Speechless

I am speechless daily over the kids that surround us. Yesterday I stood under the shade of a tree and preached about love to a crowd of Blue as they sat on the grass and listened. At one point I wanted to hide behind my translator Georges just to hid the fighting tears as I talked about my love for money. Most of these kids have no understanding about the god of money for they have probably never owned any of their own. I asked them to pray for me and to pray for my country for I dont think I will ever understand simple faith the way that people here in Rwanda understand it. I find myself daily learning from these kids as I see pure joy on their faces. I hope and pray that God will break my heart for these people and for the people that God has put in my life at home. God's love for us is more pure than anything we will ever understand and all He asks of us is to love Him back. I guess in these past weeks that is the message that I have been preaching. These kids have been incredible, as I was speaking about love to them and how much God wants us to love Him and to love each other they began to put their arms around each other. Again I needed to fight back the tears. My best memory of this camp was watching the biggest smiles you could imagine as kids went shooting down the slip n' slide that we set up leading into the lake. Everyday I embrace smiles of children experiencing true joy. I learn so much from these kids and am daily challenged in my life. I know that God has good things in store for this camp and for the people of Rwanda. A couple of days after we arrived our main camp leader and translator Betty told me that weeks previous to our arrival she had been praying for a camp In Gahini and even called all the people she knew trying to organize one. only days before we arrived had she given up on the idea of having a camp for the youth here in Gahini. God knows our hearts, He knows His children and the more we seek Him the more He will put us where He wants us to be whether thats in a job or traveling or school or even living in a foreign land. When we let God's love overtake our lives and lead our steps we are left speechless. -Daniel

A Sea Of Blue

The second week of camp has concluded, it has been a myriad of emotions, chaos and fun! I often walk through this sea of kids wrapped in blue camp Gahini shirts and let the reality of this venture hit me. Just over a year ago it was a dream that God had placed into our hearts and now here we are half way done the first year of camps! It is overwhelming to ponder, the greatness of this God we serve.

This morning I was reading about Elijah and Elisha and how they went for a walk one day and as they came to the Jordan river they hit the water with their robe and it parted, so they could walk across on dry land. This is the God that we serve, the impossible becoming possible, dreams turning to reality. These past two weeks have been an incredible stretching process for the entire team. We have experienced so many trials, whether getting sick physically, dealing with cultural differences or the ever prominent language barrier. It has been such a blessing to watch as each team member takes on the responsibility given them and also continually picks up the slack for those sick or tired or just weary from the cultural differences and needing a break. We have had two camps thus far, each camp having roughly one hundred youth attending. In every camp it has been surreal to see the change in these kids lives, to hear their questions during team devotionals about where God comes from or where He lives. I have loved seeing smiles on their faces and even the tears in their eyes as the last day they walk out of chapel giving hugs and speaking in their broken english, "I shall never forget you". It is these smiles and tears that inspire and encourage us to continue to dream, and to trust that God has big plans not only for our lives but for the lives of each and every kid we have been able to get to know these past couple weeks. One story to leave you with; When we first arrived I was in meetings with the church leaders here in Gahini. As we went over what the camp was going to look like and all of the small details that are involved with starting a project of this magnitude my good friend and the man in charge here spoke up. He told me that this camp is not only our dream but has been their dream as well. The idea of bringing kids out of their day to day lives and letting them be kids for one week, of giving them good memories to replace all of the pain and hurt in their lives and showing them God's grace love and joy. This he said is something that has been needed here for years and is an incredible blessing to this country. Please continue to pray for us as we have two more camps left to go. Jordan

Great Comments

Thanks so much for responding to our blogs and corresponding with us. It is wonderful to hear what you are all thinking... It seems that we often make the mistake of not expressing ourselves to the fullest with each entry. Perhaps we forget about those who haven't the slightest clue of what we are doing and only tell small portions, and perhaps we also keep it too short and brief as we neglect to give our blog the amount of time it demands of us. For this I apologize.

First off, our lack of knowing the blogging world is why we are continuing a blog that was created for a different journey. This is our way of sending our stories home. For those of you more interested in this mission to Rwanda we have not expressed our hearts for this, and our mission statement to the side of the page here is more in regards to the World Faith Tour.

The connection between our last journey and this mission is this; We still have the same heart for seeking out our calling, to live as God would have us live. Our stories are those filled with adventures and excitement. We hope people who read this will be encouraged and possibly inspired to dream.

"Getting back into the Game" hopefully this saying isn't taken so seriously that we can base our theology on it. I find that in many ways we are getting back into something different. I personally don't feel as if I will be a different person in or out of the game. But as we prepared to leave our home and enter into a foreign country, everyday life becomes a little different, almost like a game. Suddenly nothing is familiar, the people treat you differently by our white skin. The prices get hiked up and people try to scam you on the streets. But in no way is this mission, this chance to teach kids, a game. We take this responsibility seriously.

For those of you who have been supporting us. We send you more "thanks". Your prayers have been needed. Your finances have been important. Many of you would know that we have gone through the organization of AYMI, who you sent your checks to. This relationship between AYMI and ourselves has benefited us as a way to keep our finances accountable to someone.

I would like to answer a few good questions asked by Kim;

Q: Is there need in Rwanda? Greater or lesser than Canada?

A: I feel there is a big need in Rwanda and we are here to work towards changing that. I could possibly write a book on the needs of this place and why I came. In the blogs to come I hope that some of the needs are expressed, and any of us are more than willing to share in person our understanding of the situation here in Rwanda. Canada too has a big need, in which we are all responsible for. Personally, I don't know how to measure greater and lesser need. There are many ways to help make Canada a better place, we should all do what we can.

I find it odd being here and hearing how so many people here wish Rwanda could be more like Canada. I often tell them, I wouldn't wish that upon you. Rwanda has many strengths that we don't as Canadians. I often mention to Rwandise that in Canada we often worship money.

Q: Are you fulfilling your desires for adventure?

A: Absolutely! I hope I speak for everyone on the team, its full of ups and downs, mostly ups.

Q: Is the money going towards a Project that is sustainable?

A: We hope so. It is kind of an expensive one-time thing to do here. So far many local leaders have taken an interest in using this program and performing it in smaller scales around the country after we leave. Thus far we are getting closer to setting things in place for next year, to make things better. Our plan is that this camp will be running locally in less than 5 years from now. It seems to be catching on so fast it may be less!

Q: What is it that attracted you to Rwanda?

A: Jordan is the guy who had some dreams and visions of this camp when we were here last year, so we committed to coming back in a year to make it happen.

We hope that our blog has not given you the idea that living 'extreme and going overseas' is hand in hand with obedience and righteousness.

Kenton

Familiar Red Soil

Sitting on a bus in Kenya my nostrals were filled with that very familiar B.O. that can only be found on this continent, Nigel says it is a warm inviting smell, but I am not so sure I agree with him on that one. Warm, and Inviting is how I would describe being back in Rwanda. Someone told us the other day that the first time you meet someone in Africa you are their guest and the second time you are their friend and the 3rd time you are their Brother. So it is such a great feeling coming to a place where I am a friend. It feels incredible to be walking on this familiar red soil that has the power to change lives. Kenya was beautiful and after only a day we got on a bus to Uganda and then here to the peace of Rwanda. (32 hours on a bus later)We got to Gahini Rwanda on Saturday night and were woken early Sunday morning being told that we were doing Sunday School. I have been waiting for a year for this!! The kids were in a huge circle and we jumped into the middle of it and sang songs and laughed. Kenton did the story of Noah getting all the kids to act as animals and again everyone laughed so deeply. It all just seemed to fall into place so fast. From the moment we have arrived we have felt almost as if we are visiting old relatives and as if the work here is second nature. Things seem to be falling into place around us and we daily see the ripples of a hand larger than ours shifting the waters. Thanks for your prayers we need them desparately for if we do things on our own we are destined to fail. Blessings, Dan

And we're BACK IN THE GAME!!!!

Well I am still pinching myself in the reality that almost a year has gone by since we returned home after our world faith tour. As I pulled my backpack out of the closet and brushed all the dust off to put it to use once again I just had to shake my head. I dont know if I have even looked at that pack since november of last year. Ya maybe it sounds weird to you to dwell so richly over my back pack but you gotta understand that for a world traveller my back pack is like my best friend. he goes everywhere with me. At times he's a burden to carry but he always delivers great prizes like...clean underwear, and socks. well hopfully clean anyway. So I filled her up with all I thought I needed and now we are off. Only a week ago I can recall sitting in the truck at work with the guys, looking at our unfinished house and shaking my head saying "guys, how in the world are we going to do this." At the time we had about 3000 dollars in our budget for the camp and a house that needing the outside to be finished. Now here I am sitting at the computer with my flight only hours away with over $15,000 in our camp budget and a house that's pretty much done on the outside (sorry Daryl, have fun!). People keep telling me that I must be so excited and I just smile and nod and say "ya...excited...I guess" yes I am excited but I suppose its a different kind of excitement. its different than the excitement of going to disneyworld, its kinda like the excitement of swimming with dolphins (cause all of us know what that is like) your excited but nerveous cause anything could happen. so we covet your prayers today and for the next weeks. We have high hopes for this camp and believe that God is going to do amazing things. blessing everyone and we will do our best to keep up posted. please reply if you can commit to praying for us everyday, we would really really love that. Dan

So, What's Next?

Coming home to Canada and finishing the biggest adventure of our lives felt very melodramatic. Since that day we have accustomed to life in Canada very quickly...almost too quickly. When a person comes home after something like this we must ask ourselves....what next. We can't stop dreaming, now we have to dream bigger. So this is it, the next dream for the lowly world faith travellers, PROJECT RWANDA, We hope to begin in November of 2008 bringing people and materials to begin a camp for youth in Rwanda. the location is already steaked out and now we need you. we need direction and eventually we will need a lot of money. If this is something that interests you please leave a comment with your e-mail and we will be sure to contact you in the next months as things come into place, or please send us an e-mail at one of addresses listed in our profile. Thanks and be blessed and dream big for the God we serve is so much bigger than this little world we live in at such a time as now. Daniel

The Final Days

I am sitting here in the shotgun seat of my friends motorhome looking out at the sun setting and driving towards home. Its a strange feeling that I am crossing north america yet again on my way home, but this time from a trip that has transformed my life. I cant explain all the ways that I have been changed but I for sure have a deeper sense that the God of the universe is just that. He is the God who holds everything in the palm of His hands, who is bigger and greater than I could ever imagine. Which is so exciting for me. He is not this god that I built and place in my home, something I understand and is tangible. Because why would I worship something I can understand. Before I left on this trip I was talking with a friend of mine who said that going and experiencing something like the world would surely destroy my faith. Well he was right. The immature faith that I had a year ago has been destroyed. I now have a faith so much deeper and more intense. Like nothing I have experienced before. I feel confident to step out, trusting that He will catch me, trusting that He is beyond my understanding and faults and that He loves me. I wish that I could put a years worth of experience and adventure and teaching onto this page for all of you to read. But the truth is, it takes a year. And reading it would not come close to the experience. Seeing the worship of idols in India and the secularism of europe, the freshness of Papua New Guinea all needs to be seen first hand for it to transform the soul. If you read this and your a person who does not know Jesus, I say start looking around, He is there in the places that rationale and western thought never look. He is in the eyes of the poor, the hands of the sick and yet fills the sky with glimpses of His glory! That is the God that I worship with excitement and awe.

Blend

Basking under the Italian sun with the Colosseum in the horizon and thousand year old ruins behind me was a memory to hold. As I shiver now in the damp cold of England I can hardly believe that only 2 days ago that was my backyard, then 2 days before that it was the water streets of Venice and a day before that it was giant statues of Hungary, before that, Romanian, and before that, Ukraine. You get the picture, its been a blend of countries in a blend of days. Looking back this morning it all seems to blend together in a mixture of culture, languages and confusion. It was hard to leave Josh's comfortable Polish apartment but with every new adventure comes a slight sacrifice. After a long night on a smelly hot bus of Ukrainians we arrived to the thriving metropolis of Le Viv. We soon found out that unlike the rest of Europe Ukrainians don't bother to learn English in their schools and the the Ukrainian alphabet unlike most world languages uses completely different letters so as we stood in the bus station looking blankly at the sign in front of us it was difficult to decide where to go next. Well as always the good Lord was looking out for us and we met a translator after some time and went back to the bus station to get our ticket to Romania. Then we spent the day eating authentic Ukrainian borscht and having our own personal Ukrainian tour guide who was also our much needed translator so thanks to Nadia for being a sweetheart to 3 homeless bums in our time of need. The days really did blend together now that I think back and I know looking back that it was all by God's grace of where He has brought us today. A bed become a luxury and a shower a weekly activity as we toured Europe in what seems like only a few days. 12 months ago I think the Dan I used to be would have whined and complained and wished for a bed but it seemed to be part of the journey and I wouldn't trade it. I remember one vivid night where we slept in a train station for lack of anywhere else and we soon found out that it wasn't really a waiting room for the train but rather a haven for the homeless. The smell quickly faded but the weirdo's came in and out. This one man sat next to me around 3 in the morning gave me a look and grabbed my hand and shaking it profusely he rambled on and on in Ukrainian. I tried to motion that I didn't understand but I soon learnt that he wasn't really talking any language and wasn't too understanding of most coherent things around him. He soon pulled out a deck of cards and would have played all night had I not finally refused and curled up on my wooden chair to make it through the night. He periodically shook me through the night and would try to tell me something but with time came the morning and we got out of there as fast as we could. Europe is beautiful and the time left is short, its hard to describe the emotion I feel being so close to the end, so many stories, so many lessons spinning in my head and heart. The anticipation of familiar soil fills my dreams but I thank God for every waking moment in these next days and weeks as I am filled with His grace to be here. Daniel

A Warning To Humanity

Auschwitz concentration camp has transformed from a place where people would never want to go, to a place where all of us should go. It is a reminder of what humanity can and has done to its self. Perhaps this plaque shows the vastness of terror and evil that took place here, but until I stepped foot in these two Auschwitz camps I wasn't aware of the horror that took place. The people who were brought here were not only killed they were tortured and stripped of the things it means to be human. Jordan and I did an extensive tour of the camps and Dan also saw a lot of what they show. We gained a little bit of perspective of why those men who fought in that war, who saw these horrors and then came home are not wanting to talk about their experience. I can't imagine wanting to tell people about the things that happened here if I was a true witness to it. There are rooms here that display some of the items taken from the prisoners: Shoes, suitcases, and toothbrushes. They even shaved their entire bodies and gathered the hair to be sold and made into socks for the Nazi soldiers. We saw a room with 2 tons of hair left behind not yet packed. We were also shown the gas chambers where the most killing was done. It would be an underground bunker with 3 major rooms, one would be a room that was where all the prisoners were told "to undress themselves, and remember where they left their clothes so they would not be lost after their 'shower'". They would then move into the next room where they could fit 700-2000 people tightly depending on which camp they were at. At this point when they were all tightly squeezed into this huge shower room, a few cans would drop through the roof into the room. The cans were opened and filled with crystals that give off a gas that stops the oxygen circulate in your blood. This caused the people to internally suffocate, causing a very painful 20 min death. Often they left a loud truck running outside the building, to muffle the sound of the screaming. Then the bodies would taken out of the room into the third room where they were incinerated. Several incinerators all very easy to use would burn the people quickly afterwards. Those last rooms even had tracks in the floor for carts to load bodies and push them with ease straight onto a metal table that could slide into the fire and out with just the ash remaining. All of this would be happening to about 80% of the people who got off the train their first day, because they were 'unfit to work', and that was decided in a three second glance. Those who were fit to work were doing jobs like shaving the new prisoners, sorting their things, and even hauling the dead bodies to the fire. Those who did that particular job were considered to be dangerous because they were the strongest and they knew too much, so as a result these workers would be killed and replaced every two weeks. The short life for these prisoners was very terrible, often working them to death, sometimes with that exact purpose. Even time on the toilet was limited to 10 seconds twice a day. The people in this camp were tested to see how far they can be pushed before dieing. Experiments were done to see how little air a person could live with in their concrete cell, or some were made to stand in a cell too small for sitting for the night, all while being forced to work the next day. Many were starved as experiments, or cut open to have their living organs examined. The horror of it all is sometimes more than I can comprehend. I find the more I hear about what happened here, the more I tend to separate myself from it. It doesn't seem real to the life that I life today. But just being here... seeing faces... looking at their hair, I see it's not a movie. Its very real. And the evil mastermind who put it all together, The King of lies, still wanders to and foe in this world causing pain and suffering. And it is only by God's grace that His power came through and has restored peace in this place. I imagine that Auschwitz concentration camp was very close to hell on earth, but one thing Satan didn't take from those people was that... 'to live is Christ, and to die is gain'. That's a promise we all have from God. Kenton

Adventure Outlook?

The intoxication of sleep deprivation had fully settled upon both kenton and myself. We arose from the well lit storage room that was accessible from a stairwell at the back of a catholic church. It was a room full of spiders, scorpions and other creepy crawlies I am sure we only imagined. But it also contained some hard Styrofoam that took the chill from the cold concrete and was the perfect setting for us to get out of the rain and spend the night. As we hit the road again to try and make it to Cieszyn and meet up with Dan and his brothers friend Josh we hoped for better luck during the early hours of the morning than we had the previous night which led us to that dungeonesque accommodations of the previous night. Until then our journey had been splendid, we were privileged with a ride that blessed us with twenty euro, an especially large sum of money for a backpacker on a tight budget and many miles still to go! But maybe what goes around comes around for real. Although as we stood on that road side in Poland now where the euro was not accepted and no one would exchange a dime with us or even point us in the direction of an ATM, our stomach's growling and minds still hazy from the lack of sleep we were blessed yet again. A chief prosecutor walking by stopped to help us, over coming the fear that had held so many others back from talking with us. He helped us to get to a ATM where we took some currency out and then helped our selves to a hardy breakfast from the super market before hitting the road again. This last short jaunt was cold but we thankfully did not have to wait overly long before a ride and then another getting us to Cieszyn in time for lunch! Now as I sit writing on this wonderful Mac laptop, smelling a wonderful meal cooking in the other room and having a bed close by to chill in for the night that's warm and safe from scorpions, I laugh! During adventure it can suck, but usually the greatest trials make the best stories and through them we can always look back and see what a rad God we journey with! Be blessed. Lehmann

Intimidation

As Karstin drove away in his German station wagon I stood at the gas station with nothing but the open road ahead of me, I wouldn't admit it then but I felt nothing less than intimidated. I walked around the gas station is hopes of finding English and friendly Germans which combined would get me a ride. I gotta admit I didn't want to leave my homeland of Germany. Staying in the home of Patrick and then Kathrin and Karsten was just a little too comfortable. Sleeping every night in my own bed, delicious German breakfast's every morning....mmmm. I had to chuckle as I stood at that gas station preparing to leave Germany, I just spent the last week with two amazing Germans and their families, people 11 months ago I didnt know existed. We met them 10 months ago in the tropical mountains of Costa Rica and now to cross paths in their home was almost sereal. Germany did indeed treat us well, from Suzie's cappaccion's to chilato's with Patrick followed by what felt like 2 sets of grandparents and a big brother and sister with Kathrin and Karsten, it was... about perfect I would have to say. It wasn't long until I found English and a friendly German and I was on the east bound road. I spent the day in a lot of random fast German cars driving whatever speed they were comfortable with on the famous Autobon. And when I wasn't in a car I was waiting, bundled up in everything I had; at exits, at gas stations and wherever I could find slow traffic. Eventually I made it to the Czech city of Prague, a beautiful city of rich Christian history. Unfortunately the only Christianity in Czech is just that... History. Being on the open although intimidating at times was a feeling like no other. Its the feeling of freedom, like I can do anything and go anywhere and no matter what happens it will be an adventure. There was times standing on that road with the sun going down that I didnt think I would make my destination but somehow I just knew that something bigger than me would get me there at just the right time. I got to Poland late Monday night and met the man my brother talked so highly of and I am thankful to find out why. Looking back on these few days of travel, of hitch hiking on the open Highway in a foreign country with foreign languages I know that the Daniel who left Canada 11 months ago could never have done it. There's something about stepping out that makes all of the following steps seem just a little bit easier, all of a sudden the world doesn't seem so big anymore, language barriers don't seem to matter as much and no matter where I go or what I do somehow I know that God is in fact leading my steps as I go. I think stepping out in faith will always be intimidating, but to let intimidation alone hold me back would be robbing myself and the world of what could have been. With only 4 weeks left I pray I will step boldly into the intimidating moments and to experience all that this small world and the Big God who controls it has to offer. Daniel (oh and this last pic, is us busking to make some extra cash... 1 euro 63 to be exact)

Arriving in Europe has been like waking in a fairy tale dream. The castles on the hills and the quaint little cafes on the street corners with well dressed students sipping their espressos and talking about philosophy. Having a stove that when you turn a knob it heats up instantly and you are ready to begin cooking. All of these creature comforts that but a year ago we took for granted, have become part of this surreal experience that is so enticing. Since coming to Germany we have been amazed with the efficiency and detail with which things here are done. But it has not just been a mechanical way of life but it has a great culture and history that fills the place with a certain brilliance. We have trekked to Cologne where we saw the wonderful Cologne Cathedral a wonder of architecture and God's majesty. The massive building is stained with the black smoke from the bombs of WWII and has a certain aura to it that captures ones imagination. On the inside the giant pipe organs haunting voice echoes throughout the hallowed place making it a magical atmosphere that tingles the senses. All of this has been just the beginning of our journey here. The struggle though has changed to an inward battle as opposed to meeting it face on in the day to day poverty that we have become accustomed to seeing. Beggars no longer seem in dire need, and we have become the ones looking shabby and forlorn instead of like the rich white people. That in itself has been a unique change, we are no longer celebrity status, but instead normal people living out their lives. So with that understanding we must begin to press into the word even more and realize just because Europe seems more like home, we cannot become comfortable and stagnant. With poverty slapping you in the face turning to God and asking why and what can I do and just seeking was a mandatory start to each day. But with practical room service some days here in Germany the need of a God who is bigger and guiding your every step almost seems quizzical at times. But its then that we truly need to press in the most. God has plans for our every day and that doesn't change depending on the continent we stand on. Lehmann

Holding Hands

Anyone who has been to Africa would probably know things are so different here it can make your head spin. The other day Jordan came walking home with our video store friend and had his hand held the whole way back. The joke has been that, if one of us is missing someone or feeling lonely, you just need to go for a walk with someone to remind yourself of those good times feeling loved. Now, I can't speak on behalf of ALL western men but, something about having a very prolonged soft grip with another guy's hand seems to throw off the rotation of the planets and life becomes different. When we began to first experience this holding hands phenomenon, initially it was just purely awkward. I began wondering how close this was to crossing over from being "different" and moving into "just wrong" or perhaps unnatural, as I liked to think. Each time it would happen my mind began thinking about the things that need to be done in Africa. The starving kids need food, the governments need accountability, the environment needs more respect, and men need to stop holding each others hands. I wonder if there are a lot of people who have thought about Africa and formed opinions, as I have, about what is wrong, or what needs to be done. But recently I was awkwardly holding hands with a man and had a thought. Maybe we have been treating these countries in Africa so much like charity that we have left them feeling less then us, and we feel like more than them. It's hard sometimes to get past the cultural differences and meet people where they are at. Where is the equality and the friendship? I feel challenged to offer more to these people. To stand with them, or even just to encourage them to love their own country, and to love themselves. When things get tough in life it's all about what you do in response. When hope is lost, your not left with much. In life we all want a HAND TO HOLD, someone who will stand and care for us, someone who will build hope in us. Its hard to miss that when you walk down the street here. The relationships I have here mean a lot to me and have challenged me heaps. Here is a few of our friends. The people we have met here are Awesome! Kenton (1) Our very funny friend, Moses. (2) Henry, who is looking for a wife. (3) Some of the youth, (between 13-45 years old). (4) Grace, our wonderful host.

Uganda's Greatest Memory!

It was a rainy morning, the thunder bellowed in the sky as we set out for the tournament. It was to be a day unlike any other here in Uganda. A day of blood sweat and muddy clothes! We approached the field to cries of muzoongoo muzoongoo, football!! The draft for players went out and three powerhouse teams were formed on that hallowed field. The first was Keno's which took the name "Barcelona" the second was Dan's who blazoned the crest of "Liverpool" and last but not least Jordan's team who were titled with "Manchester United" possibly the greatest football team to ever play the game! The first game was a battle between Liverpool and United. The rain was still soft and the condition of the field was slimy but playable. The teams took their positions and the fight began. It was back and forth, slide tackles, fancy footwork and finally a goal by United! The crowd went wild with cheers of Man U, Man U! Liverpool left that game heads hanging low. Next the mighty Barcelona charged the field against the leading United team. The rains became heavy and the thunder roared as Barcelona took up the champions cry and annihilated the United firm. It was a hard loss, but the game was fair. So with that loss United left the turf to be replaced by Liverpool. This game was invigorating. Liverpool had a fire in their eyes and wanted victory at all costs. Barcelona scored first, and the crowd cheered! But within a matter of minutes Liverpool's strong offence retaliated scoring their own brilliant goal!! The crowd was split, half chanting for Barcelona and half for Liverpool, fights broke out, tears flowed from children's eyes! The air grew thick! As the time ran down Liverpool with an amazing feat of footwork blazed a trail to the net and scored to win the game! The crowd went wild with excitement! The last game of the day was for all the glory. Manchester United pinned up against Liverpool! The rains were hard and the field had turned into a terrain of rivers and mud. The officials tried to call the game on account of bad conditions but the players would not hear of it. They took the field as if warriors of ancient Greece, not backing down, no fear in there eyes, only the thirst for victory engulfing there very soul! The whistle blew and the teams collided! It was back and forth neither team could gain an inch. The crowd's cheers were lost in the heavy rain and pressure of the game. Just as it was looking to be a draw match, Manchester United put it all out on the field pushing towards victory, and in one grand assault they took the win 1-0!! The fans rushed the team raising them to the air and shouting victory chants as the rains poured down. It was a spectacular event one for the history books of football! The tournament ended with photos of the teams. We all were covered in mud and tears, some of joy some of sorrow! But as we walked off that field, we all knew in our hearts that something special had taken place that day. A time of playing in the rain, fighting for victory and enjoying the crowds and chants of the stadium. A memory to be cherished. Lehmann

Moments in time

Well Africa is filled with those moments in time where you gotta stop and shake your head to make sure it is real. I went for a walk the other day through the dirt streets of our small village. I passed many small vendors along the way, each one selling their 2 or 3 items of either banana's and pineapple's or old refurbished shoes or maybe they were deep frying something. All the while I am being yelled at from all directions, "Mzungu!" Some little kids look up at me with a smile of pure excitement, like a child seeing a monkey in the zoo for the first time and giggling at how funny it looks...that's how I usually feel and seeing as how they always want to pet my arm hair I kinda feel exactly like a monkey in a zoo. Its a lot better than the other kids who scream and run for shelter behind anything with black skin, so long as the white monster stays away. I tried overcoming this reaction one day by using candy but that just seemed to make it worse not to mention I felt like one of those strangers parents warn their kids about in Canada when they say "never take candy from a stranger kids". So I was walking down this road and it wasn't long until I could hear the laughter of children playing. I came around the corner of a mud brick home to find about 50 kids or so playing some football or (soccer) in an open lot in front of a mud house with a step. Most of the children huddled on the step watching while a few of the kids played a "heated game" consisting of a small plastic soccer ball and 2 small bricks propped up to make a small net. The game stopped abruptly when I showed up and I felt like King Kong in New york, they all just kinda lost interest in their "heated" game and starred up at me, some of the smaller children ran for cover and then slowly they walked up and held out a hand. I pointed to their ball and it wasn't long and I was on a team and running around in mudded feet kicking around this plastic ball with my new friends. The crowd on the step got a little bit bigger and many of the parents were now watching from a bit of a distance. I eventually managed so tear away from the kids and said I'd come back. Some of the parents came over to me and said "thank you for playing with our children, please come back and bring your friends...thank you so much" and I did get my friends, my two mzungu buddies and the next day we went back. This time we prayed that God might provide someone to translate for us, well as the game got going I sat on the step with the fans and amidst my arms getting pet from the kids huddled around me I met an older girl who had great English. I soon asked if she would translate so that we could share a story and she was more than willing. It wasn't long and we had the 50-60 kids all singing songs about Jesus and listening to a story about Jesus calming the storm. As we walked away the second day I really had to do another retake and I couldn't believe the moment in time that I was in. One of those moments where you can tell the whole world how much you love your God because He is more than faithful. Daniel

Uganda Pictures

*** EDITED TO ADD***

Sorry, I am Keli and I accidentally put Rwanda as the title of the blog post. When Dan sent me the pictures I mistakenly put the wrong place. Sorry for confusing anyone ...

The faces of Africa have been beautiful and warming. We have felt like kings living here and have not had a lack of things to do. I am in awe of the faithfulness of God and the way that He has led our every step. Arriving to Africa was an intimidating mystery to us but since our feet have touched this red soil we have been nothing but blessed. Spending our days amongst the laughter of children and swimming in the green water of Rwanda has been nothing less than fulfilling. We've made friends of all ages and from all cultures. I already feel that tug on my heart that so many feel when they touch the soils of this great continent. I see and feel a love and joy for life that is not found in materials but only in faces around them. The Bishop of the parish in Gahini where we have worked said to us the other day, "Western people take such good care of the body that they forget to take care of their soul, here in Africa people take such good care of the soul that they forget about taking care of the body" It is very true in so many ways but I am not here to criticize my country, I am here to soak in the culture of Rwanda and let it change who I am today and who I will become tomorrow. I have never talked to a person who come home from Africa disappointed or unchanged and it so easy to understand why. It only takes few days here and my heart feels changed, challenged and renewed. Rwanda has been a joy to experience. A country of a bloody history now sitting in a great peace, a president who loves God

and revival on the doorstep. I am blessed to be here, to be challenged be these beautiful faces and to enjoy the laughter and joy of life that comes only from human relationship. Daniel

oh, and as usual I am trying to be culturally aware in my appearance and fit in as much as I can.