Saying "Good-bye" and Saying "Hello"

So what would make someone want to sell everything and move to be a missionary in Rwanda? Let me start when I first met Andria. Andria was on a woman's retreat with her church (NPBC). It was close to love at first sight! During our 3 years of dating Andria shared that she sensed God calling her into full-time missions. She wanted to find someone who also had the same calling. I, being your typical male, told her what she wanted to hear, "Sure, I would love to be a missionary!". Deep in my heart I knew I was be disingenuous. Andria left the discussion at that and allowed God to move my heart on his own.

When we got married, 7/11/08 something happened. I don't really know how to explain it but my desire to live overseas as a missionary increased to an unbearable degree. I began to feel uncomfortable living the "American Dream" while God was calling me...and now us...to something different.

So that brings us to today. We have sold everything. Someone asked me here in Rwanda, after they saw our house and material possessions, if it was difficult to come here. I had to be honest and say "no'. Now, there have been challenges along the way, but we have never felt more sure of what God has wanted then for us to be at Urukundo in Rwanda.

One of the theme verses that God has been giving me or our life is from Matthew 22:37-39 (New International Version)

37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'

To love God and to love others, to put it simply, is our "marching orders". As we stood before Andria's childhood church North Phoenix Baptist and before New Covenant Lutheran, we sensed God saying that this move to Rwanda was the way he wanted us to love Him and others! We could do nothing else but submit!