Last night, as we were coming home from the city, we stopped to get fuel & airtime for our cell phone. Beside us was the busy highway, people walking everywhere and a young man in a wheel chair, about 1/4 into the busy road. As he was propelling the old chair forward, the rubber came off the wheels. He froze. A couple people came over to help, and got the rubber back on, but in the fixing, the entire wheel came off! Buses, cars and trucks speed by, honking, and he's there, stuck. These two men help get the wheel on (while dozens continue to walk by), and they leave him. He just sat, head down, in the busy road, not moving. As we watched, a sense of helplessness washed over us. It was late, we didn't have much money with us, there was really nothing we could do to make a difference in this person's life.
We were told to prepare for this. The extreme needs are everywhere here. Reality is, we can't help them all, we can't impact many, but we can focus on the job God brought here for and make an impact on those we are to help--the orphans in our compound, the students at this Bible School.
A couple nights ago, we decided to celebrate Naomi's birthday a day late and Joel's birthday 2 days early. We baked a cake and they decided it would be fun to share it with the kids at family night. A few nights a week, we have "family night" with the orphans. This often is a time for the mamas and Rwandan parents to deal with problems, work on character, etc. We have decided it would be a time to pour into the children.
After a successful story time with the kids in the summer (they still remember the stories of Moshe I told them), we decided to continue with this tradition. This time, reading stories of Christian heroes through history who made a difference for Christ. Our ultimate goal? To teach these precious kids that their Source is God, their key is God's Word and their help in time of need, is Christ alone.
This is our primary calling--to be the hands and feet of Jesus to these children for however long we have them (as the government continues to slowly shut down the orphanages).
When the children are cared for, we will continue to reach out to the community through the Bible School, teaching ESL, encouraging and building into these young people. So much is happening right now, it is exciting to see God at work!
We are now on our own, as the former director has returned to America. The task in front of us feels overwhelming, the learning curve, high, but the God who called us here has promised to never leave us or forsake us and give us wisdom as we ask. All we can do is trust in Him.
Please pray:
Wisdom as we manage--with budgeting/finances, staff
Clarity through transition--the Bible College is only in it's second week
Understanding as we try to learn this very different culture
Health & Protection for our family
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