Skate Missions: Jul 15, 2009

Partner with us

Skate Missions are not possible with out the prayers and support of people like you. Consider joining us as a prayer warrior for the teams heading out on these missions....email info@ChristianSkaters.com

We also are looking for individuals willing to partner with us financially. Donations can be made online at www.Causes.com/ChristianSkaters and are tax deductible. We also are in need of unused air miles, rental car point, hotel awards, etc. These unused points can help us to tremendously off-set the cost of travel, visit more place, and share the gospel to even more people. Will you join us on the mission? Email us to get involved.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Rwanda Day 4

Today is the team's fourth day in Rwanda. The festival starts on Friday and we are so excited to be a part of what the Lord has planned for this event. Today was a rather long day for the team as they waited most of the day for a generator, a skill saw and screws. I am not sure if they ever did get the generator, but God is good and He provided workers to help make building the ramp possible.

Here is a God story about this trip....
Two years ago we began talking with a pastor at CALVARY CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES named Pastor John Pierre Nkunda. He had seen our partner ministry in South Africa and asked if we could come to Rwanda and build ramps for his church. Each month he would email to ask when we would come, confident on the Lord's call to start a skate ministry. And, although we wanted to come and build, we had to wait for the Lord's timing. (We had no finances to make the trip nor buy the materials. We all have full-time jobs and families to consider as well.) Still, Pastor Nkunda was persistent. He even traveled to the Rwanda airport at one point to meet David Redelfs who was on a trip with the Palau ministry to hand deliver a letter asking us to come at one point. (We keep the letter on the office wall).

Fast forward to two years later, we receive a call from the Palau team asking if we knew anyone who would be willing to help with the skate end of the event. I asked what they would be doing with the events after the event, and they had no plans. So, we are happy to say that the Lord has provided ramps for our newest partner in Rwanda. We are awed at how the Lord worked and the faith of this Pastor. We are confident that the Lord will use this skatepark to do amazing things in Rwanda. Please be praying for Pastor Nkunda as he pioneers the sport of skateboarding and the first skatepark/skate ministry in the country of Rwanda.

We are also thankful for the help of his church with building today. GOD IS GOOD....all the time!

Meet Pastor Nkunda here:

Ramp Building

Zac's Labor Force

Much thanks to Jeff Pieper for being a HUGE part in getting us there!

Want to see more...
Check out Zac Archuleta's blog here

"We wake up around 5am when the sun came up. We ate breakfast, shot photos, read Gods word, and just were overall psyched to be in Africa. The mornings are crazy cause as soon as the sun comes up its "GO TIME" for everyone here. People are singing, jogging, fighting, and just going crazy. I love it. Its sooo ALive here.

Random Thought: Listen to Hillsong Uniteds new album. :) Soo good!!

(CITY HOPE)So we meet everyone around 8am and hop in a bus to meet up with some people that are connected with Palau somehow. It was a really cool experience cause it was the first time we really were able to drive through the city. I had a smile from ear to ear the whole time. My first favorite thing of the morning was watching this lady sweep a dirt road. haha My thought "Do you know you are sweeping a dirt road"? Cool, our first stop is at this place called "City Hope". Its like an orphanage, but they house beaten women and pretty much whoever needs shelter. We showed up and kids started chasing our bus. It was soooo rad. They gave us such a warm welcome.
After meeting the directors of City Hope, they released us into the area where the kids were playing. They awaited us at the entrance. As soon as i walked through the gate, i was bombarded with kids hugging me, looking at my tattoos, smiling, playing, holding my hand, and overall just psyched that we were there. I stand out like a sore thumb also. haha This is when i started to believe that I was going to be ministered to! My heart broke for these kids but at the same time it was rejoicing for them because they all were so happy and had such child like faith! :) :) :)

Play time ended!! :( They brought all the kids in this room. Probably around 300...maybe not. They shared a message with the kids and then we were able to introduce ourselves to the kids. They were so quiet and obedient. Shortly after our intro, Elijah and I did a mini demo. These kids have never seen skateboards so us just doing an ollie or even rolling for that matter made these kids faces glow. It was funny cause Elijah wanted me to hippy hop (board goes under and i jump over and land on my board) over him so when he arched his body on the ground i decided last moment to coffin (lay flat on my board) and go under him. The kids were estatic!!

Lastly to end off our City Hope experience the kids sang this awesome song and danced for us! It was like a huge party. The kids were dancing so good...dang they have skill. ha I was dancing and having a blast. Soo amazing! We prayed and we're on our way. So sad...i could've hung there all day and played with those kids.

(Hotel Rwanda) We piled in the bus to go to "Hotel Rwanda". The real one. It was pretty intense. I didn't know too much about the hotel but was definitely excited to be in a place where so much history happened.

(City Tour) We meet up with the Mayor of Kigali and he sent us on a tour of the city with one of the people that works for the city. His name was "BRUNO". Yes, like the new ridiculous movie that just came out.
Bruno showed us the first building ever built in Rwanda. It is exactly in the center of the country. We didn't get to go in cause the are renovating it but i got a photo. Next stop was the site where while the genocide was going on the Prime Minister and 12 Germans (i think) were gunned down. That place was super heavy....Man, the things that Rwanda has been through is ridiculous. Thats why i don't understand why they are soooo friendly and are always smiling!!

I know that this sounds like a cliche thing to say, but AMERICA.....We have it sooo easy!! My heart breaks for this country. This is something that i think everyone needs to experience. It makes you examine your heart and put yourself in check. Soooo intense!! Thank you for following this blog!!

Staytuned!!

Zac"