We have settled back into NZ after a truly remarkable trip to Rwanda. Hamish and I, Dianne Spain, Chris Jenkins, Jill Findlay and Libby and Paul Daniels have returned with a greater view of how amazing God is and the extraordinary answers he has for people in their darkest times especially when facing traumas so deep noone except God himself understands.

Rwanda, is such a nation that is still suffering from trauma that resulted from a genocidal mania so evil that in the brief period of 3 months from April to June 1994 over 1, million Tutsi people were slaughtered in a machete-hacking nightmare carried out by Hutu’s who planned and strategised one of the worlds most evil atrocities.

So, how do I summarise what happened as we were simply invited to take Godspaces for trauma to Rwanda a nation still severely traumatised and while we were there revisiting that trauma in their annual memorial time?!

The first thing to say is what an extraordinary privilege it was to have been invited to teach and train so many outstanding pastors, counsellors, ministry of health and world vision participants selected from all over Rwanda in our simple but powerful life changing theory and practice of: “Godspaces for trauma “. We spent almost 14 days non stop teaching and training a group of 90 selected people from all the provinces all over Rwanda.

My overwhelming conclusion was that for Rwanda it was their time for the Godspaces – We felt it was a divine appointment –simply the right people with the right message at the right time! The degree of trauma in the nation is something we cannot even begin to comprehend.

So thank God that we did not go claiming to be experts in the type of trauma they had experienced; but rather we went simply as a team of servants, much like the disciples armed with the loaves and fishes – the little we did have – which in this case was the amazing knowledge that as people are taught go to their own Godspaces they can be guaranteed of an encounter with the living God who is the bread of life, and who promises to be the drink for their thirsts – and as we shared what we had that is simply what happened!!.

In response to us training both Tutis and Hutus how to experience God, by using their own Godspaces they began to encounter God in a new and powerful ways. In this way they were able to then bring their new found experiences of God to their deepest hidden traumas. And, these amazing, resilient and beautiful people began to feel safe enough to open up their lives and hearts to us.

It was only because they knew that by using their Godspaces, they were then empowered to know and experience God’s protection, safety, comfort and sorrow for what they had been through. And, it was only then that they began to feel anywhere near safe enough to tell us their own personal stories.

Their own stories were all ones of remarkable survival – and yet these people were and are the counsellors and pastors – all themselves still severely traumatised – but wanting to help their nation Rwanda not only recover but also to be assured of a safe future free of any fear of what might happen.

Obviously I do not have the space to detail those stories – but in time they will be available via godspaces.com showing live footage in documentary format of what he did and how we did it.

So what is the future for us with Rwanda?

We have made a 5 year commitment to supervise via internet and from time-to-time with on the ground supervision especially for those we have already begun training.

I will return in about 6 months but also our goal is to send one of our team back for a couple of months to personally care for and support those locals that we trained and who have already begun to do the hands on work.

So how can you help?

Pray support is always appreciated.

Financial help is also welcomed for several reasons;

1) For Hamish and I this is all now part of our new faith venture as we have one salary coming from our amazing church because we are committed to being their pastors; so we are anticipating the other salary will come from those of you who feel called to partner with us to carry out the out the vision God has given us to teach Refocussing and Godspaces; so your contributions in this faith venture are greatly appreciated and welcomed.

2) The Godspaces online is still being researched and resourced; and our trip to Rwanda is all part of that that is why all the sessions were filmed to create an amazing documentary of what took place in our first trip to Rwanda – which will be made available as part of that process online.

Finally, if you have read all of this well done!!

One last thing – Hamish wrote an amazing poem (apparently in one of his bored moments listening to me – can you imagine that?!!) anyway even if I have to admit it his poem is truly amazing, and captured something so powerful I am sure it was inspired – the Rwandans loved it and they claimed it as their own poem. I have included it below. The poem is called “Cry Rwanda’– trust me it is well worth reading.

God bless heaps.

Luv Di & Hamish

Donations to:

Refocussing Trust.
Westpac: 0301750203272-02

Overseas contributors require the following:

WPAC NZ 2W 100438 0301750203272-02