Fulfilling Promises

Charlie and Val...cutting fence!

Team on their day off by Lake Burera!

Visit from the widows!

Begining the Bread of Life Bakery

By now, I shouldn’t be amazed at the progress of our growth in Rwanda...but I truly am! It’s so hard to wrap my mind around the fact that God is so powerfully using TVM to accomplish this incredibly important work.

So many positive changes have occurred this week and there is no doubt that God has used our team and many, many people to continue fulfilling the vision he gave me three years ago. When I think about how BIG his plan is... all I can say is “WOW”!

I am so grateful. This team truly “gets it”. They have been the perfect team for God’s plans this summer. We have worshiped together, worked together, laughed together and cried together. I wish all of you could understand the depths of what has happened here- in only two weeks. The generosity of the team, as a whole, has helped us accomplish so much more that we had intended...including beginning construction of our facility.

Upon arriving in Ruhengeri / Musanze, the team saw the need for fencing and immediately got to work. I now know what it means to “pull” a fence! Thanks to Bun and Mike for leading us in how to “get it right”. What is not in my core-competency, they have mastered flawlessly! Let me just say, there is nobody on this team that isn’t willing to get really dirty!

The rock and chain-link fencing is up and is 95% complete. The final dry-stacking should be completed by tomorrow! Last Wednesday morning a few of us went to find out about getting a heavy gate made for the property and in about 5 hours, we had a custom gate delivered to our property. Yesterday, the team was able to install it.

Ellen, our youngest team member, along with her mom, Jane, have been working with the ladies at the bakery to teach them how to knit stocking caps. We are partnering with Team Rwanda, the official cycling team, to create caps for the team. Their coach, Jock Boyer, wants to help us promote our “Handspun Hope” project as the team prepares for two big cycling races in November (Continental Challenge and Tour of Rwanda). One of these races is an Olympic qualifying race and hopefully our caps will be a hugely sought after souvenir by media and spectators! The ladies are very fast learners and can now complete a cap in one day!

Last week, we had a very special blessing. Jason Bollinger, pastor of River Stone Community Church in San Marcos, connected TVM with another ministry that they have partnered with. Through this incredible connection, the three ladies who are married and their husbands, along with our shepherd and his wife were able to attend a Christian retreat for strengthening marriages. They were gone for three days and when they arrived back in Musanze they were grinning from ear to ear and rambling on about what an incredible experience it had been! They learned so much! One of them even told me if she died today, it would still be a miracle that she and her husband were able to do this together.
While our married couples attended the retreat, the team hosted a dinner for our widows at the guest house. It was so cool! Each team member helped prepare the meal of Mexican food...complete with homemade tortillas (true Texas team), guacamole and salsa! It was so much fun serving them and teaching them American praise songs...complete with hand motions that include the “sprinkler”!

Time is of the essence now. As I type this blog, Molly and I are at the Kigali Airport waiting on the arrival of Heidi Calvert, from Dallas. After that, it is a quick trip to the grocery store, the bank and then back to Musanze.

We believe that the drilling contractors will arrive at our land today and that the drilling of the borehole will begin in the morning! We are full of gratitude for so many of you who have helped us make the new well possible through our Gallons of Change drive! Please don’t stop collecting change as we want to continue collecting throughout the summer months. Any additional change will go towards the establishment of our new facility.

I am saddened about the immanent departure of our team. They have been such an incredible blessing to this ministry. My heart is so full.

Lastly, I ask for your continued prayers for our ministry, for our work and for continued peace in Rwanda as they prepare for their presidential elections on August 9.

Blessings,

Diana