Conference Day One

05/07/2012

Today was the first day of the Pastor’s conference, and it began early with breakfast at 7.30am followed by a time of praise. There was then a surprise guest speaker – Archbishop Onesphore Rwaje, who spoke for over an hour when he was meant to speak for only fifteen minutes, on Romans 12. This set the day off late, but we have got quite used to ‘African time’ and find that the priority of the words someone has to share over the time it takes to share them is something we have lost from our culture. 

The morning was then taken up with sessions from Andy and Stephanie on ‘Who we are in Christ’ and ‘Bible study methods’ respectively.  After some interviews over lunchtime, we delivered the seminars that we had practiced in Shyogwe in three groups; Pastors, Pastor’s wives and young people. Stephanie then led another Bible study session before her and Hazel gave away all but one of the pairs of reading glasses we brought with us. There was one lady who could not read her bible at all because of her vision and now has a pair of glasses so she can study the word of God again! 

After an evening meal, there was a late night praise and prayer time, where once again we began the singing and were then shown up as each of the districts of Byumba Parish offered their own singing and dancing in praise of God. 

We are now having a short time of prayer before we get an early night before another busy day tomorrow!