Mission Redemption Rwamagana
December 2009

In This Issue:
Mission Accomplished  Glasses, Goats, and the Gospel  Festival Perceptions  Team Testimonies
A Personal Note from Dan  Photo Gallery

Glasses, Goats, and the Gospel by Dan Owens

One $40 goat changed the economic stability of each family that received one.

It’s hard for us to imagine how a $1.00 pair of reading glasses can make such a difference. In our country, we can buy a pair of ‘readers’ in various strengths in almost any drug or grocery store. I even know people who keep these readers in every room of their home. But for the poor in Rwanda, affording glasses, let alone finding them is close to impossible.

Each day, Ben sent multiple teams out into the countryside to dispense the needed reading glasses to hundreds of people. Each team was made up of a team leader from our group, pastors from the committee, and those who could interpret for our team. Also included were those who could share Christ with those who received the glasses. The teams would leave in a van carrying a large suitcase filled with eyeglasses and eye charts.

By the end of our week, approximately 4,000 pairs of eyeglasses had been given away! There is something very special about helping someone to see again. When they are given the right strength glasses and begin to read or see things up close, a large smile comes across their face. It is then you know that they have the right pair and life is going to be just a little better for them.

Life not only got better for those who received eyeglasses, but also for the families who received a goat, provided by our friends in the United States. Two families from each of the 30 parishes in Rwamagana District had been selected to receive a goat. On Thursday afternoon, they came to a churchyard where 60 goats had been tied to a stake. In lottery style a name was called and they could select whichever goat they wanted. It was so fun to watch these people lead their goats away, or even tie them to the back of a bicycle for the long journey home. We were pleased to tell the committee that we had raised enough money to give away another 60 goats, which literally made them jump up and down with joy. It’s amazing how one goat can truly change a family’s income and well-being.

Pastor Dany took this opportunity to share Christ with the people there and many of the pastors who were there also talked to the recipients about Christ. It was wonderful to be able to tell those receiving the goats that they were a gift from people in America who loved them and wanted them to know that God loved them. Each gift truly opens the door to plant spiritual seeds into the lives of people.

Dan Owens

More articles in this issue:

Mission Accomplished   Glasses, Goats, and the Gospel   Festival Perceptions   Team Testimonies

A Personal Note from Dan   Photo Gallery