God Story: Fuel & Friends

Sorry for the grammar! I wanted to get this out quick! Truly a God story!!

Some weeks ago we learned there was a big fuel problem between Kenya and Uganda.
It was only a matter of time before we here in Rwanda would start to see the effects of this, low & behold it wasn’t long till we found it becoming harder and harder to find fuel.
It became some sort of game in the international community, always phoning several people or receiving several phone calls. T he topic always “where is the fuel today, and how much can I get?” It made me think about the stories I was told as a kid about the great depression in the U.S. of cars lined up for miles out side patrol stations just to get a few liters of fuel.

Now a few weeks later the problem is still very much a reality!
Where is the fuel? How much can I get today?
On one day I literally went to over 20 patrol stations and no one would give me any fuel, all of them saying they had none. The strange thing was that at some stations I would see vehicles being served. I was getting desperate, I began to beg the attendants just to give me a few liter’s, I would pay them double the price.
Still no takers! This went on for a day or so. Instead they started asking me if I had a Bon. I thought what the hec is a Bon?? No one was answering my questions, but it was obvious that the people who were getting fuel had these Bon’s. So it looked to me that the fuel was not the main issue, it was there, but to obtain any of it, one must have these Bon’s.
I went to still another station, this time praying before getting out of the car. Lord I said this is not my problem, please let me find the answers here, I need fuel!! I asked to the attendant if they had fuel he said NO. I asked if I could buy a Bon. Not understanding he said yes, give me your Bon I can help you.
I explained to him that I did not have a Bon but would do what ever it took to acquire one, asking him to please help me. He began to explain to me that I needed to go to the main office not to far from there and talk to them about buying the Bon’s. Then when having them I could go to any patrol station affiliated with them to get fuel.
Thank God, now I understood, it is some sort of prepay system. Going to the head office I felt hope, I am finally getting some where I thought. I went to reception telling them I would like to buy some Bon’s, No problem sir, the lady behind the desk says as she asks me for my account number. What account number I ask. Oh she says this is your first time with us, to buy Bon’s? Yes I said can I please set up an account? No she says I’m sorry we are not receiving any new accounts at this time, there is a fuel problem in Rwanda you know. But if you would like to send us a letter of request, we can at least begin the process.
By this time I thought I was going to lose it…. So how long do you expect to have this problem I asked and does this mean that I can not get any fuel from any of your patrol stations? We hope it will be fixed in a week or so she says, and No I am sorry, you can not get fuel with out the Bon’s. So with a polite smile and kind thank you I left the office…..

I thought to my self, what the hec is going on??? There is more to this problem than there seems.
If they won’t help me then I guess I will go see there competitor. Driving to the next station, I pull in line as there were other trucks being fueled. I can see all the attendants and what looks like the manger all scrambling around looking at me and trying to decide who was going to talk to me. Finally a man appears at my window, in French and in very broken English he says “I sorry we fuel no”.
I tell him I know I want to buy a Bon. So in Kin Rwandan he starts saying “ok, ok, no problem give me Bon, I help you. I think oh (Q&#$*Q%@$*) here I go again. Just then this boy who speaks very good English comes and asked if he can help. Buy this time I had already been talking or trying to talk to this guy for the last 20min. I felt like hugging the kid! So with the help of my new found friend I explain to the guy that my car is on less than empty, I have been to more than 20 stations and no one, especially his competitors will help me. I find my self explaining to him the attendants and what appears to be the manager all about my ministry and how God has called us to Rwanda.

To make a long story short…..

I find out this guy is the owner of the station, he and all his workers are Christians. They put fuel in my car; take me for a drive out of the city, up to the top of some mountain that happens to be the main fuel refinery of the country. The mountain top is cluttered with 50 to 60 fuel tanker most of witch, are off loading. I am then lead to an office where I meet more Christians who want to know all about my ministry as they are setting up my account. After the fact, I am told, don’t worry about fuel!! Any times you need more Bon’s just come and see us.

On our way back to Kigali, the owner of the station asked me if I wouldn’t mind coming to him when I need the fuel.
I tell him, you are the only one that helped me when I really needed it. Yes my friend I will come to you when I need fuel….

THE END

Can I have a break Coach??

After arriving in Rwanda the first house we were staying in was in a very dark area (spiritually speaking.)I will never forget this one night. We had been in Rwanda for three months, it was very late, and all of us were asleep. Suddenly around 1 or 2 in the morning, Astrid & I were woken abruptly by a huge thud on the roof above our bed followed by what can only be described as the sound of nails running down a chalk board. It sounded as if a man my size had feel from the sky, landing on our roof. We felt instant free! Looking at each other we both began to pray and loose Satan, what we were feeling did not seem to be physical but more spiritual with physical manifestations. After praying a short time the fear was gone and we felt a peace come over the house.

Now it was time to go outside to see if I could see anything. Of course no such evidence that any thing like that had occurred was found. I went back inside and Astrid and I, very awake at this time and a bit confused decided to pray again and ask the Lord to show us what the hec had happened.

(Our first house..)

I got a vivid picture of an Angel and a demon fighting, the Angel had taken his sword and hit the demon causing him to fall from the sky and land directly above our bed. Of course I was really taken back by such a picture! I thought no way, Is this really you God??? Is my mind playing tricks on me??
In the morning I shared the story with a very good Rwandan friend of ours who is a strong Christian and also was living in that area. Laughing he Said “welcome to Payage (the name of that area), they know you’re here now!!!” He then proceeded to share with us many other freaky stories about that area.

I share that story to set the preface of understanding, of living in a place where God has called me, a place where he wants to see his Glory reveled, his people set free!! Yet to have a enemy that “knows I am here now” and is going to do his best to kill steal and destroy every thing that God has for me here.
I wish I could say that, that was my only run-in with the demonic here, yet on the contrary, it feels at times that it is daily.

Just last week I was asked to speak at a church, the Lord had given me a very hard/confronting message. After running it by the pastor for his approval and receiving the go ahead. The night before I was finalizing my message, Astrid and Three of the girls all of a sudden were very sick! Their bodies hurting, vomiting constantly, it was horrible…. I was ready to call the pastor and cancel, when some thing arose in me and I found my self rebuking the devil and commanding peace, healing and rest to fill my house hold. Automatically things began to calm down. The next morning I find Astrid and Nani my oldest again feeling bad, and on top of that the car wont start.. UMMMMM!!!! The story has a happy ending but I must say it was not easy at all.

This last month especially has been hard on us! I could explain it as being in a rugby or American football game only not being pulled out for a breather….

I have found my self frequently asking the coach(God) “ please let me out of the game, just for a breather!”