Joy and I finished Left to Tell (see the previous post for Joy's thoughts)
Last night, Rob, Joy, and I watched Hotel Rwanda and Sara Groves: Just Showed Up for My Own Life.
My heart is heavy with the thought of division and evil.
I don't even want to sort my laundry. I don't want to see differences.
~nlr
Serving the Rwandese Orphans and giving them a voice.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Anxiously Awaiting
Ok, I think we're officially counting down now. Wow. We're really getting close to our departing date (16 days away!) and the reality of our visit. My moments have been filled to the brim with anticipation. I feel as if I'm going to meet the president and have the honor of hearing and sharing his story with the world. In fact, I'll be meeting a child of God (quite a few of them) and will be sharing their stories. There's such a pressure to not misunderstand (which we need prayer for that. The language barrier won't be as bad with the translator, but because we still don't speak a common language, there is room for details to be getting lost in the translation). Lord Jesus. God of wonders. Please make me the instrument that I need to understand facts and communicate them clearly given the equipment You provide, amen. Friends, we are now feeling the weight of our journey. Though it's heavy- WOW! What an honor to be going to this "Land of Eternal Spring".
Last night I was restless and began to read "Left to Tell" by Immaculee Ilibagiza (im-a-cue-lay ill-i-ba-geez-a). My eyes fell on the first sentance, "They were calling my name." and I was gripped with empathy and fear along with her. ... from the very first sentance. Who are they? Why are they calling your name? Well, about 6 hours later when I happened on the last 15 pages of that book, I knew just who they were and why they are calling her name. More importantly, I learned who she stood for (Jesus) and the honest journey that she took to achieve peace in Him in suffering.
Her example of a believer in Jesus, the power of prayer, the belief of God-offered hope spelled out as she took me along to view her anguish. Three months inside a 3ft.X4tf. bathroom with 7 other women while being hunted. She was able to listen to the killers chant hate songs and was forced to weep in silence as she learned that her family had been massacred. This book is one that has brought me to Rwandan soil even while in the US. I feel as if I'm there in my heart, loving the people affected by the genocide (nearly 1,000,000 killed in a mere 3 months) and their families alike. I HIGHLY recommend this book to those who are searching for a way to be intimately connected to believers in Jesus who even through the most horrific persecution can find joy in suffering and love/forgiveness for thier oppressers. Immaculee shows us Jesus in her book. Buy it. Read it. Feel it. And pray that that dark history would be learned from and would not repeat itself.
Rwanda is just two weeks away. Lord Jesus, prepare us!
~Joy
Last night I was restless and began to read "Left to Tell" by Immaculee Ilibagiza (im-a-cue-lay ill-i-ba-geez-a). My eyes fell on the first sentance, "They were calling my name." and I was gripped with empathy and fear along with her. ... from the very first sentance. Who are they? Why are they calling your name? Well, about 6 hours later when I happened on the last 15 pages of that book, I knew just who they were and why they are calling her name. More importantly, I learned who she stood for (Jesus) and the honest journey that she took to achieve peace in Him in suffering.
Her example of a believer in Jesus, the power of prayer, the belief of God-offered hope spelled out as she took me along to view her anguish. Three months inside a 3ft.X4tf. bathroom with 7 other women while being hunted. She was able to listen to the killers chant hate songs and was forced to weep in silence as she learned that her family had been massacred. This book is one that has brought me to Rwandan soil even while in the US. I feel as if I'm there in my heart, loving the people affected by the genocide (nearly 1,000,000 killed in a mere 3 months) and their families alike. I HIGHLY recommend this book to those who are searching for a way to be intimately connected to believers in Jesus who even through the most horrific persecution can find joy in suffering and love/forgiveness for thier oppressers. Immaculee shows us Jesus in her book. Buy it. Read it. Feel it. And pray that that dark history would be learned from and would not repeat itself.
Rwanda is just two weeks away. Lord Jesus, prepare us!
~Joy
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Doctors
Muraho!
Sorry we've been silent for a few days. Here's what we've been up to:
Vaccinations/Innoculations - lots of shots and prescriptions.
The unexpected: A car accident threw a wrench in my life this week. All involved walked away with only minor injuries. My only injuries are some bruises on my arm and legs, and a bump that's gone down to a bruise on my head. The accident was Wednesday night.
The doctor explained that we'd experience soreness and stiffness over the next few days, and it would get worse before it got better.
He was right. :) The bruises are healing up, but the exhaustion!! Gracious! :) It took me by surprise when I went back to work yesterday - just a 4 hr shift. I thought I'd run a marathon by 3.5 hours (which, if you've been following this blog, clearly I've never done...). The thought of the work yet to be done and the drive home, which stood between me and my bed, brought me to tears. Though perhaps alarmed by my emotion :), my co-workers were very gracious to me.
I suppose a broken leg or more serious injury would have brought some questions to Joy - would she go to Rwanda without me? How would You direct, Lord? But plans go on.
In other news, we had a wonderful visit with our dear friend Laurel this week. She taught us our first phrases in Kinyarwanda and helped us with expectations of the Rwandan culture. We also got our first glimpses, via photos, of Jano and Marcel, friends we'll spend a good deal of time with on our trip. We are so excited! Your input was so encouraging and inspiring - thank you, Laurel!
Imana iguhe umugisha! (God bless you!)
~nancy
Sorry we've been silent for a few days. Here's what we've been up to:
Vaccinations/Innoculations - lots of shots and prescriptions.
The unexpected: A car accident threw a wrench in my life this week. All involved walked away with only minor injuries. My only injuries are some bruises on my arm and legs, and a bump that's gone down to a bruise on my head. The accident was Wednesday night.
The doctor explained that we'd experience soreness and stiffness over the next few days, and it would get worse before it got better.
He was right. :) The bruises are healing up, but the exhaustion!! Gracious! :) It took me by surprise when I went back to work yesterday - just a 4 hr shift. I thought I'd run a marathon by 3.5 hours (which, if you've been following this blog, clearly I've never done...). The thought of the work yet to be done and the drive home, which stood between me and my bed, brought me to tears. Though perhaps alarmed by my emotion :), my co-workers were very gracious to me.
I suppose a broken leg or more serious injury would have brought some questions to Joy - would she go to Rwanda without me? How would You direct, Lord? But plans go on.
In other news, we had a wonderful visit with our dear friend Laurel this week. She taught us our first phrases in Kinyarwanda and helped us with expectations of the Rwandan culture. We also got our first glimpses, via photos, of Jano and Marcel, friends we'll spend a good deal of time with on our trip. We are so excited! Your input was so encouraging and inspiring - thank you, Laurel!
Imana iguhe umugisha! (God bless you!)
~nancy
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Eyes
There are a couple of songs that have touched Joy and me during this planning and preparing phase of The Rwanda Project.I'd heard "Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath before, but had never really listened to the words closely. I was driving to meet Joy for TRP details when this song came on.
This time, I heard all the words, and my heart was silenced by the plea in these lyrics.
"Give me Your eyes for just one second
give me Your eyes so I can see
everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken-hearted
the ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see"
I told Joy about it when I arrived at her place. A few days later, Joy was working on addressing envelopes for support letters and the song came on again. It was a beautiful moment for her to look over envelopes representing people she loves and sing this song in prayer for them, for their eyes, their arms, their hearts.
This is our passion for our lives, here and in Africa. We want to see people the way God does. We want you to see too. Father, give us Your eyes.
For "Give Me Your Eyes," click here.
[We'll reference the other songs in posts to come.]
Thursday, September 18, 2008
cough syrup's tough to swallow
It was recommended that we read Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza before our trip.Our copies arrived today in the mail. I haven't started reading yet, but I flipped through, looked at some pictures, read the back and an excerpt here and there. Whew! This is going to be a journey. In 5 minutes of perusing, I read how Immaculee's brother was violently killed (just one of many family members she lost), I looked at pictures of a tiny bathroom where the author and seven other women hid for three months, and I saw a picture of her adorable 8 month old cousin who never saw his ninth month of life.
I stopped looking through the book and pondered for a moment, sitting on my kitchen floor. I held more pain than I could imagine in my hand, in that book.
There's a bit of dread in me. Reading this book will allow much heartache to touch me. It's like medicine. I don't want to take it - it's gonna taste bad. But how can I dare to love a people if I don't seek to understand their pain and their joys with them?
The genocide will be an unlikely conversation piece during our time in Rwanda. We've been wisely advised not to ask for details of people's experiences. How painful and intrusive it would be for strangers to show up for a short visit and start probing into deep personal suffering. We may hear bits of stories if they are offered, but we will not seek them out.
Whether we discuss the genocide or not, the history is etched into the hearts of the people we'll meet. To know more of the suffering of the past will prepare us to better love today.
more info about Immaculee here: http://www.lefttotell.com/
~nancy
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Compassion International
Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. Sponsoring children in need is breaking the cycle of poverty.
A major focus of our trip to Rwanda will be meeting and visiting with the children that Joy and her husband sponsor through this great organization. Stay tuned to hear stories of our time with these beautiful children!
Learn more about Compassion International here.
Monday, September 15, 2008
I am going to Rwanda
I watched a magnificent sunset in Cancun.
I ran a marathon.
I had a baby.
I battled cancer.
I went skydiving.
Perhaps you ran in a marathon and remember the weeks of training, sore muscles, and determination to reach a goal. Maybe you can recall the moments between contractions when absence of pain seemed like unspeakable bliss, and the first moments with your newborn.
Maybe you've never been to Cancun, but you've heard of it, and know that sunsets can be beautiful. Or you know that skydiving is jumping out of a plane with a parachute, but you'd never want to try it.
We can relate to people's stories on different levels - from head knowledge or experience...
I am going to Rwanda.
How do you relate to that? Have you been to Africa? Do you relate through a book you've read or a movie you've seen? Is travel not your thing and geography not your strong point?
While I've never done any of the things listed at the beginning of this post, I am going to Rwanda.
At the moment, I relate to that statement, although it is my own, from a knowledge-only level, almost as a foreign listener: Yes, I know where Rwanda is (as I picture an outline of Africa and a tiny country in its center). I'm going. I know the dates of the trip, and a handful of names belonging to people I'll meet when I'm there. I know the purpose and the goals.
But I've never been to Africa. I haven't seen, heard, tasted, smelled, touched. I don't know how I'll be changed. But, yes, Rwanda. It exists. I'm going there. I don't have pictures of the sunset, scars from the surgery, or sneaks worn out by 26 miles.
I wonder what it will be like!?
Hope you'll join in for the journey!
~nancy
I ran a marathon.
I had a baby.
I battled cancer.
I went skydiving.
Perhaps you ran in a marathon and remember the weeks of training, sore muscles, and determination to reach a goal. Maybe you can recall the moments between contractions when absence of pain seemed like unspeakable bliss, and the first moments with your newborn.
Maybe you've never been to Cancun, but you've heard of it, and know that sunsets can be beautiful. Or you know that skydiving is jumping out of a plane with a parachute, but you'd never want to try it.
We can relate to people's stories on different levels - from head knowledge or experience...
I am going to Rwanda.
How do you relate to that? Have you been to Africa? Do you relate through a book you've read or a movie you've seen? Is travel not your thing and geography not your strong point?
While I've never done any of the things listed at the beginning of this post, I am going to Rwanda.
At the moment, I relate to that statement, although it is my own, from a knowledge-only level, almost as a foreign listener: Yes, I know where Rwanda is (as I picture an outline of Africa and a tiny country in its center). I'm going. I know the dates of the trip, and a handful of names belonging to people I'll meet when I'm there. I know the purpose and the goals.
But I've never been to Africa. I haven't seen, heard, tasted, smelled, touched. I don't know how I'll be changed. But, yes, Rwanda. It exists. I'm going there. I don't have pictures of the sunset, scars from the surgery, or sneaks worn out by 26 miles.
I wonder what it will be like!?
Hope you'll join in for the journey!
~nancy
Sunday, September 14, 2008
September 14th, One Month Until Departure
Hello fellow readers and prayers! Here's an update on what's going on with the Rwanda Project!
A financial update: We have raised $3,000 to date! That leaves us with a remainder of $3,000 dollars to raise since the latest budget shift. Not bad! God is providing so well for what He's going to do during the trip coming up, nearly a month from today.
A need update: We are currently looking for a laptop to use during our trip for the journaling end of things. It will make it easy for us to write and document while we're on the plain and at the end of each day in the house where we will stay. The one that we were planning to use has malfunctioned and we need to look into some other options. Special thanks goin' out to Shaun Chandler for loaning us a hand held voice recorder! You are so thoughtful to let us use it for our trip!
A prayer update: Please keep Nancy and Joyous in your prayers, and really everyone involved in the construction of this trip. It's nearing the end of our planning time and now we are doing the best we can to prepare our hearts and minds for this very special journey. Pray for:
Supple minds- that we will learn as much as we can about the culture (language and history), Hope's involvement in the local ministry and God's word (daily).
Continue to pray for the team's unity and openness to doing whatever it is that God will have us do.
Thank you all, SO MUCH, for your continued support.
A financial update: We have raised $3,000 to date! That leaves us with a remainder of $3,000 dollars to raise since the latest budget shift. Not bad! God is providing so well for what He's going to do during the trip coming up, nearly a month from today.
A need update: We are currently looking for a laptop to use during our trip for the journaling end of things. It will make it easy for us to write and document while we're on the plain and at the end of each day in the house where we will stay. The one that we were planning to use has malfunctioned and we need to look into some other options. Special thanks goin' out to Shaun Chandler for loaning us a hand held voice recorder! You are so thoughtful to let us use it for our trip!
A prayer update: Please keep Nancy and Joyous in your prayers, and really everyone involved in the construction of this trip. It's nearing the end of our planning time and now we are doing the best we can to prepare our hearts and minds for this very special journey. Pray for:
Supple minds- that we will learn as much as we can about the culture (language and history), Hope's involvement in the local ministry and God's word (daily).
Continue to pray for the team's unity and openness to doing whatever it is that God will have us do.
Thank you all, SO MUCH, for your continued support.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
How We Got Here: the early days to mid-September
2006 - Rob and Joy begin to consider a trip to Rwanda to meet the children they sponsor through Compassion International. They are aiming to travel Summer 2008.
2007 - The dream grows through letters between Rob and Joy and their kiddos.
Early 2008 - Joy is talking to friends- she mentions her desire to visit Rwanda and her frustration that she can't find any material on learning Kinyarwanda (the language of Rwanda).
Her friends inform her that Peter and Laurel Greer - mutual friends - not only have a deep love for Rwanda and have been there several times, but also speak the language!
Dialogue begins between the Greers and Joy. Through them, Joy starts to learn more of the needs in Rwanda, and desires that her visit there includes more than meeting her sponsored children. Around this time, a change in employment for Rob means that he won't be able to travel to Rwanda for at least another year. They decide together that Joy should still follow through on the trip, if possible.
Trip is pushed to Fall 2008 for planning purposes.
May 2008: Laurel encourages Joy to find someone else to travel with her, to share the experience together, and also for safety. Joy asks Nancy to accompany her. They meet several times to brainstorm and talk through vision, roles, and details.
June 2008: Joy and Nancy meet with Peter and Laurel and find that their vision matches up with Hope International. Nancy decides to travel with Joy. Nancy and Joy will go through Hope International, and will conduct interviews and get on-the-field footage for Hope while there. This trip is really going to happen! Exciting times!
Through the Greers, we are introduced to contacts in Rwanda who will provide housing accomodations and translation for our time there.
July 27, 2008: Benefit Concert at Lititz Mennonite Church - Rob and Joy and a talented band of musicians put on a show of original music and lay out the vision and details of The Rwanda Project. The audience responds generously with gifts totalling just over $2100 (the cost of one round-trip ticket, and one third of the total amount needed)!
July - September 2008: Lots of little details in between busy life schedules! We work on finalizing travel details, putting support letters together, creating a blogspot, making arrangements with contacts in Rwanda, figuring out logistics with Hope International and Compassion International... We pray! For unity in purpose between the two of us, for humble obedience to God's leading for this trip; for the people we'll meet in Rwanda, for you who support us with your interest, prayers, and financial support.
September 11, 2008: Here we are - the present! Stay tuned as we keep you up to date on our planning and our thoughts as we go from here!
2007 - The dream grows through letters between Rob and Joy and their kiddos.
Early 2008 - Joy is talking to friends- she mentions her desire to visit Rwanda and her frustration that she can't find any material on learning Kinyarwanda (the language of Rwanda).
Her friends inform her that Peter and Laurel Greer - mutual friends - not only have a deep love for Rwanda and have been there several times, but also speak the language!
Dialogue begins between the Greers and Joy. Through them, Joy starts to learn more of the needs in Rwanda, and desires that her visit there includes more than meeting her sponsored children. Around this time, a change in employment for Rob means that he won't be able to travel to Rwanda for at least another year. They decide together that Joy should still follow through on the trip, if possible.
Trip is pushed to Fall 2008 for planning purposes.
May 2008: Laurel encourages Joy to find someone else to travel with her, to share the experience together, and also for safety. Joy asks Nancy to accompany her. They meet several times to brainstorm and talk through vision, roles, and details.
June 2008: Joy and Nancy meet with Peter and Laurel and find that their vision matches up with Hope International. Nancy decides to travel with Joy. Nancy and Joy will go through Hope International, and will conduct interviews and get on-the-field footage for Hope while there. This trip is really going to happen! Exciting times!
Through the Greers, we are introduced to contacts in Rwanda who will provide housing accomodations and translation for our time there.
July 27, 2008: Benefit Concert at Lititz Mennonite Church - Rob and Joy and a talented band of musicians put on a show of original music and lay out the vision and details of The Rwanda Project. The audience responds generously with gifts totalling just over $2100 (the cost of one round-trip ticket, and one third of the total amount needed)!
July - September 2008: Lots of little details in between busy life schedules! We work on finalizing travel details, putting support letters together, creating a blogspot, making arrangements with contacts in Rwanda, figuring out logistics with Hope International and Compassion International... We pray! For unity in purpose between the two of us, for humble obedience to God's leading for this trip; for the people we'll meet in Rwanda, for you who support us with your interest, prayers, and financial support.September 11, 2008: Here we are - the present! Stay tuned as we keep you up to date on our planning and our thoughts as we go from here!
Friday, September 5, 2008
How to Give a Tax-Deductible Donation
We are in the process of raising the $6000 needed to make this trip a reality. If you are interested in helping us financially, here's how:
All of our fundraising for The Rwanda Project is going directly through Hope International.
You can donate online:
1. Clicking here will direct you to Hope International's giving page.
2. Designate "HOPE Trips" from the pull-down
3. Type "The Rwanda Project" in the Comments section.
You can also mail a donation to HOPE's office.
1. Make checks payable to Hope International
2. Write "The Rwanda Project" in the memo line
3. Mail to:
Hope International
Attn: Jenna Watkins
227 Granite Run Drive, Suite 102
Lancaster, PA 17601
All of our fundraising for The Rwanda Project is going directly through Hope International.
You can donate online:
1. Clicking here will direct you to Hope International's giving page.
2. Designate "HOPE Trips" from the pull-down
3. Type "The Rwanda Project" in the Comments section.
You can also mail a donation to HOPE's office.
1. Make checks payable to Hope International
2. Write "The Rwanda Project" in the memo line
3. Mail to:
Hope International
Attn: Jenna Watkins
227 Granite Run Drive, Suite 102
Lancaster, PA 17601
Hope International
As our vision to visit Rwanda grew beyond simply meeting sponsored children to connecting cultures, we teamed up with Hope International. HOPE has staff and clients in Kigali, Rwanda, where we'll be spending most of our time. We'll meet up with them and hear their stories so that we can provide HOPE with much-needed footage from the field. Hope International empowers those living in need around the world to escape poverty by providing microloans, savings services, training, and mentoring to help people become self-sufficient. Working in 12 of the poorest, least-served countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean, HOPE is a Christian faith-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on alleviating the many dimensions of poverty – physical, social, and spiritual – through microenterprise development. Learn more about them - click here.
The Rwanda Project Description
From October 15 – November 2, the two of us are going to Rwanda through Hope International! We’re going there to act as the eyes and ears of the American part of the body of Christ. We can all be encouraged and rejoice together in the great works that our God is doing in and through the Rwandan people. We can also learn what their needs are and investigate how we can help to carry their burdens.While we’re there, we’ll meet the seven children and their families that Rob and Joy sponsor through Compassion. We’ll also have a chance to hear the stories of Hope International staff and clients. We’ll spend time in an orphanage in Kigali, and we’ll sit in on church choir rehearsals. In all these places, we’ll record the stories (and the music) of the people we meet.
We welcome you to be a part of this ministry. We’d love for you to be involved! Please visit this blogspot often to keep in touch with The Rwanda Project as we prepare for the trip, while
we’re in Rwanda, and as we debrief upon our return! Please pray with us every step of the way, and experience the journey with us.
Thank you, friends. We pray that this trip is life-changing for us and for you as well.
Joyous and Nancy
Meet Nancy Reed
Hey everyone! I’m Nancy Reed.I’m just a simple girl trying to live my love for Jesus by following his lead and living how he instructed. Lancaster, Pa has been home for several years now, although our family moved often when I was a child. The constant moving has translated into a love of travel and change.
Another great joy of mine comes in raw, honest interactions. I love to hear the stories that are written in people’s hearts – the joys and pains of humanity. It’s humbling how Christ gives us the gift of extending His love to others.
It’s been exciting to experience Joy’s vision and allow God to grow it in me as we’ve brainstormed, prayed and waited through the details of this trip. Our role has become clearer, too, since connecting with Hope International. They’re sending us to do what I love: capture life stories! What an exciting task! Travel, ask questions, listen, learn! I love it!
Meet Joy Derner
Greetings! My name is Joyous. I was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and I’m still here! I’m married to Rob Derner and we have two sons, Gavin and Cody Shawn. I trust in Jesus as my Savior from hell fire and my hope for true life.For years now Rob and I have hoped to visit our sponsored children in Rwanda (through Compassion International). One by one they began to trust in Jesus and we were dreaming of that day when we would see their faces. We never knew it would come so soon!
After he accepted a new job, Rob wasn’t able to come as planned, but God gave us a true gift in our friend Nancy Reed! Even though we’ve been friends for years, God has brought us closer to Him and closer together as we are planning this adventure.
Soon we realized that God had a bigger purpose for us than just our relationships with those children. He brought us as Christians here in Lancaster and there in Rwanda together in unity through Jesus! He wants to give us Americans a glance into how He drew Rwandans to Himself. This trip turned from a dream to a call. A call to relay hearts one to another.
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