him to give all his money away. The rich man bitterly walked away, for he surely loved his money more than he loved God. Sometimes I think I love sleep a lot more than I love God. Getting up at 4am to pray seems unfathomable to me. I hope during the time I spent with the Asante Choir, even a drop of their passion rubs off on me. I hope that you can see first-hand the amazing beauty of the faithfulness of these 24 children.

Danielle programs director

Patricks Story

Faithful One

‘I found a hope within, to call my own..for I am guided by the faithful one’
Sunday Special’s have re-emerged as part of the weekend traditions at the Asante Children’s house. Each group of children have Saturday afternoon to practice and then perform for an attentive and sympathetic audience on Sunday night.
Tonight was our first performance, and each group delivered a similar home-made drama about parents, school, food and naughty children, followed by a song. One group ended their skit with the lead vocalist and comic character, Patrick, who has been gifted with the voice of an angel!
He is the smallest of the boys, but definitely holds his own once he is singing with the choir! Hearing Patrick’s voice at the Sunday Specials, in rehearsals, and most movingly, during evening devotions always brings emotions to the surface. My favorite song to listen to is ‘Faithful One’, a song of worship to God which reminds us of his faithfulness as our Father!
Patrick, like many of the children in the sponsorship program, has faced many struggles. He is the only child in his family and has lost his father. His mother lives far away in Uganda. Yet, hearing his voice in worship to God is another hopeful reminder of how precious each child is in the sponsorship program because of their faithful Father.  Just as the words of the song say, which the Asante Children sing so beautifully, each child is guided by our faithful Father whose promises can be trusted and who is our strength when our hope fails.
These children are all so dear to the Father, and therefore, should be dear to us. Sometimes providing money is the easiest for the busy western world, but this act of kindness is not to be overlooked. This enables us to be one of the many people God uses to show his faithfulness to the children he finds so precious.
By Mishal Whyle, AMA Volunteer in Rwanda from New Zealand