Living Hope Community Church of Tucson

Living Hope Community Church
Mari, Casey, Andria and Ella
(Dave Lynn, Todd, Pastor Dave)

Yesterday we drove down to Tucson to speak at Living Hope Community Church. My good friend Dave Lynn (well known author and writer) is on the leadership team and has been our connection with them. LHCC bailed us out last year when we needed a church to collect donations for City of Joy. We are so appreciative for their help this past year. Now we have www.joytotheworldfoundation.org working with us on donations.

I shared stories of lives being changed in Rwanda. I showed how Jesus is alive in Rwanda and he is bringing great hope for a better future. After the worship service we had breakfast and small group discussion. The questions were so good! LHCC worships around 70 people on a typical weekend. They meet in a school. They are small but their is a feel of what you read in the book of Acts of the house church movement. God is using Living Hope to do some incredible things in this world.

Andria's cousin Casey and our college age friend from New Covenant Church, Mari, were both there and we had a great time after church getting burgers at In and Out Burger. Mari was part of the team that came over to visit Rwanda when we first moved their 2 years ago. She is thinking of doing something in the public health field and is very interested in visiting us in Rwanda for a long term visit.

How to Donate to City of Joy

We have a new partnership with an incredible company to help us manage our donations. You can now donate money to City of Joy by going to www.joytotheworldfoundation.org and receive a tax deduction for every donation.

Just choose "City of Joy" as the operating project. Put a note of where you would like your donation to go and leave us your email if we don't have it so we can thank you and send you information on your donation.

The company charges 3% to manage our funds and to send letters to donors for their tax preparations. Credit cards are an additional 3% in merchant fees. Checking account transfers are the most economical way to donate because the additional 3% is not charged. You can also specify automatic reoccurring gifts.

As soon as we get our website up and running we will try to streamline the donation page even more.

Generosity in any language

Lately I have been blown away by people's kindness. After living in Rwanda for the past 21 months I didn't know what to expect in the states. Would I be disappointed with Americans and the way we live while we visited from Jan. to April? Not at all.

Yesterday we were at Paradise Bakery and the manager gave us all a free lunch because she felt like we waited to long in line for our food. If she only knew that restaurants in Rwanda take 3 hours to serve food to you. If she only knew that we weren't at all bothered by the wait (we did tell her that).

Today my good friend Don Reddy gives Andria an extra phone he had to use for free! We were given a beautiful house to stay in while in Phoenix. The house is located in picturesque Fountain Hills. From the drive way we have a magnificent view of the Four Peaks and Superstition Mountains. Every day we can relax and feel the beauty of God's creation as we listen to his voice.

Every speaking engagement and luncheon we hear stories of commitment and sacrifice that followers of Jesus are making. Today I listened to leaders at NPBC share how God's Spirit is moving in Phoenix. I certainly am not disappointed but encouraged!

Check out the Mission in Rwanda!

http://www.icontact-archive.com/aipPAECVUx6fiZnRzcBs2cyaZiMBZJTV?w=2

Mother-in-law to the Rescue

Being new parents means lack of sleep. Because of the medication that Andria was on for mastitis it has made Ella even more fussy at 2 months of age. Nights are good if we get 3 or 4 hours of sleep at any given span.

My mother-in-law has been such a blessing to us. She has stayed with us so many nights and days. I give up my spot in the master bedroom and my mother-in-law helps Andria through the night (and day). I know it is exhausting to her so we try to give her enough days "off" so that she can get some rest to..but she is so giving! Thanks Michele!

Community Church of Joy

Yesterday I went and spoke to 450 K-8 children at the Joy Christian School. I saw so many people that I knew it felt like a family reunion. Jane Coughlin, Ginny Wheeler, Bev Altop, Linda Swanson...to name a few. In some ways it feels like we never left America to live in Rwanda. Community Church of Joy has been financially supporting us from the beginning and we are so appreciative for their prayers and financial support.

Ginny Wheeler has been a dear friend for over 20 years and has been waiting a long time to see me as a daddy. It use to be an ongoing joke because of how old I was getting and hadn't started my family. Unfortunately Andria and Ella were not with me but Ginny reminded me of this and I can't wait to let her hold Ella!

Check out our latest newsletter!

http://www.icontact-archive.com/aipPAECVUx6fiZnRzcBs2U3d4Q7PHWl2?w=2