Archives For Trauma Healing Recovery

2016 Rwanda Trauma Mission – Global Trauma Recovery Institute

Heloise "Lois" Ridley, MBA, MA —  May 27, 2016
FullSizeRender

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

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

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.

In Trauma Healing Recovery , , , , ,
 permalink

7 Lessons for Trauma and Crisis Healing Learned @ Global COP

Heloise "Lois" Ridley, MBA, MA —  April 2, 2016

Global COP

Hello again,

I posted on my Parent and Family Support Facebook Page about this. I learned so much at the Trauma Healing Institute’s (THI) annual event: Global Community of Practice. I was grateful we as students of Global Trauma Recovery Institute (GTRI) were allowed to attend as part of our immersion trauma training.  Our professors Dr. Diane Langberg and Dr. Phil Monroe are leaders in TRI and support its mission:

“The Trauma Healing Institute at American Bible Society is equipping people, churches, and NGOs around the world to care for the more than one in seven people worldwide who suffer severe wounds of the heart and spirit in the aftermath of conflict, disaster or abuse.”

American Bible Society: 7 Lessons from the Global Community of Practice National Reports

These and many more tips I learned from attendees who reported updates and trauma healing testimonies from almost every continent.

National representative shared how they implemented the Healing the Wounds of Trauma: How the Church Can Help (HWT) curriculum for adults and children which has been translated in 173 languages for recovery training workshops in 68 countries for lay and professional caregivers as well as support interventions to aid refugees and others who have suffered trauma from war, immigration, conflict, natural disasters, extreme poverty, violence, domestic abuse, rape and other losses.

  1. It can be done! There are many unsung heroes in the world who work with God to bring drastic or even subtle reform in people’s lives. They may work with groups but its often done helping one hurting person at a time.

  2. Culturally relevant interventions help heal invisible and sometimes secret emotional trauma wounds for survivors and victims… (HWT) is a great example.

  3. To be effective in trauma support: it is critical to listen to their perspective first. Listen. Listen and then listen some more before offering suggestions or opinions.

  4. Many wounds are helped by encouraging and allowing trauma survivors and children in crisis to tell their story and receive compassionate listening and validation. WOW!

  5. Multiplication with God is effective for ministry: The THI organization tries to not only help individuals but also utilize training weeks to equip new support providers who will then work to become facilitators.

  6. Some national reports (including the US)  left you weeping and were difficult to even listen to let alone imagine how the survivors endure. So many in our are suffering horribly in complex situations and we do not have clear answers. We each need to help trauma survivors and victims in any way we can with long-term effort.  

  7. Testimonies were inspiring and reminded us that it is worth persevering to heal trauma wounds. The integration of the Bible and Psychology is effective medicine.

     

It was a room full of heroes as far as I am concerned. Many pictures I still cannot share.  It was a blessing to hear God’s work through Healing the Wounds of Trauma curriculum which has been adopted in numerous cultures and languages around the globe.

Hearing worship in various languages at the same time was perhaps the most delicious part of the event. I cannot express in words how fabulous it was. I saw some friends wiping their eyes afterwards too so I get the impression I was not the only one touched.

Now, I am wondering how HWT has been used to help trauma and crisis victims and survivors who are Children and Youth in the US? Mmmmm….

If you know PLEASE share your wealth of knowledge =) You can use the comments or the contact form below for my inbox.

 

Blessings to you today,

Heloise

 

 

In Human Trafficking, Trauma Healing Recovery, Trauma Informed Care
 permalink