Trip update!

Asking for help has never been one of my strong suits, but for this trip I felt God nudging me to get out of my comfort zone and do some fundraising.  We sent out a few letters but we also began brainstorming about how the girls could use their time and talents to be a part of the effort.  This past Sunday we opened our home and displayed the painted rocks, drawings, paintings and bracelets the girls had been making for the last few months. 

It was such a treat to have people we've known for a while as well as new friends come by and share in the excitement of our trip with us!  The support we received was so very generous, and I cannot tell you how exciting it was for the girls to see God provide through dear friends!  Not only is the financial support a blessing...but getting to share our hearts and advocate for Rwanda brings such joy.  The girls saw the beauty of community, as did we!

Madeline is ready to do a bake sale next, so local friends, keep your eyes out for more info on that!!

So very grateful,
Lisa and Chad
Lauren, Madeline and Caroline

Thanksgiving in Rwanda!

Back in November 2012 I had the incredible privilege to travel to Rwanda to meet Grace, our first sponsored child through Africa New Life Ministries (ANLM).  We had been writing letters back and forth with sweet Grace since March 2011, so meeting her and her family was truly surreal.  I got to see firsthand how our sponsorship money was being used, for this precious, shy, beautiful girl named Umwiza Grace.  Her whole family benefits from the shared hope that Grace will complete school and have the supplies that she needs. On top of that, Grace’s medical needs are cared for, and she is being discipled by the dedicated Rwandan staff of ANLM.  What a joy it was to be welcomed into her home, hug Grace and her family, pray with them, and hug Grace some more! 

Just before we said our goodbyes, Grace asked me if the girls would be able to visit.  Without giving any thought of how we would make that happen, I quickly said YES!  So, here we are nearly 3 years later, ready and willing to go.  We will get to share our lives and love with the people of Rwanda, and allow our girls’ eyes and hearts to be opened to an entirely different way of life.  Some of my prayers are that our two sponsored kids (you can read more about Jean Claude here) will know they are so loved, and that our family will forever be changed by this experience. 

Rwanda is a place where material poverty is everywhere, yet those who know the Lord have an indescribable joy and dependence on God.  The people of this small country in East Africa have so much to teach us about forgiveness and reconciliation after surviving the genocide of 1994.  The more I learn of their realities, the more I am challenged in my own life.

We have a desire to advocate for the families in Rwanda by going, learning, and coming back to share our experience here.  We would love for you to partner with us.  Your prayers are needed as we prepare to go and finalize all the details of traveling with the girls.  If you would like to support us financially to make this trip happen see the info below.  While my side business has provided enough to cover the cost for Chad and I, we are looking at a remaining cost of $8,700 for the girls (our total trip cost is $14,498).  As a family we are also raising funds through some of the girls’ entrepreneurial projects and fun events.  We appreciate any amount of support with extremely grateful hearts!

There are two ways to give financially toward our trip:

1. Go to www.AfricaNewLife.org.

2. Click on Donate in the top left corner.

3. Set up an account (so that they can send you a tax receipt).

4. Click on "Make a donation".

5. Select "Give to a mission team member" and select "The Perry family" in the drop down menu.

OR 

Mail a check made out to Africa New Life (but don't put our name on the check, simply write Perry Family on the back of the envelope or on a separate note) to:

Africa New Life

Attn: Team Trips

7405 SW Tech Center Drive. #144

Portland, OR  97223

Thank you ALL for for sharing in the excitement with us.  This is something I have dreamed about for years, and to know that we are soooo close to going has me losing sleep because I'm just so excited!!  

Joyfully,

Lisa

 

 

Years ago I remember asking for prayer from a couple of friends because I felt a stirring within me for more.  More of Jesus, more purpose, more direction.  I didn't want to get caught up in the busy-ness of life and miss the point.

At the beginning of this New Year, I was praying for God to give me a word for the year, and the word I got was ETERNITY.  I had been weeping for several friends and acquaintances who are walking through very hard times.  Our time on earth just seems so short, and at times the suffering feels unbearable and confusing.  But God reminded me, He designed us for eternity, and desires a relationship with us here on earth AND together with the whole body of Christ in Heaven, forever.  That's the direction we're headed, and our lives here on earth are meant to lean towards Him and His glory in all that we do.  Yes, there will be sadness and suffering along the way.  And we won't understand the "why" behind so much of that.  But God is good.  And there is HOPE.  He is hope, we hope for an eternity without pain, without loss, without sadness.  We cling to the fact that He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).  We surrender to the knowledge that He has a perfect, well thought out plan, and if we are willing, we get to be a small part of that eternal plan.  And Lord-willing, that means we'll be heaven together with the beautiful extended family that He weaves into each of our lives...not just our biological families, but each and every person he puts in our paths for a reason, a purpose.

Last March we hosted a Sponsorship Sunday at our church to help get children in Rwanda matched with sponsors.  God wove together the lives of over 75 families in New Braunfels Texas with the lives of over 75 families in Rwanda that day.  How amazing will it be for all of us to rejoice together in heaven some day!  It'll be the BEST family get-together!

These two were snatching up the first couple of kids before the crowd came out!

Rwanda and Texas have over 8,000 miles between them, and God placed each of us in the exact spots we live with a purpose, yet through this sweet gift of sponsorship we are now connected.  I love that!!

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.  And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.  From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.  God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us."  Acts 17:24-27