As we are here in the dry season it appears that water does not run very frequently- at least not frequently enough for a home of six people (4 of them being Americans who are used to having easy access to water)! We ran out of water again on Sunday morning (“ugh!” was my reaction). I have been hoping & praying & waiting, thinking that the water would run again to our water tank on Tuesday night, like it did last week. But there again I was using a “western” mindset- that things should run on a regular schedule. Someone from the water/electric company stopped by our place on Monday and said they would make sure we had water on Monday night or Tuesday, but here we are on Wednesday morning and no water. Living without running water is very challenging for me, and certainly extra work. Again, we do not have it as hard as much of the population here. We took our jerri cans yesterday to the public pump and filled them with water for our household use. But we did not have to hand carry them back to our place (or carry them on our head!) as most people have to, since we have a vehicle. Mike even got into the experience by working the pump to fill some of the cans (I will try to post a picture here). Is God trying to make it easier for me to be ready to go back to the US? (“I want a shower! Washing my hair in a pot of warm water is not a treat!”) 🙂 I don’t know- but I would certainly appreciate your prayers for our water tank to be filled soon!
We got a CD with illustrations of how the architect sees the development of our property looking once all the buildings are in place. We can’t wait to show you these at our banquet. Please save the date on your calendar for that night (September 27th at the Hilton in Vancouver, Washington). We will have our Rwanda national director, Simon Peter Ngoga, with us to share his story of being a genocide survivor, a former street child, and now his passion for helping the children who are still on the streets in Rwanda.
We have found an office space to rent that is not far from our property. This will enable us to set up the neccessary office equipment (computer, printer, etc.) that Ngoga will need to use here, as well as enable our family to not have to haul back and forth between the US & Rwanda things that we need while we stay here.
Please continue to pray for the progress of Ten Talents International here in Rwanda. We have not been able to do the needed paperwork to get registered here because we are waiting on God’s provision for the required funds (a lawyer has to be paid to draw up the papers). We are also waiting on the Lord for the funds to begin phase 1 of building on the Acres of Hope, including putting in a well there. What a blessing it will be for the people of the community to have easier access to fresh water. Last year at our banquet our theme was from Isaiah 49:10, “They will neither hunger nor thrist, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.” We believe this promise of God’s protection and provision for the Acres of Hope as well as for us personally!
Thank you to so many of you who are believing with us, keeping us in your prayers, and sharing our heart’s calling with us. We are indebted to you!
God Bless You,
Lisa & family
