The reason...

The reason for this blog is to update friends, family and anyone else who would like to know about my experiences and adventures while in Rwanda, Africa. I am going because last October I joined a team of ten other people from my church on a mission trip to Rwanda, East Africa. We spent 11 days in the country, being sent from Jubilee World Outreach, as we partnered with Food for the Hungry to help build a house for a needy family, conduct VBS for school aged children, and purchase five cows for needy families in the community of Kayenzi. As you can imagine the trip was a life changing experience for me, and opened up a part of my heart I had only guessed existed before. Upon returning to the U.S. I felt a deep conviction to return to Rwanda. Under the wise counsel of a few trusted mentors I waited to make any decisions, allowing my heart to settle and emotions to stabilize. However, after three months of prayer, waiting and resting, the urge was still on my heart, and had increased. I began to research the country at this point, investigating what I might be able to do there. I had seen such hope, promise and potential in the small East African country, but I had also witnessed an immense physical poverty. In a country where a whole generation seems to be missing due to the 1994 Genocide, there is an infrastructure that is being rebuilt, and simple things we take for granted here in the U.S. that are not available there. There are thousands of orphans, due to the Genocide and the HIV/AIDS epidemic that is effecting much of Africa, as well. So I found myself asking the questions, where would I start? How could I possibly help? And the only answer that came was to go and love. However that plays out, go and show God's unfailing love to the people there. 
So it was with a strong conviction, burning ache to help, and possibly a little bit of child-like faith in my heart, I purchased a plane ticket at the beginning of June and will be leaving to return to Rwanda on August 25th. As a U.S. citizen I can be in the country for 90 days without needing a visa, so I will be staying in Rwanda until the middle of November. At first it was my intention to obtain a job in Rwanda and stay for a longer period of time, however, at this time that door has not been opened, thus the need for a return flight. When I first arrive I will be spending some time in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, to visit with friends I met in October and also to seek out more of God's plan for me while I am there. I will be staying with a friend from Eugene, Adrienne, and her family. My heart's desire is to somehow serve, in the name of the Lord, this country. Though I don't know exactly how it will look yet, I have a faith that doors will be opened and purpose will follow.