Loving, Learning, and Serving in Rwanda

Rwanda, Africa is a country whose soil I have dreamed about stepping foot on since the summer of 2014. While visiting Uganda, God placed in my path two wonderful Rwandan men who shared a brief history of their country with me. In that meeting, God captivated my heart for this country and used it to challenge my perspective on forgiveness, as well as to set me down a path I never imagined pursuing.

Since that unexpected meeting I have prayed and dreamed about traveling to Rwanda. I've waited for God's voice to tell me when and to show me the path I was to take. It has been an incredible journey of ups and downs, but am thrilled to be only months away from landing in Rwanda at the end of June.

This trip began as one of calling and obedience. It still very much so is, but if I were to sum up my vision for the trip into three words it would be LOVE

Let me share a brief picture of what I mean for each.

LOVE:

I have no doubt God is going to use this trip to catapult me into a deeper love affair with Him, my Creator. That has already begun and anticipate it only growing stronger.

A major piece is also about falling in love with the people God has created, especially when it appears we are so very different from each other. We live in a world that has been quick to build walls between those who are similar and those who are different from us. I dream of those walls being broken down. This can't be done until we are willing to step out of our comfort zones, immerse ourselves in cultures, histories, and places different from our own, and ultimately begin seeing people as children of God.

LEARN:

A major focus of this trip is to learn everything I can about Rwanda. I have felt, for sometime, God is calling me to a lifetime connection with Rwanda. I am not sure what that will look like yet, but am confident I can't effectively do long-term ministry there until I first take time to learn about Rwandan culture, history, language, landscape, etc. I want to learn from the people God has already and will be placing in my path.

To learn more about the Kingdom of God. While in Uganda, God showed me there is much we can learn about Him and His character as we step into cultures different from our own. We can learn knew ways of how he moves and loves as we do that. I have no doubt this trip will include learning more about God through the Rwandan culture and people.

Learning more about who God has created me to be, the gifts he has placed in me, the strength he has provided me that I am not even aware of yet, and learning why he has called me to Rwanda.

SERVE:

The most specific way I will be serving is in relation to the Vineyard Mission Rwanda. A portion of my time will be spent partnering with this church's pastor, staff, and community to establish their children's ministry. There is much I do not yet know about what this will look like, but am beyond thrilled at the opportunity. I spent nearly three years working in children's ministry at my home Vineyard church and felt strongly like God had created me to work with children. In the few years after that I struggled to figure out where exactly God wanted to use my heart and passion for children knowing the love of Jesus. I am ecstatic to get to use the experiences, passion, and knowledge I have of working in children's ministry in a country I feel God has given me a deep heart for. I never would have imagined this being a possibility!

I would love to invite you into this journey with me.I am incredibly excited to see what God has in store for this trip and how he wants to teach, use, challenge, and stretch me. If you are interested in financially supporting me you can do so here.

The finances I raise will be used for housing, transportation costs, food, supplies for teaching/training/loving the adults & children at the Vineyard Mission Rwanda, and other misc. expenses. Any extra funds I raise I hope to use to bless the church there.

I also hope to spend a few days at the end of my trip to travel to Uganda. My time in Uganda would be spent visiting those I developed friendships with while there in 2014. My hope would be to visit the Vineyard church in Kampala where I spent a portion of time on my last trip. I now sponsor a child from the school there and am praying to works out for me to visit him!

Thank you for partnering with me in this adventure God has called me into. If you are interested in continuing to follow my journey or seeing what you can be praying for me about please refer to my blog or facebook page. I am beyond grateful for each and everyone of you! Thank you and blessings to you!

Anna

http://annalacore.wix.com/karibudreamers