May 26th & 27th

Saturday, May 26th, 6:35 PM:

"We are preparing for our descent into Kigali, Rwanda. In just a few minutes, we will be on the ground finding our luggage and preparing to go to the Iris hotel. When we arrive there, we will have a meeting and dinner before going to bed. Rachel Barber and I will be rooming together. She is from Phoenix, Arizona but plays college volleyball in Indiana.

It has been a quiet flight. I was separated from the group on the plane. I took 2 benadryl for a stuffy nose that started today and slept most of the flight. I kept being awakened by drinks and food: Beef and rice with a roll, cheese, salad, and a chocolate chip muffin for lunch. A "pizza pocket" for dinner. A Belgium ice cream bar between those. Of course, pretzels and a coke was my first snack.

It's dark outside my window. I should be able to see the lights of Kigali soon. Still praying for peace and a blessed trip. May His will be done."

 We have safely arrived in Kigali, Rwanda!

Me & the wonderful Anna Kayisinga      

Sunday, May 27th, 11:33AM:

"I am feeling more at peace today. It feels a bit like home again. We had a wonderful welcome last night at the airport. We were welcomed by Julius, Anna, Seth, and John Tall. I loved the sweet hugs and smiles!

After exchanging money and a short ride to the Iris Hotel, we put our stuff in our rooms and gathered around the dinner table. We ordered and waited for food for what felt like forever. It was after 10 before we got our food. While we waited, Anna and John went over cultural do's and dont's."

The cultural do's and dont's told us that women in Rwanda don't whistle. We learned the acceptable ways to greet and hug someone of the same and opposite sex. We also learned how to shake hands. You shake hands differently with someone who is older than you to show honor to that person. You also shake hands differently if someone is eating or if their hands are dirty. We were reminded that people in Rwanda are no longer identified by Hutu or Tutsi status. I'm thankful for that! We were also told to be cautious about what we ask in regards to that and/or the genocide. We must wait and let others bring up that sensitive subject in the homes; if it comes up at all.

"After a good night of sleep, I awoke to lots of random noise outside. Rachel got in the shower, so I finally got up too. Since then, we've had breakfast, walked by "Hotel Rwanda", and been to the shops in Kigali.

I am now sitting on the balcony listening to Jarred and Haley play and sing beautiful worsip music. Fanny just arrived! Praise God!" (At this point in the trip, our ministry partners (interpreters) like Fanny began to show up. We then anxiously awaited on the team to assemble and then began our journey to Rwamagana, Rwanda).

Walking from the Iris into Kigali

 In Kigali

 We walked by the real "Hotel Rwanda"

 This is where we stayed in Kigali

 The Iris Restaurant

 Rachel & I being silly (We didn't take the picture right next to each other because she's so much taller than I am!)

 Haley, Sarah, and Jarred: Worship on the Balcony

Bridget, Fanny, and Pam are finally reunited! We were all on a team together last year.

Let it Rain

Saturday, May 26, 2011 10:35 AM:

"I am sitting on a plane in Brussels, Belgium. We are preparing for our 8 hour flight to Kigali. I am listening to "Let it Rain" by Michael W. Smith. I am praying for His strength. I feel so inadquate and like I have nothing to give. I cannot do this without His supernatural strength. I fear having to speak in church. What on earth could I say that would bless or help anyone? Lord, help me. I just want to cry. I feel like I'm supposed to be here, but I can't help but ask why. I can't see how God is possibly going to use me this year. I'm in such a different place this year. There is something very raw about this place I'm in. I feel exposed, wounded, and unworthy. I'm very quiet; more than usual. I'm a bit fearful and uncomfortable. I pray that He would do a great work in and through me."

Watch the wonderful video of "Let it Rain" below. It gets really good about half way through! It gives me goosebumps and brings me to tears almost every time I hear it.

When I wrote this journal entry, I couldn't even begin to see what God would do in Rwanda. I listened to the beautiful song above and tearfully prayed that He would pour out His spirit, truth, and love upon the people of Rwanda. I prayed that He would give me the strength to answer His call and do His will. He heard and answered my prayers... He did exceedingly and abundantly beyond what I prayed for and could have imagined...

Next Stop: Kigali, Rwanda

During my second week in Rwanda, I had the privilege of working with some amazing young people from across the United States. Their young hearts were so generous. Most kids wouldn’t want to leave the comforts of their home to go to a third-world country. Not these teenagers. Their Godly lives, faithfulness to Him, and hearts are extraordinary. The stories they shared in Rwanda are amazing. The photos, blogs, and facebook posts I have seen through their fresh eyes since that time have been refreshing and inspiring. Thank you to each of you for being so obedient and for being such a blessing to me and the entire team!

When reading one of the blogs of one of these teenagers, I realized that I could and should do better. As I look through my journal from the trip, I’m not sure what to share. Some parts of the trip were difficult for me. Overall, the experience was more than amazing, and I believe God showed us His mighty power and was ultimately glorified!

I thought I’d begin by sharing a few excerpts from my journal and will continue to do so in the coming blogs.  Friday, May 25^th was the day we were set to leave the United States for our flight to Kigali, Rwanda. I wrote on the plane that morning, and this is some of what I wrote:

“After loading the car, Jan and I headed to Hardee’s. There we met Cindy Patton and Cindy Haney. We had a sweet prayer led by Jan before we ate. I felt blessed to be in the presence of such amazing and beautiful women.

After breakfast at 6:30, we loaded up in one car and headed to the Huntsville airport around 7AM. After I checked in, we stood around and talked. We then went upstairs and waited on the rest of the group.

I was super excited to see Pam Walker this morning. She left her stuff and ran to me to give me a hug. : ) Later, she came and sat with me, Cindy, Jan, and Cindy upstairs. She spoke to us about some of the genocide memorials she had seen during her several trips to Rwanda. Memorials at schools, churches, etc. It was heavy…

As the group came up, we got ready for a time of prayer. There were 11 team members and some friends there. We all circled, held hands, and Mike prayed. A little girl was to my left holding my hand and Cindy Patton was holding my hand to the right.

While I love the prayer before we go, I also hate it. It means it’s time to say goodbye...”

While saying goodbye was hard, it was also admittedly sweet for me. The hugs, tears, and heartfelt words of encouragement meant so much. I also had texts and emails that morning and in previous days from several people. That too was an amazing blessing. You have no idea what your support means and how much strength it gives me!

The night before I left, I was invited over for ice cream with some friends from church who are in a small group together. I would normally be home frantically packing. Fortunately, I was mostly done. Aside from that, who can say no to ice cream? I went over and had a sweet time of fellowship. The group also prayed over me, which always means the world to me. I wrote, “all of their prayers and encouragement really calmed my spirit and helped fill me. I felt and feel loved.”

After leaving Alabama, we were headed to Washington D.C. where we would meet up with some more of the team. From there, we were on a 7 hour and 40 minute flight to Brussels in Belgium. Thankfully, they have movies on the plane we can watch. Of course, sleeping is always an option, too; if you can sleep on the plane!

Here is part of the team that left from Huntsville together:

 Welcome to Europe!

Next stop: Kigali, Rwanda : )

Nyabisindu, Rwanda

I just wanted to share this sweet video from my first week in Rwanda. This was recorded in Nyabisindu, Rwanda. : )

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me" (Matthew 18: 1-5).

Be Transformed!

People have asked me about my trip to Rwanda. I’ve been trying to find words for it: Amazing, wonderful, awing, inspiring, joyful, humbling, and incredible. Those don’t even begin to touch it... There was singing, dancing, praying, praising healing, worshipping, lots of walking, more praying, more praising, more singing, more dancing, etc. : ) I can’t find enough words, but I think this scripture just about sums it up:

“Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

I can only thank God for the beautiful country called Rwanda and the amazing people there. I am humbled and blessed on each campaign to work with such amazing leadership, ministry partners, and pastors. Each trip challenges and stretches me to grow in a new way. I’m so grateful for the opportunities. I’m praying about going back with e3 in September and humbly ask that you would join me in prayer about that.

I’m so grateful that in the summer of 2010, God began stirring in my heart that it wasn’t just other people that were called to, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18). God meant that for me, too. He began to stir something inside of my spirit that I haven’t been able to stop or turn off since that time. The only thing that eases the constant stirring in my heart and life is to obey His word to “GO”. When I realized I was called to go and went for the first time, I was forever changed. Now I want to go, go, go, go, go. : )

I was so blessed to hear some younger people that I traveled with our last week in Rwanda talk about coming back to the U.S. and trying to get back to “normal”. I’ve not only warned them that they may never find “normal” again, but I’ve earnestly prayed that neither I nor they ever settle for what is deemed normal again. My prayer for them and myself is one of my favorite scriptures: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).

Before:

 After:

It's amazing what some time, love, and truth can do through His Word, the Holy Spirit, and the saving grace of Jesus! Don't conform today. Be transformed!

An update: So blessed!

I haven’t updated the blog in awhile, but I just returned from a trip to Rwamagana, Rwanda in Africa. We left on Friday, May 25^th and returned Monday, June 11^th. Several people have asked me over the last few days how I’ve been doing, and I simply haven’t been able to put it into words yet. Sometimes there just are no words… I promise I will find them though! I just returned Monday. I immediately returned to work on Tuesday. Life must go on, right? There has been no down time. There has been no time to really process. I’ll try to vaguely express how I’m doing though…

Before going on mission trips, some people will warn you about the “culture shock” that one might experience in third-world countries. Some fail to warn you about the culture shock when you return back home. Thankfully, I travel with people who understand the importance of the “return culture shock”. Fortunately, I’ve also been through it before. Still, it is difficult to go through. It’s even more difficult to talk about out of fear that people won’t understand.

Here are just a few examples of things that I’ve been noticing, thinking, and feeling since my return. I find myself so grateful for never having to really worry about electricity, clean water, my next meal, etc. I have a roof over my head and a floor (not dirt) beneath my feet. I have air conditioning. I have clean clothes. Not only do I have clean clothes, but I have too many clothes. I looked into my closet Tuesday morning to pick out something to wear for work and was honestly overwhelmed. I hadn’t had to really pick out anything to wear in over 2 weeks. I hadn’t had to worry about what anyone would think or say. It didn’t matter. I was almost brought to tears and my knees by the choices of clothes in the closet.  It made my heart hurt to think about all of those people in the villages of Africa with only one, unclean outfit… I couldn’t help but stare at my clothes and think about the rich young ruler (Luke 18). Maybe I should sell my possessions and give them to the poor... Maybe you could give up a few things, too? Just a thought…

Here is an example of something else I struggle with every time I return home: I get extremely nauseated before and during meals due to various thoughts, mental images, etc.  I find myself sitting through meals and stopping to just look at the food in front of me. I do this for different reasons, I suppose. I feel so incredibly grateful, yet a part of me feels so incredibly terrible. I’m so blessed to have food. I’m so blessed to have people invite me over to eat meals and fellowship. SO BLESSED!  

Still, I have just come from a place where so many families don’t know how they are going to feed their families today much less tomorrow. Approximately 21,000 children die every day due to poverty, preventable disease, etc. That’s one child approximately every four seconds. I cannot imagine… It’s no wonder I can’t sit through a meal without feeling great sadness and even guilt. There hasn’t been one meal that I’ve had since my return that I’ve had to make myself eat and repeatedly tell myself not to cry. Still, I feel such appreciation and gratitude. I don’t quite know how to explain it…

I could say more, but I won’t. Hopefully, I can write more later. I just want you to know today that you are blessed. I may be daily fighting tears right now. It’s not just because I terribly miss Rwanda and my friends/family from Rwanda and the Congo. It’s so much more. My heart aches for those around the world (and here at home) who are struggling, starving, and hurting. Still, through all things, I/We can have hope and peace:

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:1-5).

 Remember: You are SOOOOOO blessed!