Going to Rwanda!



Just in case you haven’t heard, I am going on a short-term mission trip to Rwanda in May. Rwanda is a country in Africa that has been ravaged by genocide and HIV/AIDS. I know many people are trepidatious about me going on this trip. I have prayerfully considered this opportunity for months though, and I firmly believe that God wants me to go. On May 18^th, a team of approximately 20, under the leadership of Mike and Mary Wagner (http://hisgreatplan.com) of Huntsville, will leave for Kigali, Africa. We will then travel to the city of Gisenyi, in western Rwanda. Gisenyi borders Lake Kivu and is a sister-city to Goma in the Congo. We will return on May 29^th.

I will be going with e3 Partners Ministry. This will be the fifth year that e3 Partners Ministry has teamed up with local churches in Rwanda. The people there are so desperate for the hope that only comes from Jesus Christ! God is using short-term mission teams to spread the gospel to thousands of people. The goal is to see people accept Christ, to make disciples, and to plant churches within walking distance for every man, woman, and child.

I definitely want to ask all of you to pray for me, the team leaders, and the entire May team. There is actually a team in Rwanda right now. Please pray for them, as well! I was blessed to receive an email from Mike Wagner this morning that said that over 1,500 professions of faith have been made in just a few days! Wow, God is good! I cannot wait to see what he has in store for May!

The cost for this trip is $3895. The money will cover travel, lodging, and food while in Africa. The funds also go toward travel insurance, tracts, ground transportation, materials, EvangeCubes, Bibles, and translators for each American.  Remaining funds will be left behind to continue supporting the movement and meet some of the needs of the mission sites. Basically, we aren’t just raising money for me to go or for e3 Partners. We are raising money for the country and mission sites where we work. We are making an investment in the people and church in that country for the kingdom of God! Last year these community impact funds enabled 75 orphan children to attend school!

If you would like to join me in this, please make your check payable to e3 Partners Ministry. Also, please put Bridget Kelley/RW11B on the “For” section of your check. You can also go to http://www.e3partners.org/bkrwanda to make a donation.  All donations are tax deductible! E3 Partners will send you a tax receipt. The total funds for this trip are due April 18^th.

I will post more information about Rwanda and this trip in the upcoming weeks.

Below is a photo of a bench at a refugee camp in Rwanda. I love how personal it is. They didn't just carve that they love Jesus. They said "I Love My Jesus"! Amen!

By His Wounds

This is hard to watch... It's such a beautiful song and great reminder of what Christ did for us.

Why can't you just be like everyone else?

So the other day, I was challenged with a question. The question was, “Why can’t you just be like everyone else?” In my childhood and teenage years, I longed to be like everyone else. I wanted to wear the same clothes others wore, talk the way they talked, do the things they did, etc. That simply isn’t the case now. Why should I or any of us want to be like others when God created us to be uniquely different? Don’t get me wrong, I have a few people in my life who I admire more than you could imagine. I am drawn to them though because they understand what I’m about to write and because, as I recently told one, it permeates in everything they do.

First of all, we shouldn’t (just) strive to be like those around us.  We were created in His image; not the image of “everyone else”! Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them”. Child of God, God doesn’t want you to be like everyone else. He wants you to be like Him.

Another scripture that is important to grasp is Romans 12:2. It says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”. God wants us to be willing to let go of the strongholds of this world, so He can transform and use us for His glory.

To whomever is reading this… You don’t have to be like everybody else. You can be more! You were thought of and loved by God before you were ever conceived. Psalm 139:14 says, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. God made you uniquely special! I pray that each of you knows this. I also pray that if you are reading this and have children, that you will be sure to let them know just how special they are to you, but more importantly, how special they are to God. Remind yourself and others that we are unique and valuable.

I love the fact that God knows us better than we know ourselves. Luke 12:7 says, “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows”. Do you know how many hairs you have on your head? I sure don’t! God does though. He knows it all. He knows everything about you; your heart, your pain, your struggles, your past, your future, etc. He knows it all and He wants you to know that you are special, valuable, and that He loves you unconditionally!

One foot in front of the other

I did something I never do when I woke up this morning. You’ll never guess what it was! I woke up and walked on the treadmill. It’s something I know I need to do, but honestly can’t ever find (or make) the time to do. I didn’t have anything pressing today, so I did that before I got in the shower and got into anything else.

I took my IPOD with me and listened to Casting Crowns. I was having a good time walking and singing and lifting my hands to the Lord. At some point, I looked down. I watched my feet moving in perfect precision; one foot in front of the other. I got to thinking about this journey called life. As I was walking to a preset program, the treadmill increased. It almost felt too fast, but I was able to get back into a rhythm. When the treadmill sped up, I got to thinking about so many times in my life where I just wanted to hit the fast forward button. I’ve wanted to do it with school. I just want to be done and be in the career of my choosing. I’ve wanted to fast forward through painful and challenging times to a place and time where things can just be calm and peaceful. That just isn’t how life works though.

We can’t fast forward through things. We have to walk through them. Sometimes we can take great strides, while at other times we have to take baby steps. I couldn’t help but an email I got the other day. It said something like we weren’t promised that life with Christ would be easy. We were promised that it would be worth it though! Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”. I know it’s not always easy, but Hebrews 12:1 says, “..let us run with patience the race that is set before us”. I don’t know how long your race is. I don’t know the speed you’re traveling. What I do know is that from time to time, we are going to feel so tired and weak that we feel like we can’t go on. My message to you is to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. God is with you and he will not let you faint. You will win the race!

An Everlasting Love

My mind has been on love a lot lately. I see so many people around me (myself included) looking for love, struggling in current relationships, living in miserable marriages, and just simply seeking every day for someone to really love them like they yearn to be loved.

I can’t help but think about how so many times we rush into relationships. We become completely enamored and consumed. Oftentimes, we completely lose ourselves. We take our eyes off everything and everyone except for that person we are so desperately seeking; that includes us taking our eyes off of God. Sometimes we lose track of their hopes and dreams. Other times we throw out our morals, which ALWAYS create other problems.

I find myself daily seeking the mate that God prepared for me. I constantly have to remind myself that even if I find that person, they won’t be perfect. Their love may be one of the greatest things I’ll ever experience on this earth; still, their love will never compare to the Love God has for me… the love He has for you.

Jeremiah 31:3 says, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee”. God’s love is everlasting (eternal). It doesn’t wax and wane like the love of man. It is pure and steadfast. God and His love are always reliable and will never fail you. True peace and contentment can only found in His love and His ways; not in the ways and affections of man.

Isn't it strange?

I got this via email the other day, thought it was good, and wanted to share:

Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church but such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, yet seem so  short when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying, but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games but they do whatever is takes to sit at the last row in Church?

Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others; but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say, but we question the words in the Bible?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get  there?

Isn't it strange how we immediately send jokes in emails, but when we are going to send messages about God,  we think about  it twice before we share it with others?

HondurasVideo2010

What a week!

What a crazy rollercoaster of a week! Some days have been good, others just strange, and another one or two were simply no fun at all! As with every day, it is through the grace of God that I’ve made it through – that we’ve all made it through!

I have been extremely stressed between work, school, and some other more personal issues. I wish I had the answers to all of life’s questions. I do not though. I know we’re not supposed to, but I'm often anxious and worry a lot... I have been extremely challenged with some things and by some people the past few weeks. This week a few conversations got me to thinking about lots of other things. I quickly became feeling overwhelmed. Not only did I feel overwhelmed, I even felt under attack.

By Thursday, I was extremely frustrated. I ended up texting three select friends asking them to pray for me. All three responded with kind words. One said, “When you start wanting more of God and not just more of His things (i.e. blessings, peace, comfort….) Hell sits up and takes notice and sends out an all out attack. Just know, you’re on the right track when that happens”.  I was definitely feeling attacked from every direction! The last message I got was from a friend reminding me that, “Attacked does not mean defeated!” Boy, was I feeling defeated. Nothing was going right. One thing led to another, which led to another, which led to a snowball effect.

Speaking of a snowball effect, have you ever noticed that worry has that effect? You start to worry about one thing, which is somehow linked to another, then another, etc. Your job is related to the money you bring home. When you think about money, you think about paying the bills. When you think about the bills, you think about your electricity, cable, water, phone, etc. When you think about all of that, you think about your kids, and the list goes on and on. Somehow, things to always be intertwined.

If you’re like me, you worry a lot about the future. You may wonder “What If”. I do that all the time! What if this happens or that happens? What if it doesn’t happen? Will it ever happen? I despise myself for doing that because it really shows a lack of faith on my part. God says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen". – 1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV).

If you’re like me, and need the reminder, here it is: God is in control! Cast your cares on him, and stop worrying about every minute detail of every situation. The devil will take any opportunity he can to cause you grief, pain, confusion, frustration, etc. Resist him! He does not have all of the power; God does!

Feet and Serving

This may sound like a strange combination, but I can’t get feet and serving off of my mind. I wrote about it in December, but one of my “moments” in Honduras was being at the feet of the people. Not just figuratively, but literally. We were at the feet of the people. We were on our hands and knees trying to fit children (and a few adults) with flip flops. I had a moment that is sort of difficult to explain. I knew I was doing exactly what I was meant to be doing there.  It didn’t matter how sore my knees were; I was at the feet of the people. I was serving them. I could feel the presence of Jesus. He was teaching me to be more like Him. He was teaching me to serve. Thankfully, He still is.

I heard a message a couple of Sundays ago at Friendship in Athens about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. What a perfect message for me! It just reiterated everything I was already feeling. I have never gotten such a vivid image of what Christ actually did that day. I could visualize him putting the towel around his waist, preparing the water, and gently washing their feet. What a beautiful, yet humbling picture!

I haven’t been able to get the scripture off of my mind, so I’m going to share it with you. The Bible says:

“¹Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. ²And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; ³Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; ⁴He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. ⁵After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. ⁶Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? ⁷Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. ⁸Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. ⁹Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. ¹⁰Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. ¹¹For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. ¹²So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? ¹³Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.¹⁵For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. ¹⁷If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

Lots of things in Honduras caught my attention. One of the biggest things was all of the bare, dirty feet. When I was at the feet of the people, the scripture above came to mind. Jesus, the King of Kings, was willing to wash the feet of the disciples. He humbly stripped out of his clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist. I can imagine him kneeling next to Peter. He taught Peter and the others how to be served. More importantly, He taught them how to serve. He gave them an everlasting example they we too should carry out. We must humble ourselves. We must get to the feet of the people who are in need. We must do the things that no one else wants to do or even sees a need for. That is what Jesus did, and that’s what He wants us to do.

Below are a few pictures of some of the feet of the people we served in Honduras:

 Would you be willing to wash their feet? Could you/Would you humble yourself as Jesus did?

Bonito Baby Boy!

Today I saw a picture of the most bonito baby boy in the world! I showed the picture to everyone who walked by my desk and even emailed it to someone. What can I say? I’m a proud tia (aunt).

This picture makes me smile and literally giggle. I just want to hold that precious baby and kiss that sweet face! He is so loved! I can’t help but think about the circumstances that Alejandro was conceived. Who knows where he and Karla would be if they weren’t at the mission. Praise God, they are at the mission though! I am so glad to know that Karla and Alejandro have a home where they are adored and loved, just as they should be! I look at this picture and it gives me hope. God can bring joy and happiness to the darkest and most hopeless of situations. This beautiful baby is proof of that!