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Unpacking

Through all the moves and traveling I have done over the last few years, I’ve become an expert packer. I know how to shop to get the things I need to last until my next trip. And because of flying so much internationally, I can lift a suitcase and tell you if the bag weighs 50lbs; with about a 5lbs margin of error. My packing skills are really quite impressive, if I do say so myself. But I’m a horrible unpacker. Even now, I arrived in Rwanda over one month ago and there are still suitcases in my floor with supplies that have not been touched or moved since I dropped it there upon arrival. I hate unpacking. It’s something I have to really prepare for. I don’t know why or how, I’m just that way. I will step around boxes or suitcases until finally I feel mentally prepared enough to help the things inside find their homes. I was having a good one on one conversation with my friend the other day, which I love because I’m an introvert. We were discussing what we look for in friend...
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A Rwandan Clan—How to Find Belonging in a Disconnected World

One of the things that will pull a tear from my eye faster than lightning is when the traditions of Rwandan culture are displayed. Rwandan weddings unfurl like a stage play with a script and costumes. The long flowing dresses shimmer with prisms of color. The men shine in their best suits. The beautiful dancers swirl while the drummers thrum steady and sure. All the while, the emcee keeps the flow smooth throughout the day. Yes, day . They are extravagant events that stretch from morning until late into the night. They start with the negotiations, the bride price. How many cows would a husband’s family need to give the bride’s family in order to purchase this woman? (My feminist eyes roll a little, but it’s all in good present day fun. No cows are actually exchanging hands .) Then they must verify the cows are healthy milk producers. A lot of humor and bantering are involved in this process. “Are the cows good and fat?” “ Isn ’t the bride worth more than 100 cows ?” When...
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A nomad life

A nomad is “ a person who does not stay long in the same place; a wanderer.” Over the last few years, I haven’t stayed long in one place. I see other nomads walking through airports and catch up over time spent waiting to board airplanes. I have figured out where the comfiest sleeping places are in certain airports, the best restaurants, and where not to get coffee. I walked into an airport yesterday and my phone automatically connected to their wifi. Uber has become a verb (i.e. I ubered to the airport today.) I learned that people rent out their homes and cars to people like myself; and I’ve rented both. I’ve figured out how to accrue travel points by spending money and that they can be cashed in for use of a car, train, or airplane; because I’ve used them all over the last year. All because I need to share a story about what God is doing half way across the world and invite people into our mission. I run an organization called Belay Global. Belay the rocking climbing term m...
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Dusting off my blog and sending an update

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I'm really excited to share with you about our next stage in our work in Rwanda. But first, a little background. More than 10 years ago, I made a decision to start a Master’s program because I wanted to be the director of a non-profit organization. As I sat in a session with the CEO of the National Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, she shared how so many non-profits have been ran poorly and she didn’t want to see one more Big Brothers Big Sisters local office have the same fate. It was a challenge, a charge; something I felt deep in my bones. Now that I’m leading a ministry in Rwanda, I want to do it well. Over the last few months, the Rwanda staff and I have been working on a 3-year strategic plan and each staff person has their action plan for 2017. I’m so proud of the work our Rwandan staff has put into making sure our work is sustainable. But through this process, I’ve realized that we need a stronger organizational foundation under the Rwanda side of our work if ...
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Can you help us spread the word about DuHope?

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DuHope because There is always hope in Jesus View this email in your browser Hey Friends! I'm so excited to share that as of Friday morning Rwanda time, we are at 32% of our goal. God is so good! This weekend would you be willing to go to your churches, small groups, cell groups, community groups, mission teams and whoever else you will see this weekend and share our need of $6800 left to launch this new ministry? We have nicknamed this project "DuHope", helping young women get out of sex work and prostitution and finding hope. Thank you! jamie Thursday morning, I saw this young woman cross my path as I was headed for work. I don't know her name, but her walk and clothing spoke volumes to me. The Rwandan culture is very conservative and this young woman's skirt was way above her knees. She had her hands in her back pocket and a sucker in her mouth. She almost strutted as she walked. It was 7:15am. My assumption is that she had j...
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A Duhu Like We've Never Seen

O my goodness. I’m laying awake tonight so excited as we are launching this fundraising website  and a new twist on our ministry. This is a story about God being God. There is no way in this small message I can tell you the full story, so know there are years of evidence that God has been moving things into place and then He opened the door and said, “Jamie, I want to show you something.” Okay, that was Moses, our youth minister who verbally said it, but God inspired him. Just a few short weeks ago I was shown an alley where women sell sex. I knew it happened, I knew it was there, but I hadn’t ever seen it with my own eyes. We talked to one young woman who said that if she had ANY other option in life, she would not be a prostitute.  Jamie, do you love me? Yes, Lord, you know I love you. Then feed my lambs. Fast forward a few weeks to having two Rwandan social workers say, “I want to help!” A best buddy who said, “I’m in!” An Australian social worker who h...
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