Rwanda Pictures - Part 2

These were the girls in my little entourage! We walked so far one day that the little children (finally) turned around and went home. The girls were so sweet, that I pulled out some gum and gave them each a piece (since the children were gone). The next morning, when I showed up, they were all waiting for me and still chewing the gum! Aren't they pretty?


This little guy was a goat-herd. Not sure if that's the proper term, but he was responsible for following his family's goats and getting them all home again by dark. He was a happy little guy that I saw often, but he was not able to go to school or church because of his responsibility. He did take a testimony one day and I saw him sitting and reading it. Pray for him!


This is Patience. If I could have chosen one person to bring with me, it would have been her.

This is the only girl I know that has teeth as big as mine! I took her picture as evidence! Horse Teeth Unite!

Rwanda Pictures - Part 1

This is my dad in front of the United Kenya Club in Nairobi, Kenya. We stayed here one night on the way to Butare, Rwanda. It was very safe (with armed guards at the gate) and very nice. Hmmm...nice is a subjective term in international travel. This was the first lesson learned!

This is the most darling set of sisters I ever laid eyes on! The oldest is 12, the middle is 4 and the baby is almost 2.


These were the posters up inside of a home that we visited. CRACK ME UP!!! My roommate on the trip pointed out that they both have the same message: "I'll be back!!!"

I think that this is Larry's favorite picture from the trip!

Over 7,000

Here is a teaser, since I have dedicated this week to getting back into the 'groove' with my own darling family!

There were over 7,000 people that accepted Christ while we were on our trip to Butare, Rwanda!

Interesting facts from the trip:


'Mazunga' (Not sure of the spelling)...this is what they call White People! I thought that they were greeting us, "Mazunga, Mazunga"...so, I waved and smiled and returned the greeting! I didn't find out until later what it meant! It's pretty bad when you come off completely dorky in another language!

We flew home on my birthday and we were flying "with the sun", so I ended up with a 33-hour long birthday! How is that for another strange blessing?!

The airport in Amsterdam has an art gallery. So, I spent part of my birthday in Amsterdam with my daddy looking at art from the 1600's. Pretty neat and definitely a once-in-a-lifetime day!

I spent a lot of the trip with a huge-case of missing my guys...but, it also broke my heart to leave the church on that last Sunday. I am now trying to convince Larry that a youth camp would go over great there. We shall see what God says about it!

More to come later. I am still trying to get everything back to normal routine here, including myself!

Much love and thank you for praying!

Cool and Weird Blessings...and, of course, Rain!

Today, I ran to gather a few last items to pack before I take off. Then, Larry and I ate lunch with Caleb at McKenzie's.

It is funny how God can bless you in the weirdest ways! Larry and I ate at McKenzie's often (weekly, at least) while we were dating and especially when we were first married. (If Larry were typing this post, this is when he would add a joke about my early cooking abilities). They even catered our rehearsal dinner. We REALLY like McKenzie's BBQ.

This is the cool blessing: Now we really love the McKenzie family. When we came to West Conroe, we found out that Darin and Kathy are members of the church. Larry and Darin get along very well and I think Kathy is just adorable! They have great children, with the oldest in the youth group, one just about to move up to youth and the youngest in Jeremiah's Sunday school class. (My dad enjoys McKenzie's BBQ as well, and has stated that perhaps there could be an arranged marriage in the 3 year old class. I'm telling you, it's awesome BBQ!)

Today while we were eating there, Darin gave me a McKenzie's t-shirt to take with me on my trip. He has a group of pictures of people (wearing the shirt) in various places around the world. To think, me...on the wall in McKenzie's! That is the weird blessing!

As we made our way back to the church it started raining. So, it occurred to me that it might be wise to check the weather in Rwanda. Hmm...I think that I might feel at home there. Highest temp will be in the mid-80s and lows in 60s, with what else but...(insert drumroll here)...Rain!

Let My teaching fall like rain
and My words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass,
like abundant rain on tender plants.
Deuteronomy 32:2

If you are reading this between the dates of 10/13 and 10/27, please pray that God will wash me with the water of His Word and that I will be sensitive to His teaching and His words while I am gone. I will have a great long trip (with no children to watch over) and I am looking forward to marinating in His Word.

Also pray for the people that He will place us in contact with in Butare, Rwanda (and all along the way). Pray that His Spirit is already hovering over their hearts and preparing them to hear and accept the Good News!

Pray for my boys and Larry! You know me...you know what I want you to pray regarding them!

This is what it looks like...

This is what Caleb's toes look like while he takes a nap!


This is what it looks like when you wake up because Mommy is taking pictures of your toes!



This is what you look like when you are Jeremiah on the first day of Pre-K.

This is what it looks like when our friends, Tab and Beverly, have a gorgeous baby girl!

This is what it looks like when Caleb has two teeth!

This is what it looks like when Gideon pretends to drive a WWII Jeep at the Texas Honor Ride.(Joseph in back seat, Caleb in stroller and me in Buc-ees shirt)

This is what it looks like when Joseph sits in the pilot's seat of a Coast Guard helicopter that landed in the church parking lot during the Texas Honor Ride. (Cool Outfit! Gig 'Em!)


This is the type of post you write when it's 1:47am and you should be sleeping!

How do you say "Frizzy" in Swahili?

8 Days!

I leave in 8 days for Rwanda. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am getting.

There is a bag on the floor of our closet that I have packed/weighed/unpacked/repacked/re-weighed several times. This is going to be tricky! Once we get to Nairobi, we will stay the night and then fly into Kigali. This will be the point where we change airlines and are restricted to 44 lbs for luggage. Hmmm...packing for 2 weeks at a limit of 44 lbs is tough, especially since we have to carry our testimonies (which have been translated into Swahili or Kiswahili...I'm not 100%). These weigh about 5 lbs.

I have been trying different ways of styling my hair without using blowdryer, flat iron and curler this week. VERY INTERESTING...made even more interesting by the fact that it's been as humid as soup around here the last few days. How do you say Frizzy in Swahili?

Fun All American Weekend

So, I feel like we are halfway through an all-American weekend. Last night, we left as soon as the boys were off the bus to go to a high school football game in Schulenburg TX. We watched as some of our friends' son played against the Schulenburg Shorthorns. (The only more Texan-named football team is the Hereford Hostile Herd...but that's just my opinion. By the way, Hereford's girls sports teams are known as the Lady Whitefaces...again, what could be more Texan than those names?)

We had an excellent time! We visited with friends that we haven't seen in so very long. It was extremely comforting to be with them. The weather was perfect at 75 degrees and the slightest breeze I've ever felt. Fair weather and sincere friends...what could be better?

We hopped out of bed and headed to my parents' house this morning for their garage sale. Again, a very standard American weekend activity extremely enjoyed by this girl! We had a blast just hanging out and talking with people that came and went. The boys played with a little girl from down the street. We sat in some chairs that were for sale and talked about how my parents are going to decorate their new house. We talked about how I should finish decorating my own house!

No stress hang time. I needed it desperately and I was blessed with it twice this weekend. Thank You, Lord.

Psalm 62:1-2
My soul finds rest in God alone;
My salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my Rock and my Salvation;
He is my Fortress, I will never be shaken.