Grateful...

"I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You..." Job 42:5

"She thanks God she is still alive..."


"She thanks God for His protection..."


"She thanks God she had food for Christmas..."


"She thanks God she had friends to spend Christmas with for the first time since her husband died 15 years ago..."


"She thanks God for the financial miracle that she was able to go to her home village..."


"She prays for healing from worms..."


"She prays for protection from a man haunting her dreams..."


"She prays for safe travels for Rich and Robin..."


These are this morning's humble prayers of the women I have been privileged to spend the majority of my last 180 days with... Following the praises and prayer requests, one of the trainees gave a powerful teaching on Matthew 6: 25-34. This is a teaching that challenges me in the States- yet, I heard it in a new way as I listened to women speak on verses that read:


"²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

   ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

And I think to myself... These are literally the true concerns of my friends here... They have legit reason to wonder day to day where their food will come from, how they will clothe their family- yet- as they shared- 

How would they be any different from their unbelieving neighbors if they did not trust God for these things?

So, each day- they praise God for the simple, yet necessary things of life, and they pray to him to provide for things that they need...

They have taught me much...

I have grown in my understanding of God and his provision while I have been here, but I have also become more aware of how far I have to go... I think that's good.

Most every trying, or difficult situation or circumstance that has happened here- I never could have imagined, prepared for, or anticipated.... And I think that's a good thing- because I probably would have talked myself out of coming- and I would have missed seeing the amazing ways that God meets me in that moment. When I truly am helpless, or unable to solve a problem on my own, and He brings me to the answer... sometimes after sweating it for awhile, sometimes in the exact moment I need it- but through all of it- God has been so, so good. 

The testimonies of the ladies I worked with... rocked my world. Challenged my idea of "hard," gave me a new appreciation and understanding for this population... Showed me what it means to truly rely on God... quite honestly, made my "challenges" here and in the US seem so petty...

I leave here in a week and a half... I leave behind a life with 13 Rwandan women, 4 guards, and many co-expats whom I will never forget. I leave behind people and things that have changed my life, but things that will change. People will come and go, Kigali will continue to change by the day; yet I leave taking with me what will never change- my assurance of God's love. My confidence that He will NEVER leave me or forsake me; the confidence that in whatever trials await my years ahead- I can face them with the Spirit of God in me. He never promised it would be easy.. and I don't think I'd be apt to tell you that my time here was "easy" or "fun"- but it was REAL. My time here burst the bubble of my American life understanding. I can say I am more than grateful for the opportunity and privilege to experience this- I wouldn't trade it- and I hope for more opportunities in the future... I think most of you would agree- it's the challenging times in life that grow us the most... Being more aware of my weaknesses, has in fact made me stronger- as I've relied on the strength of God...

The prayers of so many of you back home were a greater gift than I could ever have asked. Your encouragement, love, understanding, and patience with me as I have processed, and questioned so much in my time here- I thank you. Please continue to pray for the women of ABC... 

If I cross your path in the next few weeks, and appear overwhelmed, or teary, or possibly am unsure what to say... I thank you in advance for your grace and understanding. Reconciling our world back home, and the world I have lived in- while knowing God is over it all- will take some time. But I know this is one chapter of my life story, and there is more to come- just as every day in your life- whether it appears mundane, or you are overwhelmed, or you are on a mountaintop amazed at God's goodness- just remember- God is constant. God is good. We need not be anxious... He will meet us right where we are...

I am changed... I am grateful...

God Bless you all...