Community Works

The other night I was talking to my brother about the void I have felt as I prepare to move to Rwanda. That void is obviously one I wish could be filled by my beautiful mother. If you knew her you would agree that she would have loved helping me plan for the next two years. She would have been thrilled at the idea of teaching at KICS and working in missions. My mother was an excellent teacher and mentor. She truly loved the Lord and people!! I am simply filled with sadness when I think of how much fun the two of us would have had dreaming and planning this move.

My mom in her early 20's teaching a ladies Bible Class in Zambia.

While tears and sadness represent life without mom, I am also experiencing something wonderful. I am experiencing community, I am experiencing "church". While my father is away in China and my mother is deceased I have had to rely on others to fill the roles my parents would have filled.

The Lord has truly provided people to be my mentors, to give me wisdom, to give me advice on money, insurance and health care, to listen to my worries, to pray for me, to be excited with me, to financially back me and to believe in me. The church is made of many parts, each of us have different gifts. Gifts that are used in a variety of ways and on a variety of people. Though she is not perfect and she has made a number of mistakes, Christ's bride is still beautiful and I have witnessed how wonderful she can be!

Praise God for providing such an abundance of funding. On Sunday a dear friend of my family organized a glorified bake sale at Downtown Church. Service was held in the Benson Auditorium so we set up tables in the lobby. We decorated the tables with African decor and I posted pictures of Rwanda and myself in Africa. Thanks to friends and family who baked pies and cakes and helped me set up the sale the day was a success. By the end of the day I had $3500 more for my second year in Rwanda!! Praise the Lord and thanks to so many generous people. After the fund raiser I was expressing my amazement at the generosity from so many I do not even know. A friend replied by saying "Yes, but they know who you're working for."

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Add to the Beauty

I love this photograph because of the message in the face of this woman. I took this photo while visiting the village of one of our Co-Teachers, David, in Kenya. David's home sits in the midst of hills and tea fields. On this particular day David took us on a long hike through the region. We stopped to watch tea pickers and learn a bit about the process of growing tea.

As I shot photo after photo of the people working, this woman intrigued me. For her 12 hour day she was paid $3. The weight of the basket on her back and the weathered clothes indicate that her job is not a breeze. Despite an extremely low salary, little food and a strict quota she is smiling. Not just smiling...glowing. When I look at this photograph I am reminded of the first chapter in James. "Consider it pure Joy...when you face trials of many kinds." What a lesson to be learned!

Often people refer to the Continent of Africa as being the Dark Continent. While war, AIDS, poverty and sickness are very prevalent, I believe I have experienced more light than darkness. The words found in Sara Groves song "Add to the Beauty" inspire my approach towards my upcoming move.

"We come with purposes written on our hearts, written on our souls. We come to every new morning. With possibilities only we can hold. Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces. Calling out the best of who we are. I want to add to the beauty. To tell a better story. I want to shine with the light. That's burning up inside."

I am not planning on taking God to Rwanda. Nor am I planning on bringing Jesus to Kigali. They are already there. I believe they are alive and well within that place. I believe there are beautiful things happening in Rwanda and I simply long to join God in His work. I want to join God as he works in the lives of my students and my future Rwandan friends. Looking at the face of the lady picking tea reminds me that Africa is full of beauty and the Fruits of the Spirit. My desire is to simply go to Rwanda and learn and add to the beauty.

Please pray that my eyes, ears and heart will be open to what God is already doing in Rwanda. May I allow the Counselor to guide me to places where God's dream is in motion.

You have probably seen the movie Hotel Rwanda. If you would like to watch another movie about the 1994 Genocide I recommend Sometimes in April. The HBO film touches on a variety of stories during the 100 days of Genocide. I would also recommend a few good reads. We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families, stories from Rwanda written by journalist Philip Gourevitch. Left To Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, written by Ilibagiza a Rwandan lady who lost most of her family. More recommendations to come!

A story of Faithfulness!!

Yesterday I received my plane ticket! My departure date is set for August 23 at 4 in the afternoon. After touching down in Washington D.C. and Ethiopia I will arrive in Kigali on August 25th!

Having an actual ticket in my hand has truly made this endeavor much more of a reality. The ticket represents a clear example of God's provisions and faithfulness. A couple of weeks ago Kyla and I decided to step out and purchase a One-Way ticket to Rwanda. The decision felt quite "leap of Faithish". (That is the best phrase to express my feelings of that week.)

A couple of days following the big purchase, I received news from Dave Jenkins that Kyla and I would be able to live with their family for the first month and half and then we would take over House-sitting for the Jenkins from October to January. This was wonderful news considering we will not have to pay for housing! The following week I also received several significant donations and three more monthly commitments.

So, as of now. In order to stay two years, I am still in need of about $10,000. If Kyla and I decide to purchase a vehicle, I will need about $20,000.

The entire fund raising process has been incredibly humbling! I am amazed at the generosity of people and their willingness to give.

I am also thankful for the people who are offering their time and advice. Just the other day I was walking with a mentor of mine. I was expressing my feelings and need to feel "sent" to Rwanda and supported with prayers. She commited to having her prayer group bring me before the Lord. The next evening I was worshiping and praying with many members from church. During a time of prayer several members of the group brought my name before the Lord. He is providing, I suppose I should do more Lily gazing and Bird watching! What a reminder.

Thank you for your prayers!