The President of the Rwanda Association of Christian Counselors was a blessing to our Global Trauma Recovery class at the 2016 Community of Practice conference.

This is actually a repost with a special thank you to all who have been supporting this mission both in prayers and donations!!! We are getting close =)

Rwanda Trauma Healing Recovery Team: Will You Pray for Us?

As part of a trauma certificate program, we are in the middle of our last training course and preparing for our Rwanda, Africa immersion trip for trauma recovery this summer; our focus will be domestic abuse. (Yes, I also attend Liberty University for a counseling degree –  and yes I need help, LOL).

Rwanda is the beautiful country well know for recovering from the genocide of 1994 when 800,000 were slaughtered within 100 days. This trip will be a team of counselors and students to continue the working with Rwandan key leaders and direct care workers already serving within their communities to aid recovery.

Since the initial 2009 funded by the American Association of Christian Counselors GTRI has been learning from and assisting healing efforts in Rwanda (see the history at the bottom).

I am grateful many are healing from trauma through God’s love, one life at a time.

We would appreciate serious prayers and petitions to Heaven for our team of clinicians and students going to Rwanda in July!  Will you pray for us as we begin our physical preparations, raise thousands of dollars for funding and study? Please also pray that the Holy Spirit will bring healing and growth.

How many youth do you know who have been traumatized and need help? If you know me personally, you know my mission: to love, help and equip young people and their parents who are in trauma, in challenging situations or simply need to grow in Christ .

Photo Courtesy of Heather Drew of GTRI

I would love this opportunity to refine my trauma healing skills with the team in Rwanda… while I continue to partner with God to assist and empower youth and equip parents as I have been called to do for years.

Would you help me serve others?

On this summer’s trip to Rwanda, I would serve alongside mentors and fellow colleagues to bring culturally relevant counseling resources and training to Rwandan caregivers who have been requesting Global Trauma Recovery Institute (GTRI) to continue its annual support, resources and training. The cost of the trip will be approximately $4,900 but I will submit $3,500 by May 14, 2016. The team and I are working together to raise the core funds needed. Therefore, I am humbly asking you to consider joining me in this partnership.

To Donate:

Credit Card Donation: go to website http://www.biblical.edu/index.php/give-a-gift/give-a-gift-donation

giving tab…. Donate now red tab…. fill out the form…. purpose Global Trauma Recovery Institute…. responding to other…. comment Heloise Ridley GTRI 2016 Immersion.

 Tax Deductible Check: made payable and mailed to: The Father’s House Christian Fellowship, 580 Victoria Ct., Pen Argyl, PA 18072 check memo Heloise Ridley: GTRI 2016 Immersion.

Photo Courtesy of Heather Drew of GTRI

History of Global Trauma Recovery Institute Projects in Rwanda Since 2009

(Background info from GTRI)

In 2009 Drs Diane Langberg and Philip Monroe led a small listening trip funded by the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Soon this project was titled, Project Tuza. Dialogue with government officials (heads of departments of health, education, justice, etc.) and key Anglican bishops led to invitations to bring basic trauma recovery training to the country and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between AACC and the Government of Rwanda.

 

With funding from WorldVision donors and AACC members, Project Tuza completed its responsibilities with training trips in 2011 and 2013.

 

Project Tuza from Andrew Bilindabagabo on Vimeo.

Since 2013 Biblical Seminary’s Global Trauma Recovery Institute has provided the leadership in adding to the original training with partnerships formed with the Bible Society of Rwanda and the birth of the Rwanda Association of Christian Counselors.

Trips in 2014 and 2015 brought together GTRI students along with Rwandan caregivers for mutual learning about the problem of domestic violence, addictions, suicide and other trauma related issues.