It has been a whirlwind of emotions, lack of sleep because of excitement, nervous wreck, and big decision making.
I'm sure things will not settle down until I'm in that plane on Friday and can't do anything about anything for 36 hours as I fly over land and sea and wait in airport after airport. My flight leave Friday afternoon but doesn't arrive until Sunday afternoon in Burundi. But I don't care, it will get me there :)
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Fundraising Begins
If you are interested in helping financially with this adventure you can send funding to:
Living Hope Church
PO Box 1726
Westport, WA 98595
check memo line: Rachel in Burundi
The goal is $20,000.
This is $5,000 less than last year. Now I know some tricks to saving money while living in East Africa.
Funding will help pay for: $90/month visa fee, travel expenses, ministry expenses, living expenses.
Living Hope Church
PO Box 1726
Westport, WA 98595
check memo line: Rachel in Burundi
The goal is $20,000.
This is $5,000 less than last year. Now I know some tricks to saving money while living in East Africa.
Funding will help pay for: $90/month visa fee, travel expenses, ministry expenses, living expenses.
Strike While the Iron's Hot
Things are moving so fast over here!
So I got an email yesterday from the travel agent saying that she wasn't able to purchase the ticket on Friday because of the holiday. She looked at the price on Monday and the tickets had jumped $500!!! She asked if we could hold off in hopes that the price would go down. I agreed.
Today she emailed me with good new! Not only did she get the ticket but the price went down and it was back to the original price!!!
Then as I was preparing other things for this trip I called the Burundi Embassy in Washington DC to find out if they got my paperwork for a visa and see about any problems that there might be. The woman informed me that she was currently putting my passport, complete with visa to Burundi in the mail!
How does this happen?
In the process of the weekend I also was able to get a church who could manage my account while I am in Burundi!
I guess the phrase, "strike while the iron's hot" applies here :)
God is good!!!
So I got an email yesterday from the travel agent saying that she wasn't able to purchase the ticket on Friday because of the holiday. She looked at the price on Monday and the tickets had jumped $500!!! She asked if we could hold off in hopes that the price would go down. I agreed.
Today she emailed me with good new! Not only did she get the ticket but the price went down and it was back to the original price!!!
Then as I was preparing other things for this trip I called the Burundi Embassy in Washington DC to find out if they got my paperwork for a visa and see about any problems that there might be. The woman informed me that she was currently putting my passport, complete with visa to Burundi in the mail!
How does this happen?
In the process of the weekend I also was able to get a church who could manage my account while I am in Burundi!
I guess the phrase, "strike while the iron's hot" applies here :)
God is good!!!
Friday, November 11, 2011
The Ball is Rolling!!!
I JUST BOUGHT A PLANE TICKET TO BURUNDI!!!!
That's right. Things have been moving so fast the last two days I haven't had time to update you on things. sorry
Here are the highlights:
Dad gave the ok to start fundraising
Received an invitation letter for a trip to Burundi in December from the president of HAU to go for graduation (Dec 16 is graduation of the students I taught)
Received positive conversation about a new church who is willing to manage my finances and take care of sponsors while I'm gone
Purchased a plane ticket for Dec 2-Dec 19 (return date pending on circumstances)
Plan to sure up plans for a Jan return to Burundi
That's right. Things have been moving so fast the last two days I haven't had time to update you on things. sorry
Here are the highlights:
Dad gave the ok to start fundraising
Received an invitation letter for a trip to Burundi in December from the president of HAU to go for graduation (Dec 16 is graduation of the students I taught)
Received positive conversation about a new church who is willing to manage my finances and take care of sponsors while I'm gone
Purchased a plane ticket for Dec 2-Dec 19 (return date pending on circumstances)
Plan to sure up plans for a Jan return to Burundi
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Timing
I told you I would inform you either way. Well this last opportunity has closed. The explanation for the denial was timing.
Through the tears I choose to say that God is great and worthy of following. So I choose, even though it is hard to continue after so many closed door, I choose to praise him for his perfect timing.
To God be the glory!
Through the tears I choose to say that God is great and worthy of following. So I choose, even though it is hard to continue after so many closed door, I choose to praise him for his perfect timing.
To God be the glory!
Monday, October 17, 2011
The Wind is Blowing
When the wind begins to blow you can see the leaves in the trees and tall grass start to sway.
I am starting to see the effects of the wind blowing in my life.
Nothing is official yet, but things are starting to move.
Please pray for the doors that seem cracked open to swing wide!
Possibilities are presenting themselves and things are moving quickly. Yet I am moving forward with caution since the last 8 months have been filled with possibilities that have been dashed to the rocks and I was left in a state of sorrow. Caution is how I am proceeding towards this opportunity.
I'm not content with a good opportunity, I want the Lord's will! I want to be sure he is orchestrating all of this.
For now please keep plan me and making in your prayers.
I will give more details when things seem more official in the positive or negative (I'll let you know either way)
I am starting to see the effects of the wind blowing in my life.
Nothing is official yet, but things are starting to move.
Please pray for the doors that seem cracked open to swing wide!
Possibilities are presenting themselves and things are moving quickly. Yet I am moving forward with caution since the last 8 months have been filled with possibilities that have been dashed to the rocks and I was left in a state of sorrow. Caution is how I am proceeding towards this opportunity.
I'm not content with a good opportunity, I want the Lord's will! I want to be sure he is orchestrating all of this.
For now please keep plan me and making in your prayers.
I will give more details when things seem more official in the positive or negative (I'll let you know either way)
Monday, September 26, 2011
Friends Far Away
A friend from Burundi wrote me an email today.
"what is keeping you from coming? We will invade your country and pick you! Ha..ha!"
My response to him. "Oh Herve, If I saw you running at me looking as if you were going to kidnap me I would be so happy!!!"
"what is keeping you from coming? We will invade your country and pick you! Ha..ha!"
My response to him. "Oh Herve, If I saw you running at me looking as if you were going to kidnap me I would be so happy!!!"
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Peace
It's amazing how someone can speak into another person's life only sharing their own experiences. I was given a DVD of a talk Phil Vischer did back in 2007. He spoke of how God gave him this dream of Veggie Tales and then ripped it from him. I find myself in a similar situation. I had all this time and effort put into starting something with special education in Burundi and then wham I'm not allowed to return.In talking with my dad I realized that I needed to allow myself to be content with the work I had done. I thought that all my time and efforts were wasted. My dad quickly pointed out that the ten students I taught for a year would strongly disagree and he would too. Perhaps teaching at Hope was only intended for a season that has now closed. The proposal I wrote for an education facility for those with disabilities still sits in the office of president of the university, my students did learn something (I tested them to make sure) and those around me while living there made a difference on me. My time was not wasted. I committed to serve a year and I did just that.
With this new vantage point my heart is at peace and I can move on. On to what, I don't know. I'm convinced that God is more concerned in who I am then what I do. So I am taking time to focus on just that, being who he created me to be. The bible says that God created good works for me to do before I was even born. So instead of searching for something to now I am now going to wait for those good works to come up and step into them with joy.
This doesn't take away from the ache in my heart when I receive an email from students and friends at Hope Africa University. Jean Pierre writes, "Think you my professor, I am at the end to finish my study, who are you now we wait you" Translation: Thank you my professor, I am about to finish my studies. Where are you now? We are waiting for you."
With this new vantage point my heart is at peace and I can move on. On to what, I don't know. I'm convinced that God is more concerned in who I am then what I do. So I am taking time to focus on just that, being who he created me to be. The bible says that God created good works for me to do before I was even born. So instead of searching for something to now I am now going to wait for those good works to come up and step into them with joy.
This doesn't take away from the ache in my heart when I receive an email from students and friends at Hope Africa University. Jean Pierre writes, "Think you my professor, I am at the end to finish my study, who are you now we wait you" Translation: Thank you my professor, I am about to finish my studies. Where are you now? We are waiting for you."
Monday, September 5, 2011
Excuses
Why is it that everyone I talk to seems to have an excuse of why I can't serve?
You don't have your master's degree.
You're single.
You're young.
You don't have enough experience.
You're a girl.
and my least favorite
This is what happened to me when I was your age, you'll make it through.
When did this become about me and my abilities? I thought that serving the Lord was about Him.
And to address the last excuse just because people treated you badly and you happened to learn and grow in spite of it doesn't mean that people should treat other people the same way. What happened to learning from history and not making the same mistakes?
I don't want excuses. If you don't want me to serve just tell me no and take responsibility for your denial of me. Don't just make excuses.
You don't have your master's degree.
You're single.
You're young.
You don't have enough experience.
You're a girl.
and my least favorite
This is what happened to me when I was your age, you'll make it through.
When did this become about me and my abilities? I thought that serving the Lord was about Him.
And to address the last excuse just because people treated you badly and you happened to learn and grow in spite of it doesn't mean that people should treat other people the same way. What happened to learning from history and not making the same mistakes?
I don't want excuses. If you don't want me to serve just tell me no and take responsibility for your denial of me. Don't just make excuses.
Friday, August 26, 2011
What's going on?
I have no idea!
I'm currently learning to wait and chase down rabbit holes to come up empty handed.
For the last 6 months I have applied to countless schools and organizations internationally desiring to get back to East Africa. All with no return. I have attempted to apply for graduate school at various locations all with dead ends. My job at the aquarium is coming to a close with the summer season ending and I'm looking for an open door or even an open window to climb through.
Thank you so much for continuing to pray for me as God takes me through a process of waiting. I've been telling people that going back to Africa is the goal but there aren't currently any plans. Just waiting.
Thank you for caring about me and continuing to support me through this transition and waiting time.
I'm currently learning to wait and chase down rabbit holes to come up empty handed.
For the last 6 months I have applied to countless schools and organizations internationally desiring to get back to East Africa. All with no return. I have attempted to apply for graduate school at various locations all with dead ends. My job at the aquarium is coming to a close with the summer season ending and I'm looking for an open door or even an open window to climb through.
Thank you so much for continuing to pray for me as God takes me through a process of waiting. I've been telling people that going back to Africa is the goal but there aren't currently any plans. Just waiting.
Thank you for caring about me and continuing to support me through this transition and waiting time.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
No Master's Degree for Now
So I received an email from the university I applied for and they said that they will no longer be accepting applications. And my application is not complete yet.
The test (GRE, like the SAT but for grad school) I took, was scored and results were sent to the university a month ago. Then I waited for the school to tell me that they had received the scores. I contacted them this Monday and they informed me that the scores did not arrive. The testing company was very kind and resent the scores to the university for no charge. They said that they should arrive by Friday. I received the denial email on Wednesday.
All this to say I tried to apply for a master's degree program and I didn't get it.
Now I'm continuing to apply for jobs and other positions in and around East Africa.
I continue to strive towards this because I, along with my parents and others in my life, believe that that is where I belong.
My heart still aches for those who have been put off by their families because of their disability, the little boy who was beat with a rope in the public market by his caregiver, and the countless others who are capable to attend school but need better trained teachers to help them learn.
I will not give up this easily. I will continue to fight to support those with disabilities in East Africa.
The test (GRE, like the SAT but for grad school) I took, was scored and results were sent to the university a month ago. Then I waited for the school to tell me that they had received the scores. I contacted them this Monday and they informed me that the scores did not arrive. The testing company was very kind and resent the scores to the university for no charge. They said that they should arrive by Friday. I received the denial email on Wednesday.
All this to say I tried to apply for a master's degree program and I didn't get it.
Now I'm continuing to apply for jobs and other positions in and around East Africa.
I continue to strive towards this because I, along with my parents and others in my life, believe that that is where I belong.
My heart still aches for those who have been put off by their families because of their disability, the little boy who was beat with a rope in the public market by his caregiver, and the countless others who are capable to attend school but need better trained teachers to help them learn.
I will not give up this easily. I will continue to fight to support those with disabilities in East Africa.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Want to Hear in Person?
You're Invited!!!
2 opportunities:
Sunday, July 31, 2011 At 2pm
Faith Church
25636 140th St SE
Kent, WA 98042
&
Thursday August 11, 2011 At 5pm
In Lacey, WA
call me or comment for directions
Your invited to come and hear stories and ask questions about my time in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, DRC (Congo) and about getting kicked out of Egypt.
2 opportunities:
Sunday, July 31, 2011 At 2pm
Faith Church
25636 140th St SE
Kent, WA 98042
&
Thursday August 11, 2011 At 5pm
In Lacey, WA
call me or comment for directions
Your invited to come and hear stories and ask questions about my time in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, DRC (Congo) and about getting kicked out of Egypt.
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