Muraho! Welcome to the official blog site for Melissa and Kristen's mission trip to Rwanda! We wanted to create a place where our friends and family can come to get updates and news while we are in the beautiful continent of Africa. This blog spot will allow you to view our posts before during and after the trip. Most importantly it will be our "lifeline" to everyone back home. We will post everything from journal entries to stories to (most importantly) prayer requests. Please visit us as often as you can. We need your support! You can also reply to our posts if you like (we would LOVE it if you did). We will be leaving on June 25th and return July 13th, 2007. We are beyond excited!

Many people have asked Kristen and I, "So uh..what exactly will you be doing there?" Good question!
Kristen and I will be:

#1 Conducting follow up on previous One27 trips (i.e. sponsored children-how resources are being spent and utilized)

#2 Helping to formalize the child sponsorship program through One27 (scholarships and funds go to school fees, books and school uniforms)

#3 teach bible lessons in a preschool (to get a feel for the daily school routine of children and to understand administrative procedures of Rwandan schools - with the goal to assist in future planning for possible One27 schools)

We would like to ask for each of you to begin praying. We both understand the danger of such a trip and are by no means oblivious to it. However, we both have the peace of God that surpasses all that we can ever understand. I know I speak for both of us when I say, we STRONGLY believe in the mighty power of prayer! Many of you have been on your knees for the trips of the past. I also know that many of you have a place in your heart for the Rwandan people and lift them up daily. We also wanted to bring back the "Starbucks Prayer Reminder"! You veterans know exactly what I'm talking about-but for those of you who don't, here's what we mean. Every time you see the Starbucks symbol (on a napkin, cup, freeway sign, whatever...) say a little (or big!) prayer for us. Not just this trip that Kristen and I will be on, but for the hearts and souls of the beautiful people of Rwanda. Thank you all, you mean more to us than we can express! We hope to hear from you!

~Mel

Never heard of One27 Ministries Inc.? Check out this website!

http://www.one27ministries.org/

"Idini ritunganye kandi ritanduye imbere y 'Imana Data wa twese ni iri: ni ugusura impfubyi n'abapfakazi mu mibabaro yabo, no kwirinda kutanduzwa n'iby'isi."

Yakobo 1:27

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

James 1:27