It is Better to Give than Receive....

Ah Christmas holidays were approaching and we had high hopes that we just might be able to spend them with our friends and family in Europe and the States. Unfortunately it did not work out that way!! So with the holidays coming so rapidly, a little bummed, we decided we will have to make it work again here. It seemed that none of us were really in the Christmas mood though, at least I know I was not…

We decided that on top of having a little something as a family. We would do something really big for some other people who are part of our lives. We wanted to bless others by giving them something they never really had. A real Christmas!! Baptist one of our workers

Isabelle one of our workers

Tachienne one of our workers

Thank you Cornerstone Church

Stella who is on Staff with SoZo Ministries Africa as a volunteer and whom I might add is our right arm in the care for the Children in Rwaza is an Orphan her self. She has really become part of our family and we deeply wanted to bless her beyond measure. Her birthday just so happens to also be on Christmas day. Praise God, double whammy!!
It was awesome to see her so excited! In the morning we had a family Christmas celebration and in the night we threw her a birthday party with some of her friends.

The day after Christmas we loaded up the family and with the help of an awesome YWAM team from Hawaii we went up to Ruhengeri where we had rented this hall to have a big Christmas party for our kids in Rwaza. After dropping the team and the family off to prepare the room the taxi driver and I went up the mountain to pick the kids. I think the photos can tell the rest of the story!!Children arriving and playing games

Everyone gets a gift..Oh the the Smiles....You would see her smile if she had not lost all those teethEveryone get new cloths!!Friendships are made...Our friend Erin explains how the gifts came from her church in California
We told them about Christ and about the Holy Spirit. They all wanted to receive Jesus as their Savior and also asked for the Holy spirit to come to be imparted to them.What followed was some great food..It was a very long day and many of the little ones were knocked out by the end..

It was a great day, we took the kids back up the mountain and said our good byes. On the way up they were all singing a made up song that goes something like this. "come and see, come and see, and I will show you the good things that are happening on Rwaza hill".
All of the joy and laughter brought tears to my eyes. This is what these kids deserve!!

As if it cant get any better, while we are packing up and getting ready to go, this white guy approaches Stella and is asking her many questions about who we are and what we are doing.
Quickly and briefly she shares, he then starts asking how he could give a donation to us. Stella then directed him to me. He appeared to me as a nice middle age white European and introduced himself as Marco. He proceeded to tell me that he was just in Rwanda for a week as a tourist and would like to give a donation to our ministry for what we our doing for these children.
After disappearing for a short moment he comes back and puts in my hand a large amount of Euro's. Very shocked I thanked him and we both went our separate ways.

Thank you Marco for your very generous gift to our ministry and most of all to the precious children of Rwanda. Who every you are may God bless you and keep you, may he show him self to you in a mighty way.

I want to thank all of you in the many parts of the world that have really made this Christmas a very, very special time for so many people here in Rwanda. It has been unforgettable for my family and I and we don't know how to thank you enough!!
Special thanks to: Cornerstone Church in California, Klass & Ria, Evelien & Dirk, Julia, Aaron & Kendra.
Also to those that I know that have sent things this way to bless us and others. they have not arrived yet but thank you in advance. It is fun to think that our Christmas will be continuing on through the next few weeks. God Bless you!!!!

I have truly seen this holiday season that is more blessed to give than to receive!!!!

Shaking hands with the witch

AH, it was time to go see our kids in Rwaza again, an event that we always look up to.
The only thing Nani & Zoey don't like about it is that it takes us two hours to get there.

Bonana (3 years old) This little girl can join my family any time... She is so silly and climbs like a monkey all over me.

Doggy pile on Papa Nani

Silly circle with every one screaming in Kin-Rwandan (smile, smile, Oh Goodness)
Nani & Zoey playing marbles with some of the kids


Little did I know how different this trip was going to be! After being there for a while all of a sudden This very old woman with wrinkles all over her face comes walking in. She acted as if she owned the place. Walking up to me and grabbing my hand as if to greet me, she rambled on in on in Kin-Rwandan giggling and laughing the whole time. She did the same to Astrid and Stella.
Then ran off giggling, singing, and dancing with all the kids. Her presents was very unpleasant, something about her was eerie.
What was even stranger was I knew I had seen her some where before and more than once.
who was this strange woman? When she arrived the first thought that flashed in my head was, oh, a witch.... Odd I know, but then after talking with Astrid and Stella they had the exact same thought.
It was getting late and time for us to head back to Kigali. We prayed and broke off any curses that may have been tried to be put on us.
While driving home I could not get that womans face out of my mind. It was haunting me, where the hec did I see her before. Then It dawned on me, a week prior to this visit when going to bed I was woken up abruptly with a image of this very old wrinkly African womans face. she had evil eyes and this eerie smile and laugh. this had happened on two different nights. I realized that is who this woman is.... Oh Boy!!!
It was raining very hard as we were trying to make it back to Kigali. Rounding a corner all of a sudden we saw a huge mud slide in the middle of the road. We had no choice in slowing down or trying to stop so BAM we kept going.... Thank God we made it through with no real damage to the car. But boy did it get muddy. About five minutes after that lighting hit directly in front of the car with a huge crash. Again no damage done, except I had to change my shorts when getting home.
Praise God we made it home safely! Later that night we got a phone call from Stella, she told us she was talking with the kids. Asking them if they knew the old woman, they said yes they knew her and confirmed that she was a witch and lived near by in the community.

I am beginning to get a real picture of what or should I say who we are dealing with in the battle for these children. But I don't think he realizes who he is dealing with!!!!
FOR GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD....

Thank you Lord for who you are in my life, and thank you for your hand upon my family and the ministry you have given us.....

Day to Day Miracles

Have you ever been driving down the road and BAM this strange thought pops in your mind?
Like what would happen if all of a sudden one of my wheels falls off? Or what if I am driving real fast and just like that, my steering locks up on me?

These thoughts or ones like them, I am certain have crossed your mind. But we should always thank God for the small miracles. Miracles that we may not even consider as miracles, like getting from point A to point B unharmed, waking up yet another morning with air in our lungs to breath. I am learning to thank God for the day to day routine things in life. I am realizing that with out him holding the world together, the routine things, the simple things that we don’t ever think about would become sheer chaos.

On Monday morning after droping the girls at school, it was time to head out to Rwazza to visit the children again. This time though I had some other things on the agenda as well. I was hoping to also meet with the mayor of the area to share with him about SoZo Ministries Africa and our findings of the exploitation going on in his area involving these children. I had plans to also seek out the head parish priest to discuss some things as well.
The drive up is around two hours. I know it very well, I drive it at least once per week.
If you don’t know already, Rwanda is known as the land of a thousand hills. This means that every where you drive is up and down mountain sides curving this way and that. At times it can feel much like a roller coaster. The views are breath taking!!

About 5min before reaching the turn off where we go up to see the kids, I noticed that the steering on the car was acting funny. It was getting very loose and there was a lot of play in the steering. Finally I arrived at the junction and started to turn, the car went straight… I came very close to taking out this guy on a bike.
I was able to correct it and get the car to go where I wanted, thinking my Lord what is going on.

After driving another 5min up the mountain side the cars steering completely went out! I had no choice but to stop. I locked up the car and walked back to the main road (the only place to get phone reception). I was able to reach Stella (our program supervisor that stays with the children), to tell her that I was close but would not be able to bring the car up the mountain.

About 45min later she and some of the kids were there to meet me.
To make a long story short…. We were able to get the broken part fixed and five hours later head up the mountain to take Stella and the kids back home.

I know now when I think about it that I have really experienced a miracle and the supernatural protection from God. This could have happened any where along the journey at any given time. With all those sharp turns and ravines I could be sitting at the bottom of one of them if my steering had gone out any where else than where it did.

What a sobering thought! It makes me to give my girls extra hugs and kisses when I see them to let them know that Daddy loves them and never stops thinking about them. It makes me hold my wife extra tight and never want to let her go.

Thank you God for your protection!!! Thank you God for the day to day Miracles you perform that we do not give you the credit for!!! You truly are an awesome God!!!!

Be Real!!!

We all know the Story, it is told around the world.

Jesus Christ is Crucified!!

I can’t imagine one of the longest days of his life on earth. Jesus had gone through so much, he is on the cross nearing his death. He feels the pain, the abandonment of all that were with him. He knows he has to finish it! He already asked two or three times if it were possible to have the cup pass from him. None the less not my will he says but thy will be done. But this does not take away the pain or the suffering that he is now enduring. He knows all to well the price and the pain he must now be put through. All this to reconcile man to the father! So that God may be glorified. At one point it is so much that he cries out “ My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”
There you go, true feelings being poured out! Some say at this moment in time Jesus was quoting Psalms 22 (OK maybe). Others say that at that moment in time when Jesus was taking on all the sin of the world his father in heaven being pure and perfect light could not look upon sin so for a brief moment had turned his head. Jesus knowing this, cries out! (well…..)
Or (going out on a limb here) could he just be pouring out his true feelings???

Lets face the truth, we have all been there!! In a time of desperation, pain, abandonment, suffering, frustration, anger, etc. etc. At one time we have made comments like this.
God where are you!!!
God what the hell are doing!!
God I can’t feel you!
God I don’t see you!
I’m sure the list goes on and on!!

Jesus was 100% God but he was also 100% man, when studying his life we can see both. If any one deserves to make such a statement surely it would be him.
In many of today’s Christian circles we are not allowed to voice such true feelings of what the HELL… Instead we need to know all the right refrigerator verses so that when the going gets ruff we can remind our selves and others of the truth and how we need to believe and react to such situations.

I can just imagine after Jesus making such a statement, his followers that were standing by at the foot of the cross coming to him saying. No No Jesus, you shouldn’t say such things. You know that your father is omnipresent, he will never leave you nor forsake you. Don’t worry, when you are weak he is strong! With God all things are possible! For you know the plans he has for you, plans to prosper you not to harm you.

I think that Jesus knew all of these things very well just as many of us do. We know he is always there, we know that he will provide for all our needs according to his riches and glory. But knowing such things does not always take the feelings away! We must be honest and truthful in how we feel in what we are experiencing. I am not saying that we should not know and quote Gods word, what I am saying is there is time and place for it. Let’s be real! Let’s allow others to be real! Some times it enough to know that you are not the only one with such experiences or feelings. Your not going crazy, your not sinning, your just trying to be real. There is encouragement in that.

Lets not hide behind Christianity, we are real people! We can't hide our feelings, sin, struggles, or short comings from the Lord why try to hide them from each other.

Don't believe for a minute that because your Christian you can't have those thoughts. Or how dare you feel that way! Why on earth would you say such a thing!
We are all striving to be like Christ, that means that we are not yet. So we are striving, and while striving we can not be hypocritical but simply show people that we are real and really seeking to be like him "Christ" who was perfect in every way.

Why was it that King David was called a man after God’s own heart? The guy said it like it was. He was extremely transparent extremely real all the time. I encourage you to read through the Psalms. David knew how to be real with God! His cries for intimacy with the Lord are awesome.

Thank you Jesus for another lesson learned by your walk on this earth!

When it rains it pours, boy I tell you I don’t know where to start. How about the need for a new car!!
Two weeks ago we had to pour another $450 in to our car to make it work. It was then that my mechanic, that is a strong Christian “praise God” tells me… “Travis my friend it is time to start praying for a new car, if you continue to take this on those village roads. I don’t know how long it will last..” I told him I would start praying and asked him to join me.
But how can I not drive to see our children in Rwaza, yes I feel they are our children! They are burned on our hearts!!! Sorry kids perhaps we will see you next week. For those of you that have seen the children you know what I mean. For those of you that want to know more about these awesome children, please visit my wife’s Blog.
www.http:travisandastrid.blogspot.com

Today was the day that we were going to go up and start weighing, measuring, and taking much info on each child. This way progress can easily be followed and we can know how to move forward.
When reaching only 30km or 20miles out of Kigali the car breaks again!! So we turned around and by God’s grace made it back to town with no major damage. Now it looks like we are spending another $110 on the car. I guess we can look at the bright side that it happened close to town and not in the village high up on the mountain in the middle of no where. You know what is sad? When this is happening every couple of weeks the bright side does seem so bright anymore.

Please be praying with us that the Lord will provide a new vehicle..

THE LEARNING...

“One thing you should know and one thing you will find out, it is that I live to follow God. My greatest desire in life is to hear his voice and obey. So what does that look like? Come and join mission with me as I try to answer that question.”

You will find this quote on the right side of my Blog, explaining a little bit about my profile.

So what does it look like??? That is a question that the Lord seems to be unfolding in the day to day, nonstop, up in your face life here… It was over five years ago that the Lord began to really put a burning and longing desire to see, have and do the same ministry that he had when he walked on the Earth. A ministry of Wholeness!! Seeing people set free from any and everything that is holding them back from true completeness in God. That would even include death!
I asked the Lord over and over for that anointing to be on the ministry he was giving us. Little did I know what I was asking for, “To walk in Christ shoes!” Do you have any idea just how big those shoes are, and what it Intel’s to have such a walk? Lets say that I am learning a lot.
You know that the word disciple in the bible, it means “to be a learner”… Glory to God, it seems that is all I have been doing lately.
Being here a little after a year I had fell into a dark hole. Depression, and fits of anger rapped it’s hands around me, I could see myself and did not like what I was seeing. Astrid at one time asked me “what is happening to you, I don’t know you?” I couldn’t explain it and couldn’t snap out of it. I had written my resignation letter to God and told him I quit and find some thing else for me to do. Every time I prayed God was quite. It only seemed to keep getting worse. One evening I sat down with my bible and said God this is really it!!! If you don’t tell me some thing now, I am gone!! The Holy spirit spoke very clear then… He said turn to Hebrews chapter12:4. Let me paraphrase for you what it said to me. “Travis shut your mouth and stop wining, you have not resisted to the point of the shedding of your own blood. My Son did, did you not want to walk in his shoes?”

At this word from the Lord, not only was I instantly humbled but began to laugh at the Lords sense of humor. I felt this huge heavy cloud lift off of me and have been free from it since. My eyes have been opened and I can now see when even the slightest thing tries to creep in. Thank you God for that humbling lesson! What a fight though, Holy crap… It’s not for no reason that God’s word says to take every thought captive!!

It has now been over two years here with out leaving for a break. I have found that the conversation about furlough and the need for a break has been ever increasing. I am so tired of the daily battle, trying to get our registration, the going around and around in circles and the hitting of walls. Getting so close only to find out there is another mountain behind the one we just climbed. I find the words drying up, worn out, and exhausted in my vocabulary. I am shorter with Astrid and the kids lately.

I keep thinking to my self, oh if we can just get a break!! So here I am, so focusing on wanting and needing a break and the Lord shows up with another lesson. Praise God this is what I signed up for right???
Oh to be a Learner….

The Lord asks me “Travis, can you minister when you are in pain? Can you minister when no one understands why your doing what your doing? Can you continue to be poured out when you feel dry and thirsty, when there seems to be nothing left? Can you minister in sickness and in death? Can you minister when all you feel like doing is packing up and going home? Can you Minister?” “MY SON DID!!”

Once again I was put in my place! Do I desire a break from the front lines? Do I want to take a rest for a couple of months? You bet I do!! But what I want and what I desire more than any of that, some thing far more valuable than taking a breather from the battle is this.

TO LIVE A LIFE FOLLOWING MY GOD, HEARING HIS VOICE AND OBEYING HIS EVERY COMMAND.

Thank you so much lord for your leading! Thank you for the way that you are teaching me! Thank you for you discipline!
Help me oh Lord to live a life worthy of the calling you have given me.

Your son, Travis

Amen

Fathers perspective

I believe that every Father and Mother does or should desire the very best for there children, even to some what dream for them. We all wish great things for our children. We want them to have a better education than our selves, perhaps even a better life than we have lived or are living.

This Blog is about a parents wish, particularly from a Fathers perspective.

I like all fathers deeply desire to see my children succeed! I have been blessed with four beautiful girls and I adore each one of them. It scares me to think about them growing up! Going from little girls to young women, Oh please don’t make me think about it…
My house of girls is such a joy, I must say!!! Much better than a house of all boys (what my mom was blessed with). My goodness what me and my brothers put my parents through.. How did they survive?

Allow me to share a little about one of my daughters, she came to us when she was only three weeks old.

Yes I am talking about my little Yaida. Astrid and I always wanted and had the desire to some day adopt a child but never thought it would be possible. Well we were wrong, where there is a will God makes a way!!
Some one once told me before I came to Rwanda. Travis don’t be surprised if you and Astrid are not the ones to see every thing that God is doing, it just might be for your children to see.
At first I did not understand this statement, I thought it might be a way of saying don’t get your hope’s up.
But since We have gotten little Yaida, there have been so many strange things happening some of witch I can really not understand.
You see Astrid wanted to breast feed her the same as our new biological daughter Jasmin. This is what we thought would be common sense as we know that breast milk is always best for the baby. What happened next really shocked us. People’s response to us having Yaida was really odd. Every where we went we would have people asking us why we had one black and one white baby. After telling them that we had adopted her and are raising them like twins, many women would burst into tears. They would say over and over again “God bless you!! Oh my God, bless you!!” when women would see Astrid breast feeding Yaida they would stare in shock, some would come and ask why. We told them that she (Yaida) is just like any other baby and needs the breast milk. They would break down and cry saying over and over God bless you!!

One evening we had some of our local Rwandan friends over visiting. I was sitting back with Yaida laying on my chest, as I cuddled with her one of the guys with his eyes tearing up said to me. “Travis you have no idea what it means for me to see you holding Yaida and giving her the same love that you give to all your other children…” I didn’t know what to say, I could see he was really touched. I told him that all children need to be loved and that I consider her the same as any of my daughters, to the point that I would die for her.

I really wanted to understand why every one was making a big deal out of us having Yaida. It is not like we are the only ones that adopt children. There are even two other couples here in Kigali that have Adopted kids as well and one of the kids is also Rwandan. I proceeded to ask our friends this question, hopping to find an answer.
They told us, it is one thing to care for and or adopt an orphan child. But you adopt a baby! People look at you and they see you have a baby already so why would you want another? Then they watch as you care for the baby the same as the other baby giving the same breast milk, the same love. The only people who adopt babies are those who don’t have the possibility to have one of there own. Don’t you see what you are doing is unheard of in this culture. Even if some one takes in an orphan, that orphan will never be looked at as the same or have the same benefits as other children. What you are doing is a Miracle!!

(No photo's please!)

As Yaida has been growing and is now a year and a half the responses have not stopped. We heard through a good friend of ours who is working with another organization that she was meeting with a Rwandan Woman and her husband to talk and do some counseling or some thing. Some how Astrid and I were brought up in the conversation, the woman not knowing that are friend knows us begins to tell her that Astrid is changing the face of motherhood in this Nation. Obviously she was very touched some how by knowing of us and Yaida’s story. When we were told this by our friend, I didn’t know what to think, even now I feel like crying! Every where we go we run into people that say, oh you are that couple who has the two babies one black and one white.
My friend was right, I don’t think I will ever see all that God is doing through our life here in Rwanda!
My little Yaida is such a joy and if I could I would take hundreds of more children to love on and call my own….Who knows perhaps I just might!!

From a fathers perspective I can say that little Yaida is the best missionary in all of Rwanda. May she continue to change the hearts of her people!!!

Daddy loves you Yaida!!!!

I HAVE A DREAM... Part 2

I am sorry, let me correct my self. The dream I had was on Nov.26, 2004 not 2003.

It started off at this big piece of land that had palm trees on it. I could see this really huge building and also a bunch of small houses every where. There were lots of little black children running around.
The land was located at the water front. I saw Astrid and I, standing around us were two or three black women and one black man.
In front of the huge building laid a large tree on the ground and on it sat a bunch of black children and also some white as well. They had apparently just arrived at the place and we were going through the process to decide who we could keep and who we would have to send away. They had walked for about 10km to get to us. The black man that was with us began to explain to me that we could only accept 8 to 9 children. On the other hand Astrid and the black women with us strongly disagreed saying, it would not be fair and that we should not have to choose…Astrid then told me that I could not turn any away that we have to keep them all.

It seemed like the right thing to do so I told every one they could stay. At this the black man became very forceful and kept insisting we can only accept 8to9. at one point I actually had to fight him forcing him to leave.
I remember that in one part of the dream I saw this black woman and with her were two military guys.They kept going into bad situations and taking or ripping the little children away from the situations they were in then would bring them all to us.

Now this is where the dream had stopped for now. I had woken up around two in the morning.
While I was lying there I began to pray over that dream asking the Lord that if this is him, then please let it come and may nothing hold it back. I remembered back to a vision I had once had about a city filled with children. It was called Miebobo city, or street kid city. I asked the Lord if this was the place he just showed me in the dream. Is this the city filled with the least of these? I asked the Lord if he could change the name of the place because “street kid city” just sounds so negative. There has to be some thing better than that.
At this I drifted back to sleep and was taken to where I could see a sun set over lake Kivu (the lake that runs between Rwanda and DRC). I kept hearing over and over again the words “Where Heaven Touches Earth”.Then I woke up and immediately praised God, knowing that this was to be the name of that land in the dream.

Since that time the Lord has taken me back to Heaven Touching Earth on more than one occasion.

One time I happened to be inside that huge building that was on the land. It was filled with children and people, all were worshiping God intensely many on there faces weeping. Then I saw Jesus, he was walking among them. He started touching them, and I could see bondages, sicknesses, and trauma just falling off of them.

Right now this place is a dream, it is a vision that has been started by God him self.

But one day, one day soon Heaven Touching Earth will be a reality and I’m not talking about one location but the Lord has shown me that he is going to place them in four locations around the country. Places that will facilitate his presence to come down. Places where Heaven will touch earth and all who are there will be made whole!!!!

Rwanda prepare your self!! The Glory of the Lord is coming! He is going to bind up the broken hearted, bring recovery of sight to the blind, bring freedom to the captives. He is coming, and all who call on him will be made whole. Oh Rwanda don’t get weary, though it teary wait for it. For it will surly come!!!!

You know what’s scary? What is really scary? To many this is a huge thing but believe me this is just the beginning of the Lords plans. I am forever humbled to think that he is even allowing me to participate in such a thing. Then he tells me that if I want, I can have front row seats… Part of me wants to pack my bags and run. The other part sits and cries out to God. Why me???? What do I have??? What the hell do you see in little old me??

The Lord tells me, “Because you dare to dream with me! The pages of your life are blank and you don’t try to fill them in your self but allow me to write what I want. Now you must trust in me, that what I write, I will make come to pass.”

You know the truth is that Most of the time, I don’t know how to go forward. Yet some how some way the Lord is getting me from step to step, and I stand amazed in his Presence my Jesus the Nazarene.

So at this I bid you a good night, it is late for me now and I am going to get some sleep.
In Kin Rwandan you would say “iroti mana” or “Dream God”

I Have A Dream, part 1

Have you ever had a dream, vision, or had God ask you to do some thing so big that you thought that you were going to wet your self?
So large that it makes you look incredibly tiny… So enormous that you feel 100% incompetent, who are you to think that you would be able to even come close to accomplishing such a thing. What kind of dream or where the hec did this vision come from any way?
These have been my thoughts for a good number of weeks as I have been watching what the Lord has been doing with us here in Rwanda. I have been realizing that this thing that he is allowing me to be part of is even bigger than I can imagine… And believe me I can imagine a lot!!

But before I enter into all that, let me remind you of some other people that were part of some really, and I mean really big things…
Call it what you will, calling, destiny, job, ministry, vision or what ever… I call it people who God allowed to be part in what he was doing!! And the out come most of the time, not all but quit often was amazing!

Jonah: Usually had no problem doing what the Lord requested, but there was this one time that he just really disagreed and it almost cost him his life. God showed mercy and gave him a second chance. He went and did what was requested of him and low and behold an entire City or people group repented, turned and served God.

Moses: Spent much time arguing with God, could not see why in the world God would put this “calling” on him. The things he asked him to constantly do were completely insane and just not logical. I think he often questioned his ability. Yet God had him take part in the marvelous task of leading his people to the promise land.

Abraham: Is told that he is going to be the father of many Nations when one he is in his 90’s and two he has no children. Yet god promises him a son…But before the promise is fulfilled Abraham with some help of his opinionated wife tries to help God. In the end Abraham has two sons one promised and one…..given by his wife’s maid. None the less God once again did his amazing deeds and Abraham is in fact the father of many Nations.

John The Baptist: Or know as the voice in the wilderness. All for the sake of proclaiming the coming of the Messiah, Now that was a huge job!! I wonder if there were times that he thought what the hec am I doing this for…Who am I to proclaim the coming of the king? Remember that while he was waiting to have his head chopped off he sent word to Jesus to ask are you really the one I was suppose to do all this for??

We could go on and on but lets skip to some one much more resent than then. A man that I feel was used by God greatly to impact a Nation.

Martin Luther King Jr.: God used this man to help bring equality between the blacks and the white’s in the United States. I would like to share with you part of his famous speech.

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last, Free at last, thank God almighty, we are Free at last…"

God gives people dreams, He calls them to perform insane tasks, he puts them in these outrageous ministries doing these amazing things, He tags people as his Nation changers.

All for the sake of his Glory to be revealed!!

What is your Dream? What crazy thing has God asked you to do? Are you “called” to be a Nation changer? Does it make you feel too small?? Do you think, no way God that is insane, who am I to do or be part of such a thing?

I to have a dream! A dream that God is unfolding before my eyes, a dream that was given by him in November of 2003! Just when I think that I grasp it or see what is happening he unfolds the next scene. What the Lord is allowing me to partake in is beyond me! I can not share every thing at this time as it is still in the works as I speak.
But stay tuned for next time, I will share the first part of the dream that I had back in Nov. of 2003 and the stuff that the Lord showed me then..

To Be Continued…..

So goes the Day...

Here we go again, it’s out to Kibuye to see the land. This time we have got the big girls (Nani & Zoey) with us, it will be a first for them. Also coming along is our friends Aaron and Kendra who are here for the week visiting us.

I shared with Aaron and Kendra more about the dream and vision of what God has shown for this place to look like. Aaron turns and says he can see it!!It's funny because now the grass and bushes around are twice the size of before.
none the less, I just look and thank God for how far we have come.
One day this area will be filled with hundreds of orphans on their knees worshiping God and being set free. I find my self praying "God let it come! Please!" The lord reminds me of Habakkuk 2:2-3 (my answer, yes Lord I will!!)
Nani and Zoey really enjoyed them selfs, running around playing and just sitting to enjoy the view. So Dad this is really all ours? For the orphans? Wow!! One day it will be, one day.. I said..
They can see it! Praise God they can see it.. they started talking with me where they thought things should be built. Ha ha... (precious)

Cant go to the lake with out a swim. They had a blast! Some little local boy saw them and paddled in for a closer look. Ummmm little man in boat by himself, I must admit it was impressive to watch him move that boat around.

After awhile we found our selfs surrounded by cows and boats, realizing this point must be the local (boat)taxi stop and cow feeding area.

All in all the people are precious every one getting out of their boats not knowing us but delighted to see us. One very old woman was so excited she kept hugging and shaking our hands saying in the Kinarwanda (local langage) " Praise God, Praise God, God Bless you!!"
Did she see or know some thing I did not?? Ummmm..... And so was the Day, on the future Heaven Touching Earth land.

Let your Kingdom come, your will be done. In this place as it is in Heaven!!