Two weeks from now

Two weeks from today, on the 25th of August, I'll fly out from Eugene, Oregon, and travel to Kigali, Rwanda. The trip to get there will no doubt be interesting, as I don't like to fly and have more than one 8+ hour flight. I'll also be traveling internationally by myself, something I've never experienced. I'm also completely in tune with the fact that I will probably be a little bit of an emotional mess, trying to balance the sorrow of leaving so many incredible friends and family members with the excitement of going back to a place that only ten months ago made such a deep impact on my heart. Wow... There will be a lot going on in those days. Prayers would be GREATLY appreciated.
I got an e-mail informing me that I will most likely be able to volunteer at the hospital in Gulu, Uganda, and even better than just volunteering, I'll be able to help with the new x-ray machine they just got. I'm not really sure how that will work out, as I have an understanding of American medicine and the language that occurs in a hospital is hard enough in English, but I trust that God will break down EVERY barrier, according to His good pleasure. The language barrier is something that I have thought about lately. To me a 'thigh' is a femur, and a foot comprised of tarsals, metatarsals and phalanges. So how much more interesting to try to explain these things to someone who may speak Acholi. This will be a growing experience for sure!
I have been wondering lately if I will, in fact, stay there for longer than two and half months. And how it will feel to leave Rwanda after only about 3 weeks to go to Uganda. Will I want to return to Rwanda? I feel like I will, but I really don't know at this point. I'm excited, though, and open to whatever God wants to happen.
Only two weeks from now... Wow...

Vaccinations and malaria pills

I went to the travel doctor yesterday. I honestly expected to have to spend a lot of money on the shots and pills, but I ended up only have to get one shot and buying the typhoid pills and malaria medicine. Still $205 worth of medicine, but only one needle stick so I am grateful.

When I stop and think about that, however, it messes with me a little bit. $205 is not a small amount of money. Yes it could have been more, but I was just thinking about how that would feel if I had no means of supporting myself and had a greater chance of getting those diseases I got immunized against. What if this weren't for an upcoming trip, but instead for my life, of for the life of a loved one? To me, the price is one to pay as I set out on this journey. One that is included, just like the cost of the airline tickets. But what if that were not the reason I needed the vaccine or the malaria medicine? Considering that the average Rwandan family makes under $200 a year, I know exactly what that would do to me. Exactly how that would feel. Discouraging. Insurmountable. Hopeless. 

And the sad truth is that there are thousands of people who die every year from the diseases I just got vaccinated for. Thousands of people, probably millions of people, who die of PREVENTABLE diseases every year. 

It begs the question, why? Is it just because I was born here and they were born there? Because I live in a country that is prosperous and blessed and they live in an impoverished and developing one? Why does that matter? Is my life worth more than those? Should my life be worth any more than the 5 year old Ethiopian child who died today of malaria, possibly without anyone knowing his name? Or is my life worth any more than the daughter of a prostitute who is dying of AIDS, whose mother is only trying to provide (by whatever means) for her children? Why can they not receive medical care also? Why is the price so high?

I have worked in health care here and I can see that the price is too much. The price for health care in the U.S. is huge. But what is worse than that is that the price is great around the world, in countries without programs and things in place to help those who can't afford to be treated. Preventable, treatable diseases killing children. That messes with me. Makes me wonder what does the price tag on those lives say? And who decides?

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.