Hope

Since my last post 3 months ago (wow, it just doesn't seem like June was that long ago) God has really been showing me the true definition of HOPE.

Over the last three months I have seen a hopeless situation with a friends adoption turn to a celebration of a soon to be home coming with his forever family. I have seen the Anglican Catering School in Rwanda in need of many supplies to get up to standard  and have funds my parents had marked for another mission project become available to meet the wish list and then some. The matching fund check from the Gap that should have arrived months ago that was ear marked for supplies for the sewing school finally arrived. I have seen dear friends who should have been curled up in a ball for months based on the situations in their personal lives come out fighting with the confidence and courage that only comes from God.

These situations give me hope because God hasn't promised us life would be easy, He promised He would be with us always regardless of what we are going through. The other day, I was doing a word study on Hope and the blue letter bible 3176 word for hope drew me in. As you know, in Hebrew there are many meanings of a word. Hope has multiple meanings in the various contexts it is used. I looked up the verses whose definition matched the 3176.

Micah 7:7 drew me in and I looked it up in the NIV, NASB and NLV and was amazed at what I gathered. Hope means:

• watching for God

• waiting for God

• looking to God

• waiting confidently

• knowing God hears me

• knowing I will be saved

• watching expectantly

Hope is an action. It is a constant activity. It is state of mind that is constantly watching, waiting, looking, expecting that God will answer. How often I asked myself do I lose heart when my timing isn't matching God's in a specific situation? 

The jar pictured above is a blessing jar created for my Yada Yada girls. We each have our own but I made one for our collective group to be a reminder of God's goodness to us! God brought us together a year ago and we are all amazed how He has melded our hearts together. God knew we would need each other this year and through all of the ups and downs God continues to show us blessings in the midst of the downs and what it truly means to have hope.


"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." Micah 7:7

Inspiration from Re:New

A week ago I was in Wheaton, Illinois enjoying some time with my best friend before I headed to the wedding of one of the precious women I was blessed to mentor while she was at PBA.


My best friend Viv, told me about a shop called Re:New that was created for refugee women who had been placed by World Relief in Dupage County. I was excited to visit to see what types of bags and other items they were making. http://www.renewproject.org/story/


Adding 11 students to the scholarship program per my last post was exciting but it also meant that additional funds were needed. Ensuring we had funds once we figured out the plan for the widows was weighing on my heart. Knowing God would provide I was waiting with expectancy on ways that would happen.


Walking into the Re:New shop I was overwhelmed at the beauty and simplicity of the products the women were sewing. I asked the volunteer which bags were most popular and bought them to send as possible projects for the Vocational School. Knowing many have loved the handbag I brought back from Rwanda, I know there would interest in the other designs if they were available.

Cyrus will be taking the samples with him June 17th to share with the vocational school. I am hoping these designs will be something the sewing instructors embrace and find inspiration.


More to come... stay tuned.

God's Ways Are Higher Than Our Ways

Catering School Students

From left to right (in picture):  Zihinjishi Valentine,   Karegeya Fabrice(male),  Uwimana Epiphanie, Uwantege Laurence,  Mutezinka Eugenie, Rarubi Celine,  Nyiraminani Valerie,  Mukamugema Donatienne,Uwimana Josianne,  Musabyimana Adeline, Umutoni Fancoise.

Much work has been happening behind the scenes since my last post. Many have been praying for the scholarship recipients along with wisdom for the Pastor to determine the best path for those who were unable to go to school but desired to raise animals.

God continues to show me patience is required and although the need is great, His thoughts and His ways are always best. I am so thankful that the Pastor of the Blessed Mango Tree has demonstrated diligence and thoughtfulness to determine the best plan for these women. As he has continued to work with the women on next steps God is showing us a need to wait. 

Why wait? As you can imagine, the animals would be highly desirable and many others would want them as well. Safety and security for the family and animals are required so it will take time to finalize the plan.

For those attending school they still need to earn an income so we are working through how they can do both.  The good news is the women feel loved, cared for and not forgotten. They know when it is worked out it will be the right time and they are grateful for our love and concern.

While we have been working through this, an immediate need has come to the Pastor. 10 women have just been rescued from being trafficked and they desire to go to school to start their new lives! So, these 10 women will take the funding we have had on standby and start Catering School immediately. In addition, the pastor has found a young man who is an orphan of the genocide who desires to go to Catering School so he will be joining the 10 women.

11 precious lives forever changed through your prayers and purchases of the handbags.

How You Can Help 

• Pray for the students that they would do well in school and would continue to be healed and restored, as they have been set free from captivity.
• Pray for wisdom regarding the widows as it relates to how we can support them while they go to school and/or keep them and the animals they desire to raise safe.
•  Continued provision as it relates to donations to ensure we can meet the needs of these widows as the plan unfolds.

More to come on the 11 students in school as Cyrus will be back in Kigali June 17th so his first hand report will be coming shortly.

Ordinary Turns Extraordinary

I am blessed to work for an employer who believes in giving back to the community and has a very generous gift match program. I have always taken advantage of my Gap Match and believed I had maxed it as we can do a lot through payroll deduction.

While printing out info for my taxes, I decided to see if WorldHelp was a 501c3 as Gap does not support religious organizations unless than have a sector devoted to social responsibility. I was overjoyed when I saw that WorldHelp came up as an organization that qualified for Gap, Inc. Then my heart sank as putting my donations through WorldHelp would mean removing that match from other organizations. For some reason a link I don’t remember seeing caught my eye and I discovered I actually had close to $2500 more available for me to have matched. I read the fine print and it said it could not be used for education but otherwise as long as the donation was made within 3 months of the match request I was good.

Remember back to the earlier post on my Audacious Prayer? Yep, the one where I wrote the check and emptied my emergency fund? Remember part of my audacious prayer was to have $1000 to put toward the school so they could have supplies to make bags ahead of time and not be dependent on the order?

I just filled out a one page form and very soon, Gap, Inc will be giving a check to WorldHelp for about $2500 that Cyrus will give direction to the school to buy fabric to get orders made in advance and use the balance for bicycles or additional sewing equipment for the school.

God took what I thought was the answer to the audacious request and showed me through an every day act of printing out a tax receipt what audacious answer to prayer looked like

Obedience brings unexpected blessings. May we have the courage to be obedient no matter the cost as we have know idea how God will use that obedience to bring blessings.

Do What You Can Do - Part 2

Scholarship Fund Selection Process
As I shared in earlier posts, Pastor Nathan and his assistant let it be known there was a scholarship fund and women were interested in applying to set up a meeting. Thirteen women were ultimately vetted as those Pastor Nathan believed had potential. Pastor Nathan is a godly man who has since been promoted to Bishop of another area but he is invested in the lives of these women along with a boarding school called Star School that he remains connected.


Meeting the Recipients
Cyrus was in Rwanda a few weeks ago and was able to meet with 9 of the women who were ready to move forward with the scholarship fund. As I shared in the last post, it has been determined that although there is a willingness and a desire, some of the women do not have enough schooling. Our focus will be on helping them find a sustainable means of income to meet their current needs.

One of the women who will be attending school was sharing issues with her eyesight so part of the funds will be used to get her to an eye doctor and get glasses. I am committed to each of these women having what they need to succeed using their country to supply the resources to allow the right economic cycle.

Below is Cyrus's report along with the pictures of each of these precious women. I was reminded as I was doing my memory work in James 2 today when James says " Did not the Lord God choose the poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom he promises to those who love him?". These women are indeed rich in ways we will never be. I pray that as we love on them through prayer and gifts that we too will gain faith in what God can do when we trust him to "do what we can do". In God's economy I continue to see it is not the economy of this world. Just as he took 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed over 5000 people, he can take our funds to achieve far beyond what we could hope or expect for these women and their children.

I encourage you to print this out and put it in your prayer journal, mirror or wherever that you can lift these women up in prayer. As you can see school doesn't always solve their concerns, some comment below that they still have to figure out how to make money while going to school or to cover an emergency. I know our God is the great provider and I encourage you to pray in anticipation of how He will provide for the needs of these women.

Profiles of the women from the BMTC (Blessed Mango Tree Church)


Rachel Uwamahoro


Rachel is 25 years old. She is married and has a 5 year-old son. Her husband is an auto-mechanic. He is not saved and is very abusive. The money that he earns is always spent on alcohol and Rachel does not get to see any of it. She struggles to support herself as well as her son. Rachel has finished HS but was never able to go to college because of the lack of funding. She got married very young because her parents have been killed during the genocide. The only way she knew to receive any type o support was to get married. Her desire is to go to college to study management. She is willing to enroll in the vocational school in order to learn a trade.


Dorcella Mukandamge

Dorcella was born in 1975. She had 7 children but has lost 2 children from illness because she could not afford the medical treatment for them. She now has 5 children alive (2 boys and 3 girls). The oldest child is 12 years old and the youngest is 3 years-old. Dorcella would like to enroll in the tailoring at the Anglican vocational school. Her challenge is to find a way to support her family while in school.

Veranda Mukagatare

Veranda is 48 years old. She is a widow and does odd jobs in and near town in order to support her family. She also works for a coffee manufacturing plant. Some days she is hired other days she is not. This job is unreliable. She would like to find something that is reliable in order to me her parental obligations. Her desire is to have a livestock pan so that she can raise rabbits.

Goretti Hategekimana


Goretti is a 32 year old mother of 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls. She never went to school and because of the lack of education; it is extremely difficult for her to get a decent paying job. She has been widow for a year and half. She own a small property that she wants to put to good use. She wants to raise some produce.

Juliette Nyirandikubwimana

Juliette’s main challenge is housing as well as the school tuition for the vocational school. She enjoys learning how to sew, but cannot afford to be in school and earn money at the same time to support her children.


Matilda Nyirahabineza

Matilda is a 25 year old mother of 2 children. She has been a faithful member of the BMTC. Her husband is uneducated and works odd jobs. There are times that he can get jobs; other times he can’t find any job which makes it very difficult to support the family. It is her desire to enter the vocational school at the Anglican Church.


Jacqueline Mukantwari


Jacqueline is a 32 year-old mother of 5 children. Her first born died because of the lack of funds to pay for medical services. Her husband has abandoned her with 5 children, and it has been extremely difficult making hands meet. As she was sharing with, she was sobbing uncontrollably. She explained that every month it is the same struggle, just making the payment of the rent and at times her children go without food. She has to rely on the good will of neighbors. Jacqueline noted that she too has never attended school. As much as she wants to attend the vocational school, she can’t read or write. Her hope is that, through the BMTC she will be able to get a reliable source of income to be able to support her 5 young children. When the children get sick, she cannot even afford to take them to the doctor. That is why 2 of her children have died.
She sells fire woods and does odd jobs to earn money to support her family. She would like to be able to someday go to school even as an adult to be able to read and write. She hopes to raise livestock.

Diane Mujawamariya



Diane is a 33 years-old widow and mother of 2 boys. Her desire is to get into the catering school at the Anglican Church. While attending school, she would like raise some goats in case of an emergency while she is in school.

Alianne Umurerwa


Alianne is a 22 year-old orphan and mother of one year old Esther. She has completed 6th grade. She could not go further in school because she had no one to pay for her school fees. That is why she got married very young in the hope of having someone to support her. She wants to be enrolled in the tailoring program at the Anglican Church in order to earn a stable income. She too has been attending the BMTC since this church has been established.

Hope Awakens

God continues to blow me away how He has taken my purchase of 100 bags to start a scholarship fund to now, four months later having faces of the precious women selected for the scholarship funds on the pages of this blog!

Faithful Friend


I am forever grateful to Cyrus Mad-Bondo the Director of Africa for World Help for many reasons.
1. He was willing to haul 100 bags through Rwanda and Uganda and clear customs with them and send them to me in Florida.
2. He met with the 9 women we have scholarship money for to record their stories and pictures so we could put names and faces to our prayers.
3. He knew my heart was to help these women earn a living so he has been diligent in finding alternatives for the women who due to lack of education did not qualify to go to vocational school. He is resilient!


Hope Awakens
God has created us to have hope. For those who know Christ we have an eternal hope which is a promise. While on earth, those of us in the United States for the most part have grown up with hopes and dreams of having a good life. We envision living in a house, driving a nice car, having a family, and taking vacations.

For the women of the Blessed Mango Tree Church, outside of their hope in Christ, their one hope is to provide for their family each day. As I read the stories Cyrus recorded from the 9 women, I am humbled. The women asked Cyrus why there was interest in them? They shared others had come before and promised to help, took down their stories but never heard from them again.

Cyrus shared there were people in the United States that cared for them and wanted to help them have a better life; people committed to helping them. I was saddened to learn many of the women that had been approved by Pastor Nathan and his assistant were not eligible for the school because they could not read. Before I could respond to that, Cyrus shared he was working on options to use the scholarship money earmarked for them ($700 a woman) to help them provide for their family - for most it looks like live stock.

I was thrilled that Cyrus had already moved to the solution phase for the women unable to go to school. Vocational school is a great opportunity but the purpose of the scholarship was to give the women a skill so they could earn an income to provide for their family. I am excited we can still help these women have a way to support their family and it is my hope we will continue to raise money to allow these women the opportunity if they desire, to get an education so they can read.

Some of the women who qualified for school asked if it would be okay if they wanted to study something other than sewing. I was thrilled to know that hope was coming alive – they were able to see the dreams that they had stuffed deep down inside could come out and be a reality!

Helping
How you can help these women and the other women who have been approved for scholarships? You can provide a donation in exchange for a bag that was made by the women at the Anglican Vocational School. 100% of what you donate goes to the scholarship fund. A minimum of $20 donation is requested per bag.

If you would just like to make a donation, you can send it directly to World Help at the following address:
World Help
Attn Cyrus Mad-Bondo
PO Box 501
Forest Hill, VA 24551
Note on your check – Blessed Mango Tree Scholarship Fund


How to get your bag (s)
If you are local, I will bring them to wherever you are as well as I well have a basket of them at church. If you would like me to mail them to you, please send me an email. Each bag has a hangtag explaining the hope each donation brings to the Women of the Blessed Mango Tree Church.

Bag Patterns
There are 5 patterns and all have the zipper closure and two side pockets. They patterns are pictured below.



Do What You Can Do
I reflect back on what the Bishop of Rwanda said, “Do what you can do”. I had no idea when I felt God saying buy 100 bags that today there would be 9 women who would have hope awaken and see what was once a dream become a reality. They know they are not forgotten, that God is watching over them and is using the love of people on the other side of the world to encourage them.

There are still 4 more women we desire to get started, we have the funds for two and need the funds for two more. It is also my desire to give the Vocational School Seed money so they can have bags made up in advance. That means we have at least $2500 to raise as well . We will need additional funds if we hope to help those who did not have appropriate education have the opportunity to go back to school as time allows.

James 1:27 – True religion that God our Father says is pure and faultless is this – take care of the widows and orphans in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
.

Sometimes Your Audacious Prayer Requires an Audacious Response

First let me say, to all who are reading this blog I trust that the lesson’s God is teaching me give you courage and faith as you grow in your relationship with God. This blog is for no other purpose than to share the stories God keeps writing in my life. As you have come to see, although many think I have it "together" I really don't. Praying you are encouraged and inspired to do audacious things in response.

I like to say I am not always the quickest to learn things but when I get it, I get it. Well, this Audacious Prayer thing is one of those examples. Most of you probably already “got it” when you read my prior blog post but alas, it took God two more days of work to help me “get it”.

As I was writing the post and talking about my emergency fund, I heard God saying, do you have to have an emergency fund? I even wrote that the people of Rwanda don’t have funds but some how I was able to keep writing and not “get it.”

God Speaks
Today as I was walking to the post office to mail things for work, I thought it would be a great time to pray my audacious prayers. For those who know me well, you know being still is not a quality I possess. My best praying occurs while swimming laps, riding my bike and walking outside. As I was asking God to provide a way for the remaining 9 ladies to go to school I heard him say, “why not use your emergency fund? “Hmmm, I said back “if I do that God, how can you answer my audacious prayer”, this seems like an anti climatic answer I thought to use money already available to answer most of the prayer request.

I told God I would percolate on that the rest of the day as I was thinking the answer should be BIG and I didn't want to get in the way of how He would want to answer this prayer. Tonight I was finishing up my James week 2, day 3 lesson and God just pulled it off the page for me. I do my lessons in the morning but this morning I decided to spend more time on my memorization and only got through half of day 3 before work.

The Word of God Speaks
Beth Moore was having us compare James 1:11 with Luke 12:15 -21. I just heard God say, why are you so foolish, it is all mine, and why are you storing up money that I have given you for your own emergency when there is an emergency situation that you can help? I heard God so clearly say “the audacious prayer is not funding for 9 women to go to school, the real audacious prayer– “God give the courage to trust you knowing that the year has started and the fund is depleted. Give me confidence in knowing you will provide everything I need this year.”

The last verse I was working tonight was James 1:11 “blessed is the one who perseveres under trials and passes the test, that person will receive the crown of life that God promises to those who love him”. I couldn’t help but think of those precious women at the Blessed Mango Tree Church. I have persevered so little compared to them. James calls these women “believers in humble circumstances” and they are to take pride in their high position. I don’t even know these women but they have taught me so much. They are to be lifted up and ensuring they can support their family is one way of doing that.

The Real Audacious Prayer
God give me the courage to be obedient no matter the cost.


Scholarship Fund - Call to Obedience
Check in the mail tomorrow to World Help that will now secure 7 of the 9 scholarships. If anyone else feels God is leading you to say, let's get these women through school we need another $1400!

If you are in, send your check to:
World Help
Attention: Cyrus Mad-Bondo
PO Box 501, Forest, VA 24551

Please write on the memo line: Vocational School Scholarship

My prayer for you is that you will step out in faith and do what God has put in your heart and trust that He will make a way.

DO IT LORD!

Big Hairy Audacious Prayer

This past Sunday Pastor John (I keep telling him he has to stop being so direct in his preaching of God’s word as I can’t take so much conviction! For those not faint at heart if you live in WPB, Sunday’s at 9, 10:30, 12:12 and 7 pm, you are welcome to join us.) He was teaching about praying big Audacious prayers. It was the last message in the series of Chasing Giants. Using Joshua as an example, he reminded us that Joshua was obedient in doing crazy things like telling the priests to step into the mile wide Jordan in flood stage and have the rest of the Israelites follow as they stood in the middle and marching around Jericho for 7 days that seemed a little strange. He did all this without blinking because he knew his God was AUDACIOUS doing things that he could never have believed or imagined..

Many of us have read Ken Blanchard’s books and one talks about BHAG. So as I was listening I wrote down “what are my big, hairy, audacious prayers (vs goals)” that I need believe that God will do and/or answer?

My Big Hairy Audacious Prayers
Below is what I put down although I was feeling like a loser because I was still not trusting God to be BIG ENOUGH:
1. Provide $6300 to cover the 9 scholarships even though the bags will only bring in $2400.
2. Provide $1000 of seed money to give the school so they could make bags in advance to have inventory so they could sell locally to visitors.

Cyrus called after church to confirm the Western Union Money Transfer for the bags. He asked me to pray about a new need that had been brought to his attention when he arrived in Rwanda. This is where it gets pretty audacious - I am way out of my league.

The Really Big, Bold, Audacious Prayer
Due to lack of feminine hygiene products, girls are missing too many days of school each month and are getting kicked out. Precious girls desiring to learn that are being denied their education because of their monthly flow because there is no good alternative. For the women reading I know we can all identify; imagine trying to figure out another solution that is practical, while wearing a school issued uniform that will keep them from being teased by the boys… next to impossible! These young women need products so they can stay in school - provide a way God!

Cyrus asked me to pray about this so I have said, “God you see my first two requests but this one is so AUDACIOUS. This one is bigger than Rwanda it is all of Africa! I am saying God, you figure it out. I am ready and willing to do what you tell me to do. First thing God said was “get your Audacious prayers in the blog so others can pray with you and I can start answering these prayers through you and others.”

Believe God will Give Wisdom
I am memorizing James with my Bible Study Girls as we took the Beth Moore Challenge in her “James –Mercy Triumphs” Study. Last night I was working James 1:1-8. I was hit hard as I worked “but when you ask for wisdom you must believe and not doubt….. (The one who doubts) should not expect to receive any good thing from the Lord. Such a person is double- minded and unstable in all they do.”

When I am praying audacious prayers I am also asking for wisdom and direction. Coming boldly before him I must BELIEVE He will give wisdom. He will provide a way if it is His will. The thought of being seen as double-minded and unstable puts me over the edge, not two words I want associated with my name.

Confident in God’s economy none of these prayers are audacious to him but I come before him saying “I BELIEVE He will give wisdom generously to me”. “DO IT LORD”!


Stay tuned and join me in praying AUDACIOUS prayers!

Lesson 10 from Rwanda – Giving without Sacrifice is Meaningless

The Sunday Pastor John was so kind to let me display my bags for donations, he spoke about sacrificial giving (week 2 Advent Conspiracy). The message was something like, if it doesn't hurt or cost you much, it isn't a sacrifice.I felt God saying, "all the money you receive for the bags is to go to the scholarship, you are not to take out what the bags cost you. What kind of sacrifice are you making in this endeavor if you recover your cost?" We are called to give sacrificially and God was making it clear I had some sacrifices that needed to be made.

Right before Christmas, I took my car in for service. My emergency fund for the year had almost been depleted and the decision to not to replenish the $1000 for the bags kept it next to nothing. Sure enough this was the service appointment that all 4 of my tires needed to be replaced along with 2 of my timing belts. Wow. As I paid that bill, the emergency fund and then some… gone. I had a few moments wishing I could take back my decision about not replenishing my fund for the cost of the bags. God continued to message He was big enough and would work it all out. God reminded me that those in Rwanda don't have an "emergency fund" so what was my issue.

Later that same day, I was given an unexpected check that allowed me to not only deal with the “and then some” from my car service, but it allowed me to fully replenish my emergency fund. Once again God showed His provision and His commitment to the Isaiah 58 project. Oh how I would have grieved if I had received that gift and had chosen prior to replenish my fund vs sacrifice the initial $1000 cost for the bags.

The story gets even better if you can believe it! Cyrus (World Help Director Africa) told me each scholarship was $700. I checked the “Rwanda Isaiah 58 fund” I had set up and I only had $2400 vs. the $2800 needed. I told him I would send the $2800 and that $400 would come from somewhere. I asked him to purchase another 100 bags for me on his upcoming trip end of January. I was getting ready to transfer money out of the emergency fund to cover the bags when I opened my mail to see an insurance credit for some dental work in the figure of $1491 – the amount of money I needed to transfer for the bags and cover the $400 needed for the scholarships.

God’s provision continues to amaze me. Even after years of seeing his faithfulness to me I am still in awe. My lesson is not a new one, and I don’t share this story for any other reason than to encourage you to trust that your Jehovah Jireh – your provider will provide. In God’s economy it may not always be financial, but the one thing I know for sure, when we are obedient, we receive blessings that ultimately allow others to be blessed in the name of Jesus.

Isaiah 58 Scholarship Fund
Pastor Nathan identified 13 women in his congregation he supports for the scholarship fund. He and his assistant took the time to interview each woman who was interested in the scholarship. I am excited that 4 women are now starting vocational school. Cyrus will be sending pictures so stay tuned for future posts. The sad note - there are 9 women still needing scholarships. I have been wrestling with this knowing the 100 bags that Cyrus will bring back mid February will take care of 4 more scholarships but that will still leave 5 women. Not liking this at all; my heart is breaking. God is breaking it because He has made it clear I have a lot to learn in trusting Him to provide beyond my wildest imagination.

More about this in the next post.

Reflections and Lessons from Grandma

Today, after 93 ½ years of living and 76 1/2 years of marriage, Jesus decided today was Grace Meeder Beaumont's last day on earth. Although tears flow as I write this, inside my heart is so happy that she is finally with Jesus, a place she has longed to be for a while now. What better gift could a granddaughter have to know her grandma is with Jesus?

God blessed my mom with quick thinking on New Years Day that saved my grandma’s life when she performed the Heimlich on her when a piece of chicken got stuck in her throat. My mom thought she had failed and that my grandma had already gone to see Jesus when an EMT came out from the kitchen of Wendy’s and gave her additional instructions that caused the piece to come out just as the paramedics arrived. My mom remembers saying “Oh God” when she thought after 5 attempts that grandma was gone and that was the moment the EMT arrived. No chance occurrence in God’s economy. (Also thankful for a quick thinking dad getting 911 and moving my grandpa so my mom could get to my grandma). God prolonged her life for an additional week, for reasons we may or may not ever know. I am sure there will be someone in heaven because of the testimony that occurred this last week of her life and what a joy that will be.

The picture in this post is from November. My grandparents ate at Wendy’s every day and the staff loves them so much they have made a reserved sign for their special table.

I consider myself so blessed to have forty some years of memories of my grandma, to have felt her love, prayer and encouragement for all those years. I was blessed to have just spent Christmas with both my grandparents and parents watching grandma my last night enjoy “dinner” of the cut out Christmas cookies I made along with ice cream. I am confident they truly are her favorite cookie, but sometimes it is hard to tell as Grandma always loved everything I made because she loved me! I am thankful for such a good last memory of our dinner in which she insisted we get out holiday napkins and place mats so we ate in style.

About 7 years ago I came across a journal in the bookstore titled A Mother’s Legacy. I bought one for my grandma, mom and sister to fill out. We are always so busy doing life we never have time to document our stories for future generations. I was reading her journal again tonight and I thought I would pull from it to share some “lessons” in addition to other words of wisdom she gave over the years. One of the things she noted in the journal was her wish that she would die before grandpa, as she couldn’t imagine living without him; God chose to honor her request.

I would encourage you to a journal together if you are a parent, grandparent or give one to your parents/grandparents so you have this treasure of information. You can find the journal on all the major book sites and it is around $10.

Lessons Learned
1. Thank you notes are a must. – Grandma lost her mother at age 13 and the aunts who were in charge of teaching her etiquette instilled the art of thank you notes. Even this past Christmas, my grandma had the list of all the gift givers and gifts and had her thank you note out the week of Christmas.

2. When you leave the house dress for success - even at the age of 93, grandma ensured when she left the house she had her make up on, her hair looking good and her outfit coordinated. Even on Election Day, she said she needed to look good to go vote. She would always remind me wearing sweats outside of the house was not the way to make a good impression.

3.A slip is a must when wearing a dress/skirt - modesty is always in style and there was never a day, even with her severe osteoporosis that she would think of going out without her slip. It might have required adjustments based on how she hunched, but the slip was non negotiable.

4. Good things are worth the wait. Growing up we lived about 3-½ hrs from my grandparents. I always hated to leave and the tears would flow so grandma started making what she called “Thruway boxes”. In New York, the main road is the Thruway. We had at least 30 minutes to the Thruway from grandma’s house so we were given our shoeboxes full of goodies and treasures but couldn’t open them until we got on the Thruway. The box was always worth the wait.

5. When you can’t sleep – pray. Grandma was a prayer warrior. One that I took great comfort in as when she couldn’t sleep at night she would get up and pray for her family, her version of counting her sheep.

6. Always remember the truth – Jesus loves you! In the journal she recalled one night she came home from school and her parents and sisters hadn’t returned. It was getting dark and she started singing “Jesus loves me” she continued singing until they came home. She noted in the journal “at the age of 86 he is still with me today”.

7. Be willing to work hard for what you want. Grandpa proposed to grandma when she was 16 and he was 19. Her father said she must finish high school before she could marry. So in her senior year she added a class before school and one after school so she could graduate a year early and get married. She was married a month after she graduated at 17 years of age.

8. Saving is a way of life. My grandfather always said he made half the money and my grandma saved the other half!

9. Always set a nice table. Regardless of who is eating and what type of meal, make your guests feel special.

10. Together we achieve more. One vacation I came across an embroidery sampler that wasn’t finished. I asked if I could finish what she started as she was no longer embroidering. Our masterpiece is now displayed in their living room. I love to visit and see our handiwork.


Guiding Light
The journal asks what scriptures/books you turn to for inspiration or guidance. Grandma’s inspiration:

Matthew 5:6: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Matthew 6:33-34: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow has enough worry of its own.

Matthew 7:7: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:13-14: Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.


Celebrating her life
Today I took my favorite bike route along the ocean to take time to reflect my memories of grandma and celebrate her life. I always default to Steven Curtis Chapman when I am in need of a boost and one of the songs that played on my iPod was “Last Day on Earth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGCF9nJZt5Mt it was a reminder to me that I have accountability for each day that God gives me, what will I do with them? What have I still to do? What do I need to edit out to make room for what I am still to do? Those are questions I am wrestling now as I know Grandma would want me too and she will continue to cheer me on in heaven.

I know for sure when grandma saw Jesus today he said “Well done.”

Lesson 8 -It's Not About Us

This post is the toughest to write. I have been wrestling with this since my return. I thought I was crazy and my concerns misplaced, but as I was catching up with Pastor John about my trip, I shared these thoughts and he told me I wasn’t alone. In fact the Outreach and Missions leadership at Christ Fellowship was reevaluating our approach to missions based on some of these same concerns.

This is tough to write because it sheds light on opportunities on my trip as well as on past trips I have gone on. It is my personal challenge to all who have and will go on mission trips to think differently. The Bishop of Rwanda said it best when he spoke about Rwanda’s approach to the judicial system as it related to trying those who killed during the genocide “we hold ourselves to western standards but western standards aren’t always needed.”

Most Americans including myself possess an arrogance when going on mission trips that although we are going to serve, we are “one hit wonders” going to save and make the lives better of all those we come in contact. They are “blessed to have us” and all the treasures we bring. When traveling you can usually spot Americans because we are loud, obnoxious and demanding. We don’t take the approach of observing the locals and do what they do. We don’t settle into the landscape of the country we are in.

During the trip and post trip I continued to be disturbed at some of our actions as it related to giving out gifts to the children. In America we wouldn’t go out on a street and start handing out candy and gifts without some type of announcement or partnership with a group. For goodness sakes, on Halloween we won’t even let our kids eat candy until an adult has scanned it all and thrown away anything questionable. Interesting that we think it is okay to go into another country, unable to speak their language and directly start handing gifts to children without partnering with parents/adults to get permission or introduce ourselves first.

We all love to treat kids to candy as it is a delight for them, but again at home we limit the sugar intake of our kids as we want their teeth to remain healthy, yet here we are in a 3rd world country where dentists are few, and we are lavishing the candy. Wondering wouldn’t it be a better option to buy healthy snacks bought in their country that would provide nutrition while stimulating their economy through increasing sales at local stores.

Empowering Locals
Why wouldn’t we want to meet with the leader of the town, church or the mission we are working with and tell them what we have brought and ask them if they would like any of the items and if so how they would want to manage them? Why wouldn’t we let them in their time, in their way distribute the items. Let them be in charge – it is their country, their culture. We are there to cheer them on, not to be the center stage. Better yet, why wouldn’t we bring money and buy the things locally the leaders are asking for to again stimulate the economy and support local merchants vs. haul things from the US.

If we really want to be planful, we would ask the group we are partnering with what the greatest need is and raise money so we could provide and meet the need locally. Pastor John and I were talking about the shoe drive we did for Haiti, I remember the women who had gone on the first trip said “get flip flops not shoes as all the girls want flip flops.” While that made sense, most of us still bought shoes, as we wanted them to have something nice. Well a year later, Pastor John has confirmed most of the shoes are still in storage at the orphanage as the kids want flip flop as they are practical and are easier to clean the mud off.

For those planning future trips, fast forward this concept - raise money for shoes if that is a need, take it to the group you are working with and go to the local store and buy locally what the children need. What a win for the local merchants and the ministry gets what they need. That is truly helping. Now in some cases they don’t have the items needed but we should first ask what the need is and can it be purchased locally. That is demonstrating the love of Christ in action.

Reflecting on candy wrappers, bloody noses, crying children because someone bigger took their stuff and broken crayons littered, I wonder did we leave the place better than we found it? I say this not just for this trip but for the many I have been on. We need to do a check of our motives to ensure that our actions are supporting the local leadership. We must decrease and they must increase.

Leaving Things Better than We Found Them
This past Sunday Pastor Tom had a great message on the right priorities for 2012. Encourage you to take a moment and watch. The concepts aren’t new but they are powerful reminders of how we are to live. www.gochristfellowship.com Click on latest message "Living a Life that Excels" on the right hand side of the home page.

This message is a call to action for all those who are preparing to go on mission trips. This is not meant to be a downer about this past trip but it is an opportunity for all who have been on trips to reflect on these thoughts. I believe this is one of the lessons God wanted me to learn and to share. We must shift our focus on why we go on mission trips. We need to ask ourselves – why are we going, what are we able to do to support the locals that the locals could not do without us. We need to ensure our actions support the local economy and we are enhancing their lives. It is a tough pill to swallow but maybe us raising money and sending it versus going on the trip is really what they need. I know I want to go back to Rwanda but I must balance the desire to go with what will my trip do to benefit the local population, what skill can I bring to teach or learn to take back to the US to make things better. If I am going just to go, my money would be better spent sending it to the mission organization.


Challenge
for those going on future trips - take time to learn about the local culture, learn key words and take the time to reflect and discuss how the mission team will show up differently in the country. When you leave, not only are you forever changed but the locals are forever changed. We have a choice to be a “one hit wonder” or “leave it better than we found it.”

Lesson 7 - True Giving Is When You Give a Piece of Your Heart

One of my love languages is gifts. I love to give people things that they will see as special and meaningful as a way to show my love and appreciation. The value of the gift is meaningless; it is the thought behind it and in my mind the joy and/happiness it will bring.

While we were gathering to leave the Kigali Genocide Memorial, one of the women was showing Alfrancine (our guide/interpreter) and I a collection of stackable baskets she had purchased. Alfrancine’s eyes lit up. I asked if that was something she would like. She smiled and said “yes”.

Saturday, while we were at a market, I found the baskets. I found Alfrancine and asked her if she had a color preference and she asked for the colors of Rwanda (blue and green). I presented her with the baskets and she gave me a big hug and smile.

Later that morning, Alfrancine found me and gave me a bag. Inside was a carved gorilla. She shared since we had not seen the gorillas that Rwanda is known for that she wanted me to have one.

I was speechless and started to cry. Inside I was thinking, this woman is not one of means and for her to buy me a gift was a true sacrifice. As I was relating this to Cyrus and how I felt so bad that she got me a gift in response to my gift, he shared that in Africa, when you give a gift, you give not only the gift, but you give a piece of your heart. He shared that she wanted to demonstrate that she was giving me a piece of her heart in return.

Speechless. I began to reflect on how many times do we in America give a gift without thinking about it, without really caring about what we give. Giving not from our heart but out of obligation.

For those who have been to my home, gorillas don’t fit into my décor but you can bet the gorilla is displayed and will continued to be displayed with prominence. It is a constant reminder to me that it is not the gift that counts but condition of the heart when the gift is given.

Giving gifts is something we should do with joy. It may mean we have to shift our paradigm on gift giving. What if we were intentional about what we gave? Regardless of its monetary value, seeing each gift not just something physical but in giving it we gave a piece of ourselves.

Mission Possible: Handbags for Scholarships

Praising God at current moment over $2200 is set to go to the Blessed Mango Tree “Vocational School Scholarship Fund”. Thrilled that the demand for the bags leaves many now on a waiting list until I get my next order. Yes, I did just say my next order. Trusting God to work out the details and logistics to get another shipment. My mother lost out on her bag when I let someone else purchase it (does that make me a bad daughter that I sold the bag to someone else?). Thankful she has already forgiven me and is fine to wait and have first pick of the next order.

God’s economy and his ways and paths are infinite. We cannot even begin to understand or operate even close to his level! Thankful for the unexpected opportunity I had to tell my story with a display at church. Donations for over half the bags came from that day or follow up from seeing or hearing about the bags that Sunday. Thankful for a Pastor whose heart breaks for the things that break Jesus’ heart and desires to teach us how to respond. Thankful for his teaching in the moment how we can make a difference through our giving.

Cyrus is letting Pastor Nathan know that $2200 is coming his way in a newly formed scholarship account to use to help the women of his church. I look forward to sharing the stories and pictures of the women who are able to attend the school. I know we will be inspired by their lives and in turn we will be inspired to do things that challenge us. My hope is we will continue to encourage them through prayer and contribute to sewing machines for them when they graduate next year.

This is just a small portion of the story and there is more to come including how you can contribute ongoing to the fund (thank you Cyrus for working to set up a fund through WorldHelp). Praising God that through many acts of kindness and obedience at least 3 women will be able to enroll in school the beginning of the year. Just 35 days after I returned from Rwanda with 100 handbags, we have begun to make a difference by “doing what we can do”.

Pictures of the hangtag on the bags are attached. If anyone would like to formally design a hangtag to be used on all future bags – please let me know.

Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Lesson 6 – A Bike isn’t Just for Riding

I love to ride my bike around West Palm Beach and it is a great way to run errands and just enjoy the surroundings and offerings of South Florida. My favorite things about my bike – it's purple and has a basket in the front. It is a great bike for just getting around town and riding the bike trail.

I was struck time and time again in Rwanda as I saw people with bikes. Often times those with a bike were using it to haul things or people. They rarely used their bike for a short jaunt around town. They even have bike taxis and most bikes have a second seat that serves many purposes.

Most people in Rwanda walk as it doesn’t cost money to walk. The reason people are carrying things on their heads, babies on their backs is so they have their hands free to carry more things. Usually where they are going is not a short walk.

Owning a bike is a luxury. Many families will save 4-5 years to get a bike that would cost $150. That time line is modest as if something happens in their family, there goes the money saved. Speaking with the owner of the transportation company we were with, he shared a bike transforms an entire family. He stated men gain confidence when they get a bike as they now have a means to be more productive and earn more for their family.

A bike will be what the family and potentially their neighbors use to get someone medical care; get to school, work, etc. Just imagine if you had to walk to your current job from where you live, would you be able to hold that job? Now vision riding a bike to that job, it seems much more doable.

I love to ride outside and I also love to cycle (aka spin) at Velocity. In one of my pre-trip posts, I shared I was going to look for someone to give my velocity shirt to that would be encouraged that we were riding with him/her.

Martin is a survivor of the genocide and was 5 years old at the time. His sister also survived so he is not alone like so many of the orphans. He is 22 years old and is blessed to be in school because someone has chosen to support him from the US. When I met Martin at Hope Village (community for genocide orphans who are over 18) he helped translate for me as the woman I was with did not speak English or French. He shared that when he graduates from University he wants to help other orphans.

Martin exuded a commitment to love and care for those that like he is fatherless from an earthly perspective. Martin has big dreams, is bright and I know will do many great things for his country and for those who are broken in spirit and feel hopeless.When I left, I gave Martin the velocity t-shirt as well as a promise that he would receive a bike to allow him to be more productive as he goes through school allowing him to potentially earn money as well to ensure his schooling continues. I was delighted to present someone that gift already that in their honor Martin a man who will do great things for God will have a bike because of them.

I am not a number person so when a number comes into my head, it is usually from God. My goal is to rally support for a minimum of 10 bikes to be given to various orphans at the Hope Village allowing Pastor Maurice who oversees to determine who would benefit most. I have shared with Cyrus if Pastor Maurice sees a greater need for a bike elsewhere in his parish then we of course trust his wisdom.

Would you join me in changing a life and ultimately a family? Cyrus Mad-Bondo is the Director of Africa for WorldHelp (www.worldhelp.net) accompanied us on the trip. He is committed to getting pictures of of those students and bikes as accountability as well as be able to share the story about how the bike is making a difference in their life. I will blog all updates. I can’t wait to share the stories!

A great family gift for Christmas or for any occasion is to give a bike in someone’s honor letting them know that they have not only changed a life, they have changed the economic outlook of a family for generations to come. The bikes purchased will look like the ones in the pictures above but will be top of the line ensuring they will last long and survive the punishing roads of Rwanda.

If you would like to donate a bike in someone’s honor please do the following:
• Write a check for $150
• Make the check out to World Help
• In the memo line write Bike for Rwanda.
• Send to: World Help attn. Cyrus Mad-Bondo, PO Box 501, Forest, VA 24551

God continues to teach me about sacrifice. It is easy to give out of abundance, but what am I willing to give up? When I think about the precious lives that could be transformed if I packed lunch every day or didn't get my Panera iced tea every day and put that money in a bike fund, how many bikes could I buy this year? Packing a lunch isn’t even that big of a sacrifice (the iced tea is though) so there will be more digging in to come but I hope you will join me in reflecting and asking what is it you can do. It goes back to the Bishop of Rwanda’s advice – “do what you can do”.

If I came back from Rwanda no different than before I left, and if my actions were no different than before, what was the value of the trip? Continuing to ask God to challenge me, stretch me and force me to see things in a new way. As I finish this, I am already sensing God say “what will you specifically sacrifice Janelle in 2012 that will allow you personally to raise money for 10 bikes.” Ouch…stay tuned; I write this so I remain accountable to share what that sacrifice is and the journey to raising money for those 10 bikes out of sacrifice.

Lesson 5 – Life is to Be Celebrated

What a blessing it was to worship with Pastor Nathan and his congregation at Church of the Blessed Mango Tree. Baby dedications occurred that Sunday and we were blessed to watch three babies be dedicated. Similar to the US, the baby is dedicated with a prayer and the congregation agrees to support and model the love of Christ.

The dedication was over and then all of the sudden one of the women said something in Kinyarwandan and the next thing you know the dance team is up and dancing and singing and the whole congregation is standing praising the Lord. Our interpreter shared that the congregation wanted to thank God for providing the church with not one but with three healthy babies. The mortality rate is high. One baby would have been a blessing but three was like a miracle.


Humbled. I have seen ten or more babies dedicated in a given church service. We laugh and coo at the babies, we promise to support the baby and the parents as they raise the child and that’s where it ends. We need to take a page out of the Church of the Blessed Mango tree and give the Lord a hand for what He has done. Acknowledging He is Elohim, creator - the giver of life! We have become so numb in the U.S. that unless the mother had a difficult pregnancy or the child experienced challenges at birth we don't even acknowledge God and His provision.

Offering of Thanksgiving
As the celebration went on two gifts were presented to Pastor Nathan and his assistant. The church took an offering of praise to celebrate the Lord’s goodness of three babies. The gifts were for the pastors – tableclothes for the table in the sanctuary an''d a thermos to keep the coffee or tea warm. As you can see by the picture, the assistant pastor was very happy with the gift!



In addition to praising the Lord with all of their being, they gave an offering of thanksgiving to the Lord. When was the last time we took up a praise offering after baby dedication to thank the Lord for his goodness in providing the parents and our church with those precious babies? When was the last time we worshipped the Lord with true joy for the gift of life?

Lesson 4 – Running Water is a Blessing

Living Water International is an organization I whole heartedly support since we entered the story with Advent Conspiracy as a Church. I have loved giving water in honor of others and believe in the mission. My team at work has enjoyed knowing water was given in their name and have valued it as a gift.

My head knows that clean, running water is not a commodity the world over but it wasn’t until I saw the plastic yellow jugs in Rwanda that it broke my heart. As in most cultures, children get the grunt work; hauling water is one of the chores children are given. Bikes are a luxury so walking is how you get water. Now that might not seem to us in America a big deal until we realize that depending on where the nearest well is they are walking miles. Children spend four or five hours a day hauling water based on the location and how many are in their family. Now that is not every family and every area, but it is a fact of life for many. A well in ones community is a BLESSING!

Stones serve as markers on the road in the Eastern Province noting the kilometers to the water well. Visualize it is your second, third or fourth trip with your arms tired and aching from lugging two jugs of water miles each way; stopping to find some shade from the hot sun and rest your feet. Feet screaming from the heat and aching from being so tired carrying the weight of the water because you don’t have sneakers that have high support and cushioning;if you have sandals it is a bonus.

Blessed are those who have a well in their community and have short distances to walk. Thrilled are those who have a bike loading it up with water jugs to make fewer trips and increase efficiency.

Americans – we drink bottled water and many times we don’t finish the bottle and dump it down the drain. We see water as a given that is a normal part of our every day life. We don’t ration it, we don’t think about the fact that if we want to take a shower we are going to have to haul the water. We may in fact take 2 or more showers a day based on if we have worked out and/or are going out and want to look fresh. If we had to spend a few hours a day lugging our water (that would not be to the perfect temperature because they don’t have a water heater) would we shower as often as we do?

Awareness as it relates to finishing my water, eliminating water bottles and using the tap water has been a simple step I am taking to remind me every time I turn on the faucet I am blessed; I am accountable to drink all that I pour into my glass.

I am more energized about Living Water and helping others connect to such a ministry in the market place around the word assessing the needs and providing the deep water wells. As we think about what Jesus would want for His birthday, I am confident clean water would be high on his list. Franklin Graham shared what was behind his forming of Samaritan’s Purse, “you must meet physical needs before people can hear about the one who can meet their spiritual needs.”

Join me this Christmas in honoring those you love and work with by giving them clean water. Living Water now has gift cards that allow the gift recipient to choose the project the money that was given in their name goes to. This year in addition to the projects you can also give to a specific country like Rwanda. What a great way to get kids involved in the mission, helping them learn about the need for clean water and how they can help others around the world.

Check out the link below to join the conspiracy and provide clean water that will not only sustain life it will open many to hear about the one who gives true life as that is the reason Jesus came.

http://www.water.cc/store/christmas-gift-cards?q=store/christmas-gift-cards

Lesson 3 – Count Your Blessings

Continuing where I left off…the handbags. I realized I didn’t share one of the really awesome stories about getting the bags back into the states. Knowing the limit to avoid tax is $800 I knew it was going to be a miracle if I was able to enter back into the US and not have paid duty on the handbags. Avoiding being detained with the belief that the bags were samples/resale would be an even bigger miracle.

My passport is well used specifically with Canada and every one of those entries is for work related to Gap Transportation. So when one declares close to $800 in handbags it would be easy to see why I might get flagged for further discussion.

I was praying and asked those around me to pray that the customs officer would be understanding and that I would have no issue clearing customs. I had primed my camera to have the pictures of the women sewing in case I needed to share the full story.

The customs officer spent time talking about my being on a farm (most of the area outside Kigali qualifies with crops and cattle, goats etc all in one spot) and being in the National Park. He never asked about my bags. He looked at the detail, saw my total was over $800 looked at me and stamped my form and said “Welcome Home.” Knowing I was still on camera I kept it together but had all I could do not to cry. I was praising God inside trying to remain very calm and cool.

That was indeed a blessing and one I do not take for granted.

My second blessing regarding the bags is today Pastor John saw me showing some of the women the bags at church and told me they would fit in perfectly with his Advent Conspiracy Part 2 Message next week. That means any bags I have not received donations by next Sunday will be offered to those at CF City Place in the lobby so they can be part of the story too. I love that the story will be told even more broadly. God is just choosing to delight me in this endeavor.

Getting excited thinking about the women who will now have an opportunity to provide for their family. Women gaining confidence in their abilities; raising their children telling them how God provided the opportunity for school. God’s economy is far greater than our economy!

Constantly reminded God’s blessings are abundant if we take a moment to be still and reflect. I love the Hymn "Count Your Blessings". The chorus says it all: "count your blessings name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.".

Handbags Providing Skills and Confidence

Picking up where I left off during my last post, it is now time to fill you in on the handbags. God continues to amaze me how He puts his handprint on things that He has ordained and the handbags were no different.

On the final leg of my trip home, I had a layover in Charlotte. Realizing I was in need of a very strong lip balm I stopped in the Body Shop. I had my handbag and one of the women asked me about it. She new it was an African print and shared her family was from the Congo and she so wanted to buy some bags. I shared the history behind the bags and that I would be exchanging bags for donations to a scholarship fund for the school. She took down my email and she has been patiently waiting for me to get this post up so she can place an order.

Shipping the bags wasn’t in my initial plan but I LOVE the thought of the story being told in locations outside of Florida. The encounter was truly of God and I took it as a sign that God was in this project.

About the Bags
Women at the Anglican Vocational School sewed the bags. The women in the class for the most part are widows and have to support a family. The goal of the school is to help the women learn a skill that will allow them to provide for their family.

Ensuring women are trained in a skill and able to provide for their family is a key defense against human trafficking. When a family is able to meet their own needs, they are not at risk to fall prey to someone who offers to “help”.

For a minimum of $20 you will receive a bag of your choice. For each donation, $10 will go into the Vocational School Scholarship Fund to be established at the Church of the Blessed Mango Tree.

The bags have a zipper closure and there are two pockets sewn inside (big enough to hold cell phones).

Bags will have a hangtag sharing the history of the bag to create more awareness.

How to Order
If you are in West Palm Beach, you can come on by and shop directly or I am willing to complete the exchange at CF City Place after the 9 am service and before the 10:30 am service.

For those out of town, I am willing to ship for an additional fee of $6 for orders of 3 or more handbags.

There are 10 designs and each one has a number. Please send your order to jmlangwpb@gmail.com. If you want to drop by this weekend I will be home for those local.








Isaiah 61
Isaiah 61 is the name I am putting on the hangtag. That passage of Scripture went through my head while I was in Rwanda and believe it is a story of hope amidst trials and hardship.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a] 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins 
and restore the places long devastated; 
they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. 
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. 
6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. 
You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. 7 Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, 
and instead of disgrace 
you will rejoice in your inheritance. 
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. 8 “For I, the LORD, love justice; 
I hate robbery and wrongdoing. 
In my faithfulness I will reward my people 
and make an everlasting covenant with them. 
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations 
and their offspring among the peoples. 
All who see them will acknowledge 
that they are a people the LORD has blessed.” 10 I delight greatly in the LORD; 
my soul rejoices in my God. 
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation 
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, 
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up 
and a garden causes seeds to grow, 
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness 
and praise spring up before all nations.