We're Here

We will post about the outreach later..but for now here is what our journey to Rwanda was like...

Kayla writes:
The Journey to Rwanda

Hello Everyone!! I (Kayla) am currently sitting on the plane waiting to get to Ethiopia, then RWANDA!!! It has been a very busy day! We left GCC at 3 am and arrived at Boston to check in at 4 am. We then got breakfast and went on our first flight from Boston to Washington D.C. I slept the whole plane ride so I don’t really have anything to say about that flight. It was very nice to sit down and sleep though. After we arrived in Washington D.C. we walked around the airport and got a very early lunch and ate at the gate while we waited to board. After everyone boarded the plane and the doors closed, we all spread out so we could have rows to ourselves to lay down and sleep. I have 3 seats to myself... Praise God!! Everyone is very excited and anxious to get off the plane! It has been a pretty good flight though. I’ve slept, read, eaten some wonderful plane food, and chatted with the other girls who are going as well. At about 3 am we stopped in Rome to refuel. We all thought that it was so ridiculous that we were IN ROME and yet could not get out and go do something. Oh well... While we waited to refuel, we all got up and were talking about what we were going to share at the churches we were speaking at. I’m going to be speaking about not worrying. I think this is a good topic for me to speak on because I can relate with this a lot because I worry ALL the time and that is just something that I have struggled to overcome. I came up with this topic probably 2 weeks ago when I was in the car and I was driving to church alone just listening to music and it just hit me! So of course when I got to church I found whatever I could to write on and scribbled all my thoughts down really quick so I wouldn’t forget anything. I’m a little nervous to speak in front of a lot of people but I think it will be easier than speaking in the USA because the people there are not as judgmental and are just glad you are there willing to speak to them. So that should make it a little easier I hope! After we took off in Rome we all slept again. I just barely woke up to a BEAUTIFUL sunrise! I am so anxious to just be in Rwanda!! I was writing in my journal earlier today and documenting my trip and I was saying how I’ve done everything I need to do to get here... I’ve fundraised, I’ve talked about it a million times, I’ve answered countless questions, I’ve packed my bags, I’ve gone to the airport and sat on planes for HOURS... and it STILL doesn’t feel real to me. I thought by now it would but I don’t think it will truly feel real until I’m there! Ok my breakfast just came so I am going to go but I will write more later today!

Deep Thoughts from a high altitude! (Tina writes...)

So on the long flight from DC to Rome I was sitting in the quiet and sort of counting my blessings so to speak. I have so much to be thankful for everyday and yet I don’t live each day in a state of thankfulness. WHY? Probably because I am TOO blessed and have become spoiled and expect certain things to be a part of my daily experience. I have cupboards full of food, closets full of clothes, rooms full of stuff, I have my health, my husband, my children, friends. I have “jobs” that help provide, a ministry that gives me purpose and is incredibly rewarding. I realize that God is so gracious to me each day.

I have been to Africa twice and both times I have experienced God’s presence so strongly. There is such a purity of worship there that is really hard to find at home. So as I head back to Africa again I am excited because I KNOW that God is going to do amazing things; I expect it. But something struck me on the plane....Why can I so confidently expect to experience God in Africa, but I so often miss the experience at home where there is evidence of blessing all around me. I know all the “blessings” are often a distraction and I need to be more intentional about my experience with God. God’s desire is to give me that experience wherever I am but I need to be looking for it...carving out that time everyday to seek Him. When I come to Africa...I am expectant ...always on the lookout for His miracles and I am not surprised when they happen. I want to come home expecting to see God’s hand in my life in the little things....and not get distracted. I want to continue to EXPECT to experience Him in powerful ways right where I’m at...day in and day out.

So instead of just being expectant of amazing things happening to me and the team on this trip. I’m expectant of all the things He is going to do at home as well. So....would you join me? As you follow my blog of this journey to Africa...would you be on the lookout of how God is present in your own life and acknowledge that He is at work in all of us....all the time. If you don’t have a personal relationship with God and you wonder if He is even real....be honest...and just tell him that and ask him to show you...ask him to reveal himself to you in a way that you will KNOW it’s him....He WANTS to WOW you...but He can’t if you’re not paying attention. So pay attention! I’m expecting for God to do amazing things in Africa, at home, in me, and in YOU....and when you do have a “God moment” feel free to share them here. I’d love to hear about it!