Mission Trip Update

So sorry that we were not able to update like we thought we were going to be able to!  I have gone back and done daily updates so you can at least see what was going on.  I know it isn't the same but at least you can read about our days and see the beautiful faces of the people we were with.  Hope you enjoy the updates!  And, thanks for praying for all of us while Brogan and I were away!

Just like anywhere else in this world, the needs there are plenty.  There is so much that could and needs to be done.  Our family has been forever changed by this trip and we can't wait to see how the Lord will use us in the future there.

Rwanda last day

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Rwanda update



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Rwanda Update

Sorry that we have not been able to update since we have been here!  Internet has been sketchy and while we have been able to get on from the phone that hasn't always been the case from the laptop.  You have to pay to use the internet cafes so we have not been able to access like we thought we would.

Things have gone really great!  We have been in the schools and churches doing some pastor training and for the next two days we will travel out into the countryside to visit remote churches and church plants.  At the church in Kabuga yesterday two women accepted Christ as the Savior.  It was awesome to be there to worship with the people!

Thank you all for praying and please don't stop.  There are so many needs here.  I will try to update again but may not be able to add more pictures and give a bigger update until we get home.

Rwanda update



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Rwanda day 6



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Rwanda day 4

Today is saturday so we were able to sleep in.  Brogan and I are scheduled to go to a Bible study with the girls choir today but I'm not sure if that is what we will actually be doing.  Things change here so much.  There are no schedules and they just go with the flow.  It is kinds messing with my scheduled personality that I have at home.  It's a good thing I can "fly by the seat of pants" also!

So, above you see the beautiful faces of the Youth Choir.  They are mostly girls, only a few boys, and they are between the ages of 7-17.  A lot of these children are orphans (which I didn't know until several days later).  I had planned to do a Bible study on Esther and Daniel and their faith and obedience in the Lord and those that are their elders.  Turns out I didn't have to do much reading, teaching or explaining.  The girl in the turquise shirt on the left knew the entire story.  I asked what they could tell me about Esther and she stood up and told me the entire story.  Basically, word for word what I had written down to explain it.  She knew all the details and names of everyone and did a great job relating it for everyone.  I found out later that she has been raised in a Muslim home and accepted Christ as her savior about 2 years ago.

Our time with this group was awesome!!  John Bosco is the leader of the Youth Choir and he is doing a great job with them.  His desire is to finish and release a CD of their songs and sell it.  This would provide extra money for the choir and the church.  So far they have two songs done.  They need around $3,000 US dollars to finish the CD and get it ready to market and sell.  (If you feel called to help it would be a great blessing to these children and the church!)  The girls tried to teach Brogan to dance and well, she moves a lot like her Daddy so that didn't go so well.  They sang some songs for us and were really happy to have us there.  Most of all, we were happy to be there.  A 30-45 minute plan turned into almost 3 hours.  After we finished singing, dancing and Bible study we blew up balloons and handed them out.  Those were a big hit!  The girls all loved Brogan and had lots of questions for her.  Will she stay, will she come back, what does she eat at home.  I thought that one was interesting.  "What do you eat at home?  Do you eat beans?"  Beans are cheap and a staple here.  You see little ones snacking on raw beans and they might be some of the only things they eat.  So, the "Do you eat beans?" was a question that I am sure they expected her to say "No" to since she is from America.  God-thing here:  She does eat beans...and a lot of them!  See, beans and rice is a staple in our home because it is cheap and we can feed a lot of people on a little money.  And, when I say a staple I mean every 7-10 days we are eating bean soup or beans and rice or beans and cornbread.  So, when they were expecting a "No" Brogan pipes up "Yes".  The response "You eat beans at home?"  Brogan, "Yes.  All the time!"  You see, God was preparing her for this moment her entire life.  This moment was a connection between girls who live across the world from each other and have very little in common otherwise.  You see my dear sweet Brogan, as much as she doesn't get everything she wants she still has more than she needs.  And, while we made her some cute skirts for this trip, and are going to leave them for the girls, the fact is that she gets to wear something different every day that we are here and still has a closet full of clothes at home while these girls are wearing the same thing everyday.  And, while Brogan has a family that loves her and cares for her, some of these girls don't.  And, while all of that and so much more could seperate them instead, the fact that she eats beans often just like they do has bonded them in a way that means so much to these girls.  She IS like them...even though her skin color and her geography and her circumstances are different...she IS like them!

So for all those that questioned why we would allow her to come to Africa and why we would spend the money on a 9-year old to come over...

THAT IS WHY!!!

Brogan and I have played a ton of Uno and SkipBo games.  She has won all but maybe two.  I think somehow the cards are rigged.  I got tired of playing, actually losing, so she begged me "Please mom.  I promise I'll go easy on you." and started giggling.  Does that look like a face that will go easy on me?  I think not!  We have also played some volleyball, with a beach ball, as well as we could.  The people here at the hotel love watching her play outside.  I'm not sure that maybe they haven't seen a little white kid before.

Rwanda day 3



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Today we were back in the school but in the Primary 1 class.  It was more of the same chaos today but maybe a little worse.  We brought a few balls and some balloons.  It was a madhouse trying to get one with all of the pushing and shoving and kids crying because they didn't get one or because someone took theirs or their balloon popped.  Part of me thinks the teachers are probably wondering who we are thinking we can come in and do these things because it makes their job harder controlling the kids.  They are extremely nice and hospitable but sometimes I can see in their faces how they do not enjoy breaking up the crowds.  When we were in the P1 class today we taught them a few songs also then we watched them finish their lessons.  I felt bad we came in and interrupted their schooling so I asked the teacher if he would continue with the lesson so I could take some pictures.  As we were watching Brogan noticed the teacher was teaching them wrong when it came to <,>,=.  He had it totally backward.  I wanted to correct him so badly but who am I to come in and take over his class when I am only going to be there one day.  I spoke with the Headmaster about it and found out some very interesting information about the school and the teacher.  I will talk about those in a seperate post so that it can get the attention it needs. 

I have so much going on in my head right now:

~How much I miss Jeremy and the boys

~How I pray Brogan doesn't get sick here or once we get home

~How I pray the boys don't get sick or hurt since we don't have insurance to cover them right now

~How I pray for Jeremy to get a job and I know how much he is struggeling with that right now and being able to provide for our family

~Then how I see the need over here for basic fundamental stuff like education and qualified teachers and how blessed we truly are

~Part of me thinks we should be here to help but then how would we pay for it?

~How I want Jeremy and the boys to come see all of this but then how would we pay for that?

~Did I say I miss all 5 of my bloys!?!

~Did I say how thankful I am that God chose me to live where I live and have the things I have yet part of me feels like we should be somewher else, doing something else.

Everyday-several times a day- I thank God for all of my many blessings and then I quickly turn around and ask him for a job for Jeremy quickly and to give him peace about that situation.  I know He already knows what I am thinking so I just tell him.  But, then I feel selfish and wonder why I ask and can't just trust Him.  Scared, pride, you name I got it.  Faith, trust, I have it too.  It is just harder to hang on to those sometimes.  It is the other way around here.  They have nothing but faith and trust because they don't have much, if anything, that they are scared of loosing.

Lord, Please help me to trust in you and your plan.  I know it is perfecf and you have it all worked out.  I trust you and your will for our family.  Please help Jeremy and I to stay strong and steadfast in what you have planned for us and our family.  Amen