Almost there....

Hello sweet friends and family! Just wanted to let you know that your prayers have covered us and we are just hours away from Kigali! We are exhausted and dirty but so excited to arrive. Lisa and I are actually looking forward to that cold shower and lumpy mattress at our beloved Ligue (compound where we are staying). We hope to update more tomorrow! Keep praying!
We love you!

Melissa

Today's the day!!!!

As I am sitting on my bedroom floor surrounded by luggage and stuff that clearly needs to still be packed :) , I can't believe this day is finally here!!! I remember the day that Melissa and I decided we were going to go back to Rwanda this summer and it seems like just yesterday! So much planning and preparing have gone into this trip, but it's been so amazing to see how God has provided more than we could have ever imagined!! Which only reassures us that this is what God has called us to do. I can't wait to see all God has in store for us while we are in Africa!

Our flight leaves this afternoon at 4:30 and we would love your prayers for our safety as we travel to Rwanda! We will arrive in Rwanda Wednesday, July 1, I think at midnight, Rwanda is 8 hours ahead of central time.

We are hoping to be able to update this blog as much as we can! Thank you to all of you who have supported us and are praying for us! Your prayers and support mean the world to us and we are truly blessed to be able to do this!

Blessings,
Lisa

Psalm 96:2-4
Sing to the Lord, praise his name, proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all people. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise!

It's About That Time...

Mel here:

Wow! I cannot believe we leave in less than a month. Lisa and I are so excited to say the least. We both have seen God working through people (of all sizes;)to make this trip possible. Matthew you are an inspiration my little friend! Thank you for following your heart, we love you! Thank you to everyone who has given time, lifted up prayers, donated money, clothing, or who have just listened to what we long to see God do in Rwanda this summer. You are eternally blessing everyone we will come in contact with!

Earlier Lisa wrote about her Sunday School students learning the story of Jesus feeding the multitude in Luke 9. That same Sunday, I went to Church Project and heard Jason talk on the very same passage. Coincidence? I think not! :) He made a point that has been stuck in my brain recently. After a long day of teaching the disciples saw that the people were in need of food. They asked Jesus to send the crowd away to look for something to eat in the surrounding villages. Jesus replied in verse 13, "You give them something to eat." Simple.

Why are God's people suffering in the world today? Always a hard thing for me to grasp, especially when it comes to children...but the point was made that it's not because God doesn't care about them. He does care, far more than I understand. People are suffering today because God's people aren't doing anything about it. I am the hands and feet of Jesus on earth and Lisa and I both feel that you are too. Thank you for being obedient to the call of Christ to reach out to His people in Rwanda and right where you live.

Specific prayers:
1. safe travel
2. tying up loose ends at home (shots, pills, supplies, etc.)
3. God's specific purposes for the trip to be revealed
4. That God would go before us and prepare the way

Da gu kunda! (Love you!)

Mel