I came back to Rwanda to a whirlwind. My body finally caught up with all the traveling and lack of sleep, so of course I finally got really sick. That same week, to my surprise I had to say goodbye to 8 teammates who left the Race due to various reasons. I didn’t know if I was gonna be able to finish this month in one piece.

However, going with the month’s theme of redemption the Lord once again redeemed my last week in Rwanda. Up to this point I didn’t have any deep connections to Rwanda due to all the traveling, lack of ministry and then to top it off with all the crazy changes going on within our squad didn’t help. I was kinda ready to leave…until the last week.

A few of my favorite highlights from the last week in Rwanda that I never want to forget…

Teaching & playing with little 4 and 5 years olds at school.


Preaching on the radio about God's faithfulness and promises at 5am that reaches 4 countries.

My last workout & mini boot camp class with my lil host brothers!


Getting my feet washed with tears in my eyes by the most humble & sweet women in Rwanda.

My last insane near death moto ride to church up & down the bumpiest dirt road I've ever been on… with our long african dresses on. priceless. (i'm pretty sure it was those dang helmets that gave me lice. still bitter.)


Spending sweet time with our contact- Pastor Innocent and his beautiful family.


Running through the gorgeous Rwandan hills.

And January 9,, 2012. It was a holy sacred night I never want to forget. One of our last nights I was asked to preach at the church. The spirit was so thick on the church. Only a few church members of all different walks of life. Different stories. Different struggles. Coming together united in divine hunger, compelled by the ONE love that transcends all differences. In those few hours we were no longer defined by our differences but a family of believers- a cord that could not be broken.

I want to remember the time of prayer in the beginning. I lost track of time. The Spirit was falling so heavily that I couldn’t just stand still. I couldn’t help but reach out to the heavens.

I want to remember how my heart was racing as I felt Him so near, so close. He spoke to me that night. He fueled the fire in my spirit. I felt alive. And it’s moments like these, in a concrete church in a slum in Kigali, Rwanda- when heaven invades earth so purely.

I want to remember the loud, passionate cries of our Rwandan brothers and sisters echo off the concrete walls. I was humbled to be praying with these men and women of faith. They get it. They get worship. It’s not based on performance. Their worship is real. They are behind the curtain, beholding the face of the King of Kings.

The clincher of the whole night.. to the world, this gathering would not appear to be much of anything. They would see how few people there were, the lack of a worship band and fancy equipment, and how simple a church they were meeting in. But it’s in places like these, among the overlooked and least of these, that the Lord delights to dwell.

That same night the Lord put a message on my heart that pierced me. A message on prayer.

Prayer is Powerful.
                                                   Prayer changes.

God wants us to pray. To pray like..

Abraham– who stood in the gap for Sodom and Gomorrah and prayed with

persistence and boldness.

The Lord remembered Abraham’s prayer and saved Lot’s life. (Genisis 18-19)

Jacob– who wrestled to the point of physical pain until the Lord blessed Him and changed his name. (Genesis 32)

Joshua– who prayed CraZy, BOLD, quite ridiculous prayers.

And that was the day the Lord listened to a man and the sun and moon stood still. (Joshua 10:14)

Moses– who reminded God of His promises and pleaded on behalf of Isreal, and the Lord relented and did not bring on the people the disaster he had threatened. (Exodus 32)

                                              Daniel– Who prayed in front of a window at all times for everyone to see- even when a decree was written that no one can pray to any god or man. And the Lord rescued him when thrown in the lion’s den and shut the mouths of the lions. (Daniel 6)

God reminded me to keep praying- especially the things or people I’m tired of praying for- or what seem crazy and impossible. To pray with expectancy and boldness and believe that prayer changes things.

That same night testimonies filled the room. A woman who hugged me and said she loved me the minute she saw me and she exclaimed that Jesus spoke to her and called her back into a life of prayer.

On our walk back home my dear friend Carly Brown made me REVEL. Revel in that holy night. Revel in the Lord and how he chooses to use us. Revel in who He is calling me to become and to be the change I wish to see in the world.

Thank you Jesus for my last week in Rwanda.