Give Thanks!

I know I'm about a week and a half too late in wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving...but I'm thankful, nonetheless! :) I'm thankful for all of you, my family and friends, who sustain me with love and prayers each day! I hope you had a wonderful time of giving thanks and being with each other. I certainly had a celebratory thanksgiving here in Kigali! I got together with 30 friends, from many different countries, and we celebrated life, celebrated community, celebrated all the ways in which we are blessed, and celebrated our time together that God has given us. We all managed to recreate some of our favorite dishes, and we feasted on Rwandan turkey, potatoes, yams, a host of fresh veggies, apple pie and pumpkin pie, and much more! I managed to make a sweet potato casserole dish, with the white cassavas here. It tasted the same, except it was white, not orange! And making pumpkin pie from scratch is not something I want to do again! What an effort! :) But the end result was tasty! Heck, I'm thankful for my time in Rwanda for teaching me how to cook a couple of things! Ha! We feasted and prayed, and had a big ol' time sitting by the fire and watching the Packers game livestreamed on Skype, courtesy of Matt and Tim. For a second there, I forgot what country I was in! It was a joyful night!

With friends, Clay and Hadley

Watching the Packers game on the wall of Clay's house! :)

I am thankful to live in a safe country, to have a wonderful job that I love, and students that I adore. I'm thankful for a community of friends from all over the world who I come together to worship with, laugh with, and live with. I'm thankful for my family here, and my family in North Carolina, and all over the globe. I am blessed beyond belief! I'm thankful for opportunities to share about the grace and love of Christ with nonbelievers every day. I'm thankful to have encouragers and supporters and prayer partners near and far. I'm thankful for a loving God who keeps no records of our wrongs, but continues to pour out His mercy and grace on us, so that we can be free and share it with others! I'm thankful for my health. I'm thankful everyday when I wake up and find He has given me another day to live! I'm thankful for email and technology and cameras and snail mail from my Mom. :) I'm thankful that Rwanda now has Oreos, Ritz crackers and strawberries! And Pringles too! :) I'm thankful for time to rest and time to heal. I'm thankful for all the many people that God has brought into my life this year, and chosen us for each other. I'm thankful that in Christ, we are free! I'm thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit. In a nation where there are those who are suffering in different ways, just like in all nations, I'm thankful for the gift of life that comes in the form of food, and clean water and medicine, but most importantly, it comes with knowing and loving Jesus Christ!

On this Thanksgiving (or 10 days later...) I give thanks for all of you! See you soon!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever." ~Psalm 107:1

Tubahumurize

Tubahumurize translates to "let us console them" in the kinyarwandan language. These amazing women are a part of a women's co-op, founded by genocide survivor, Jeanne Mwiriliza. All the women are survivors of domestic violence, and their stories are vast and heartbreaking. But they have hope! Jeanne first started Tubahumurize as a group therapy session, allowing women to talk about their experiences with one another. They shared stories of genocide rapes and unwanted pregnancies, and contracting the HIV virus during the genocide. As they shared with each other, more ladies began to come and share, and they realized that talking and consoling one another was a part of their healing. Now, these ladies continue to share stories with each other, but Jeanne has also provided professionsal trauma and AIDS counseling for them, and counseling for their children as well. She has provided training about income-generating activites, and cooperative management, and provided bank accounts and micro-credit loans for them. She has even set up a treadmill at the modest concrete home for these women, and they work together to sew beautiful quilts, bags, scarves, and other exquisite Rwandan crafts. I was so excited to have these special ladies sew a beautiful African quilt for me, something I will hold dear to me forever! I told them I loved blue, and many, many bright colors, and thy did the rest! I was so pleasantly surprised, and excited to be able to help these wonderful ladies! You can check out their website here: www.rwandanwomencan.org

I'm hoping to have a small "bazaar" when I'm home this Christmas, and showcase many of their items for sale! Stay tuned!

Jeanne and her family

My finished quilt! It's reversible!

On the Potter's Wheel...

"Yet, you, Lord, are our Father, We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." ~Isaiah 64:8

Last Sunday, I was so blessed by the guest speaker at our church. Nancy Harbron, the "Peaceful Potter," is an American who has visited Uganda and Rwanda many times, sharing her gifts and talents as a potter, and intertwining them with the story of our Master Potter.

With wisdom, humor, and compassion, Nancy spoke of becoming a finished vessel, ready to serve God in our own unique way. Just as each pot or vase is uniquely designed for a set purpose, she reminded us to celebrate the unrepeatable individuality that God has created for each of us. As His children, we are individually loved, called, and set apart for unique service and a unique purpose, all in order to glorify our Master and Creator!

She talked about how God molds us and shapes us, but first He has to beat the lumps of clay out of us to make us smooth. Sometimes His hands feel rough, but it is all for our good, to make us into the unique and beautiful pot that he has designed us as. We are His vessels on the wheel, and He continues to chip away the lumps and bumps, and purify us on the wheel. Then, we are fired under mighty heat and strength, but He is with us.

It was so interesting when she showed us two pots....both very similar pots, but one had a beautiful glaze, and one lookd super dull. And the only difference between the two pots was that the beautiful one was fired only 15 degrees hotter than the other one. That's it....15 degrees hotter, but for the same amount of time. It was a reminder to thank God for "the heat" that He brings in our lives; to thank Him for the good and the not-so-good. For both experiences are from Him, as He molds and shapes us. It was also a reminder to stretch myself and grow and seek out new faith challenges, instead of being comfortable in my faith. Comfort is not always best. I don't know about you, but for me, it's been the times of challenges and struggles where my faith has grown the most, and I come out of those struggles with a more defined picture of who God is and how He works in my life. That's when I'm able to hear his voice more clearly. I'm so thankful for the way He is constantly molding and shaping me, and using others to teach me. I'm so glad He's not finished yet! :) Nancy's website is: www.peacefulpottery.com

"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the Lord came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand." ~Jeremiah 18: 1-6

Omni words!

This week in Bible, my kids were learning about all the "omni" characteristics of God. He is omniscient! Omnipresent! Omnipotent! We knows us, He is everywhere with us, and He is all powerful! They wrote sweet journals reflecting about these words and how they know God is all these things. I pray, as you read these reflections, that you know and feel God's omni-powerful presence today! :)


God knows everything in our brains. Even what we're about to say to him right now. Nikki


I know God was all powerful because He created the earth and everything in it with no difficulty. Except then when Adam and Eve sinned, that's when the difficult part came. :) Joy


I know God is omnipotent because who else could have parted the Red Sea or sent fire from heaven? Isaac

God always responds to our prayers all the time. He's there for me when I'm happy, sad, or even reading. He never takes a nap. He's even everywhere in the Bible. He can hear everyone in the world when they are in trouble. He is always our shield. Tyrone


I know that God is omnipotent because He saved my parents from an earthquake. Joel


God is all powerful because He parted the sea for the Israelites to escape from Pharoah. He also walked on water. And he fed 5,000 people with just some bread and tiny fish. He even made beautiful flowers for us to admire! Alandra


I know God is omnipotent because He helps countries when they are in trouble. Like when Rwanda was in trouble, He helped us get freedom and become a safe country. I know He will help Libya and Syria and all the other countries too. Jemima


If someone is hurt, God is with that person. If there is a car accident, He is with that person. If I am scared, God is with me. He is even with me when I do dangerous things. He is everywhere cause He is God and King! Luacs


I think it's cool that God even loves and helps people who don't love Him back. He waits for them and still loves them and helps them. Look at how He changed Saul's life. God cares for you no matter what. David


God is omnipotent because He saved Shadrach, Mescah, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. He saved me when I fell from the balcony in India. He helped Joshua in the battle of Jericho. He helped David kill Goliath. He can do all things! Marc


God knows what we're going to be in our future. He knows everything in our brains and hearts.Iness


God is omnipotent because He didn't let Daniel get eaten in the lion's den. He protected him. Jordan

oops!

We're still in the middle of rainy season, but the rains seemed to have lessened lately. It's not raining everyday now. But last week, we were in for a surprise. I was tutoring Kang-Hee at my house, and the biggest, most powerful, coolest thunderstorm I've seen in a long time came roaring through. Our house is at the end of the street, with nothing on the right side, protecting it. A powerful wind came through and tore our gate from the concrete pillar! The next morning, we left for school, gently pushed our gate open, and it fell flat in the road! Of course, then every moto driver and worker on our street came crowding around and looking at the mzungu spectacle and asking for a job to repair it. Mr. Maxwell was able to help us find a welder to fix it that very day!

house pictures

Many of you have asked about my home in Kigali, so here's some pics! I've lived "on the hill" in Gaculiro community ever since coming to Rwanda. But each school year, I've had to move houses for different reasons. Many of the houses are similar, kind of cookie-cutter like. This "Vision 2020" Estates is President Kagame's "vision" for many neighborhoods in Rwanda; a church, school, small shops, grassy park to play football, and community homes, all in one neighborhood. He chose our hill to build the first estates on, as they were many, many deaths on this hill during 1994. While our neighborhood lacks a lot of character and charm of other older areas in Kigali, it's just so convenient to school and church....only a 5 minute walk away! So theres's really no other option as good as this one for me. And I love the diversity here. We have neighbors represented from all over: United States, Canada, Korea, Rwanda, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, England, Sweden, and many more. I think I liked my hosues the first year the best. I had a much better view of the valley, and a cute straw gate, and back yard. Last year, I also had a great, big bedroom, but a view of the road. This year, I was rather unlucky, and ended up with a tiny, tiny room (which I don't so much mind,) but the view is the worst possible view I think I will ever have in my whole life! (I sure hope it doesn't get any worse than this!) :) I love looking out at nature. But I get to look out at an old, beat up generator this year. :) ha! But our front "yard" has two basketball goals, so that's been a fun way to relax! The Nash family gave us their straw porch furniture, so this has been the first house I can grade and chill outside. All in all, it's not bad! We are blessed!

View from the front

Our kitchen. We have a gas stove, fridge, and water filter.

Our living room. We've since added many more Rwandan baskets to decorate our walls!

My tiny bedroom. Now, I have a gorgeous quilt made from African fabric on my bed. It's MUCH better and added sooo much mroe color to my room! :) And I've put up some pictures too, so it doesn't look so bare now.

Our "store." In America, we would call it the pantry. Our fridge is in here too. And cleaning supplies.

It took the workers over a month to finally figure out our water situation this year and get us hot running water. Our side of the house used to be offices, so there was no water. So they dug up our "backyard" and ran some pipes through it, and fixed our pump too.

Our water tank. Most houses have one, some have more than one! It's for when there's no water coming from the city, which happens frequently!

Our new place used to be an office, so there's this old generator in the workshed. This is what I see when I look out my window....four feet away. ugh

The workshed. And behind the shed are our backyard neighbors. I can hear their workers singing African songs very loudly at almost all hours of the day and night. Earplugs have been the best thing ever this year! :)

chapel

My sweet kids, performing a Bible skit in chapel, based on 2 Timothy 3:16.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God's people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."