I made it to Uganda. Hooray!
Just last week I was posting blogs and sending emails about some much needed support that I would need to continue on with this journey. Praise You Jesus. I can now say I am "fully" funded with the help of new monthly commitments and recent donations. A thank you hardly expresses the impact of what I'm feeling. So let's just try something that might communicate my heart in a more "rach" kind of way.
Wrap your arms around your shoulders
and squeeze tight
((((((((((( INSERT HUG HERE ))))))))))))))
or
Lift up your hand
Lift up your other hand
(((((((((((((((( INSERT HIGH FIVE HERE ))))))))))))))))
I hope you can feel the love and genuine gratitude! Truly, I am so humbled.
The last two weeks have been filled with lots of goodness. Christian and I stayed with Team New Heights and a Pastor named Moses' our last two weeks in Rwanda. Him, his family and the church community was like home to us. He welcomed us with open arms and treated us like his own children. It warmed my heart! He would even crack jokes and use some sacrastic humor every now and again. It was awesome.
We also met Jon. An English missionary who traveled to Rwanda all by himself 6 months ago to help get kids off the streets. We invited him over for meals and to join us in ministry. Instantly, he became like family as well. He was an inspiration and has a heart on fire for the Kingdom. He is now connected to Pastor Moses' and many other pastors throughout his city. He will even be preaching at Pastor Moses' church 5 times next week! I love how God sets up "random" divine encounters with other brothers and sisters around the world that are also chasing His heart.
When it was time to leave it was harder than I thought. Our new found friends and family came to send us off and I wrestled with a wave of emotions. Although it was difficult, I was able to wave goodbye and embrace the transition. I am really excited to begin month 7 and be in Uganda. Like all of my previous posts say I absolutley love Africa. I am stoked beyond measure to meet more African people and participate in bringing more of the Kingdom to this nation.
Jesus and I are doing good too. This trip continaully challenges me with what true love really is. This morning some of us were chatting about agape love and how often Jesus' time was spent living in community with the disciples. It often wasn't the most glamorous part of His ministry. But He loved them relentlessly. Jesus blows my mind with the ways He loves. He is the truest example of agape love- loving without conditions, loving when it's hard, loving when it hurts, loving when you don't want to, loving when it doesn't make sense, loving when you don't see results, loving when you get rejected, loving when you don't feel loved back…
It is His nature to love. He can't not love. Its who He is. And it's who He created me to be. His love is not dependent upon people or circumstance. It's just who He is. This is something He's still teaching me and I will waste my life learning what this looks like. Being here allows me to fall in love with Him all over again. I am celebrating His love today. Truly, it will never stop, end, run out or fail. O how I love Him!
Check out a few photo's from the month.
This is Pastor Moses and my sweet Jenna being goofy.
And this is Christian. Being Christian.
These are the mini Africans that I am always talking about.
A Papa Lion and His Lioness.
They were about 10 feet from us.
ROAR!
