God Is In Control

God is in control!

One day while in Rwanda I got an email from Barry with the subject line, “God is in control”.  I braced myself!  “OK,” I thought.  “Let me prepare for this bad news.”

But what followed was really some very good news; someone had given a very generous gift to EAFC.  That email became the seeds for my rethinking how I view God and what the Bible really does say about how He delights to give good gifts to His children.  He only disciplines us for our good.  All His gifts are ultimately for my benefit, whether at the time I perceive them as good or hard.

Shocolat was the restaurant we went to after first arriving in Kigali.  Its location had changed since we were in Kigali before.  I liked the other one better but the food was as exceptional here as the other location.  The background in the picture is interesting however.  It's made of African fabrics arranged as though they are books in a book shelf. Later that day I asked Addy and Jean Paul what they would have expected if they’d read an email with such a subject line and both confessed that their reaction would have been similar to mine.  (Others we asked, however, seemed not to necessarily think that way though).  But this exercise led the three of us to look at events in our day in the light of God’s control.  Jean Paul particularly repeated the phrase over and over whether we encountered mud, rain, favors or struggles.  EAFC has a tagline,  “Leadership development with a unique approach.”  Maybe now we need a theme.  God is in contro l!

Angel With a Broom

Guardian Angel with a broom

Are you like me, having a tendency to take for granted those who are familiar to you, who have been God’s vehicles for blessing you for a long time?  Do you ever forget to really thank your family or friends when they act as your “Guardian angels”?  I know I do.

I can’t imagine all the work the 3 J’s did for us BEFORE we arrived in their countries.  Joseph researched and got all our internal flights booked.  He texted all the alumni, arranged meetings, secured snacks, made appointments.  He was in daily contact with us as we planned.  We never had to wonder whether anything was being taken care of.  Sometimes knowing that when we were still in Daylight Savings Time that he was +8 hours ahead of us, I’d email him,  ‘GO TO BED, JOSEPH.”  I’d KNOW how late he was up taking care of one more detail needed for our care.

We KNOW that this trip would have been a very stressful experience if we’d had to arrange our transportation, book all our meetings, depend on email alone to contact our students and alumni.  But instead we were always picked up promptly, protected, had questions answered and on and on.

Yes, JOSEPH, JAMES and JEAN PAUL, we love you all!

So, who’s the guardian angel with a broom?

I wish I knew his name.

Saturday night (Nov 5)  Joseph met our airplane coming back from the Sarova Mara from our 2 days in the Masa Marai.  (I’ll tell about that experience later.)  We celebrated our last meal together at a tourist “trap” The Carnivore, which today is misnamed since they no longer serve the wild game of yesteryear.  We did have crocodile, camel and ostrich though.  But I’ve really made a diversion from my story.

We THOUGHT we’d planned the evening so that we’d arrive at the airport by 8 for the 11 PM flight to Amsterdam and on to Atlanta and JACKSON, but alas, even on a Saturday night the traffic in Nairobi wasn’t to be predicted accurately.  (soccer stadium we passed with a game going on and then a wreck along the way changed our arrival time drastically)

You can imagine that tension was beginning to mount.  When we did arrive, Joseph dropped us curbside, our assuring him that we could manage 2 big suitcases each plus our carry ons.  Yes, I guess we over estimated our abilities a bit, but once again we saw how God was in control.

There was a man standing outside the LONG line forming for people to make the initial clearance into checking in.  He had a broom and dust pan in hand; I imagine that was his job for the airport.  But as he observed our awkwardness and confusion as to where we were to go, he offered to help.

“Here,” he offered. “Down here is a shorter line.” 

Sure enough he was right.  We maneuvered through that obstacle course only to once again cue up for another line taking us to weigh our luggage.  But to our amazement, there was our NEW FRIEND AGAIN.  He picked up those heavy suitcases, put them back on the carts once weighed and again pointed us where to go next.

Now, why didn’t I think to tip him?  I’ve asked myself that many times since Saturday night.  And all I can now do is just pray and ask Him who knows his name, is aware of his needs and loves him show him the love of Jesus who never forgets anything that might bless us. And I pray for me too that I become a more alert person, ready to show appreciation to God’s guardian angels placed along life’s paths.

What's In Your Hand?

“How do you describe what’s in your hand if your fingers are wrapped around a seed?”

That’s the question Jean Paul asked us one day.   If you describe what’s in your hand with, “I have a forest in my hand” then you have demonstrated your faith and hope in the future.

What is in EAFC’s hand?  If we take care of the seed, some day we’ll have a forest, so he went on to explain.

Burying the seed at the proper depth, giving it the right amount of water, exposing it to light, recognizing that with all this proper attention to principles of good stewardship still don’t assure you that the crop will yield good fruit, UNLESS the giver of life blesses the efforts.

Jean Paul Dushime with Sarah and me, Kigali, Rwanda

But then, He DELIGHTS to give good things to His children.  He redeems the crops that locusts have eaten.  His grace is common to the just and unjust.  He who began and good work WILL complete what He started.  Without faith, it is impossible to please Him.  He who comes to Him must believe that He is and He rewards them who seek Him.  Some produced crops five times; some ten, but fruitfulness is something we can expect when the plant is healthy.

Personally, I’d like to keep seeing forests in my hand.  What about you?

What's WOP?

WOP is not a derogatory term as has been suggested by some!  It stands for 

WOMEN OF PURPOSE, and there’s not a woman I’ve met in Africa that doesn’t like the term.  I have been AMAZED!

Recently I heard from Pastor Fred Wakula from DRC.  He came to Rwanda to meet us and heard about WOP there.  Here is the email that he sent to me.

November 9, 2011

Hello,         my dearest and faithful Sister and friend of mine , Sister Val , it is a great joy for me to know that you have arrived safely in your land. All glory be to Him!         Thank you so very much for this wonderful saying in your message that : We want women of purpose all over the world.  Pray that in Jackson women want to form chapters to pray for women in Congo.    Thank you so much , I will let the women in my Church to know this and be praying for this , for it is a great joy for the women in Jackson to be in touch with the women in DR Congo. Praise His holy name!         Please, all the photos that you sent me in attachment did not opened , please , can you resend them again? For I , my wife , family and the Church will be glad to see them. And I , will send you our photos soon.         Pass my love  to all in your family and tell them that I love them and am praying for them and also pass my love to Sarah.         Truly your Brother and friend in the Lord , Pastor Fred W. Wakula P.S  THE NEXT DAY, HE WROTE THIS

this morning I told the women in my Church that you are looking to form and a strong team of women from your Town that will be praying for the women of the DR Congo , surely they all were very much blessed and they had a short time for praying for you and this effort.

There are 2 components of WOP:  FOCUS and FLEXIBILITY

1. focus- Each chapter that registers with EAFC has this in common, that they are focusing on restoring to women the DIGNITY to which they were created.
2. flexibility-  Each chapter, and there can be MANY in any one country, names their own chapter.  Their approach to the subject of dignity can be extremely varied!  Some are teaching women economic skills.  Some of them are Bible studies, focusing on what God has to say about women’s self respect.  Some meet to pray for other women.  Some are raising up young girls to have dreams.  Some work in slums.  GET THE POINT?  There is no set structure or rules.

EXPLORATORY SESSIONS IN KENYA

First exploratory meeting

Rosemary told her story

Caroline listened to the others

Then Faith

Now, why has EAFC created these?  EAFC has had a goal to analyze what has gone on and to listen to those in Africa who have ideas.  Women in Africa have in the past been very UNDER represented in terms of the number of applications submitted, and whenever we talk to women the topic of problems unique to women seems to come up regularly.

Then we talked with Francine in Rwanda who already has a group of girls she teaches who gather after school every Thursday.  She wants to “register” her group.

Anna works in public health.  the idea of WOP was very appealing to her.  

Sarah, Yvette,  and Lydie also thought it could work in Rwanda.

Back in Kenya we met with EAFC alumni.  Three of these women already work in 3 different Nairobi slums.  They are excited about brainstorming together, creating sister WOP chapters and then getting together either quarterly or twice a year to learn from one another.

WILL I EVER GET THIS POSTED?  SINCE I STARTED IT, THIS IS THE THIRD EMAIL I HAVE GOTTEN FROM AFRICA REGARDING THIS EFFORT, AND THIS ONE RELATES A MAN CALLING HIM BEING EXCITED. (Joe and Caroline Mbuvi is the couple who have assumed the role of coordinator of EAFC efforts in and around Nairobi.)

Joseph, on right is EAFC's Kenyan Country Coordinator. Here he greets Pastor Bosco

Val, 

After  Caroline and I shared the idea of WOP to an EAFC alumnus on Friday last week, he seemed very enthusiastic about it.  This afternoon, he called me to let me know that he convenvened a meeting of 23 needy women from his church who are willing to do something about their situation if shown how to go about it. My family and I have ministered twice in that church. The four-year old church is located in the outskirts of Machakos town, about 38 miles south-east of Nairobi.  He was wondering when my wife and I can go and meet with the women! 

Joe 

Community Service Day

Val, Bishop Augustin, and Adeline Mugenyi


This story will be hard for you to believe, at least it was for me.
The LAST SATURDAY IN EVERY MONTH IN RWANDA,
they observe Community Service Day.

What that means in that the commercial NATION shuts down between 8 AM and noon so
that people can work together on community projects, a coming together.
NO ONE is allowed in cars during those hours except for emergencies.

So, Bishop Augustin and Addy were at our guesthouse by 7:15 on that morning so that we could meet with Yvette's
mentor.  We were meeting this humble man for the second time, and
sure enough, our impression of him didn't vary from 16 months before.

Much of our conversation needed to be translated by Addy from French into English (or maybe they were speaking Kenyawandan?)
Anyway, before we parted the Bishop gave us TWO WORDS OF COUNSEL.
1.  Tell the students and alumni to meet, even when there's not a team from the U.S. here.
2.  Tell them also that what you do for them is hard work.

Can you imagine how touched I was by his recognition that what we do in raising funds is hard work?PRAY FOR BISHOP AUGUSTIN and all those in the KIGEME DIOCESE under his care!

OK, Let's Share Something "Lite"

After THE PRECEDING post, maybe we need a "lighter" story; so here goes.


One day in Nairobi, Sarah and I were buying a case of water/ teeth brushing needs as well as just staying hydrated.  When she paid, the clerk realized that we needed 2 Kenya shillings for change.  (The exchange rate at the time was about 100 shillings to one dollar.)  She didn't have 2 shillings in her till so she gave us "2 'sweets' as she called the candy."  We found that real funny.


Fast forward:  Yesterday I went to the grocery store for the first time since I got home.  I swiped my card  (which brings to mind banking stories in Africa that I'll try to share later.)  Anyway, the man behind me in line realized that the checker had charged ME for HIS fried chicken.  The man handed me the $2 that he was about to pay her.  Once again, I was amused, thinking back on the "sweets" episode in Nairobi.


I have no pictures to illustrate these stories, but I do have one of me dancing, something I seemed to do a lot while I was there.

Yes, I got very winded keeping up with those kids.  It's harder than you think!

It costs $500 to see the REAL thing, so Sarah settled for this one!

Confessions

My Friends,  Sometimes I question my sanity when I begin a posting with the word "confessions".  What about privacy?  What about misunderstandings?  What about giving people more than they want?  Why do I do this?  I think I do it because in my life I have often found people who are real with me to be helpful.  I think that since our head tells us we are all sinners, that examples from the heart might aid in the establishment of unity and personal reflection so that we can help one another to grow up.

So enough of the explanation; let's get on with the confessions.  But first here's some background.

EAFC's first student I knew well.  He began studying for his master's degree in 1998.  At that time, I had only stepped foot on any part of the African continent for 2 1/2 years, so obviously my knowledge of various cultures and propensities to sin were more limited than it is today.  In 2003 Barry and I discovered for the first time that we had been "conned" by a so called student, getting a diploma in law.  That didn't feel very good to know that the hard sought funds we'd asked for from our dear family and friends had gone to one with impure motives.

Now, take that experience and add to it added skepticism due to "reputations" from various countries and you might be able to see how I arrived at MY SKEPTICISM at one point in this past journey.  A pastor we'd only known through internet had written us and our country coordinator to tell us of his intentions to visit us.  This visit was going to be costly to our pastor friend.  He'd have to cross country borders, spend precious money, give a day of his time all just so he could meet us.  Now, this is how I felt BEFORE the event that led to my SKEPTICISM.

Here's how it went:  When our "new" friend arrived, he called our Country Coordinator from a "borrowed phone" and told him where he was.  He told of being robbed on the way.  The thief had also taken, not just his money but his cell phone too.  A nice young man had given him his "air time" so he could call.  Are you seeing yet my skepticism creeping in?  What were we to do?


As Sarah and I discussed this with our friends from that country, we decided that we had no real choices but to go to the place where the pastor said he was (by the bus terminal) and give him money for lodging that night and something to eat.  Our friends told us the amount of money that would satisfy his needs, which, by the way wasn't very much money by our standards.  So, we did it, not because it was little money, but we think because it was the right thing to do.  His smile when we met him quickly readjusted my dubious mind, for he appeared to be a genuinely warm man, appreciative of what we gave him. He WAS who he'd represented himself to be. Whew!

 The next morning we again went back to the meeting spot and took the pastor friend with us to our scheduled appointment.  Along the way, he told us about Raziki, his wife, and his 4 daughters.  He told us about the 3 students his church is partnering with us to train.  He told us about the 2 more that he wants to submit next time.  He shared stories of his faith, his church, his land.  And before we dropped him off to take the bus back to his country, he gave GIFTS to us.  Yes, this gracious man, had come to meet us bearing gifts, dresses made by the ladies in his church.  He may have lost his money and his cell phone but the gifts he had brought were still in his possession.

Make sense why I'm so humbled?


OK,  Confession #2

When I was a teenager, there was a song that I loved,  "Breaking up is hard to do."  Now for those of you old enough to remember that song, you know it was about boy/girl relationships.  I'd like to keep the same tune and tell you "Letting go is hard to do."  What do I mean?

Pondering whether or not THIS trip to Africa was possibly my LAST, caused me lots of moments of reflecting.   Sarah was on her FIRST trip to Africa.  I know there can't be 2 "bosses".  I no longer believe that I can carry the load that I have carried all these years of EAFC.  If this ministry is of God then He CAN and WILL sustain.  "God funds what He favors", an old missionary once told me.  
Until I was on this trip, I wasn't even aware that LETTING GO was an issue with me.  It's not really that I want "my way".  I want to stay in the loop;  I want to SEE my friends again; I want to make more friends;  I want to hear how they are progressing.   I really do relate to Paul's letters in the Bible more all the time.  "When he could stand it no longer, he sent Timothy to check on the Thessalonians."  (my paraphrase)

So I guess when I can stand it no longer, I'll send Sarah.  Or maybe, just maybe, God will favor me with more opportunities to see for myself what is going on in Zambia, Liberia, Rwanda, DRC, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda etc etc etc.