Sent to Rwanda

This is something I rarely talk about, much less write about. So buckle in, I'm getting vulnerable here. When I was young, up through high school, I was very active. I played softball, golf, any activity at youth events. If there was activity, I was there. During my senior year of high school, I noticed a lot of pain that I just couldn't describe, it was just all over. We were talking with my local college about playing my freshman year as a walk-on with the softball team, but as the heat of the summer kicked in, it wasn't an option. I remember the heartbreaking moment for me admitting that I had hit my limit. I could still play recreational ball, but competitive softball was over for me. At the beginning of my sophomore year of college something was very wrong, but again, I couldn't explain it; I just hurt all over. I had to sit out a semester of school and my mom was on a mission to find out what was wrong. I was having blinding tension headaches and I constantly ...

When I was really little, my dad was a youth minister and we spent a lot of time at church camps and youth devotional times. I grew up at the Bible chair center around teenagers. (Maybe that was the start of my passion for youth--that's for another blog). There were many songs I remember singing with my dad and his kids, but one in particular was my favorite...The Whippoorwill Song. The chorus: I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I write the music for the whippoorwills. Control the planets with their rocks and rills, But give you freedom to choose your own will. It was just brought to my mind...I live in a country called, "The Land of a Thousand Hills" and cattle are a very important commodity. They serve many purposes and are the center of the traditional dances as they are seeking and finding the cows. The song comes from the passage in Psalm 50, where God is pointing out that He doesn't the our sacrifices, because he already own them. He wants us to...

I love birthdays--I don't mind getting older and I don't mind telling everyone my age. I'll be 34 on Friday! (I also have to say it out loud often, because I rarely "act my age".) Yes, November 1st is my actual birthday, but I celebrate for as long as possible. Why do I declare a birth day   week  month? Mostly, because it's fun! Why not? Maybe I am a third of the way through my life, or half way--who knows?! But I want everyday to be enjoyed and I don't want to look back and wish I had done something or said something. And seriously, the older I get, the more I've learned. Another year declares more experiences that I have had--good and bad, which means I've learned and seen more things!  I can already tell 34 is going to be a big year because there are so many cool things opening up for the young women of Duhugurane--you will hear more as we go.  But if you would like to give me a gift this year, you can make a donat...

I've been thinking a lot about friends recently, so I decided it was time to write. Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecc. 4:9-12 A friend is someone who knows me, likes me and trusts me. Someone who knows that I wasn't always as cool as I have become and still loves me. =)  Someone who understands that sometimes I like things a certain way and will tolerate my idiosyncrasies. Someone who knows that somedays I just need to be quiet. And most importantly understands that at the end of the day, if I have to choose between my faith and them, I will choose my Jesus. But wh...

" Jamie, I can tell you that of my five years of living here I have learned when a community is based on money, deep transformation is difficult. …There is no silver bullet ."  I am not a good listener. I try to be and I have to stay really focused and often write things down, but most of my roommates will tell you that I have troubles when it comes to listening. That is probably why I like to write things out--blog, Facebook, etc. I like to listen, but my mind just runs around crazy and I forget where I'm supposed to be paying attention. But there are often statements when people look me square in the eye and it sticks. Today, was one of those moments. I like to learn from people who have been there and done it. ( I haven't always been that way, so maybe there is hope for my listening skills!) I had the opportunity to spend just a few minutes listening to someone who basically told me today that there is no formula for discipleship, just look to the Lord an...

So it's been a while, sorry 'bout that. I have many things to say on this post, but I'm going to stay focused on one thing--saying "yes". When I was making the decision to move to Rwanda, one of my colleagues told me to get a book called, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God" by Lysa Turkurst (good book, go read it). She gave ways to help make decisions. I'm going to be honest and say that I can't remember all of them, but the ones that stuck are: Is it Biblical (does it contradict Scripture)? Is is being confirmed in other ways--friends, Bible studies, lessons, etc? I remember going through that book thinking that moving to Rwanda was a BIG yes, but everyday there are little yes' that we have the opportunity to make. My friend Tara, who has done some really cool things (no41.org--check her out), says often that her organization just evolved out of a bunch of little yes'. Did we set out to start projects helping young women? No...

I have been reading some blogs about minimalism and am in a study about being more grateful. I have been thinking about my trip back to America last year and anticipate my visit this year. It is hard going back to a world that seems so familiar, but yet so foreign. Some of the things that shocked me after living here was the materialism. I think everyone can admit how wrapped up America has become in their possessions. I know I was. As I was getting ready to come here two years ago, there was a freeing process I went through of getting rid of almost everything I owned.   And then when I left Rwanda to visit America, I was in between houses, so I locked up the majority of my stuff in my office. I don’t have that many things and it’s nice. There are some differences living here—I can wear basically the same wardrobe all year around, so I don’t have to store seasonal clothes. But overall, I just don’t feel connected to things the same way I used to. I live in a country where $...

Everything in my life starts with a "du" now, even my thoughts. As we are quickly approaching one year of the first suggestion of Duhugurane and have completed the first phase of our first training group, I want to paint you a picture of what is going on over here. A little over a month ago, we were ready to launch our first training and started quietly looking for young women 18-25 years old, who were English-speaking who would be willing to pilot our ideas. We were looking quietly because we didn't want to be inundated by girls. We selected the first cohort and were ready to start. The first day of class (February 11) I arrived early, praying and hoping someone showed up. I laughed to see that there were girls there before I was, over an hour early. I'm not sure they really understood what they had signed up for, but they were there. I started the class of 25 young women by introducing what we were about to embark on and shared Hebrews 6:11-12 (NCV...

In my opinion, and of course this is my opinion because this is my blog, but I believe that the general church-going population believes that as a missionary, I am always on this mountaintop spiritual "high". That I am always seeking God because I have moved so far from home and my family. Let me dispel this rumor, this is not true. Just like in America, my spiritual walk has peaks, valleys and plateaus. There are times when I see God working and moving in such tangible ways that I sit back and worship and praise His name. I pray so fervently that I become physically tired. Our team takes time to pray every week for various things, but always seeks God's guidance and leadership over us. And there are times when I see a situation and I pray real hard and I don't see God moving and I look to the sky and ask, "Where are you? Creator of the universe, who can make all things happen and controls the movement of every star, why aren't you moving in THIS situatio...