Athletes in Action News and Commentary

Rwanda Hoops Update

The coach's clinic and youth basketball camp  are  in  the final stages. The camp finishes this afternoon (Wednesday) and the clinic concludes tomorrow (Thursday).

Coach Joe is a veteran of foreign AIA  clinics and camps.  He shared his coaching experience in Rwanda.

"Clinic and camp have  gone incredibly well, he said." I feel we have overcome some of the communication issues and I think we have laid a fundamental foundation of good coaching and good fundamental play in the players.

"The Rwanda coaches are very coachable people--very respective and very appreciative."

Coach Joe has also engaged in spiritual conversations.

"I offered the love of Jesus on one (coach). It was something that he knew very well. And he gave it back to me."

Paul--Reporter

Conference for widows in Rwanda

 

  This is a short note to ask you to pray very specifically for us as we are hosting a conference for widows in partnership with Campus for Christ Rwanda. We are expecting 200 women to attend, some from other parts of the country. When I think of all that these Rwandan women have endured and endure still today, I'm very humbled and wonder if we have anything to offer them. However, I know that we have living hope, ourselves--our God stories, and love to give them.

Our desire is to love them through time, affirmation, gifts (Bible, lunch), physical touch, and service. We will be using Isaiah 43, 61, 62 but our theme is Hope that Job 14:7 offers. We will be washing their feet, praying for them one by one, listening to them, and offering God's truth. We are also using the story of Ruth and Naomi as their situation is similar to many women here. God uses the neglected, shamed, least of these to bring forth the line of David a few generations later and eventually Jesus himself-showing God's heart and character to restore and heal and redeem.

Many of these women have lost husbands, sons and daughters in the Rwandan Genocide 16 years ago, others simply passed away but in every case, the woman is left to try to make her own way through life often overlooked, under appreciated, ignored. One woman told our local staff person at a previous conference in December that she had prayed to receive a Bible for FIVE YEARS! When she was given a Bible at this conference, it was the first time anyone had given her anything in 22 years. So she was deeply touched and overwhelmed to receive such a gift and answer to her prayers.

Please pray for our protection from the enemy who will try to mess with our minds, the plans we believe God has inspired. It will be very emotional and intense. I am presenting in the morning and the afternoon. That God's love would be the motivation for every word spoken, every act, and every thought entertained and be evident on our faces. Pray that we will be humble, submit to the Lord and give him authority over all of us, trusting him and putting all our confidence in him to do it and nothing in our own strength. Pray also for clear translation and the details that have to come together to pull an event of this size off well.

There are about 18 women from our group involved. We begin at 10h00 to 16h00 on Tuesday (that would be while you sleep) but if you could lift us up before you head to bed we are confident that God will hear and honor your prayers on our behalf. Thanks in advance for fighting with us on behalf of these women.

Steph

BASKETBALL IN RWANDA

 

 

I sat down with the technical director of basketball here in Kigali, Rwanda, Shema Didier, to learn more about the state of Rwanda basketball.

 

Didiers' role involves competitions, training and clinics. He met with AIA staff last May to coordinate 

our visit.

 

Didier said that Rwanda started playing basketball in 1977. It sponsors senior, second and junior level teams. They are no professional teams. Rwanda participates in different African championships. It finished just 12^th in Angola in 2007, but improved to 9^th in Liberia in 2009. Rwanda hopes to make the finals in  2011. It also hopes to participate in world competitions in the future.

 

The technical director appreciates AI A's presence. He believes AIA offers a good program with expert coaches that  teach Christian principles.

 

“That (Christian principles) is so, so good for the development of players,” he said.

 

Paul--Reporter

 

AIA HOSTS CLINIC AND CAMPS

AIA HOSTS CLINIC AND CAMPS

 

AIA's desire to begin a basketball clinic and camp in Rwanda is now a reality.

 

Yesterday (Monday), about 100 coaches took part in the first day of the clinic. Then in the afternoon, about 80 young people participated in the camp.

 

American coaches discovered the that the language barrier here is a challenge. Many camp and clinic attendees speak and understand French but not English. The coaches now use interrupters.

 

Rwanda seems relatively young country in terms of basketball and so coaches are focusing on the fundamentals of coaching and playing the game.

 

Coaches are demonstrating and conducting drills with both Rwanda coaches and players. Both coaches and players are receptive to the instruction. There is talent here in both the coaching and player ranks. It just needs development.

 

The clinic and camp will continue through most of the week.

 

News and Notes...The basketball stadium here is quite modern. It is indoor with a open-air arrangement. The court surface is rubberized. The area seats about 1,500. After the camp last night, an AIA pickup team (with mostly women players) dropped a 60-45 decision to an African team. One of our players, Robert, shared his testimony.

 

Paul—Reporter

Rwanda Basketball Update

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