Testimony: One

So yesterday, I went and heard the only American who stayed in Rwanda during the genocide speak. His testimony is very powerful and he has a lot of good views about how the church is run. One of the points that he made that really stuck out to me personally is that if we all read a story about someone else's life everyday, how much bigger our scope of the world would be. So I've decided that once a week, on a friday, I will post a story of someone linked to Rwanda - maybe the genocide, maybe the condition of the country now, something. So many people have stories that need to be told.

Here goes the first week:

What's the point of this...?

So I'm going on this mission trip this summer, sort of, and I'm basically excited. But, if you know me at all, you already knew that.

The reason I'm doing is this is because
1. I love serving
2. I've been called to go

The whole idea of helping people in Africa and such started when I was about 6. This isn't some recent idea I've gotten. I must have been in first grade and I heard something at my church about the ministry they were doing in Africa. I decided I wanted to sell hot chocolate at church to raise money to build a school and church. Keep in mind how young I was.

So I did it, I made about 80 bucks on one sunday, which to me was amazing, and I sent it to them not realizing how much something so little to us actually helped them so much. I remember meeting a lady who was from Africa and basically received the money I made and how thankful she was. That is the reason why I still serve today.

This verse, which is one of my all time favorites, summarizes why I do this better then I ever could:

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
      Because the LORD has anointed Me
      To preach good tidings to the poor;
      He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
      To proclaim liberty to the captives,
      And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
      To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
      And the day of vengeance of our God;
      To comfort all who mourn,
      To console those who mourn in Zion,
      To give them beauty for ashes,
      The oil of joy for mourning,
      The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
      That they may be called trees of righteousness,
      The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
      And they shall rebuild the old ruins,
      They shall raise up the former desolations,
      And they shall repair the ruined cities,
      The desolations of many generations.
Isaiah 61:1-4

I will write more about what I will be doing and everything later, but I think this is a good start.