House to Kigali.......
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Ahh yes... backtrack a little for me, months ago, the Lord sent me a very sweet friend, I would even say she is more like a sister to me. I love her. Another adoptive momma. Instantly began texting her to pray for me in my time of surfacing "can't leave my kids Freak Out". She texts me back and says "Just remember. You've been apart from Suzana and Ezra longer!"
Between that verse, I knew God was protecting our children, ultimately His children, on each side of that ocean. Do not be afraid. Then knowing how loudly we were called to our sweet orphaned children and also this trip. I tell you what, Freak Out OVER. I prayed, took out a pen and paper; and despite my natural response to car sickness while writing or reading while riding... I wrote our kids a letter in the event that we died, just so I could put it entirely aside in my brain, because I knew also... they would never need to see it.
Arriving into Vancouver for some sushi, with that very sweet friend I referred to in the previous paragraph... at a conveyer belt one no less. Which was awesome. Comparable to Christmas morning as a child... my back was facing the food as it came dancing around the belt, so I would turn to my right and "woo!", something like a fish but couldn't be sure until it was tasted and even then it was questionable. Specifically one very fried full fish. (trying to stop imagining this fish that will go unidentified) HEATHER, was seriously, a joy. Though our time was too short in visiting, God knew I would totally enjoy that time visiting with her!
Then we ventured to Portland to find my husband's old friend, Mike. And Oh Boy, pre adventure to the grand adventure! Moral of the story is... always question a mans directions if he only takes a bus route! Unlit roads... too many trees and a wild dog awaiting the ambiance of our headlights. Turns out we were the exact opposite side of the city we wanted to be in. Which was fine. We enjoyed the visit!
Dustin, Ian and myself Finally made it to my grandparents after getting lost, Ian leading us back to Portland. The phone call went like this: "Ian, I don't remember my grandparents living this far away from Portland, or by water..." He checks the GPS and finds we are following the route back into Portland. Needless to say, it was a really really late night of driving, then repacking our bags and making sure all our passport and tickets etc--- ready to go.
In Dulles, my favorite part : Our friend Ian has some long blonde dreads, bright blue eyes, dresses pretty much like a homeless guy in the best way, AMAZING mustache that he can curl up and a longer beard deal going on. We are waiting for the shuttle to the hotel and a man comes up from a shuttle bus to ask who we are waiting for. Ian, smoking a cigarette, asks if it is the one we are waiting for. The man responds with "Are you really staying there." His facial expression promised me, that he had probably had this conversation with a homeless man at a previous time. Ian can have pretty animated facial expressions with such a glorious mustache, those followed afterwards. Dustin and I had a great laugh.
That next morning, we boarded Ethiopian Airlines to go to Addis. Just to add this in, we loved this airline. They want to feed you all the time, you get the choice of African Movies, you can hear every language from Hindi to Kinyarwanda to Swahili to French... Bright Yellow Socks. We kept running into this same group that was going to "Congo", not D R Congo like us, to volunteer on Mercy Ships. We then ran into them again on the way back where I went and asked 20 questions. Amazing organization!!! There is a part of our trip having to do with a certain someone mistaking his malaria pills with the anti diorreah medicine... lets just say Malaria pills are red... and he was sporting the white ones, a very good laugh.
Being able to smell the breathe of the person, on the window, that occupied that seat previous to me... was definitely something I did not anticipate. So that was interesting. Even more so, watching the screen of where the plane was at over the ocean... only an inch away from being over Africa... was just crazy to me. I was so tired and finally began to fall asleep; I begin dreaming of winter 2006, so vividly, Ian and I sitting outside of starbucks, in a time where we searched for God, desperately. He tells me, " This is my favorite verse because it says "Never will He leave or forsake me, until the End of the world." I gasp awake, startling both Dustin and Ian and remind him of this precious time in his walk, being encouraged by knowing He will never leave me, or Dustin, or Ian.
We flew into the dark and what seemed like a way too short amount of time later, we were watching the sun rise in Ethiopia from the plane. Never, have I seen such a colorful sky. Nothing ever came close to that red of an African sunrise. It was something to behold. Pulling out my camera, watching the rise through the screen, kind of wishing the wing of the plane would not be so in the way, but thankful it did not avail to my wishes and swing low for a good shot. More and more ground became visible, "so this is Africa eh."
There is something amazing about Africa, my soul really did come alive there; like I feared it would. Feared in the way that, before I had ever gone I longed for it like home & that if I went, you couldn't drag me back... You all know I had birthed four children in four years right? Yes, that must have been God's plan to make sure I came back... because here we are... back.
Our journey began, with a lengthy car ride to Portland, meeting our friend Ian who came with us to document this solid adventure by way of photography. (Which By The Way ---> Ian Kolbas Photography <--- you want to.)
On the ride there, I had a total moment where nerves decided I would be meeting Jesus on this trip. Welcomed some anxiety, entertained some tears, ate up the guilt in imagining my mother in law telling our oldest "your parents are not coming home". Yes. A total moment in which the buckle of car and threatening restraint of a Godless life momentarily put me in my own personal hell. But you know what is sweet... God gave me what I needed to prepare for this moment. I was reminded
Genesis 50:19-22
Ahh yes... backtrack a little for me, months ago, the Lord sent me a very sweet friend, I would even say she is more like a sister to me. I love her. Another adoptive momma. Instantly began texting her to pray for me in my time of surfacing "can't leave my kids Freak Out". She texts me back and says "Just remember. You've been apart from Suzana and Ezra longer!"
Between that verse, I knew God was protecting our children, ultimately His children, on each side of that ocean. Do not be afraid. Then knowing how loudly we were called to our sweet orphaned children and also this trip. I tell you what, Freak Out OVER. I prayed, took out a pen and paper; and despite my natural response to car sickness while writing or reading while riding... I wrote our kids a letter in the event that we died, just so I could put it entirely aside in my brain, because I knew also... they would never need to see it.
Arriving into Vancouver for some sushi, with that very sweet friend I referred to in the previous paragraph... at a conveyer belt one no less. Which was awesome. Comparable to Christmas morning as a child... my back was facing the food as it came dancing around the belt, so I would turn to my right and "woo!", something like a fish but couldn't be sure until it was tasted and even then it was questionable. Specifically one very fried full fish. (trying to stop imagining this fish that will go unidentified) HEATHER, was seriously, a joy. Though our time was too short in visiting, God knew I would totally enjoy that time visiting with her!
Then we ventured to Portland to find my husband's old friend, Mike. And Oh Boy, pre adventure to the grand adventure! Moral of the story is... always question a mans directions if he only takes a bus route! Unlit roads... too many trees and a wild dog awaiting the ambiance of our headlights. Turns out we were the exact opposite side of the city we wanted to be in. Which was fine. We enjoyed the visit!
Dustin, Ian and myself Finally made it to my grandparents after getting lost, Ian leading us back to Portland. The phone call went like this: "Ian, I don't remember my grandparents living this far away from Portland, or by water..." He checks the GPS and finds we are following the route back into Portland. Needless to say, it was a really really late night of driving, then repacking our bags and making sure all our passport and tickets etc--- ready to go.
In Dulles, my favorite part : Our friend Ian has some long blonde dreads, bright blue eyes, dresses pretty much like a homeless guy in the best way, AMAZING mustache that he can curl up and a longer beard deal going on. We are waiting for the shuttle to the hotel and a man comes up from a shuttle bus to ask who we are waiting for. Ian, smoking a cigarette, asks if it is the one we are waiting for. The man responds with "Are you really staying there." His facial expression promised me, that he had probably had this conversation with a homeless man at a previous time. Ian can have pretty animated facial expressions with such a glorious mustache, those followed afterwards. Dustin and I had a great laugh.
That next morning, we boarded Ethiopian Airlines to go to Addis. Just to add this in, we loved this airline. They want to feed you all the time, you get the choice of African Movies, you can hear every language from Hindi to Kinyarwanda to Swahili to French... Bright Yellow Socks. We kept running into this same group that was going to "Congo", not D R Congo like us, to volunteer on Mercy Ships. We then ran into them again on the way back where I went and asked 20 questions. Amazing organization!!! There is a part of our trip having to do with a certain someone mistaking his malaria pills with the anti diorreah medicine... lets just say Malaria pills are red... and he was sporting the white ones, a very good laugh.
Being able to smell the breathe of the person, on the window, that occupied that seat previous to me... was definitely something I did not anticipate. So that was interesting. Even more so, watching the screen of where the plane was at over the ocean... only an inch away from being over Africa... was just crazy to me. I was so tired and finally began to fall asleep; I begin dreaming of winter 2006, so vividly, Ian and I sitting outside of starbucks, in a time where we searched for God, desperately. He tells me, " This is my favorite verse because it says "Never will He leave or forsake me, until the End of the world." I gasp awake, startling both Dustin and Ian and remind him of this precious time in his walk, being encouraged by knowing He will never leave me, or Dustin, or Ian.
We flew into the dark and what seemed like a way too short amount of time later, we were watching the sun rise in Ethiopia from the plane. Never, have I seen such a colorful sky. Nothing ever came close to that red of an African sunrise. It was something to behold. Pulling out my camera, watching the rise through the screen, kind of wishing the wing of the plane would not be so in the way, but thankful it did not avail to my wishes and swing low for a good shot. More and more ground became visible, "so this is Africa eh."
Leviticus 19:33-34
And when a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Landing in Kigali only hours later, to meet a man who would very quickly find a solid place to plant in my husband and my heart. Gilbert. Many of you have heard us speak of him, of his ministry with the orphans and the widows, and the role he was on this trip. But let me just say this, God. Is. Good. We are talking a love for the Lord that goes beyond. Sacrifice in America IS different, than ... living through genocide. I am not saying people in America have not made sacrifices, I am saying IF I ever thought I had an excuse not to lean on, cling to, rely on, trust God... I was a fool. Because here I am, pampered little mzungu; knowing God promised to keep me safe, planned out every detail before our eyes and I questioned it during the car ride. Then you have Gilbert, survived a genocide where 800,000 people were murdered and his testimony goes beyond God saving him from death a number of times. AND he trusts God to provide for him and his family as he in turn makes sure the orphans and widows are tended to and advocated for. It truly took trusting the Lord to a new understanding. We met his brother Jean Baptist, who turned out to be a pastor in Kigali! Went out to supper and listened to the vision of where God was leading them in ministry.
That there at an outdoor table and buffet is where God made it clear we were here for more than just a visit with our children.
Look for future Blog Posts as I will be separating into different parts of the trip.
1. part 1 Kigali
2. part 2 Beds
3.part 3 I lift my life up.
4. part 4 Mugunga
5. part 5 Kibumba
6. part6 Genocide
7. part 7 Sponsor kids, get some.
8. part 8 Where ever the road may go, I know you're leading me home.
9. part 9 Important Emergance, Presenting.... =D
Landing in Kigali only hours later, to meet a man who would very quickly find a solid place to plant in my husband and my heart. Gilbert. Many of you have heard us speak of him, of his ministry with the orphans and the widows, and the role he was on this trip. But let me just say this, God. Is. Good. We are talking a love for the Lord that goes beyond. Sacrifice in America IS different, than ... living through genocide. I am not saying people in America have not made sacrifices, I am saying IF I ever thought I had an excuse not to lean on, cling to, rely on, trust God... I was a fool. Because here I am, pampered little mzungu; knowing God promised to keep me safe, planned out every detail before our eyes and I questioned it during the car ride. Then you have Gilbert, survived a genocide where 800,000 people were murdered and his testimony goes beyond God saving him from death a number of times. AND he trusts God to provide for him and his family as he in turn makes sure the orphans and widows are tended to and advocated for. It truly took trusting the Lord to a new understanding. We met his brother Jean Baptist, who turned out to be a pastor in Kigali! Went out to supper and listened to the vision of where God was leading them in ministry.
That there at an outdoor table and buffet is where God made it clear we were here for more than just a visit with our children.
Look for future Blog Posts as I will be separating into different parts of the trip.
1. part 1 Kigali
2. part 2 Beds
3.part 3 I lift my life up.
4. part 4 Mugunga
5. part 5 Kibumba
6. part6 Genocide
7. part 7 Sponsor kids, get some.
8. part 8 Where ever the road may go, I know you're leading me home.
9. part 9 Important Emergance, Presenting.... =D
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