Last Days

I can’t believe it! Only two more workdays left before we have to leave Musanze…and they are going to be packed!

The sheep shed is really starting to take shape – truly amazing how hard this team has worked to make it happen! It’s going to be so nice – actually better than a lot of houses here. It will be so great to leave Musanze knowing that our sheep will be have a great place to stay dry and take care of their lambs. I have personally been so blessed to see the many hands that continue to touch this place to make it the beacon in this community that we have prayed for. It has changed so much since 2008 but has also changed so much just this week.

Our two South African rams are making their selves at home on the property and we have finally chosen the appropriate names… Samson and Solomon. They are really beautiful animals but it has been kind of difficult for some of us to bond with them…be sure and ask Jaimy about his relationship with Samson. Can’t wait for our Kenyan ewes to meet them!

We know that in a few months it will be important to have a larger piece of property to keep the majority of our flock on. Today Thomas and Evariste (our shepherd) took Rachel and I a little further outside Musanze to show us a beautiful piece of property they have found that is for sale – 5 times the size of the one we currently own and will build our office on. Only problem is it has no access by vehicle just yet. It is close to the main road so we are praying that one of the landowners between the main road and this property will be willing to sell also. We hope to know something by the time we leave Rwanda. It is very difficult to find large pieces of property here so we are prayerful this will be an option for TVM.

Please do continue to pray for the team as we prepare to complete the shed and head back to Kigali. I am so grateful for all those who prayerfully support this ministry. I wish you could all know the impact it is having on 15 beautiful women and their families.

Blessings,

Diana

Supporting the Shepherd

At last I am able to take a few minutes to update our blog. Again sorry to all of those waiting to hear from the team…communication has been challenging to say the least!

The ladies are more beautiful than ever and it is so good to see them all so full of joy! The team finally was able to meet them on Monday morning and there was quite the celebration! Equally as exciting was getting to meet the five new widows; Marina, Perusi, Jacqueline, Felecite and Belancila. They are learning so fast and have been very well received by the original ten! It is such a miracle to look at all of them busy at work as they sing and take care of each other. I love my job!

We are so thrilled to be preparing to receive 20 merino ewes from Kenya in the next couple of weeks. They will join 2 South African rams already residing on our property here. Naturally, we expect our flock to be flourishing in about 5 months! However, it has become quite apparent that we will need more sheep as soon as possible and more land before this time. This is definitely a prayer request!

Our goal is to get a shed/shelter for the sheep by next Monday or Tuesday. The pen is approximately 28’ x 12’, with a concrete foundation, 3 doors and skylights! I’m sure it will be the best sheep pen in all of Africa! I’m told it would be a great pen in Texas – so that works for me! We hired some local folks to build and pour the floor and this first stage should be finished by tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile most of our team has been focusing on further securing the fence that last summer’s team built around the property.

A few of us, on the other hand, have been expanding our “core-competency” by trying to determine the best method for cleaning this beautiful wool which does not really start out so “beautiful”. Actually it is pretty disgusting and I was told that washing “sheep poo” out of the fleeces was not in the True Vineyard Ministries documentation anywhere. We’ll have to work on that… Clearly it’s going to be a needed skill-set for any TVM employee or volunteer!

Tonight, my friends Jock and Max (Team Rwanda) took the team to Virunga Lodge, which sits high upon a mountain that overlooks some of the most amazing views of the seven volcanoes and area lakes. I had never been there and it was just gorgeous and such a wonderful and deserved treat for all of us. Wow! So amazing to see how many details God put into his creation. So cool to know he is who created us too!

As always, I am blessed to have a team that is so knowledgeable about so many things like fences and leading worship (KP Rocks) and so surprised to watch our 73-year old teammate, Janette thoroughly beat Rachel and me in arm wrestling... Sweet, sweet Tammy is keeping me centered and Jaimy is keeping the group on task. Please continue to pray for a spirit of cooperation and for lives to be changed over our time here! Thank you for your continued prayers!

Blessings,

Diana

Here and Well!

Friends,

So sorry for the very late post! Internet has been scarce and I was locked out of the blog until just now!

Just letting everyone know we are all doing great and that I will post a big update tomorrow!

Blessings!

Diana

What About the Well?

I am sorry to be so late in letting everyone know what is going on with the well situation in Rwanda. As soon as I returned from my recent trip, we jumped right into the Christmas season and this is the first opportunity I have had to write. My prayer is that this blog will explain in detail the current status and future needs of our situation. We want TVM to be transparent and operate in integrity, even in the most difficult of times.

What follows is a recap of all the information we have thus far, so that all who have participated in supporting us in this area will understand where we are in the process. We do not believe that it is over and we are standing in faith that we will have a well. We believe that God’s hand is still very much on this project and that there is purpose in the challenges we are facing.

As most of you know, last spring our focus was on raising funds for a much needed borehole/well to be drilled on our property for our new facility and for the local community of 900+ people. We were blessed to have raised the needed funds in the amount of approximately $14,000 through our Gallons of Change drive.

In early July we traveled to Rwanda and signed the contract with African Drilling and Exploration (ADE) under the direction of the Water for Life Organization. With much excitement the equipment arrived to our property the following week with our team and Rwandan staff there to witness this blessing that was to take 3-4 days to complete.

To our disappointment, after 4 days of drilling, approximately 39 feet or 12 meters down, they ran into the beginning of some major setbacks. There was a very thick layer of volcanic rock and underneath was a pocket of air, followed by more volcanic rock. Twice, as they were drilling, the drilling rods went sideways into the air pocket and broke off, thus causing the first financial loss for ADE.

At that time, it was determined that more advanced equipment would be needed for this site and new equipment was ordered from India and Nairobi, Kenya. We were again assured that water was there and this would only be a slight delay of another month.

Unfortunately the new equipment took much longer than expected to arrive. During the delay, we were offered the return of our initial deposit of $5,029 by ADE. We continued to trust God that this was part of His plan and held fast to that promise. We told ADE that we would be patient and would wait for the new equipment to arrive.

I returned to Rwanda in November about the time that all of the new equipment finally arrived in Rwanda. In fact, two days before I arrived to Musanze, ADE had returned to resume drilling, with the confidence we would have water within a few days. It was determined it would be best to start a brand new borehole. The original borehole was capped off and they began a new borehole approximately 40 feet away from the first site.

I arrived in Musanze early on Saturday morning, November 13 with a promise from the owner of ADE that this was the day we would hit water. They continued drilling for several hours, adding several segments of drilling rods into what seemed like softer ground after about 45 meters. On the 11th segment, we were told that this would be the final pipe needed and we should witness water with the following attempt. To our disappointment, another 4 segments of drilling rods were added, drilling down to about 64 meters (or 210 feet). The last 4 segments went much faster than the first 10 but there was no water, not even a drop.

Sadly, what happened was they ran into a very large cavern, perhaps a volcanic tube of some sort and never hit bottom – basically empty space for the next 20 meters (66 feet). The head engineer then informed me that it was time to give up because of many complications.

It was a heartbreaking day for all. That is the only word I have to describe the overwhelming disappointment that was felt as I watched our ladies and staff digest the latest news.

On Monday morning, November 15, I returned to Kigali to meet with the owner of ADE to learn everything I could about why they felt they had to stop. The second attempt involved sending the iron casing down with the drilling rods. There was a 2 inch space between the casing and the outer drilling that was filling with volcanic rock which was pinning the drill rods within the borehole. Additionally, pressure from these rocks was breaking the weld points on the iron casing and the casing was getting stuck in the top section of the hole, while the bits continued to go further down. At 64 meters, they had not hit the bottom of the cavern with the drilling rods. At this point, they (ADE) were risking too much loss. A.) They risked losing their brand new drill rods with a value of $25,000 and 2.) They still would not be able to push the casings to the depth they needed to retrieve the water. As a result, TVM forfeited the deposit for a dry borehole, roughly $3,000.

Earlier that morning, I questioned if I had truly heard from God regarding the need for a well. I kept asking God if I had misunderstood His direction. After my meeting with ADE, I truly understood their reasons for pulling out. I actually felt much compassion for them because I know they tried very hard and made every attempt to produce a well for our organization. When I left their office in Kigali, I somehow I had peace knowing that it was all going to be alright and that this was part of “God’s plan”.

That night, I was put in touch with a gentleman who is the East African Development Director for Living Water International (LWI). After a short conversation on the phone he invited me to bring the drilling logs from ADE and meet at his office along with the LWI Country Director in Kigali.

According to these two gentlemen ADE did everything they could in the attempt to drill our well. Basically, they said with the typography of our land, that there was not currently equipment available in Rwanda that would be powerful enough to drill through the volcanic rock to the depths needed. They estimated that it could be up to 150 meters before we actually hit water.

It was discouraging and comforting all at the same time. There is still hope. LWI is anticipating a large donation for a borehole well that needs to be drilled in Gisyeni, Rwanda. The terrain there is very volcanic – much like our land in Musanze. Gisyeni borders Congo at Goma where there was a huge volcano eruption in 2002. They told me that this donor is considering the purchase of some massive equipment needed for their borehole. If this happened, LWI could bring it to our land and begin drilling again at 64 meters where ADE left off. It is not a certainty that this equipment will be purchased but it is certainly something that LWI is praying for, as are we.

At present, LWI has sent our drilling logs to their geologist in Nairobi, Kenya for further review. I will post another blog as soon as we have more information regarding the report and once I have touched base with my two contacts at LWI.

We truly appreciate your prayers of hope and encouragement. I will continue to believe that God is bigger than all of this and that he can move this mountain.

Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

Blessings,
Diana

Waiting on God

So sorry for the delay in updating the blog... there is so much going on here and I just have not been able to update everyone as often as I had wished.

First, an update on the well; Mike and I met with the drilling gurus yesterday so that we could clearly understand what happened with the drilling last week. It seems that about 12 meters down, there was a very thick layer of volcanic rock and underneath that was a pocket of air, followed by more volcanic rock. Twice, as they were drilling, the bit went sideways into the pocket and broke off. At least one of those bits was not recovered and is somewhere down there. The good news is that they have ordered new equipment from India and they told us it should arrive in 3 ½ weeks. They assured us that the water is there and that they will be able to complete the drilling in 3-4 days upon arrival of this new equipment. This time, instead of sending the casing down first, the casing will enter with the bit... I don’t fully get it...but it seems like they do...

Mike is set to remain in Rwanda until August 30. Sam and I are scheduled to be in Rwanda until August 10, before we go on our extended vacation in Africa. It looks like I won’t get to witness the water coming in... I’m a little disappointed...okay, a lot disappointed, but am trusting God on the timing. If needed, I can come back if for some reason it does not happen before Mike departs. I am grateful for his heart and his commitment to TVM.

The ladies were very upset when the drilling equipment left as they thought there was not going to be a well. I explained that it was just delayed and it was God’s timing. We know that the community is waiting and watching. I trust that there is something bigger in this delay that we don’t see right now.

Heidi was a delight! She kept us on our toes and kept us laughing...constantly. And, if you know Heidi very well at all...you must know what I’m talking about.:) It was a good distraction for some difficult days here... so THANK YOU, Heidi!

Last week, we were able to deliver a much-needed wheelchair to the wife of a pastor. She suffered a stroke in 2005 and has scooted herself around their tiny home with a wooden chair since. Heidi helped us find the chair in Ft. Worth and then got it all the way to Rwanda. When we brought the chair to Florence, it was the first time she had been able to take herself outside in five years. What a total blessing that was! Wow-wee!

I cannot wait for everyone to see some of the rugs our ladies have made! They are amazing works of art! In fact, there is a very nice art gallery and restaurant in Kigali, called “Heaven” who will begin marketing the rugs for us today! We are so excited about this opportunity to sell them locally! Additionally, we will be marketing them in several art galleries in the US beginning in September! They are outstanding!

Sadly, for me, Molly Moloney will be finishing her time as my assistant on Friday. She is beginning a new phase of her life and will be leaving to graduate school in Denton on Monday. I am truly grateful for her presence in my life and in this ministry. Molly will move to her new position as one of our board of directors and is committed to staying connected to TVM.

Now, please join me in officially welcoming our summer intern, Abbey Henderson to our TVM team. Abbey will take Molly’s place as my assistant and as our “other” US-based employee. Abbey has a long established history in working for Christ and we are thrilled to have her experience and enthusiasm as we move into the next phase of our growth.

Lastly, I ask for continued prayers for TVM and also for Rwanda. The presidential elections are on August 9.

Many continued blessings,

Diana

Open Letter to Rwanda 10 from Charlie

Yesterday morning at breakfast Charlie asked the team if he could read us a letter he had written to us. After reading it, there was not a dry eye at the table. With his permission I am posting it here for all to read.





This is an open letter to the Rwanda ten, rcently 11. Heidi, since you just arrived, I don't know you very well, but from what little I have seen, it's our loss that you weren't here for the duration. However, having said that and having lived with these folks for the past three weeks, it is also truly your loss not to have been here.

It's almost impossible to to relate the ups and downs of this experience. From the interminable airplane trip here to the elation of completing the fence. From wild moto rides to the joy of the widows who went to counseling and the tex-mex dinner and singing of the same evening. Who can forget watching a world cup soccer match and blowing horns at the "Hotel Rwanda" or "Good morning, teacher, how are you?" from a pack of urchins at 5:00 in the afternoon.

There were hard moments like the emotion of the Genocide Museum and Molly's discomfort that we all felt as she sat on the ground and tried gamely to remain with prayer at the property.

Then there was the Rwandan people themselves who still remain an enigma to me. On one hand manipulative, grasping and begging; on the other loving, helpful and engaging. While the really HARD workers like the "wedge boy" and the two Pascals were an inspiration, the little boy with the tattered t-shirt who probably would get no formal education tugged at your heartstrings. And always the spectre of the Genocide and the question of why and how did this happen? But the potential is awesome, truly Rwanda is the "land of a thousand evils, a thousand possibilities and a thousand and ONE solutions".

And then, there is the TEAM, this wonderful team, who created memories which will last a lifetime...

There is Ellen, with her charming, youthful smile and the incredible oportunity at her tender years to do something so benefical for others as her knitting lessons (for the widows).

And Mama Jane with her beautiful voice at worship and her sometimes quiet, sometimes not pride in her daughter's efforts with the ladies.

Karen brought her love of children, quiet confidence and a dancer's grace with her Pastoral spirit.

Sweet Bun, whose drive and confidence was so necessary, our EARLY morning conversations I will sorely miss.

Molly, bouncy Molly, team cheerleader, who, if she wasn't throwing up, was futilely trying to get someone to answer "Where are we?"

The Team Leader, Diana, constantly negotiating with Rwandans and being EXCITED about the next event. She broke my heart when, as I was making taco meat, I heard her crying alone in the kitchen for her ailing pet.

Ah Mike, the heart of the operation, my male-bonding, understanding roommate. The meaningful eye-contact he made when we both recognized something as "bull" often got me thru the day.

Iracible John, who likes people to believe he's cranky, but whose working spirit and knowledge belie a warm, generous heart that are indispensible to ANY team.

And finally, Val, my prayer partner, who gently worked behind the scenes to make everyone's experience better, particularly mine. John, I often say God took one look at me and said "this boy is going to need help" and sent me an Angel in Judy. I truly believe, in Val, you got the same deal!

We've been told we were a successful team and I believe I know why this was such a successful team. Apart from the obvious traits of drive, flexibility and specific competence, there were in each person, understanding, compassion and love and I can relate each in my personal experience.

None of you can relate being able to hear sometimes only every third word in a group and how foolish it makes a person feel, but you each seemed to UNDERSTAND and not become annoyed with having to repeat of flash worship page numbers.

Also, at 64, I am easily the oldest in the group. You all instinctively knew that and were continually trying to show me deference with with lighter work loads and assistance (i.e. wheelbarrows and the cave). While I am in the best shape of the last 30 years, it amazed me, but it was true COMPASSION and I appreciated it.

Lastly, I experience a new emotion in my life, as for the first time. I was completely disconnected from someone I have loved and depended on for 42 years. To put that in context, I met her a few years before Karen was born. While you can't yet know what that's like, you individually and collectively sensed it and provided the love that was so necessary for me to cope!

So, these are my thoughts and examples of why this was such a sucessful team. Heidi, you did almost miss a unique group of individuals who became, in these three weeks and to paraphrase shakespeare: "we few, we happy few, we band of sisters and brothers."

Oh, and Molly, the answer will always be "we were RWANDA."

Fulfilling Promises

Charlie and Val...cutting fence!

Team on their day off by Lake Burera!

Visit from the widows!

Begining the Bread of Life Bakery

By now, I shouldn’t be amazed at the progress of our growth in Rwanda...but I truly am! It’s so hard to wrap my mind around the fact that God is so powerfully using TVM to accomplish this incredibly important work.

So many positive changes have occurred this week and there is no doubt that God has used our team and many, many people to continue fulfilling the vision he gave me three years ago. When I think about how BIG his plan is... all I can say is “WOW”!

I am so grateful. This team truly “gets it”. They have been the perfect team for God’s plans this summer. We have worshiped together, worked together, laughed together and cried together. I wish all of you could understand the depths of what has happened here- in only two weeks. The generosity of the team, as a whole, has helped us accomplish so much more that we had intended...including beginning construction of our facility.

Upon arriving in Ruhengeri / Musanze, the team saw the need for fencing and immediately got to work. I now know what it means to “pull” a fence! Thanks to Bun and Mike for leading us in how to “get it right”. What is not in my core-competency, they have mastered flawlessly! Let me just say, there is nobody on this team that isn’t willing to get really dirty!

The rock and chain-link fencing is up and is 95% complete. The final dry-stacking should be completed by tomorrow! Last Wednesday morning a few of us went to find out about getting a heavy gate made for the property and in about 5 hours, we had a custom gate delivered to our property. Yesterday, the team was able to install it.

Ellen, our youngest team member, along with her mom, Jane, have been working with the ladies at the bakery to teach them how to knit stocking caps. We are partnering with Team Rwanda, the official cycling team, to create caps for the team. Their coach, Jock Boyer, wants to help us promote our “Handspun Hope” project as the team prepares for two big cycling races in November (Continental Challenge and Tour of Rwanda). One of these races is an Olympic qualifying race and hopefully our caps will be a hugely sought after souvenir by media and spectators! The ladies are very fast learners and can now complete a cap in one day!

Last week, we had a very special blessing. Jason Bollinger, pastor of River Stone Community Church in San Marcos, connected TVM with another ministry that they have partnered with. Through this incredible connection, the three ladies who are married and their husbands, along with our shepherd and his wife were able to attend a Christian retreat for strengthening marriages. They were gone for three days and when they arrived back in Musanze they were grinning from ear to ear and rambling on about what an incredible experience it had been! They learned so much! One of them even told me if she died today, it would still be a miracle that she and her husband were able to do this together.
While our married couples attended the retreat, the team hosted a dinner for our widows at the guest house. It was so cool! Each team member helped prepare the meal of Mexican food...complete with homemade tortillas (true Texas team), guacamole and salsa! It was so much fun serving them and teaching them American praise songs...complete with hand motions that include the “sprinkler”!

Time is of the essence now. As I type this blog, Molly and I are at the Kigali Airport waiting on the arrival of Heidi Calvert, from Dallas. After that, it is a quick trip to the grocery store, the bank and then back to Musanze.

We believe that the drilling contractors will arrive at our land today and that the drilling of the borehole will begin in the morning! We are full of gratitude for so many of you who have helped us make the new well possible through our Gallons of Change drive! Please don’t stop collecting change as we want to continue collecting throughout the summer months. Any additional change will go towards the establishment of our new facility.

I am saddened about the immanent departure of our team. They have been such an incredible blessing to this ministry. My heart is so full.

Lastly, I ask for your continued prayers for our ministry, for our work and for continued peace in Rwanda as they prepare for their presidential elections on August 9.

Blessings,

Diana