In Case We Were Worried

I just received this photo of our fearless leader as he labors on our behalf in Africa.

Hopefully he brushed his teeth.




Clearly Gary is doing well in Rwanda, but please keep praying.

He has left the Building

Gary is officially on his way to Rwanda! He left Monday early morning to arrive in Rwanda a week before the rest of the team. Gary will be meeting up with old contacts as well as smoothing out plans getting together supplies for construction etc.

Please be praying for his health and safety as well as for his family in his absence.

Survey

As our departure date looms closer I decided to take a quick survey of our team members to give the church a better idea of the overseas experience of our team members.

Katie Friedrich


1. Have you ever been to Africa before? Ever been overseas before?
I have been overseas several times before, but never to Africa.

2. What are you most nervous about? Most excited about?

I don't know if I am really nervous about anything yet. I may become more nervous as our departure date draws closer, but for now I'm mostly excited! I think I'm most excited about working with the people in Rwanda and having fellowship with Rwandan believers.

3. How can the congregation be praying for you as you prepare to go?

Prayer is so vital to the success of our trip! I think a few things the congregation can pray for specifically are health and safety for the team, open hearts of the people we work with and minister to as well as open hearts of our team, ease in communicating God's love, and that God's presence will be felt throughout the trip.

Matthew Barr



1. Have you ever been to Africa before? Ever been overseas before?
This will be my first time to africa, but i have been overseas before to Spain, and i went to the Rock of Gibralter, where i could see Morroco across the channel. So i dont know if that counts as going to Africa, all i did was see it.

2. What are you most nervous about? Most excited about?

I am extremely nervous about this mission for it will push me to my limit, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And i am nervous because i dont know if i am ready for it. i am the youngest person on the team, and i dont know if i'll be prepared. I am most excited for the work that we will be doing, building, and communicating Gods love through that! it is going to be a rush and i cant wait to see how God will work through me! I will not be able to do it on my own, and the only way to make it will be to rely on God for everything! And going to Africa in general is cool, that alone just pumps me up!

3. How can the congregation be praying for you as you prepare to go?

You can be praying for me by asking Gods protection over us as a group and keeping those spiritual battles that lie ahead at bay, and for me individually, pray for strength for me and that i will truly give my all for the people and whatever task may be handed to me. That i will not give up, and keep God my center focus. and that i will go with the right heart, that i am going not for me and my benifit, but for Gods.

Bob Gentili

1. Have you ever been to Africa before? Ever been overseas before?
No I have never been to Africa, but I did watch Tarzan as a kid on our black & white tv on Saturday mornings. Yes , I have been overseas. Last year I went to Papua New Guinea with the Valley team and in the early 70's Vietnam, Thailand, and the Phillippines.

2. What are you most nervous about? Most excited about?
I'm not so much worried about the trip; although, I think about the travel glitches and language barriers.

3. How can the congregation be praying for you as you prepare to go?
The congregation can pray for our team's health & safety and that we are able to work well as a team so we will be a good example of Christ and His love for the people of Rwanda.

Jules Hays


1. Have you ever been to Africa before? Ever been overseas before?
Yes, I spent a month in Swaziland, which is down in southern Africa, as an AIDS educator in 2005. I have been on other missions trips to Mexico and Costa Rica as well.

2. What are you most nervous about? Most excited about?
I am worried that I won't be able to keep up my energy level. I take a medication that slows me down a lot, and being lethargic in Africa sounds frustrating. (Also, I am dreading all the hours sandwiched into a plane seat.) I am most excited to meet the people and hear their stories. I am excited for the photographic opportunities Rwanda will present.

3. How can the congregation be praying for you as you prepare to go?
Please pray that I can relax and trust in the Lord to provide for all my needs.
Pray against Satan and his power to work evil in our lives, please pray that the Holy Spirit will protect and keep us!

Aimee Hendrick



1. Have you ever been to Africa before? Ever been overseas before?

This is my first time to Africa. I've been overseas a couple times - once to Thailand in '03 and once to Papua New Guinea in '07.

2. What are you most nervous about? Most excited about?
At this point I'm not really nervous about anything...I am most excited about coming alongside of the Rwandan believers in what they are doing in ministry, and to work with the team!

3. How can the congregation be praying for you as you prepare to go?
Pray for a flexible heart & willing, humble attitude to be used however, wherever, whenever the Lord gives opportunity. Pray for personal growth & understanding of God through this experience. Pray for unity & effectiveness of ministry of our team. Thank you!!

Soccer Ball Update

Valley's kids (and parents!!) really stepped up to the plate for our soccer ball fundraiser for Rwanda! In Gary's previous trip, he brought along a few soccer and volley balls, and they were a HUGE hit with the kids! What a great opportunity to draw children in, give them something fun and constructive to do, and to share Jesus in a very practical way. Fun is something to which our own kids can relate, so we asked interested children to pay $1 to sign one of the 20 soccer balls we had purchased for the Missions team to take to Rwandan children. What an opportunity for Valley kids to get involved with missions-ministering to children thousands of miles away!! Children wrote endearing messages to their new friends on the other side of the world, and a number of adults joined in the fun, sending greetings and blessings as well.

Our goal was 20 soccer balls or around $200. Over three hundred and seventy dollars was raised!! Isn't God good? We did buy the 20 soccer balls, but that's not all! Here's a list of additional items we were able to buy with the extra money:

6 volleyballs

8 ball pumps and extra needles

200 CD-R's for the cybercafe

Flash drives

Rubber erasers

Mechanical pencils and replacement leads

Chalk

We know these items will be appreciated and cherished. We look forward to the pictures of all that happens while our team is in Rwanda. Thank you children of Valley for your love and compassion for the people of Rwanda.

Sewing Again

On July 22^nd Jim and Marlene Meuleners hosted a small group of believers who prayed for the ministry in Rwanda, then got busy sewing 20 skirts for the pygmy women. Marlene dubbed the effort :Project Skirts for Pygmies. The skirts will be added to a duffel bag full of clothing that will be delivered by Rwandese pastors to the Abatwa people of the Lake Kivu region.

Clothes for Pygmies

Some Valley Church members have been busy looking for bargains, and this is what they’ve found so far. As part of our ministry to the Abatwa (Pygmy) people, we are responding to their request for some western clothing. Team Rwanda members will carry these clothes, which will be distributed by the Rwandese pastors.

Soccer Balls

Valley Church Children's Ministry leaders have made a way for kids to get involved in Rwanda 2008. Sunday school classes have been raising money to purchase soccer balls to be given to kids in Rwanda. As kids and parents donate money to buy the balls, they are allowed to write a personal message on the soccer balls, which will be presented to school kids in Rwanda this summer.


If you would like to donate towards a soccer ball that will be taken to the children of Rwanda, visit the Small Small House in between services on Sunday.

Glasses Cases

In preparation for our eyeglass ministry in Rwanda, a group of lovely ladies from the church are sewing soft cases to protect the glasses we transport. The traditional hard side case is not space efficient. The soft cases that are being sewn are small so as not to take up too much of our precious luggage space. The new cases are also very good looking. The fabrics are full of color, with a matching lining.

Let's walk through the steps to the creation of a glasses case.

Step 1: measure and cut fabric


Step 2: iron edge piece

Step 3: fold fabric into proper shape, sew seam with a tight stitch approximately 1/2 centimeter from raw edge of fabric, tack on edging

Step 4: chat with the woman across the table from you

Step 5: insert glasses into finished case!

(if confusion remains about process, refer to photo below for all 5 steps in progression)


These stitching sensations are working to finish 300 glasses cases before we leave on August 4th. They will be having another work time to continue making cases. If you are interested in helping out, talk to one of the women pictured here and I am sure they could give you information. I will post an announcement when the next work time is planned.

Pygmies

One of the people groups to whom we will be ministering are called Pygmies. They live in isolated communities which are separate from other Rwandan communities. Some Pygmies don't even have clothing, furthering their isolation because they are ashamed of their nakedness. They live in mud huts with thatched roofs made by hand and machete. They are behind in that their children do not go to school, and when they are sick, they don't go to a hospital. They are short in stature, around 4 1/2 feet tall, so for once I will be a giant at 5'4."

Here are some photos Gary had from a previous trip and his description of their contents:

"In the lower photo, the person in western clothing kneeling next to the pygmy women is Pastor Emmanuel, a good friend of mine. It appears this may be where we help build the shelters. Please begin praying for the CEER leaders as they continue with the initial contacts there. Also, pray that their hearts will be softened to hear the gospel. Pray that we are open to the Lord's leading and will should the ministry emphasis change again. Pray that our service there will be done in humility and with a burning desire to glorify Christ."

Introductions

Our team members and a short bio about each:

AIMEE HEDRICK:
I am really looking forward to this opportunity to work with the team going to Rwanda, as well as the believers there. It’s exciting to work together as the Body of Christ in a global way. I hope to continue this kind of partnership as I pursue career missions with New Tribes Mission in Papua New Guinea.

BOB GENTILI:
Who--Bob Gentili, member of Valley since ' 94, What do-- currently a member of the worship team, Why I want to go to Rwanda--I want to support missionaries from Valley and apply Matthew 28:18-20 to my life. Thank you Valley Church for your support on past trips and your support on this one.

GARY RODGERS
Gary hasn't given us a bio yet, maybe I should just make something up...

JEREMY WHITE

JESSICA MILLIGAN:
My name is Jessica Milligan. Im 18 and just finished my first year of college. I will be transferring to George Fox University in Oregon this fall to pursue a career in nursing. I feel God has called me to that field to meet the physical as well as spiritual needs of people. I will be serving on the medical team in Rwanda and I am excited to see how God will use me on this trip and if His will permits it, open doors for future medical missions in my future as a nurse.

JOHN ROSTEN:
I'm John Rosten, and I've been a part of Valley Church for 28 years. I really enjoy being a part of missions ministry, especially through providing eyecare and donated glasses to those in need. Combining evangelism, church planting, and eyecare minstry has been a personal passion. I'm excited to be a part of the Rwanda team, and look forward to seeing God at work as we reach out to others in His Name.

JULES HAYS:
I am a professional photographer. I graduated two years ago from Biola University where I developed a heart for social justice and a love of travel. I am going to Rwanda to document the work done by the team. My prayer is that God might use my art to tell the story of the places where Valley Church has a ministry.

KAT BITTLE

KATIE FRIEDRICH:
My name is Katie Friederich and I just finished my first year of medical school at Loma Linda University, in southern California. I hope to one day become a pediatrician in a yet to be determined sub-specialty.
I am 23 and the second of four children. I have attended Valley Church since my family moved to CA in 1990. While I have found a wonderful church to attend by my school, I still love Valley and enjoy coming back to the church I called home for so many years.
I have been on several missions trips in the past and absolutely loved the experiences. Meeting believers from different countries, who speak different languages and have different cultural practices really serves to remind me of the diversity of the body of Christ. What is more, I am always encouraged by the common faith in our Lord and Savior shared by myself and those I am working alongside. How exciting to think that Christ's kingdom expands around the world! And how exciting to be able to share the truth of Christ's message with people who may have never heard it before!
I have been looking for an opportunity to travel to Rwanda since my sophomore year of undergrad. When my dad called to tell me Valley was traveling there this summer I knew I had to go! I am very excited to see how God will use me and the rest of the team. I hope to be able to share the love of Christ and the joy I have found in Him with the people we will be working with. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you when we return!


MARIE HEILMAN
MARK NELSON

MATT BARR


MICHELLE WRIGHT

STEVE TREASURE

TRISTAN NORRIS

Also attending, but has not yet given us a photo:
Leonard Schilling