Our Africa Experience (Part 5)
Monday, October 15, 2007 by
ron
Haley, Brittany and Chandy carry around their photos on their school binders. We pray for them. We will never forget them. And as I said before, I think these children will change Tanzania for Christ. They don't have parents and some are fighting against the HIV virus. Some of these kids have memories of abuse and death that none of us can imagine. But now, they have hope and are on a path of healing. They know that they are safe and loved at TOA, and that the Lord has a plan for each of their lives for His kingdom work. How wonderful to know that wherever we live, whatever we have to give, we can be involved in the thrilling work of God's kingdom. That is a message we all need to remember.
We all left a little part of our hearts there in Africa, but plan to continue staying in touch and supporting such a great thing as TOA as well as the amazing people we grew to love who are doing so much to help Rwanda keep moving forward.
Since we've been back, I'm trying to hold on to what I feel the Lord impressed on my heart. As I said at the beginning…I'm learning to deal with that wagon of stuff to do. I know God created us for fellowship with Him and fellowship with others…if I don't have time to be with Him, read/study/hear from Him through His Word…then I'm missing out on what I was created for. If I don't have time to drop things and visit with my neighbors, then things are out-of-whack. If I don't have any money left at the end of all my spending to give a good chunk to those in need, then I am spending too much. There are such blessings in living simply…tough to do in this world of ours. But the dear people of Africa reminded me, in fact showed me in ways we don't see too often, what living by faith is about. Whatever we gave to them, I pray the Lord continues to use how He sees fit. But as is usually the case, we Alayras were the real beneficiaries on this trip.
For those of you who prayed, helped in any way, again, THANK YOU. I pray you've been blessed as well as you've read this, knowing that you made all of this possible. I pray Proverbs 11:25b for you-"He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." We love you…………Ron, Jana, and girls