Rescue Breath

I am so thankful for life. For love. For light. For hope. For breath in my lungs. 

Yes, even in these times I will say, “Great are you Lord!!” 

Praises from this week (This isn’t even close to all of them, but some highlights!):

-Ash and I had video calls with Andrew, Tabitha, and Chris & Darla!  It was so great catching up with some of S Squad and our beloved coaches.

-I was able to video call my mom for her birthday 🙂

-We were “checked in” upon by many members of the Hope family & friends (at least daily by one of them) and our communication ranged from video calls, voice calls, to sweet messages and emails.  We appreciate each and every one of you!!

-Our sweet caretaker and friend got us two jugs of water…no motos to take her, so she walked up to the store TWICE and carried these 20L jugs back.   

-Our gas ran out for cooking, but neighbors helped put the new tank on.

– Lunch was prepared for us twice this week by our sweet friends still living here at Hope.  We were able to bless them with fruit!

-We did “sports” with the ladies…aka walking in circles in the courtyard, skipping, piggyback rides… you know, grown up things 😉

-We’ve sat outside in the sunshine.

-I helped with some trimming of shrubs and landscaping!! And was loved upon lavishly while doing so…I got a hair wrap so nothing from the tree would fall into my hair. 

-We’ve laughed a lot.  Had deep conversations. And have spent so much time in the word, just soaking up God’s goodness.

-I’ve listened as Ash strums on the guitar…which sometimes leads to worship:)

-We finally ventured out of the house…the first time in over 6 days.  Everything was dead, but the ladies at the market were alive.  They were so kind, so loving, and we got to bless them by buying some of their produce!  We then went and got some more rice, hot sauce and toilet paper (ahah yes, we need it)…and low and behold there were tortilla chips!!  Guacamole will be happening in the near future!  As we left, the ladies from the market were smiling and waving to us as we spread the joy right back.

-The newsletter we’ve been working on for Hope Rwanda is ALMOST finished!  We had a very productive week.

-Nightly “Kelly and Asha” style prayers with God.

The other night we were sitting in the living room.  We were winding down for the night and getting ready for our nightly Kelly, Asha, and God prayer time.  As we started praying, the curtains were blowing out, and then they would be sucked in.  They kept doing this. 

Immediately, God gave me this beautiful picture of breath.  It was literally like our lungs, breathing in and out.  How often do we take breath and life for granted? COVID-19 had been a wakeup call for people…just how precious is life!?!  But God kept revealing more!  …How God breathed life into Adam… how the WORD is alive and active…how we are supposed to be ALIVE AND ACTIVE as well…dem dry bones need to come alive!  This virus is literally attacking the respiratory system…instilling fear…trying to rob us of breath/life physically and spiritually (satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy…aka take our breath away).  Put your trust in the one who puts breath into our lungs…gives us life…and rescues us!     

On March 21^st, the government implemented measures for an initial period of two weeks to limit the spread of COVID-19.  Non-essential movements and travel between cities are prohibited, and non -essential business are closed.  We now have 54 cases (as of 3/27), almost all from people who traveled abroad and entered back into Rwanda.  These measures aren’t sustainable for this country.  People don’t have work and those that live day to day by selling items are hurting.  People are starting to go hungry.  They can’t afford their HIV medications or are taking their medications without food, which is wrecking their bodies.  They don’t have unemployment here and all the plethora of programs we have set up in America to help in times of need.  The men who just graduated from Hope Home are especially struggling, as most of them were homeless before they were sent to Iwawa and joined Hope.  They just left the home to “new” homes… and now they are having trouble providing for themselves. 

***We need prayer warriors, intercessors, and the church right now!***

Hope has been trying to get permission to hand out food.  The higher up officials have denied us the right to do so, but have encouraged us to seek out the sector and cell leaders (similar to a township supervisor).  It’s also a super tricky situation with all the rules in place right now.  The men’s home (and most of the men served) are in Gahanga, outside of the limit of our ability to travel.  We are trying to come up with creative ways to reach our people.  Hope House (where I am living) looks like it might be a viable option for food distribution in this area, but again we need approval first.  So, right now please be praying that we would be allowed to hand out food temporarily during this time of need and that when that gets approved, that all the inner workings of “how” it all will work will come into alignment.      

As plans move forward, I’ll keep you all updated… and in the meantime… tell your dry bones to come alive. Help a neighbor.  Show kindness. Keep singing praises.  Spread light. Be a rescue breath to someone…Give life!