Dear
When you think of Rwanda, what do you think of? I’ve found that most people who have heard of this small, landlocked, country in East Africa remember it for only one thing: the Rwandan Genocide in 1994. I was certainly one of these people. It was partly because of this image I had of Rwanda that I almost turned down an amazing opportunity to discover Rwanda for myself.
Recently a friend invited me to go on a mission trip to Rwanda May 8 – 23. On this mission trip, I will be part of a Discovery Team with Word Made Flesh (WMF), a non-profit Christian missions organization devoted to serving the most vulnerable of the world’s poor. This trip will help me complete the cross-cultural requirement I need to finish my degree and finally receive my diploma.
Since I decided to join this Discovery Team, many have asked me, “Why Rwanda?” For all my life, whenever Rwanda is mentioned, the genocide that occurred there is mentioned in the same breath. I was born in 1993, so I was barely a year old when the worst of the atrocities happened. As part of this Discovery Trip, we will be learning how the genocide came about. I would like to find out, first hand, how the country has recovered and what God has done to change things there. I realize I could learn a lot of this by doing research on the Internet, but I want to meet the people. I’ve gone on other mission trips, and I learned so much more by being there than I would have by Googling.
During this trip, our team will join with WMF’s missions team in Kigali, Rwanda, as they seek to build relationships with the women and children in the slums of Kigali and lead them to a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ. Our trip will include serving the children living in the slums, partnering with other local organizations to get a broader look of what God is doing in Kigali, and traveling around the city to gain a better perspective of Rwandan culture as a whole.
I wanted to send you this letter first to update you on my life happenings and second to ask for your support. For this trip to take place, we need two things: prayer and financial support. We have many prayer needs for this trip. It would mean the world to me if you could join me in praying for the following aspects of the trip. Pray that God would draw in the people that He wants to go on this trip. Also, that He would prepare the hearts of the team, as well as those we will interact with. Pray that He would bless the WMF Rwanda team already in the country and the work that they are doing.
Our second need is for financial support. The cost of the trip for each participant is estimated at $3200. Any amount that you could give toward this trip will help my team and I reach Rwanda. Whether you give $20, $50, $100, or anything above or below these amounts, every dollar helps us. I’ve included in this envelope a form to mail donations to WMF, with my name on the account form. If you would rather donate online, here is the link to my donation account website: purecharity.com/terry-allison-jr-2017-rwanda-discovery-team. All donations are tax-deductible.
In my experience with past missions trips, the people living in the areas impact our lives while we are with them. I believe this trip won’t be any different and I want to keep myself open to what God has in store for me.
If you are willing to support me through prayers, donations, or both, please let me know. I would love to keep you updated on the results of this trip and what your support makes possible.
Thank you,
Terry Allison, Jr.
Terry Allison, Jr. 