My Life, His Story...

Greetings from Uganda! It is hard to believe I am on the final leg of this time in Africa. I will be returning to Charlotte in one week and when I try to reflect on all that has happened over the past 3 1/2 months, it is difficult to focus on one event or place, but to jump from one incredible moment to another. Spending this special time in Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda has been filled with many challenges, hurdles, surprises, beauty, heartache and joy. I truly stand in awe of God’s plan and the magnitude of this opportunity, and especially in the fact that just a few short years ago this desire was not a part of my conscious state of mind.

Through this more difficult journey, I have been shown the faithfulness and greatness of God. I know there are probably many of you who cannot grasp (or maybe don’t want to right now) but question and maybe even reject what I am saying. But, living day to day following Jesus has taken me places I never dreamt of going. Life has been so much bigger over the past several years than what I ever imagined I personally would be doing in this lifetime. I give all thanks and praise to God for giving me the strength to follow and to continue. I just pray I will have the courage and steadfastness to stay obedient and faithful...and patient!

I am not sure what the next steps will be, and honestly it is not an easy place to stand. It goes against all I was brought up to believe. However, I put all trust in God to provide a clear direction and to open the doors that He sees fit for me to walk through. I thank each one of you for the support and encouragement you have shown over the past year and I look forward to sharing more as my faith walk continues. A friend gave me a rock that says, “My Life, His Story”, which has been incredibly touching to me. We have a choice whether we live for ourselves or if we live for what truly matters, something much greater. Thank you for listening as I have tried to process and continue to process these unknown steps in my life. Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

“Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.

For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.” ~ Psalm 117

Wholeheartedly giving...

I believe one of the reasons I was suppose to spend time in Goma, DR Congo was to learn a great deal from a man named Theophile. He is the Pastoral Ministries Coordinator for ALARM-Congo and has unknowingly taught me a great deal over the last 10 days I have spent with him. To firsthand witness and be touched by his faithful desire to serve others leaves me longing to have the same character trait but knowing I fall way short. Not only does he wholeheartedly give in every aspect of his life, but it is a generous giving that comes naturally, it is not a decision of his mind but a drive from his heart. The sacrifices he makes, out of the way actions he takes and the smile that just radiates on his face truly amazes me. This is something that has not only impacted me but encourages me to be a better person. In reflection I see my shortcomings, yet it provides a desire and motivation to give to others like he has given to me. Why is it so easy for some yet so difficult for others?

I am very thankful for having this special time to spend with Theophile. His gracious nature, his inner light that radiates outwardly and his beyond measure thoughtfulness has been a gift to experience. I long to have this type of impact on others and will try my hardest to strive to be the wonderful servant of God that Theophile is without even trying!

“Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel

of the wicked

or stand in the way of the sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates

day and night.”

~ Psalms 1:1-2

My heart was instantly touched...

After suffering from a fever 2 nights ago and sleeping all day yesterday, God answered prayer and I woke up feeling much, much better...Praise God! We had a big day planned to head to Kibumba, which is a town about 30 km. north of Goma. Meanwhile, I have been told Goma only has about 50 miles of paved roads and is one of the 2 largest countries in Africa. Needless to say, the drive was long, bumpy, exciting and interesting. Again, Praising God for feeling much better because I am not sure how the trip would have gone if the circumstances would have been different.

After heading toward the “active” volcano, which sits just north of Goma, I was a little concerned. Isn’t it active?! Then, we started to head around the right side of it... Yes, I know it is active on the opposite side, but if we are now traveling around it we are eventually going to hit the side that is active, right?! Obviously, no worries because no one else seemed to mind! I felt like a “new be”...definitely not from here and have much to learn. No need to be afraid of an active volcano, it is only active on the other side... :)

Arriving in Kibumba, we were greeted by about 15 pastors who ALARM has helped re-acclimate to life outside IDP Camps. We walked into the most quaint and humble church I have seen. My heart was instantly touched and I stood in awe. At the other side, one of the walls had collapsed 2 days prior to our visit by an earthquake. It had fallen while people were inside, yet no one was injured. While we were there, we dispersed clothes to each of the pastors (one coat, two shirts and one pair of slacks each) and they were thrilled. After sharing a soda, I had the opportunity to pray for them before leaving. What an honor! As we drove away I was humbled by the distance some of these men had walked to come for the visit. They were there waiting for us and it probably took their entire day. What I saw in these individuals was a kind of patience, commitment, honor and integrity that is not easy to come by, but much to be admired.

Driving back to the town of Kibumba we passed a truck that was carrying potatoes. As we passed my mouth dropped open as I asked Jaspard, who was driving, to stop and back up. Everyone else in the car was wondering what in the world I was doing. As we reversed, I was pointing at the driver of the truck and told everyone else in the car that he was wearing my hometown NFL jersey...YES, in a very rural off the beaten path road was a truck driver wearing a Carolina Panther’s Jersey! A special little gift from home...

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.”

~ Proverbs 8:17-18

Blessed with JOY...

Friday was a wonderful day blessed with JOY! The prior week came with many challenging times, but God answered with a very special day I will always remember. It started with sitting in the ALARM-Congo office working on the internet and spending time reading the Bible. While I was reading and writing, an African choir sang in the distance. The beat of the drums made my heart fill with the love of the land. There is something about the heartbeat of the land in Africa that makes your soul sing. It is not abnormal or rare to hear choirs sing joyfully and sporadically throughout the area which is an aspect of Africa that I wish the US would replicate. Hearing people praise at random hours, wherever they might choose to gather and with whoever chooses to join is just wonderful.

After this terrific morning, we headed out to the ALARM-Congo property that is going to be the site for their Reconciliation Center. I visited this site last January, so it was definitely a treat to see the progress. When we arrived, I was filled with joy! The first building is almost complete and it is a beautiful chapel/conference hall. We sat around talking, laughing and sharing lunch as a family. Then, we finished our time by singing Blessed Assurance, a song which always touches my heart. Standing there and thinking about the future and how this building is going to share the Gospel with so many people to come is amazing. God is good and gives us wonderful moments that are meant to be cherished. This was one of those very special moments. To think that the prior week had been so difficult and the enemy was doing everything in its power to keep me from coming to Congo, I was blessed with a day filled with joy.

We then traveled to a plot of land Marie-Jeanne (Country Director) plans to build on in the future. We had to walk about 15 minutes to the plot of land on a tiny trail over the lava rocks. Yes, no cars permitted because there was no road. It was wonderful to be walking amongst people’s homes and to see firsthand people’s lives here in Goma. I was able to interact with the women and children, who were either working in their gardens or tending to their children. Amazed at how these individuals have adapted their lives around the devastation of the lava flow. They have built homes on top of the lava, with lava rocks, and have also planted gardens amidst the lava...incredible. I was told that lava actually carries a lot of nutrients in turn making the soil very fertile and great for crops. Amazing how a time of immense devastation can blossom with its own set of benefits.

After causing much laughter with the children, some being very skeptical of the muzungu (white person), others being daring and actually shaking my hand, we continued our venture for the day. For the next several hours the day increased insurmountable as we visited each of the staff members’ home. This was incredibly touching and heartfelt! For each of them to open their homes and invite in a person they barely know is a way of them reaching out and embracing me. My heart was singing with joy. This was such a special time and I am so grateful to each of them for being so loving and open. I am feeling incredibly blessed by the warm welcome in DR Congo and am honored to be here. This is truly a special family!

“Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

~Nehemiah 8:10

Denied Entry...

Over the past 24 hours, many wonderful yet not so wonderful things have happened. After arriving in Kigali, Rwanda, I was told by the ALARM-Rwanda team that they would be driving me to the Rwanda/Congo border. Being hand delivered was awesome news and a great provision God provided unexpectedly! I had understood I would be taking a bus to the border, which I had given/released to God many times throughout the past month! Meanwhile, if you are not familiar with the buses in Africa, then you should know that they drive much faster then should ever be advised or allowed, and they make people jump and cars veer for safety as they pass. This was definitely a worry of mine, but a situation I was putting into the Lord’s hands. Needless to say, God provided and I was spared the new (and really unwanted) experience of riding the local bus to the border.

The car ride from Kigali to Goma is one of the most beautiful drives I have ever seen. Traveling throughout the Land of a Thousand Hills is such a special opportunity and the views are absolutely breathtaking. After the 3 hour car ride, we rounded one last curve and saw Lake Kivu in its magnificent beauty and size in the near distance. Knowing that the border was just minutes away made my heart smile.

After spending time in Goma last January, I am familiar with the area but still have much to learn and experience. Never did I imagine I would be back so soon. Once arriving at the border, it still amazes me how taking a few short steps through what I like to call “no man’s land”, the neutral zone between Rwanda and DR Congo (about 50 feet), life changes drastically. Rwanda is a country that is like no other country I have visited in Africa. It is incredibly clean with no trash on the ground, cars drive the speed limit and people live by rules and regulations which provides for a more calm, consistent and safe environment. Life seems to be much more orderly than other countries. However, once you cross the border all things seem to change.

As I was waiting in Rwanda, I saw the ALARM-Congo team approaching with huge smiles and arms wide open! It was so wonderful to see my friends again and to have this opportunity to serve with them once more in their country. After crossing “no man’s land”, the Congelese border control did not have the same embracing welcome I received from the ALARM team. They looked at my visa, which I received from the Congo Embassy in Burundi just days before, and was denied entry. Yes...that was it.

After speaking in length with the border control, we were advised to go to the Immigration Office right inside Goma city limits...yes, we were told to go into DR Congo while leaving my passport at the border yet still being denied entry?! Of course, this did not feel right nor make any sense. Well, it did not settle well with the Immigration Office either. We were sent back to the border, shortly thereafter I was handed my passport (which was a welcome relief), yet told to leave the country immediately.

After returning to Rwanda and making a temporary “home” on the curb of the border control office of Rwanda, Theophile (Pastoral Director for ALARM-Congo) and I placed the situation into God’s hands and believed His will to be done. Meanwhile, the ALARM-Rwanda team had already been gone for a good 1 1/2 hours and were well on their way back to Kigali. They were called and asked to turn around, thinking that I was going to have to return to Kigali with them. The remainder of the ALARM-Congo team waited to speak with the Immigration Director and after quite a while were able to plead my case. Yes, $250 later and almost 6 hours of waiting in Rwanda, just steps from the border, I was allowed entry into DR Congo. God is good and prevailed!

I am humbled and strengthened by the fact that God’s hands orchestrate every moment of our lives. He is always near and is ever so faithful. Believing fully that He was going to provide the right outcome, even though I did not know what that outcome was going to be. I was sad at the thought of coming this far and not be able to spend the next 2 weeks working with my Congelese friends, but I also believed in and prayed for God’s will to be done (whatever that might be). For the Lord to open the doors He wanted open and to close the doors that were not right to walk through. I do not know what this time in DR Congo will entail, however, I do know that it is God’s will for me to be here. He heard the cries and answered. Praise God!

Lastly, we were told that the officer who denied me access was going to be arrested the following morning. This was my second time to enter DR Congo and it was my second time to have a problem. Yes, both times this gentleman was the one who helped me and both times he asked for a bribe. The situation makes me very angry and frustrated, however, on the other hand it makes me very sad because of the prevalent corruption in this area. The Congelese people have to deal with this corruption on a daily basis and there are many who suffer because of the unfair treatment. When will it change?

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

~ Romans 16:20

Where am I suppose to be...

I am over here in a country and land that is unfamiliar and unknown. I am feeling numb. My passion is dry, my fire is barely flickering and I am so confused. I have just heard my sweet dog, Tahoe, is acting out and not doing well at home. I want to run home and be with her, be in my comfort zone, be somewhere I have a normal life, have a job, have a social life, have friends and family close by, be able to exercise, walk outside, go running, drive a car, speak the same language, have a soft bed and comfy sheets...ugh. I am struggling and do not know which way is up or down. What is God’s purpose for me being here? What does the future hold? Where am I suppose to be and what am I suppose to be doing? I feel like I have lost all passion. That living day by day is almost like living in survival mode. Am I going to be able to survive? What is the right step? Which direction do I head? Where am I suppose to be?

Prayer Request:

Please pray that God turns Tahoe's uneasiness into complete peace and she becomes adjusted and settled for the next few months until I return. Pray for Marie and Mike Moore as they try to figure out the next steps to help Tahoe and that God will provide the perfect place for her to feel at ease. Please pray that God gives me clarity, direction and wisdom as to where He wants me and that He provides the strength and peace to continue on the path He has planned.

"Don't be afraid, just believe."

~ Mark 5:36

Taking it to the Cross...

This has been a wonderful week serving in Muyinga, Burundi with ALARM and Watermark Church from Dallas, Texas. After greeting the team around 1 am. on Sunday morning, as they arrived in Bujumbura blurred eyed, the Lord was already revealing Himself. Everyone was in great spirits and excited for the coming week in Muyinga, a small town in northeastern Burundi, located about 10 km. from Tanzania. This area is currently saturated with witchcraft and idol worshipping. Needless to say, a great opportunity to share and touch the people of this province.

Over the past week, I have learned a great deal from this dedicated group of 12 individuals from a different area in the US. It is wonderful to see that no matter where we are in the world or where we are from, Christians are committing their time and energy to serve in the Lord’s name, giving their lives to serve Christ and share His Word and Truth, realizing and embracing the need and desire to share the Gospel in all parts of the world and in turn experiencing God work and transform lives in the process.

In Muyinga, two different conferences were being held at the same time; A Women’s Conference consisting of 46 women and a Pastoral Conference consisting of 60 men. This was a unique and encouraging week because the Burundian women attending the Women’s Conference seemed much more educated and knowledgable about the Bible. They were interactive from the first afternoon and were trusting of the American team visiting. Eager to learn more, the women were open to sharing personal stories and being vulnerable to one another, a unique opportunity and experience.

One of the highlights of the week happened at the end of the second day when the women received a Post-it Note and were asked to write down the name of an individual they needed to forgive. They were asked to take it to the Cross, which was drawn on a board in the front of the room. Not knowing whether this would be received well by the attendees, we were in awe of their participation and desire to give and receive forgiveness. As they rushed the Cross, it was as if they could not release their burden fast enough. While some acted quick, others contemplated this big step with deep thought. They did not take the decision lightly and when they finally went to the Cross you could see the pain along with the relief. The burden had been lifted and they were ready to move forward. This moment will remain in my memory as a permit imprint.

As tears of happiness filled my eyes, while my heart also felt the longing to forgive and ask forgiveness within my own life, I witnessed Christ’s work in each of our lives. It still amazes me how each day brings a new understanding of the love of our great Lord. He is continuously working within each of us.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

~ Matthew 11:28-30