Opportunities!

Ever since coming to Rwanda, I have been praying for opportunities to serve and to engage with the culture. Working at the international school has been great, and it's been so cool to work with kids from all over the world, but I felt like I wasn't experiencing Rwanda and investing in the people here. So for the past month and a half, I have been praying and praying for opportunities, but it seemed like it was closed door after closed door.

 

But the Lord has been so faithful, and this week, He opened up some doors for me. And all in His perfect timing. On Sunday, I was able to go to Pastor Esron's church. Pastor Esron actually just got back from visiting my church back in the states, so that was fun! I sent the whole church greetings from Maple Grove Free, and the church was very happy to hear it! After church, I went over to his house for lunch and was able to chat more with his sweet family. Excited to continue to get to know them more and be involved with the women's ministry Esron's wife, Kezia leads. Also, I'm going to start teaching the teachers English once a week on Thursdays.



 



At Pastor Esron and his sweet family's house for lunch. They send their love to MGEFC!

At Pastor Esron's church... 3 1/2 hours all in Kinyarwandan! Love seeing the kids praise Jesus :)

On Saturday, I went to visit OVC orphanage. I cannot even tell you what a joy it was to play with the kids there. I'm going to start going there every Saturday, and Emmanuel (the founder/director of OVC orphanage) asked if I would be willing to do some teaching. So come next Saturday, I'm going to read a Bible story, give a short English lesson, teach them a song, and play soccer with them. I'm eager to establish relationships with the kids there and to be able to share about the love of Christ with them! I'm leading a service club at school, and I'm hoping to get our kids at school connected with serving at the orphanage. Can't wait to empower the kids to serve in the community!

 

at OVC orphanage :)

such beautiful people

for all your Starbucks coffee lovers: this is where your coffee comes from!

When they first brought the drum out, they motioned for me to come and dance for them. So... I pulled out the best moves I knew... the shopping cart and the running man. Definitely got a lot of laughs! Ha, after thoroughly embarassing myself, I decided it was time to motion the kids to join me, and we all had a lot of fun dancing.

and THIS is how Rwandese dancing is actually done. They were so good!

Much to my horror, they took me by the hand to participate in their Rwandese dance. Let's just say I'm not really a natural when it comes to African dance... at all. Haha, but it was fun.

watching the dancers

the orphanage is in Masaka about 20 minutes from Kigali. So good to get out of the city for a bit!

 

This is Emmanual, the founder of OVC orphanage. When he was 12, both of his parents died in the genocide, leaving him as an orphan. When he was 18, he had the dream to start OVC orphanage, and now, it serves about 100 kids in Rwanda. Such a sweet man with a passion to serve the orphans in Rwanda! 

We had homemade pizza in our house last night. We decided to splurge and buy some of the ridiculously expensive cheese, and one person brought pepperoni from the states. Best meal I've had in a couple months!

 

a couple of my house mates and some friends making their pizza! YUM!

And this Monday, I'm meeting again with Living Water International to find some times that will work for me to see some of their work digging wells and preaching Christ among the villages in Rwanda. It's an awesome organization (check it out at: http://www.water.cc/), and I am very excited to see more of their work!

The Lord provides. Thank you Jesus!

A Call to Anguish

The past couple weeks, I have been challenged by this video. It's an excerpt from a sermon by David Wilkerson, the founder of Teen Challenge and author of The Cross and the Switchblade.

 



As I look on Christians who had a powerful impact throughout history, I see that they have all anguished over something. Here are just a few examples:

• Hudson Taylor- he spent countless hours wrestling in prayer for the people of China. Even through trials and doors that continued to close, he refused to stop until the way was paved to preach the Gospel to inland China.
• William Wilberforce- he anguished over slaves and would not rest until he saw them freed. He fought and he prayed, and he was able to see the Slavery Abolition Act of 1883 promised to come into effect just 3 days before he died.
• Nehemiah- Nehemiah had a burden on his heart to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. He defied all the opposition from enemies in Judah and rebuilt the wall in 52 days.
• Paul- Paul anguished over those who didn't know Christ. In Philippians 3:18, he wrote, "For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ." Paul spent countless hours praying and preaching, even if that brought persecution and suffering, so that others would know Christ.

Not to mention Jackie Pullinger, Amy Carmichael, Gladys Aylward, George Muller, and countless others. Over and over again God has used ordinary people, put a specific burden on their heart, and done amazing things through them and through the power of prayer.

All of this has made me wonder, what do I anguish over? Do I anguish over the things that breaks God's heart? Is it simply concern... a passing, fleeting feeling, or is it anguish... something that drives me to my knees in prayer time and time again? I want my heart to break for what breaks God's heart, to wrestle in prayer for those things, and to rest in the peace of knowing that God will accomplish His purposes.

Food for thought.

Highlights of the week:

• On my run the other night, I saw a couple boys playing soccer on the street, and I couldn't resist. I asked if I could play. So fun! Pretty soon, about 25 of the village kids just came out of the woodworks to play and laugh at the "mzungu" playing soccer. (for some reason, the kids always laugh at the way I run! I don't know why, but they think it's really funny.)

• One of my students the other day told me that my class was his favorite because he felt safe and comfortable in my class. Classroom environment goal=accomplished.
• Guess what I found at the grocery store?? A DR. PEPPER. Reunited at last. It was $4 for the can, but I savored every cent of it... totally worth it in my book.

• Every week, I get an entire pineapple for a total of 65 cents. Love being in a tropical country!
• It's the beginning of rainy season here in Rwanda. Sometimes, the rain gets a little old, but a mini dance session in the rain always makes it better :)

You can't really tell here, but it really was poring.

• A part of my daily life is riding on the motos. You can't help but love life every time you're on one.

• While I heard there were some snow flurries in some parts of Minnesota, I spent some time reading the Word and lesson planning poolside. Perks of living near the equator!

Tomorrow, I will go to Pastor Esron's church! I'm so excited to meet this pastor and his wife as I've heard much about them from the people at Maple Grove Evangelical Free Church. More updates on that to come...

I hope you have a wonderful week. God bless!

Drinking from the Living Water

Sorry if this blog post gets a little wordy. The Lord's just been teaching me a lot, and I wanted to share it with you! This past week, I have beeing reading the biography of Hudson Taylor, who was the first missionary to pioneer the way to inland China. I have been learning so much through his life and his legacy. And it's been exactly what I needed to read at this time of my life.

Since I've come to Rwanda, I've had this constant need in my bones to DO something while I'm here... to serve God. This past week I've seen, that although this desire isn't bad, it shouldn't be my utmost desire or the place where I find all my fulfillment. The Lord's been showing me that I need to STOP striving and to simply ABIDE in Him and soak in His presence. Hudson said, "I am no longer anxious about anything as I realize this; for He, I know, is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest position He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult His grace is sufficient." God is fully capable of carrying out His will, and He allows me the privilege of being a part of the process. In His time, and His way, I know that He will unfold the plan He has for me here. In the meantime, I will rest in the Faithful One.

In his biography, Hudson talked a lot about John 7:37-38, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” The verb "drink" in this verse literally means a continual, constant drinking. A constant going to Him every time our soul feels thirsty. Hudson Taylor found this promise tried and true. After his wife, who was 30, died along with three children, he said, "Twenty times a day, perhaps as I felt the heart-thirst coming back, I cried to Him. 'Lord you promised! You promised me that I should never thirst.' And whether I called by day or night, how quickly He came and satisfied my sorrowing heart!" Although Rwanda has been wonderful in so many ways, it's been rather lonely here. But I'm learning to go to Christ every time I have that "heart-thirst", and He does... He satisfies time and time again.

Here's another quote from Hudson that I find so encouraging: "What, can Jesus meet my need? Yes, and more than meet it. No matter how intricate my path, how difficult my service; no matter how sad my bereavement, how far away my loved ones; no matter how helpless I am, how deep are my soul-yearnings-Jesus can meet all, all, and more than meet. He promises me rest. He promises to alleviate my thirst. He promises that all who trust in Him, out of him shall flow streams of Living Water. Can it be? Can the dry and thirsty one not only be refreshed-the parched soil moistened, the arid places cooled-but the land be so saturated that springs well up and streams flow down from it?"

So much wisdom. I just want to soak it up! Every hard thing we face in our lives is only an opportunity to drink more of Christ. An opportunity to see His promises fulfilled in our lives. An opportunity to know Him more. For that reason, we can be "thankful for each occasion which drives us to drink ever more deeply of the Living Water."

Anyway, the Lord has already been teaching me a lot here, and I am excited to see what more He has in store.

And, since I love pictures... I had to share more pictures from my life recently. I just got back from a safari. It was the first time I had been outside of Kigali, and I was SO thankful to have a chance to see more of the beauty of Rwanda. It really is incredible! Here are some pictures from that, plus a few more :)



This is where I walk just about every day. I live right down the road from this charming cobblestone street!

 

This meal made me a pretty happy girl! It's no American pizza and Dr. Pepper, but it will subside the cravings for now :)
 

So... I met my neighbor's monkeys! I went to the wrong house TWO times, and they didn't know English, so I had to try to act out, "Do you have monkeys?" Thankfully, laughter is a universal thing. I finally got to the right house, and they were so nice. Who says you can't make friends when searching for monkeys?? I ended up staying at their house for a couple hours just to talk. Unfortunately, the monkeys are undomesticated, so I didn't get to hold them, but I did get to feed them! Example that these monkeys were undomesticated: after this picture was taken, the monkey grabbed hold of my hair and yanked my head into the cage. My life flashed before my eyes, but thankfully I got my hair back! Moral of the story... wear a pony-tail when visiting your neighbor's monkeys.


 

The start of the safari! SO green!

oh, just GIRAFFES behind me. No big deal.

this one's for you Christie :)

If I was a water buffalo...

three of the other teachers I work with and live with: Pat, Magda, and Sarah

Honestly, so beautiful. Pictures don't do it justice.

Ha, I don't know if this hippo was trying to be camoflauged with the green on his back or what!

the coolest flowers!

our welcoming committee ALL the way to the park. How I love being in the villages!  

May the Lord God bless you richly this week as you drink of Him!

RWANDA!

Muraho! That is "how are you?" in Kinyarwandan, and pretty much one of the only words I know in the language. Hopefully I will be learning more soon... but it is not coming easily!

So, for those of you who don't know, I am teaching English as a Second Language at an international school (www.isk-rwanda.org). I'll be working with elementary and middle school students, and they are literally from all over the world... South Korea, Italy, Tanzania, Oman, etc. It's located in the capital of Rwanda, Kigali. It's so much different being in the city. There are way more options for food (which I am quite happy about... there's even pizza!), there are a lot more "mzungus" (white people) around, people don't normally say hi on the streets, and there are even stop lights!

first Rwandan sunset... mmm, so beautiful!

Here is what I love so far about Rwanda:

• I wake up to perfect weather every day. Of course, there's the occasional thunderstorm a few times a week, but who doesn't love a good thunderstorm?!
• I live in the mountains, and it's beautiful. I'm hoping for some good hiking opportunities throughout the year!
• When I go on a run through the village, I have at least 10 kids join me, giving me high-fives, running along side me, and shouting "mzungu! How are you? I am fine!" It's just like in the movies.
• The city is SUPER clean. They even have a national "holiday" once a month called "Umuganda". All the stores close, and everyone goes out to the streets to clean!
• The city is super safe. At dusk, all the police line the streets and stay through the night... so there's a very low crime rate.
• I walk EVERYWHERE. Well, let's be honest, sometimes I hate this. But for the most part, I love it.
• speaking of walking everywhere... so many times when I'm walking, a couple kids will come up to me and ask to practice their English... which then proceeds to an improptu English lesson. Gotta love it.   
• People are SO welcoming. All you have to do is go to church, and you'll get invited to someone's house. Not to mention get 10 new phone numbers. If only church was like this in America!  
• I joined a "cell group" (Bible study) at the church, and it has been SO wonderful to have such sweet fellowship with people from all over the world. When we spent time in prayer together, I just started crying. It was so powerful to hear their reverant voices lavishing praises before the King of Kings.
• My neighbors have PET MONKEYS in a cage in their backyard! I have yet to meet these neighbors, but one of my goals this year is to hold one!
• I have my own bathroom and hot water... sooo blessed by this! Given, my bathroom is about 3X5, and I even succeeded in flooding my entire bathroom and bedroom the first time I showered. But, it still is a luxury I'm so grateful for.  

Our nice house that is right across from the school!

the bathroom that I am SO thankful for!

my bedroom

and once again, my bedroom

I wish you could see it better because it is so pretty, but this is the view of the city outside our house!  

 

So far, teaching has been fun! I've enjoyed all my students a lot... they're really good kids. It is easy to feel like you're in a western bubble at the school though. So I'm hoping to get plugged into some Rwandan ministries while I'm here... whether it's an orphanage, IJM, Living Water International, or some other organization. I'll keep you updated! I will be working with Educate Rwanda (http://www.mgefc.org/Educate_Rwanda.ihtml?id=444395), which is an organization started by some people from my home church in Minnesota! Once a week, I'll be teaching English to a group of teachers from Rwanda. Recently, the government has mandated that all schools must teach in English. The problem is, most of the teachers don't know English themselves. So hopefully, I will be able to teach them some English once a week.  

This is my classroom! A lot of work left to be done... but we'll get there :)


"You keep him in perfect pease whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." -Isaiah 26:3-4

Smile Africa

Smile has been as wonderful, chaotic, beautiful, and awful as ever. Kids fighting, kids dancing and singing, kids using my body as a jungle gym, kids crying, kids yelling with joy over bubbles, and kids that are sick... that’s just a little piece of Smile. I’m so thankful I had the chance to revisit the kids there, and I look forward to doing so in the future during my breaks from school.

so happy to have their wudje (porridge)!

reading a book about bnguni (heaven)

Abuchay and Roberto

One of the most heartbreaking things when at Smile is the babies. Their mouths are covered with filth, they have a hacking cough, they are constantly swarmed by flies, they sit in their pee with no diapers, and they just sit/sleep on the cement with no one looking after them. Now, I do want to say that some of them have older brothers or sisters that take care of them. And if the babies weren’t at Smile, I don’t think they would be alive at all. Yet I think the majority of them have to fend for themselves and have a very hard life. I’ve been struggling with what I should do about it. Compassion moves you to action. Pity makes you feel sorry for them for a while before you more onto your everyday life. I want to have the same compassion that Jesus showed to us. Yet, I just don’t know what to do about it… especially when I’m only at Smile in short increments. Please pray for protection for the kids at Smile and that they would all experience the love of the Father.

sweet baby Sarah... so tiny!

Something really awesome that has been going on at Smile is that they created a boys’ soccer team. There was a group from the states that donated soccer jerseys, and the team has been playing in tournaments and doing quite well. In a lot of their spare time, they practice, and they practice with such passion, excitement, and hope. I was talking with Andrew, their soccer coach, about it, and they can get scholarships to school if they’re good at soccer. This has given a lot of the boys purpose and hope for their future, and they work all the harder to do well. If anyone has old soccer cleats or shin guards that they would like to donate, let me know! Especially shoe sizes 7, 8, 9, and 10. I can guarantee you the boys would be thrilled and that they would put them to good use.

This is Eric. Both of his parents died, and he was living on the streets before Pasor Ruth found him and invited him to Smile. He says playing soccer has changed his life, and he wants to help people by training them to play soccer.

This is Alepel. He is an awesome soccer player! Both of his parents died, and he was left to fend for himself on the streets when Andrew found him. Alepel says playing soccer has helped him to heal and forget the painful memories of the past. He wants to play professional soccer in the future!

gotta love playing soccer with the boys... in a skirt.

Abuchay knew it was my last day at Smile, and when I left to go back to the Crystal hotel, he ran up and took my hand. Thinking maybe he was going home, I asked him, “Abuchay, where are you going?” He said, “America!” I smiled and said, “Where is your home?” All he would say was “America!” I felt so bad, but I kept letting go of his hand and saying, “Abuchay, I love you, but you need to go home.” But then he would re-grab my hand and keep walking. Finally, I had to get on a boda (motorcycle), and once again I told him that I loved him but that he needed to go home. He just stood there, frozen in place until I couldn’t see him anymore. I felt like I was one more person in their life who had abandoned them. I hate that.

Alupot and Abuchay... Love these boys SO much!

This is Dennis. When I asked him what he wanted to do after his studies finished, he told me he wanted to be a preacher. Then, he plunged right into a full one hour sermon! He has so much passion for the Lord and such a heart to tell others about him. I can only imagine God is going to do great things through him!

That night, I went to the internet café. While I was there, a little boy named Isaac hung out with me. I let him listen to music on my headphones, and he played with my hair. His mom came and told me I was a “good woman” and then proceeded to ask if I would take her son with me to America and take care of him. Now, this same thing happened on Sunday. I found about five boys from Smile on the street. They hadn’t eaten all day, so I got them each a chapatti. The man making the chapattis told me he had two sons and then asked if I would take them in. I don’t know if this was done out of love for their children because they honestly cannot provide for them or if they just want to get rid of their children. After talking with Pastor Ruth, it sounds like both reasons are quite common for the parents in Tororo, especially among the Karamajong tribe. So so sad.

This is Abay... such a cutie!

And, I am officially in Rwanda after a crazy day of traveling. More Rwanda updates to come later...

God bless!