Akagera Continued

It was just amazing that the giraffes would allow us to get so close to them. They are such beautiful creatures.

Boo!

Nani and Zoey kept track of all the animals we saw that day.

Fun in Kibuye

Lake Kivu at it's best. Keep reading and make sure you read the "Fun or Nightmare" story about Kibuye.

More Fun in Kibuye

We took an old wooden boat to explore the lake. But as you see behind Zoey the rainclouds came in quickly.
Zoey thought the best part of the boat ride was the wistle on her life jacket.

Nani brought a little net hoping to catch fish.
The wind started to pick up, turning the smooth mirrored lake into a chaotic mess. Sure enough it started pooring. We were soaked to the bone. Lightning and thunder were loud and magnificent, yet scary as we were far on the lake. It was just Nani, Zoey, my mom and me, we just laughed at our crazy adventure.

We stayed cold for a while but made a big fire and had real Nestle hot chocolate with mini marsh mellows (thank you Steph!).

Kibuye; Dream or Nightmare...

Finally…The time had come
It was 3 years ago when Travis had a dream about a trauma and vocational training center located at a large lake. Orphans would come and live there in small family settings. They would receive schooling and training but most of all, they would receive Christ. Through times of worship and prayer they would experience God’s presence. His presence would heal them from trauma, from fear, from pain. They would be made whole by Jesus, their creator. These young orphans would become warriors for Jesus, they themselves ministering wholeness to the people around them, impacting this nation, impacting Rwanda.It was a wonderful dream…

While in a meeting with the minister of Gender and family Promotion, Trav asked her; “If I would set up such a center, where would you want me to go?” After some thought she said she wanted SoZo Ministries Africa in the area with the highest orphan rate of Rwanda; Kibuye… at Lake Kivu…

Finally, the time had come…
Almost packed and ready for our journey the news came to us that our cat, Boefje, had been attacked by wild dogs during the night. Her lifeless body was found by our guard. Needless to say we all cried and grieved the loss of Nani and Zoey’s favorite cat. We sadly finished loading the car and started our journey.We stopped to get more gas in our car. After confirming multiple times that the pump clerk new we needed diesel, he still put in super. After he asked us what we were going to do about it, we returned the question and gave him the answer also. Exactly one hour later the tank was cleaned out and filled with diesel, ready to go to our final destination.

When a God given dream, to good, to big, simply impossible to be true, starts to be confirmed, starts to slowly unfold and become reality… it has changed from a nice dream to the worst nightmare…
How would such a dream ever come true, the staff needed, funds for buildings and houses, equipment for living and training, moving into a yet undeveloped area of the country, schooling for my children… Dream or nightmare…

Trav met with the mayor of Kibuye who welcomed our desires as not many organizations come into this undeveloped, somewhat isolated area. Next week we will meet with him again and look at land. The mayor wants to donate land to us… Can you believe this?

We started our journey back home after our 3 day stay in Kibuye. Forgetting the frustrations form the start of our weekend, we were excited and joyful about the work God is doing and our involvement in it. After only half an hour things went from bad to worse. Lights came on on the dashboard, the steering locked up and strange noises came from yet other parts of the car. Sure enough, right when we were in an area that had no phone reception, in the middle of nowhere “kaboom!” a pipe exploded under the hood. Steam went everywhere. We knew we were stuck, babies and all. We felt like crying, now what will we do… God help!

No sooner after crying out to God we heard a car in the distance. We knew to get the car to stop and somehow receive help would take an act from God. And God acted…
The car drove past and quickly stopped. Some white faces looked at us, we recognized these people! These were our Dutch missionary friends! What are the odds… they even had space to take al 7 of us in their car…
Trav has a Rwandese friend that lives only half an hour from where we had to leave the car. He “happened” to be in his town… He “happened” to be friends with a great mechanic, who “happened” to be available and willing to fix the car late that Sunday night.

I don’t know about you, but reading our adventure I cannot help to realize that someone was trying to stop us from going to Kibuye, and to take our joy away after the Lord had opened amazing doors for us. This is called spiritual warfare. The reason; Satan does not want people to experience God, he does not want them to be free, to be whole. Satan simply does not want God to use SoZo Ministries Africa to bring freedom to the captive.Are we discouraged? No, on the contrary, we feel loaded with persistence to continue and pursue the direction God is starting to unfold for SoZo Ministries Africa.

More beautiful than gold!

My precious baby. Isn't she just beautiful? Yaida is the littlelest clown I've ever known. She just has the ability to make me laugh so hard even when I am stuck in an attitude of frustration or bitterness. She just walks up to me and with her big joyful eyes gets my attention and makes the funniest faces you have ever seen a child make. What a girl!

A little while ago someone asked me; how can you do this, two babies, four kids total, you are missionaries, living by faith. How will you provide for an extra child, what about her study her medical care. Wasn't she better off in the orphanage?
Though such a statement makes me sad and helps me understand the speaker of such things has no idea what life as an orphan in an orphange is like, I could see the point. There is something to say for that and sometimes these same thoughts come to my mind.
Remember her name? Remember YAH-IDEA... (Gods idea)... hmmmmm. Often I am reminded by God that this was His plan, His idea, not so much my own.
Do you know the biblical story of the disciples passing a beggar. He asked for money but their reply was; Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. And the man was healed. He was restored, no longer needing to beg.

People take out a loan and buy big SUV's and nice equipment all the time. The value of their product decreases. Maybe at some point we will have to get a loan to pay for the schooling of our kids, but you know what? My value increases!!!

My precious baby Yaida, she is so valuable. This baby girl is more to us than anything we can ever obtain or strive for. She truly is YAH-IDEA. An amazing one, I must say!

Beautiful Teamwork 1

Thank you to everyone who came along!

Just this last Saturday we spend the day in Gaseke with Abdul and Delphine. They were blessed with a new piece of land and the opportunity to build a house. We brought many people along from various churches and organizations including some diplomats. We had a wonderful time and were able to do a lot, encouraging the villagers with our labor.

Lauren making mudd bricks, she wouldn't stop! Lauren you're amazing, all our staff think you should change acarriers and become a professonal brick maker! (Now, this is a compliment...LOL!)

Even Jasmin played in the dirt, making an attempt to help

Verry impressive Jacco!

Beautiful Teamwork

Guy(with bandana) and Marijn chatting with very old Muzee's

Heleen (my mam) transporting rocks that will be used for the foundation of the house.

Leontien and Anne playing with mudd
Trying to blend in...

Beautiful Teamwork.

Moving Dirt, drastic terracing to make the house last against erosion

Jair taking a break

Everybody, young and old helped. Many of the children liked to mix the dirt and water with bare feet, others helped transport water and rocks yet others helped move dirt and make mudd bricks. The villagers loved the interaction and the children enjoyed making new friends.

Richard having a good time

Mudd fight with my mom.

When happiness is gone.

Lately most of my days are started off by 40 laps of struggle at the pool. Satisfied with my accomplishment I get ready for the day. Today while in deep thought I heard this all to familiar sound, followed by a feeling of sadness.

Hearing that lawnmower in the distance took me back to my backyard in Oregon. I saw the beautiful green lawn, I smelled the small forest connected to it, I heard the birds and the sounds of the neighborhood. I saw my house, the beautiful light wooden floors, and my favorite green wall. Comfortable furniture, colors that made me at ease. I saw my kitchen counters, so easy to keep clean, my favorite coffee mug and the old piano that I loved to play. I saw my friends, their children and the joy they brought. I smell coffee… the smell of friendship.

Fighting back my tears I look at myself in the mirror. These words come to my mind; life is not about happiness but satisfaction. Lately I have encouraged many of my unhappy missionary friends with these words. Words from my life’s lesson this past year:

Happiness is very much dependent on the circumstances one is in. Happiness needs to be maintained, obtained. It changes day by day. When difficulties happen, happiness is far to be found.

Yet when one is satisfied there seems stability and perserverance. When difficulties happen the person is able to face them and deal with them as the satisfaction of the over all life will carry the person through the difficulties. Satisfaction will make someone last even when the situation is not a happy one.

I cannot help but to think about the happiness I experienced in Oregon. So many people, activities and things made me happy there. Yet through all my years there I had emptiness, a lack of satisfaction. Now living in Rwanda I lack happiness. So much I wish for…Yet the satisfaction I experience through my ministry, the struggles and the joys is satisfying beyond belief. I could do this the rest of my life and just suck up the frustrations and hassles. I could go without the typical comforts and stuff that would bring about happiness. To feel satisfied is such a powerful thing. It brings so much peace and stability. It brings a joy that is deep.

I get out of the dressing room and see the lawnmower that started my thought process. I smile as I notice it even looks like the one I used to have and I agree with myself that my life, one of satisfaction surpasses one if happiness.

Time can tell...

We have only been in Rwanda for 15 months. But our life style would indicate a longer stay.

A while ago I had prepared a nice dinner for visitors. With only a few minutes before their arrival I jumped into the shower as I still had the village smell from earlier that day on me. There was no electricity, so while I go through my shower ritual, by candle light, a big roach jumped from the cracks of the ceiling right on my shoulder. I am talking big roach (2 1/2" or 5cm long)! I brushed him off of me causing him to do back stroke in the shower. As I was in such a hurry did not have the time to kill the thing, remove his guts and dump him in the toilet, so instead I made him a prisoner under my soap holder.
Forgetting about the roach, he was found later that night by Travis who killed him.

Nani and Zoey love to watch DVD's in the evening. So when they are lucky and we have electricity they love to cuddle up together, turn off the lights and watch their favorite movies for what seems like the 150th time. They are really into a movie when all of a sudden the whole neighborhood goes dark. Electricity gone... And all we will hear from the tv room is; "Oh man, not again, common let's get a lantern and color..."

The citywater goes off a lot. In those times we pray that we have sufficient water in our water tank to last us until the next time water is on. When there is no city water the water pressure is very very low. And when the pressure is low, it doesn't push the water through the hot water heater. Now in order for the water to heat we need... electricity.
Just the other day I realized that we, including the kids are used to the cold showers. When we turn open the hot water and it is actually hot we all scream; "Guys, get naked, we have hot water!" And we all line up to enjoy the hot water, no matter the time of the day.
Yet, as we have adapted to the cold water, we add so much cold to the hot, that is is almost cold anyways!

In the summer we had cattarpillars in our backyard, They looked cute and fuzzy but cause a chemical reaction upon touch. Nani and Zoey would be playing outside, when all of a sudden the one would lean on the other; "I stepped on a cattarpillar." They know the drill. Sit down while mom makes the local treatment; salt and water paste and keep heaping it on the splinter like spikey's, stuck in the burning skin. There is no cry, no whining. But we all know that it hurts...

It was just two nights ago when, again, there was no electricity. Trav and I are enjoying our late night coffee by lantern light as I see what I preseve to be a large lizzard. The lizzards eat mosquito's so we leave them unharmed in our house. I look again and realize that this is a very big lizard. I get up to check it out and find my lizard friend to be a snake (the one above). As the light was so faint in the house I yelled to Trav:"Quick, bring me a flashlight and the camera.."
He is already on his way. After watching the snake for a while I wonder if the thing could be dangerous, so I get the kitchen knife for Trav to kill it.
We brought it outside to show our compound manager who tells us that it is a dangerous snake. Just one bite and a little time can do great harm...

I read all this again only to be amazed. The things that make many others frustrated, upset or even cause great fear we see as challenges and just deal with them as they come. Not just Trav and me but also our children. There is no fear but peace. There is no panic but dealing with every situation as it comes.
Now, have we been in Rwanda to long to come to this place of peace?

I called this posting "time can tell". Though I think part of this is adapting, which is a time issue, I believe a deeper work is going on, and I want to give the credit for it to God.
As we have accepted and agreed the calling he gave us I believe he has transformed our minds and abilities to be fit for our life in Rwanda. Thank you God for this life we may live. I am truly amazed at the works You do ! You are indeed who You say You are!

KICS

Kigali International Community School...Thank you to all of you who have contributed to Nani and Zoey's education. You have no idea how blesses we all are. Nani and Zoey both love school so much that they feel it to be unfair that they don't have school in the weekend. Zoey even feels that church should be cancelled so that school can happen at the same time....

Above; Zoey with Asaf, Peter-Ryan, Koen and Joshua.

Nani with her friends Rebecca, Caleb and Tylor.
We thought we had lost our girls, as they turned into little monsters in their prior school. Than having them home we saw positive chances in their behaviour, but as they were home for 6 months we all turned into mad people. Now that the girls are in a save place, a place that focuses on God, on proper self-worth and biblical values, we have received our girls back. Finally we recognize Nani and Zoey as the girls we raise. There is laughter in the house, attitudes are disappearing, obedience is on the rise again...
Thank you!! And a special thank you to Lauren Zumbrum, Nani and Zoey's teacher, who has been raisin gher own support to come for a 2 year commitment to Rwanda to teach at KICS. Thank you Lauren. The girls love you and so do we, you are awesome!

Bottom Blessing

834 diapers and 5760 wetwipes...
Bottom Blessing!!

When we received an email with the note; "let us know what we should bring for you in our container" the choice was easy. One hundred dollars worth of diapers and another one hundred for wetwipes. Though we use the cloth ones we received through an amazing missionary diaper grant, we use disposables for on the go and at night.
Some of you may have heard my complains of the scary prices of items in Rwanda. Diapers are part of them. The cheapest we can get dispsables for is

$12 for 34 diapers making this $0.35 per diaper and
$7.50 for 70 wetwipes making this $0.10 per wipe !!!

Today was the day to pick up our bottom blessings! Even the babies were stocked about them. They kept crawling to their room climbing up on the boxes.
Thank you Todd and Jessica for bringing us bottom blessings!

Joy, Joy and more Joy!!

Today was just a wonderful day.
Besides almost killing some motorbikers and almost being killed by other absolutely crazy drivers, the day was so productive and amazing!
Maybe you remember the story of Josepha. I blogged about this amazing woman back in July. Today I took some of our staff to visit her. Though she was out of town her husband was so excited to see us. He looked so healthy and also theur baby girl looked good. As usual I had cloths and other items to give away in the car. Simon was so happy when I gave him some cloths for this daughter and a blanket for her. What a joy.

We had two new families that received sponsorship. Today they received theor ver first bank account ever. This is a big deal! The people were just so happy. It is amazing. Believe me, the joy is contageous!

Now to top it all off, I got to do my very favorite thing above all; surprise people. My mother in law rocks! She has been sending us boxes and boxes full of nice cloths and new flip flops to give to the needy! So whenever we go somewhere, I bring the boxes along. Today I surprised some school kids with teddy bears, men with nice shirts and these woman with cloth for them and their babies. Now these women are something else, I tell you! I barely made it out of the car and they were on my neck, hugging me thanking me and grabbing me. I was a little surprised as I had missed the part where Cyprien had called them to come as I had something for them. "This is a good day to be by the main road" one of the women exclaimed! They both kept on laughing and shouting words of surprise and joy. All of us there could not stop laughing. Joy is contageous! I still laugh thinking of them. I love it, I just love this part of my adventerous life here in Rwanda. Thank you Lord! Jou is conatgeous! These beautiful girls were right beside me from the moment I stepped out of the car until I left after the photography training with our village staff. Aren't they just gorgeous.

These children were very surprised when they received their nice soft plush bears. Can you imagine what it must be like to only feel hard objects, sleep on the dirt floor, no mattresses , no soft cloths. I wonder if they will snuggle up to their new toys tonight and enoy the softness.I love today. I also got to pray with a sick girl. As a result of the connection with GFR the mother and father turned away from Islam and now follow Jesus. So to pray for with this family is just awesome. Thank you Lord for this wonderful life I may live, it's all for You and because of You. Thank You.

"Sharing the Blessing" 1

When we arrived at the location where we would meet al our GFR families, we noticed some ladies with drums and wedding outfits. Besides thinking it to be odd that there would be a wedding on Friday, as most are on Saturday or Sunday, I didn't give it any more thought. Until the ladies started singing and dancing welcoming us on this special day into their area. As they sang louder and the dru picked up some beat people started dancing the traditional Rwandan dance, and yes... we had to dance with them. Oh did we laugh!!! It seems so easy but it sooo is not. The people sheered and laughed so hard. We made a total fool out of ourselfs, I am convinced of this, but boy did we have a great time!

Many of our families were present as we tought them basic biblical principals such as truth and honesty and doing unto other as you want them to do to you.
I love speaking to the families as I have found that the simple things of everyday life make for the best illustrations. No fancy powerpoints or statistical breakdowns, just stories relating to cultivating, family interaction and child rearing. This simple life... I just love it.

"Sharing the Blessing" 2

Travis started the meeting with a Rwandese proverb. It really got the people's attention and they laughed in amazement that he knew not just part of thier language, but more; the way to their heart.

It was a very special day as 28 famlies brought a goat or sheap to give away to someone more poor than themselfs. They used to be the poorest of the poor, no clothing, no decent food nor shelter and here they are, able to give out of their plenty! What a testimony.

Image; You like bike riding and have two very nice bikes in your garage. But really you need only one, but to have the second as a reserve is nice, it has come in handy before.
You there are plenty of people who have to walk an hour to get to work, the public transport just doesn't get them in the right place or they cannot use it for the fees are to high. Now what if you would call this person and say: Meet me at my house tonight at 7, I have something for you." The person comes and you give that nice second bike you have. How excited this person would be, hwo blessed you would feel as you would see him enjoy his surprise...
This is exactly how it was in Mutete. I was proud of those giving and excited for those who received.
I belief strongholds of poverty and selfishness were shaking as these people performed biblical generousity. God, bless the givers and receivers!
This man was so excited with the blessing he received. Though giving in such a way is not culturalAt the end of the day we prayed with this Muchecheru.
It was a day where the best of SoZo and the best of GFR went hand in hand.
Thank you Lord for the life I may live here in Rwanda. What a satisfaction!

Oregon in Rwanda's Mountains!

I was so surprised to find this school boy wearing the University of Oregon sweater in the middle of nowhere in the Rwandan mountains!
To All Oregonians! I miss you!