It's Really Happening!

"Pack your bags, you are headed to Kigali". This is what the computer screen showed me. I had just booked our tickets to Rwanda! I had been watching the ticket fares go up steadily, but it wasn't the time to buy the tickets. Over the weekend, I found a good deal, and by Monday, I knew we needed to act soon, but how? The last few months had been incredibly difficult for Kim. Jobs were delayed by the wintery weather and just when he would get going on a jobsite, the weather would turn bad again. Added to this, payments were slow coming in and we were working with an income cut in half for the last three months (yet throughout this time, bills were paid and all our needs met). Now, to spend over $4000 on tickets seemed outrageous.

The tickets were booked and within a few days, they have been 3/4 paid for. Don't ask me how, all I know is God is good and when He calls us to step out in faith, He is with us every step of the way. It's a battle though. I spent much of this last week overwhelmed by the task before me. Never have I felt so inadequate and untrained. I have no regrets with my years of Bible school, children's ministry and homeschooling. I absolutely love what I do, but I don't have credentials behind my name. It's just me. So the thought of going overseas and serving in a country where certificates and credentials are valued seems overwhelming to me. However, God is bigger. He did not stir us up in this direction if He didn't think we could handle it. The battle comes down to me choosing to go in God's strength as opposed to my own.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength! It's incredible to know that God can take my simple gifts, strengths and passions, and use them them in a mighty way! I think of the story of the boy who shared his lunch (fish and bread) with Jesus and it was used to feed over 5000. It was all God's power, but He used someone offering what they had and the miracle took place.

This is where we are at. Our family is offering what little we have to God to use us as He sees fit. Whatever the outcome, it is up to Him. In the meantime, we want to be willing and obedient, ready to be used however He chooses. The best is yet to come!!

--so, how can you help?
1. Pray, for peace, protection and provision
We are in Kigali, Rwanda, August 5-20
2. Get creative, we want to bring up to 100 knitted or crocheted beanie (tight-fitting) hats for the kids. They will be coming back to the home for a reunion/birthday party in November, so if we can take over gifts and party things in August, it will help. The hats will be a gift and the extras will go to Kenya for the kids there (ages 5-18, boys and girls)
3. Give, if you can to help with our flights, accommodations, etc. We won't say no to money (or pop bottles, or Epicure orders where 30% of the order goes to Rwanda (those can be ordered from anywhere in Canada and shipped directly to you).

Thank you:)