A New Adventure

Home from Africa and am starting a whole different kind of adventure! My parents are starting a church in a different town. As of right now, I'm running the children's program with a lot of help from my friends Rita and Joanie. It may not seem as exciting or dangerous as flying across the world to a different country, but in many ways it's even more so. Nothing is as scary as trying to teach something to a people who already know everything. That's what we are as Americans. We think we know everything. The great part about that, is when we realize we don't know anything, then we get to start learning. And what's better then that? Myself for example, I thought I was kind of an expert at kids. Turns out I still have a ton to learn. Luckily, I'm not on my own.

There and Back again

Well I am home again. Its strange to be back. To feel like a stranger in a familiar place. To see your world but no longer fit in it. The key I think, is keeping focused on God, so he can help you keep that change. I could come back and try to fit into my old place, but people where not meant to fit in molds. I don't want to fit back in, but continue to stand out.

Protected Royalty

Every night I go to devotions with the children and it goes until it is dark. As I walk home alone I start to feel afraid. Not of the dark, but what might be in it. And just as I think I'm going to run for the house, someone comes to walk beside me. He is kind in every way and tells me not to be afriad, he will walk me home every night from now on. So we walk and talk and I am no longer afraid.
When I first arrived here, I had nightmares every night. Every night I prayed I wouldn't. Then one night as I was half asleep, I heard some one knocking on my front door. I didn't awnser because I wasn't sure if I had dreamt it or not. Then I was half aware of a man standing over my bed. I wasn't afraid of him, and my night mares went away. I dont think this man was the same who walks me home. I hope I know my savior when I see him.
Jesus can be hard to regonise sometimes. But we can know him if we make ourselves familiar with him. The sheep know their shepards voice. When you hear it often, you wont be able to mistake it for anyone elses.

Hotel Rwanda

About eightteen years ago, Rwanda was split apart, by a genocide that happened here. Most of you have probally seen Hotel Rwanda. Well today I got to see the Hotel that movie is based on. If you where to look at this country now, you would not know that such an awful thing happened here. You would not see the hatred that filled the hearts of so many. All you would see, is the beauty. Of both the country and the people. What was here is now gone, replaced by love for life and pride for who they are. That is really why I named this blog the Blue Dot Blog. Because the Genocide is Rwanda's blue dot. Its all most people see when they think of Rwanda. But just like everything and everyone that has a blue dot, it is so much more.

What can you do?

I have finished my first week in Rwanda. It is amazing to be so in love with a country. The children are so happy. The best part is, they love God with every fiber of their being. During devotion, they have awnsers that many adults wouldn't think of. When asked why they love God, they all say because he saved them. And it's true. If not for Rafiki Foundation, these children would be in bad homes or on the streets. But then, there are thousands of others still out there. Not everyone was called over sea's. And thats ok. But everyone can do a part. So the question we need to ask ourselves is, what can we do?

Jesus Freak

I have not been able to keep up with my blog, and for that I apologize. But, now that I am back on I will tell you about my newest adventure. I said goodbye to Ethiopia and made my way to Rwanda. I didn't expect it, but I fell in love with this new place. The lush green hills, the red dirt roads, and the people who wave from the street. it is all so beuatiful. It does not make me forget my homesickness or the loneliness when I'm alone in my house. I have been trying to find a good way to describe it. Katie Davis put it perfectly in her book, Kisses from Katie.
"The Contradiction comes when I realize all these experiences and emotions are real. The happiness that gives me chill bumps is as deep as my loneliness. My sense of certainty about being exactly where God wants me is solid, but just as firm as the fact that I wonder at times what on Earth I'm doing here. The frustraton that threatens to take over on some occasions is just as deep and true as the unbound joy I feel at other times. I love my new life; I truely love it. But compared to the life I had been living, it is hard."
When I read that, I felt very encoraged. Because, even though I am only here temporarily, it is my new life. I cant go back to the way I was before I came here. Nor do I want to. I have grown in ways, I don't think I could have had I stayed and gone to college like American society believes your supposed to. I don't want to be the "Average American". I want to be a crazy, out of her mind, Jesus Freak.

Week 1

Week one went by, and it was wonderful! When I first arrived I was given the day to rest and get settled, so I slept. The next day I got to meet the kids. They are so happy and cheerful. My house mate and I hit it off right away. Her name is Jill. The kids are on break this week and last. We spent the week coloring gifts with for the kids sponsors. After I would do crafts with them and Jill would play sports. The food here is good, though very spicy. The mammas and kids think its so funny when our eyes water. Coffee is a huge part of the culture here. Every day after lunch they serve some in tiny cup, because its so strong. I'm usually not a coffee drinker but I like Selom's, shes the cook. They even have a special coffee ceremony, where they roast the coffee beans first then gind them and make them into coffee. I havent seen that yet but its a holiday on thursday and I think they are having one then. The holidayis called Meskal. Its for "the true cross".  The stories goes that an Ethiopian woman found the cross of Jesus. So they build a big bonfire a put a cross in the middle. Which ever way the cross falls is the way to the true cross. Its only religiously important to the orthodox. To everyone else its just apart of culture. Unlike most countries the traditional colors here are white. Inside the village is nice and beautiful, but outside is very sad. Kids sitting on the side of the road, trash in the streets. Saterday a school came to do community service. That day was easy because all Jill and I had to do was supervise. We went to church sunday with the Mammas and the kids. We couldnt understand a single word because the pastor spoke Amharic. But we could feel the meaning. After service a man walked up to us and stood before Jill clicked his heels, saluted and bowed, then turned to me and did the same. The mammas where laughing too so we new it wasnt the traditional way to greet some one. Well that was the first week. I'm looking forward to the next!