Kayonza, Rwanda July 2010

The day on paper looked like a nothing day.  Nothing but a travel day.  Nothing more than getting in the trouper and driving to Bujumbura Burundi.  Definitely nothing in the plan that would change eternity. So with my morning prayer I asked for nothing short of a miracle.  I began by asking God to place me in a situation where only he could be the solution.  I prayed that people would hear the story and instantly surrender all to Jesus.  I prayed hard and when I was done I expected to see something

We’re running late so I’m forced to travel in full preaching gear.  I loosen the tie and loose the top button attempting to cool off and relax.  The results were less than stellar.   As I writhe and shift I find myself plotting, scheming, dreaming of a way to get free.  Then I get this crazy idea to get even more UNcomfortable. It’s true, Africa continues to jack with my normality.  While here I’m consistently tempted to do something radical. For example Just a few days ago the thought crossed my mind to take a month and live just like the people I’m preaching to live.  Give everything in my luggage away and just see how it feels.  You know, spend some time getting dirty, hungry, needy.  I began to crave the chance to really try Africa on.  See if I’ve got the stuff to handle it. I began to double-dog dare myself to make a run for it.  It would take some serious stones and if I lived through it... it would be a great story.

It’s an odd thing, knowing why you’re on this earth.  Me? I’m an evangelist.  I evangelize people.  Not only that, but I evangelize to people to be evangelists.   It’s fair to say that it’s not very trendy.  In fact when asked about my profession I say, “I’m the International Director for aLn. A non-for profit that works with churches to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the world”.   It’s just enough info to be an answer but just enough mystery to beg another question or two and keep the conversation going.  What to be left alone... say you’re an evangelist.  Honestly though, my paragraph of a reply is not the most accurate way to answer that question. So this is a day in the life of an EvangelistSLASHinternational Director for aLn an non-for pro....whatever the rest is.

I’ve never been a big fan of nature shows.  Not a big animal planet watcher. Pretty much if some guy wasn’t sticking his hand in the mouth of a Crocodile (RIP Steve Erwin) I wasn’t biting.  That was until HD TV.  Suddenly, watching the gazelles jump/glide across the plain was fascinating.  Even watching clouds float across my screen in HD was mesmerizing.   My point? Africa has me mesmerized.

Realizing I’m new to the world of a jet set evangelism, I do my best to avoid wide sweeping comments, BUT, I feel qualified to boldly say each and every trip to Africa is completely unique.  This is my 3rd trek to Rwanda since February, and as much as it should seem routine there is a freshness and newness to this one.   The first trip was all about discovery.  I was like a little kid experiencing everything through new eyes and a fresh mind.  God showed up in a life changing way.   Healing the sick and paving the way for a huge harvest of Gods people.   My second trip was my first crusade and for all that was familiar there were so many new experiences to take in.  It was just like the first trip only multiplied times the power of community.  So amazing to see how God works when people and churches work together to see his Kingdom come.  This trip we are building on what God has already done.  This means that our goals, expectations, and desires are all elevated.  As we prepared our prayers got bigger, our concept of what is possible is through the roof now. There is a craziness to our dreams, as we strategize of how to build the kingdom we no longer see only in addition but multiplication, in fact we are now thinking about growth exponentially.

Most of the team is on its way home now; Corey is last to leave so please pray for his safe journey.

 My laptop is covered with gritty Rwandan dust, and that brings an instant smile to my face because...

I’m a lucky girl because Rwanda is the 3rd African country in which I have gotten to worship with God’s people.  I love how Africans put their whole bodies and minds into the state of worship.  I love to see the joy expressed in big smiles on their faces while they’re singing and dancing to God.  Each person has an outward expression of the heart showing up loud and clear in the body.  Believe me, when you’re with them it’s really easy and great fun to put your whole self into the state of praising God.

This has been such a pleasant morning, with different team members popping up to receive Corey's prized gift of Starbucks Via coffee. The conversations are all about what happened last night and what will happen today. How to make the necessary adjustments in the plans of men to flow into God's purposes for Kayonza. It strikes me how much I enjoy these conversations... I want more and more of this at home!

I am at the hotel. I am packed up and ready to go. Questions have been answered. Here are a few that I don’t have to answer anymore.

This morning I am overwhelmed with the goodness of God. I am so privileged to be in this place. I have some of my best friends here and I am serving alongside the beautiful brothers and sisters of Kayonza. We all together are laboring in the gospel to bring the lost to Jesus. Halleluiah!