All for Him...

Being in the village for over a month now, I have had quite a range of feelings, both from what I see and from what I don't see. Today I had the opportunity again to take a long walk and along the way I was greeted by some of the most beautiful faces. I get plenty of attention simply because of the color of my skin and I must tell you that I love being approached, not only by the kids, but by the adults too. I see the beauty and the wonder and the love here. Yet I also see the situation that they live in and some pain here. There are days that I wish I could lift the eyes of the older folks and let them shine again like the smiles I see on these kids. The history of Rwanda is evident in only a few ways here now and I personally believe one of those ways is in the eyes and the body language of their people.  My desire is to allow God to work through me in some way to reveal Him and His love and help change that for some. Yet it's been hard at times. I miss my family...

It's been too long since I've had enough network strength to be on here to post. In the time since I was last here I've had some great things happen. On Tues. this week I found out that I got the 2 year visa that I'd been praying for. And right before I found that out, I had an awesome experience in outreach ministry deep in the countryside with Pastor Lambert and my friend Emmanuel. We walked for miles first on the dusty road and then across fields and through banana groves to a place where about 25 or 30 Rwandans from that area were gathered, sitting on the ground literally in the field to meet with us, heart the Word of God and sing His praises. It was the most simple of surroundings in the middle of nowhere and yet God surely met with us there. I didn't know how I would be received as there has never been a mzungu (white person) come all the way out there but they were warm and generous with their reception and seemed genuinely happy for the love and care I was ...

This is already a big weekend for me. I met with Pastor John, a new friend, City of Joy Board Member and instrumental piece in the puzzle to get my visa. We have a plan now that seems hopeful and will go in to Kigali this week with my final  paperwork. Then after meeting up with Pastor John I ventured around Kigali with Grace and even accepted a small, basic apartment to share in the city. It's been my intention to get out of the village on the weekends, as most of the staff do, and see the city and  enjoy some more modern conveniences, as well as see some games and have some fun and shopping. So I'll be sharing a place to land whenever either Grace or I or both (and maybe even share it at times with friends who need a place for the night) want to have a place to sleep and freshen up. And the best part is that it's so secure on an old Rwandan woman and her family's property so there is someone here looking after things constantly and it's gated and locked up tight. ...

Well family and friends, this is where things get real. The local immigration office sent me away unwilling to give me a visa yesterday to stay in the country permanently. We aren't giving up and are headed to Kigali tomorrow to work on a solution but the initial shock and fear was there and I shed a couple of years because of it. The situation is a vulnerable on, not a scenario that feels comfortable after giving up my good paying job, my house and my car in the states. Yet this is where we find our God faithful. This is when the picture of that faithfulness becomes vibrant. Do we say we have faith but give up our hope when we can't see the solution? Or do we give ourselves a moment to realize just whose hands we're in? This is the God who set the heavens into place, who parted the sea, who walk on water, who raised the dead. This is who my God is. So today I keep walking out the plan, ever relying on Him to supply all of my needs... Not according to what we have or what w...

As much as I would love to say that every day here has been a breeze, I have to admit that yesterday I had a test of my patience with the Rwandan internet throughout the entire morning as I tried to prepare my visa documents and I'm not quite sure if it came on a bad day or it was the catalyst for the way I felt through the rest of the day. Being a manager at home in the easiest country in the world to live in for 26 years and having a house a car and money of my own was far different than what I know right now. I am dependent and the world is a totally different and unfamiliar place. Kind of a stretch for a type A personality who is used to being self sufficient. Don't get me wrong, I have lots of help here. Everyone has been so awesome in that way. So I felt that frustration build a bit yesterday and pretty much best myself up about it. I'm good at that. Yet I serve a God who has promised new mercies every single morning and I've enjoyed them today. I went to Nyanza t...

After a long flight is was good to touch down in Rwanda on Sunday. We had an engine valve issue so we sat on a sweltering hot plain for 45 minutes waiting for a repair which got us in a little late but safely nonetheless. God is good. It's been a busy 2 1/2 days but wonderful. And it's been such a joy to see the team and meet the new staff. Grace made dinner for me the first two nights of traditional Kenyan food and it was glorious! The girl can cook! We shot basketball wth Todd last night on the new court and I did okay until I got tired in the midst of around the world and showed them just how out of practice I really am. It's a great court now equipped with lights. Lights, I'm telling you! So much fun to be had there and hopes of developing skills with the kids. Organized sports is something the village kids just don't have so I hope we can help them at least get a taste for it. Today I went with Emmy to Kigali for most of the day to supposedly pick up my two mis...