Extended time in the US

We are so excited to say that we are staying in America until April 27th. This last week we were invited to the University of the Nations YWAM base in Kona Hawaii. While we were there we saw so many blessings. We had meetings with many leaders at the base and even got to speak at the thursday night gathering that had over 1,000 people. While we were there we were asked to come back in April to attend an African Pastors Gathering. Below is what the gathering is about. 

“We are in an amazing season of time, as Bible translation is progressing at a pace never before seen. We expect the last of the 7000 languages spoken on earth to begin translation sometime between 2020 and 2025. And we can expect that the translation and publicationprocess will have progressed so much that by 2033, everyone on earth will have the Scriptures available in their mother tongue! That year will mark the second millennium anniversary since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! What an important milestone! Just think of it: for the first time in history everyone will have access to God’s written Word in his/her own heart language. What an exciting time to be alive! Indeed, God is certainly at work around the globe preparing for a great new wave of Kingdom harvest. We believe this coming spiritual awakening will be fed and undergirded by a new level of engagement with God’s Word. As Bible poverty is eradicated and the Scriptures spread throughout the earth we can expect God to draw people to Himself, resulting in the redemption of individuals and the transformation of nations.

In light of this opportunity we felt it imperative to visit with key leaders who represent the various streams of the Christian tradition as well as those engaged in filling the world with God’s Word. Our purpose was to be cheerleaders, encouraging these leaders to encourage their constituents to engage afresh with God’s Word. At the same time we wanted to explore with them means of collaboration and cooperation around the Scriptures: getting them translated, produced, distributed, read, used, understood, and applied. We wanted to hear what these leaders are doing in these areas and learn from them as we also shared with them what we see happening in these categories. Though these leaders represent many different Christian traditions we all agree that the Bible is God’s Word, and it needs to take a vibrant place in the life of the reader.” Lauren Cunningham

When Fahamu and I heard about this meeting, we were so excited. As we prayed we realised that it was very important for us to attend. We looked at our finances we saw that we could just move our tickets back a couple months rather then fly to the D.R Congo and back to Hawaii. This means we will be in America for another two months. 

As we shared our dreams and visions with so many people in Kona it was so exciting to see how many  cared and encouraged us.  We saw this small dream we had, become more and more real. We know that what lies ahead of us will be tough but we have so many people who are standing behind us. Thank you everyone who is praying  for us and supporting us. You really don´t know how much it has blessed us. I will write a more detailed account about our time in Kona. We just wanted to share the big news of our extended time in the states. 

Only a couple weeks left

I can´t believe that in less then a month we will be back in Africa. So far we have been to Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada and soon Hawaii. We have been blessed and humbled by all the support we have seen. We have spoken at many churches and small groups to tell people about what we are doing in the Congo. The response we have seen is so great. People and churches have come to stand along side us, to encourage us and to comfort us. I have seen how my first impressions of a person and church can be misleading. That God has taught me to look much deeper then skin deep. Churches may be small but their hearts are huge, someone may look poor but their riches are in God. I have been blow away at just how many people really care for us and our ministry. God has called us to do this ministry but He has also provided encouragement for us. He knows what we need and who we need, then He placed those people and things in our lives.
I think that when we meet people we never know what role they will play in our lives. We never know what experiences will change or guide our future. I was once told that I put God in a box, but I think I do the same with people. I think that they haven´t changed in the years since I knew them, that they are the exact same person I went to school with. People change and God changes people´s hearts. There has been so much encouragement for Fahamu and I, that I know that I can´t put people in a box. God can and will use anyone for anything. I feel honored that God has blessed us with so many caring people. Last year when I went to the Congo, I felt alone. This time going back I can feel the encouragement and love from the people here. I´m excited to go back and see all our friends, family and our ministries.
As we prepare to head back to Africa we are still in need of a couple of things we need a laptop and camera bag and need a pelican case. We ask that you continue to join with us in prayer as we continue to prepare for our trip to Africa. Tomorrow we will be speaking at at Northwest Christian University and on the 23d we will be headed to Hawaii where we will be speaking at the YWAM base there. Thank you for everyone who has taken time to listen us and to pray for us. God Bless.

Christmas for the widows

I can remember one of the first meetings with the widows. She told us that she felt worthless and forgotten about. I can remember how sad I felt for her. She had said that the church had forgotten about her and her family, that they didn't care. As I'm here in America I see how much money we waste. I look at the TV commercials and see how they are trying to get everyone to spend money on things that will bring temporary happiness. Last sunday I was at Church and we talked about the difference between having joy and happiness. To put it simply joy comes from inside while happiness is an outward feeling. The Lord gives us joy, what we do with that joy depends on us. Happiness can result in the joy we have but we can have joy and not be happy. This is very simple but one of our goals for these widows is to show them what joy is. We want them to see how much God loves them and how much that can bring joy to their lives. As this is the Christmas season, the season where we recognize the joy of the virgin birth. The joy that we received because God became man. We want to give joy to our widows this Christmas season. As a ministry we would love to bless these women and their families with food. We would love to raise $300 USD for meat, beans, rice, oil, salt and Fanta (Soda). This food will be such a blessing and a special gift to these families. Receiving this gift they will see that they are not forgotten but loved. Most of the widows barely have enough food for three meals a day. One of our widows only eats cassava roots. Everyday is a struggle for food, lets bless these families with food this Christmas season.  We ask that you join us in raising the $300 so we can bring joy to these families. 

9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  Luke 2:9-11

Donate here to bless these widows 

http://www.gofundme.com/4lmgdo

One month in

We have been in America for a little over a month and its been an incredible experience. It has been fun to watch Fahamu go through this experience to watch him see and do things for the first time. Things that I think are small and not that exciting are the complete opposite for Fahamu. Going into a grocery store is something that I find boring, but Fahamu finds it exciting to see all they items they have in the store. There are times where I forget that this is Fahamu's first time here. The other night we went to the bowling ally and for me it was just another place. For Fahamu, he was experiencing the bowling ally for the first time. The smell of the shoes, the sounds of pins being knocked over and just the atmosphere of the bowling ally. I try to put myself in his shoes and try to think of how strange America must be to him.

Our first trip was to Crater Lake and it was such an amazing experience. There was lots of snow but the sun was out and shining. The lake looked like glass and that it would break if anything hit it. Fahamu's smile was so great to see. He was experiencing snow for the first time. 

Fahamu got to experience what its like have Thanksgiving in America. Yes we did have a lot of food but we also had family there. We got to sit and visit with family and share stores of the past. It was nice to be with family just relaxing and having a great time. 

We got to experience the American bus system. Instead of driving to Idaho we decided it would be better to take the grey hound bus. I have to say that I do enjoy these buses much more then the buses in Africa.  While in Idaho we got to stay with friends who are pastoring a church. This was the first church that we to speak at and it was such a blessing. I saw how excited people were to hear our story. It encouraged me to see that people truly care about what we are doing. We also got invited to a spanish speaking church. We shared a brief over view of who we were and what we were about. The spanish speaking church was so caring. Not really knowing who we were they did an offering for us. This trip to Idaho really made me feel better about our ministry and our future. Also on this trip Fahamu got to experience what its like to cut down a Christmas tree. 

This last month has been so much fun. We are excited to share our story and ministry with everyone. We have seen how generous people really are. I have felt so much love and support. Fahamu has been busy helping my dad around the farm, feed the cows, fixing fences and chopping wood. Its nice that Fahamu gets to see how I grew up and where I am from. As we continue our trip I hope to make many more memories. I will try to write more so everyone can experience this trip with us. 

Visiting Burley First Christian Church

America

Today was our last day in the Congo. I can't believe that we are headed to America. We will spend two days in Burundi and three days in Rwanda before flying out on the 13th. It seems weird to be going to my childhood home as a vacation rather then coming home to stay. To know that I only have four months in America before we head back to my new home is a very strange feeling. I'm so thankful that I have gotten the opportunity to live in the Congo and learn a new culture. As we were driving to Burundi, I remember my first day getting off the plane. Thinking to myself what did I get myself into. I don't know anyone but Fahamu and I don't know the language. Now as I'm leaving the Congo I think of all the new people that I have met. I can't believe that I'm as lucky as I am to have met the people I have met. I can't wait to share with my American family about my new African family. 

This will be Fahamu's first time in America and I can't wait to share this experience with him. He has heard me talk so much about America and where I'm from and now he get to see all my stories come alive. We ask that you continue to pray for us and this trip. We are also still trying to raise $500 for our widows and their small businesses. 

Meet Leontina Chabaziza

Today we received some bad news about one of our widows. Leontina Chabaziza passed out (from lack of food) during her time working in the fields and hurt herself very badly. Leontina's knees were injured and she can not stand nor walk. This means she cannot work.  

Leontina is in her 50s and has been a widow for two years. She gave birth to six kids but only one remains alive. Her hardest week is when she lost her daughter, then one week lost her husband and grandchild the same day. When her daughter died she knew she couldn't care for her child so she tried to put the child in a orphanage but  they refused the child. The baby ended up starving to death the same day her husband passed away from illness. Now in her house their are six children who are from other relatives who have passed away. Now with this injury she has no way of feeding these children. This is why we want her to have a small business. She wouldn't have to walk far distances to do hard back breaking work. She would make more money then she does now. We want to bless all our widows before we leave with a small business. To get each widow a small business it would cost a total of $500 ($50 per widow). Please pray and see if you can give to our widows. 

http://www.gofundme.com/4lmgdo