Overview

I didn’t expect to be posting so soon, but I had a meeting today in Nygatare and was able to stop and briefly use the internet. I am feeling much better. Thank you all for your prayers, I feel almost 100% at this point and it is amazing how quickly I recovered. I am also acclimating quickly to the environment. I have been able to start connecting with some of the people here which has been good. Also, God has been continuing to challenge me, but providing comfort in little ways along the way, but of course, comfort that is rooted in Him. That has sustained me.

Projects

I have been very busy meeting with people so far. Paul, the Rwandan FH officer who is hosting me, has been incredibly gracious and vital in setting up these meetings. The goal has been to gather as much information as possible about the cell of Gacundezi, Sector of Rwimiyaga, and District of Nyagatare. I’m trying to learn about government, education, business, ngo’s, and the church. This information will be used by the FH/Highlands partnership to establish our steps in moving forward.

So far I have met with a representative from the head of the primary school, the head of the council of local churches, the head of the sector, and today the vice mayor of the Nyagatare District which totals about 300,000 people. I also met with the managers of a new dairy plant that is under way and newly developed and toured the facility, it may be a potential project we work with. All and all my fears of not being able to gather enough data have now dissipated as I am trying to keep up with the different channels of information and as the best possible questions.

God

God has been so faithful during this process. I mentioned that He had taken me out of my comfort zone, this is certainly true. He has pushed me and made me seek Him more so than I have in the past, but in that he has provided so much. In the past few days I have been thinking about the following things. One a quote from the N.T. Wright book that I previously mentioned; the other a passage from Romans that a friend left me in a comment.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

“In the absence of real hope, all that is left is feelings.” (N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope, p81)

This time has been a process of God breaking the patterns in which I was conforming to the world around me. I have been forced to let go of those comforts and to cling to Him. As the following quote suggests, outside of true hope, the hope found in the cross, all that is left is feelings. If I was without that kind of hope while here I would be lost. I would be completely out of my league, rendered useless and overwhelmed. But it is firmly anchored in that hope that I have found the ability to push through the “feelings,” that I have been so challenged by and instead I have proved able, by His strength, to see something more. Something in this experience that without hope would be lost.

God is so good.

Side notes:

I don’t have much more time to type but I wanted to mention a couple things. One, as I said I am feeling much better. Thank you to everyone for your continued prayer and support, it has been so encouraging.

I have posted two pictures below. One is me with the kids at a football game I went to at the school. I went to watch the game and about 100 kids went to watch me. It was nuts. The teachers literally had to push kids to the side because they were backed onto the field. Not many white folk up here! They also absolutely flipped out when I would shake my head. They thought it was the funniest thing in the world. They would run up to touch my hair then go crazy and run back.

The second picture is of me with the plant manager at the dairy plant. He is in the process of explaining the equipment to me.

Be well. Be encouraged. Be steadfast in your faith. In love and faith, through submission may you find your self resting in Him!

I saw this video (presented by willow creek) in Chapel today at Food for the Hungry. Pat, thank you for showing it. I think it’s powerful.

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” – Gen 22:1

And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here am I.”
- Gen 46:2

Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” – 1 Samuel 3:4

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” – Isaiah 6:8

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Nooma 23|Corner is currently available to view in it’s entirety. Nooma, is the name of a nonprofit organization that produces short sermons in a creative format. Their are now 23 films that run roughly ten minutes each. Rob Bell, the author of Sex God and Velvet Elvis teaches a different biblical lesson in each film. This film, Corner, is free until April 3rd. To view it just click the picture below. When prompted type:

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