Hello from Montana!

Hey there everybody!

So it has been a while since I posted anything and I thought I should give you a little update.

OK well the main thing is that I am living in Montana right now. I moved out here about a month ago and got an apartment with Mindy and Kate who are two of the girls that were in my DTS. I really like MT. It is so different when compared to NH. I am also discovering how stressful living on your own in America can be but it is a good learning experience for me:)

I still keep in touch with a lot of my classmates. I e-mail mostly with the ones from East Africa although Didier and I talk on the phone regularly. A lot of the students are now staff at various YWAM bases. I miss them all so much. It was so great to see Kate and Mindy after a summer apart. I will hopefully be spending a week in Seattle with Laura in October so I am looking forward to that.

I have not heard anything more from Selassie nor has anyone been able to get in touch with him. I will pray for him and think of him for the rest of my life. I trust God with his life whether I ever see him again or not.

As for my future plans...I will stay in MT until about May of next year and then will spend about a month with my family before heading back to Africa. My tentative plans for now are to go back to Rwanda in June for around a month to visit my friends and then head down to South Africa from there. The Primary Healthcare school in Worcester, South Africa starts in July so that timing should work. I am in the process of applying to that school now. Well, those are my next steps for now and then who knows where I'll end up!

I'll try to update once in a while but it's not as fun writing from the US as it was from Africa. I don't have any goat killing or amazing children to tell stories about here:)

Love, Isimbi Johanna

Leaving Rwanda

Hey people,

I have a brief chance today to send my last blog post from Rwanda. It
is my last day here. I leave for the airport tomorrow morning. I have
been trying to pack in as many things at once as I can.

I just came to the internet after trying to walk to my friend Didier's
house. I'm afraid I got lost before I could make it. Now it is not
just my poor sense of direction to blame; usually Didier and I walk
there together and it is the back way that has a lot of little twists
and turns that all look alike. Today Didier said he wanted me to try
to find it myself and when I said I might get lost and end up
wandering through the valley he said he hoped I would so that I would
miss my plane and not be able to leave. His plan almost succeeded:)

This week has been very sad with all the good-byes and knowing that I
will be leaving this country for who knows how long. I have also not
been able to get in touch with Selassie which in a way breaks my heart
because I don't think I will likely ever see him again. I told God
that if for whatever reason I did not see Sel again I would still
commit to praying for him the rest of my life and I will stick to
that. Oh dear, I am going to need cheering up when I get to NH.

Well, please pray for safe travels for myself and my bags. I will be
in London for the weekend and then home Monday night. See you all
soon!

Isimbi Johanna

Returning Home

Johanna will be leaving Kigali, Rwanda on Friday, May the 23rd and connecting through Nairobi, Kenya enroute to London, England. She will be traveling to London together with her classmate, Laura. They will spend two days in London with Johanna's friend, Mary (from her Mercy Ship's team in 2006).

Then on Monday, May 26, Johanna and Laura will say goodbye and Johanna will fly to Boston arriving early in the evening to the eager hugs of her family.

Please remember Johanna and Laura during these coming days as they travel and as they say farewell to many people who have become dear, precious connections in their lives.

Growth

HI peoples!

So I will be back home a week from this Monday. I can't really wrap my
mind around that because it doesn't feel yet like I am actually
leaving and to be blatantly honest I don't really want to. It will be
nice to see you people though...

There has been a recurring theme for me in this school from the very
beginning and it has been stronger the last few days so I thought I
would share it with you. God has been making it clear to me for a
while now that He considers this to be a time for me to grow up. It is
His desire to use this time and experiences to mold me into a woman of
God. I am being challenged to leave behind old patterns of thought and
behavior and mature. Sometimes it is downright hard and I would rather
just not try. The best way I can describe what I am trying to say is
that God is in the process of re-potting me. You know when a plant
grows to the point that it needs to be moved to a bigger pot in order
for it to grow even more. That is me right now. It isn't easy because
God is getting to my roots and digging up things I don't really want
to deal with which I can share more about one-on-one when I get back
if you want.

I've had a tendency for the past few years to just look back at how
far I have come which is considerable and be content with that. God
transformed me from what I used to be like and the danger for me is to
think that He is done now. The truth is that He wants me in a
continual state of transformation. It excites me the more I think
about it. God will never take His hands away from me and say there is
nothing more to be done. He will stay personally involved in my
growth. No matter how wise or godly I may become He can still do more
to make me a woman who reflects Him. So that is what I have been
reflecting on recently.

Anyway, our class has our graduation ceremony this Friday. Everybody
is graduating which makes me very happy. That means that the only one
we lost is Selassie. Speaking of which, I have tried to reach him and
not succeeded yet. I would appreciate continued prayers for him and
for the chance of seeing him before I leave. I only have 8 days left
in Rwanda. I don't want to dwell on that thought. See you soon. Bye
for now!

Isimbi Johanna

Back home in Rwanda

Hello peoples!

I am now back in Rwanda! I missed it so much and it is such a relief to be back here. I love this country so much.

The bus ride getting here was a bus ride from...never mind; 26 hours driving over what must be some of the worst roads on East Africa. We also drove right through the Rift Valley which is other-worldly beautiful but also a little scary since that is where most of the violence in Kenya has been concentrated. At one point we drove past a row of burned down buildings where people had been driven from their homes. God is good and He got us back to Kigali safely.

I will right a longer post in the next couple of days to let you know more but for now I am still exhausted:) I am not looking forward to leaving by the way. If it were not for wanting to see all of you again I would never leave Rwanda I think. Talk to you later!

Isimbi Johanna

P.S. Please pray that I will get to see Selassie before I leave. I miss that kid more than I can describe and everything in Rwanda makes me think of him. Strange the people God chooses for us to be connected to.

A Glimpse of African Healthcare

[This journal from the BBC's series on a medical clinic in the country next to Liberia, is typical of the challenges that African heathcare workers face...]

Medical staff at a clinic in the coastal slum of Kroo Bay, in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, are keeping a diary of their working lives.

Here, Bintu Koroma, who is a midwife at the clinic, talks about traditional beliefs and troubled pregnancies.

A woman arrived on the maternity ward last month, who had been in labour for more than one-and-a-half days without delivering

Her waters had broken from a premature rupture and she had gone to a traditional birth attendant, who had tried to deliver the baby but with no joy.

I examined her, however, there was not much I could do at this stage and I advised her to go to the hospital at once.

It is in our regulations that if a delivery goes on for more than 24 hours we must refer them immediately.

Inside I felt it might already be too late for this baby.

I learned later that in fact she had gone back to the traditional birth attendant because her family did not have the money to take her to the hospital.

The issue here is always money.

She eventually delivered but the baby was stillborn.

When I saw her several days later, her belly was still swollen as if she was still pregnant, I told her she must go to the doctor.

Most people in the slum still prefer to go to a traditional birth attendant as this is what they have done for generations.

They use local medicine and herbs, which are part of people's beliefs.

Herbs are often rubbed over a pregnant woman's belly to protect the baby, not only from medical problems but also from any curses.

When something goes wrong, people blame others for putting a jinx on them - and this was also the case with this woman.

She said that she had a competitor for her husband, who, she believed, had placed a curse on the baby so that it would die.

I told her that this was not the case.

"Your baby died because your waters broke too early and you didn't go to the hospital," I said.

Excuses

We have talked with the traditional birth attendants and asked them to bring their patients to the clinic to carry out the deliveries.

We usually charge 70,000 leones ($24) for a delivery, but in these cases we just want to observe and be able to step in if there is an emergency - we don't charge any money to the birth attendant or the patient.

It's difficult find out how much birth attendants charge, but it's thought to be between 40,000 leones ($14) and 100,000 leones ($34) - a higher fee for a boy than a girl.

Sometimes the attendants do come here with their patients, but most of the time they don't.

When I see them in the street and ask them why they didn't come to the clinic, they tend to invent excuses: "Oh, the woman's family called me, and when I arrived at her house the baby immediately fell into my hands - there was no time."

I think there are two reasons why they avoid the clinic.

Firstly we do not allow them to bring their herbs.

But, more importantly, they fear that by bringing their patients to the clinic, other traditional birth attendants will get to hear about the delivery.

They will then turn up uninvited in the delivery room, impose their help and then expect a share of the money.

Nairobi says hi!

Hello people!

I can't write much but I wanted to send a greeting from my one day in Nairobi. I really like this city. I could easily live here although I would miss the beauty of the bush-bush.

I will see you all (from NH) in about a month and I am looking forward to it. I have to go the others are waiting.

Love you all and I'll write more soon!

Isimbi Johanna

Stop the Milking!

We tried calling Johanna on Saturday this time (because Sundays are so full and because her two younger siblings are not usually with us when we have to call before 2:00 PM Eastern time). We got through right away but Laura told us (we thought) that Johanna was down looking at the cows and that we should call back in 10 minutes.

We did just that and Johanna answered but it turns out that she had been milking the cow not just looking. I'm sure that her great aunts and uncles on the side of her Amish heritage (not to mention her great-grandmother, Annie) would have identified immediately with her chores!

Since we were calling the day before her sister's 16th birthday, the two of them were able to 'catch up' on news and relish the prospect of less than 40 days until Johanna is back home again -- however briefly that might be.

Johanna said that the location of the YWAM facility was absolutely spectacular. I forgot to ask her if in fact she could see Mt. Kilimanjaro from where she was. It is about 115 miles away just over the Tanzanian border and rises to a height of over 19,000 feet -- so I'm guessing if you have the right vantage and the right weather, it should be possible.

The YWAM property adjoins national park land so the wildlife and scenery is a great treat indeed. The team has been working hard all week doing manual labor on the property (when not milking) but will begin to work at an HIV/AIDS ministry near Nairobi on Tuesday.

The Kenyan Sky!

Hello everybody! The team and I arrived safely in Kenya last Saturday after a horrific bus ride. Athi River, Kenya is definitely out in the bush-bush and so gorgeous. I don't know how to explain the sky here. Its not like anything I have ever seen in America. Its kind of like the land is so beautiful that the sky wants to reach down and touch it. So anywhere you stand you can turn in a complete circle and there are huge, white billowing clouds touching the horizon. Imagine what the sunrises are like...:)

So far for ministry we have just been working at the base slashing grass, which is the African version of mowing the lawn. We have also been pulling down dead branches from thorn trees, which is a very perilous job. Next week we will start ministry in a children's home, do a prayer walk in Nairobi (please pray for us, scary place right now), and participate in small groups with HIV/AIDS affected children.

One benefit at the base every day can be a safari because there are giraffes that regularly graze all around, and a national park with lions, cheetahs, zebras, you name it that borders the base. One downfall is the lack of Internet access, which means this has to be short. Bye!

Love you all!
Isimbi Johanna

Safe Arrival in Kenya!

Johanna's close friend Laura (pictured) posted this on Saturday morning after their arrival:

"We left Soroti at noon yesterday and traveled through the night to arrive in Nairobi this morning at 5 am. We then took another bus to the bush bush and are at the base. The nearest town is a 30 min walk, and there is no internet there. I am using the internet at the base but it is expensive so I won’t really be able to use it much. I am told that if we go out of the base into the bush to have our morning quiet time, we are likely to be met by giraffe and zebra. It is really beautiful but there is nothing here. I am not sure what our ministries will be yet, we will find out on Monday. ... Please excuse the infrequency of my posts from now until I get back in Rwanda…things are a little different now that it is easier for me to see a giraffe than to get to a computer…"

Travel to Kenya

I spoke briefly with Johanna the evening before her departure from Uganda. The team will take a bus about noontime to the main terminal (I suspect in Kampala). There they will take an overnight bus traveling to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, and arrive at about 5:00 AM on the morning of Saturday 4/12. Staff from the Athi River YWAM facility will be coming to Nairobi to pick them up. Thanks for your prayers!!

Children who cheat death

Hello people,

I am writing my last note to you all from Uganda. We leave on Friday morning to drive to Athi River, Kenya. I have to tell you about the people I will remember the most from my time here in Soroti.

The YWAM base I stayed at has a ministry for children living with HIV/AIDS like I said. The minstry consists of two houses almost right next to each other. The first house is called Amacet n'ainapakin which means 'shelter of peace' in Ateso, the local dialect. It is a temporary home for young children who would often times die if they were not taken in. Some of them are postive for HIV while others have simpler health problems and some are just taken in as newborns because there mothers died giving birth and they have to be looked after. The goal of this ministry is to get the children healthy enough for them to be able to go back home to their families. This home is where I and some of the others from our team worked to help take care of these kids

Let me start with Esther. She is about a year and a half old although they don't know her exact age because her mother was a mentally unsound woman who lived on the street. When she was taken to the hospital she told everyone that her baby was dead. The policewoman who found Esther gave her her own name since they didn't know what to call her. Nobody knows who Esther's father is and her mother disappeared when she was released from the hospital. Esther's only chance for a home other than Amicet is to be adopted. She is such a joy to be around! She is almost walking know and she talks all the time. Her favorite word is Auntie which she calls everybody nonstop, even guys. Esther loves music and she will sing or dance to herself.

Probably the two sickest kids right now at Amicet are Dennis and David. They are both skin and bones although David at least will eat by himself and Dennis has to have a feeding tube. They are both over two years I think but it is hard to tell. David is wanting to be held all the time and he is a very good cuddler. Dennis, however, I am convinced could make any woman in the world fall in love with him. He has the most enormous brown eyes and you will find yourself just staring at him when all of a sudden this smile will spread across his face and...boom, you are done for. Please pray that both of these little men will be able to gain weight. Dennis also has a urinary tract infection and he has not been responding to any drugs.

I have to tell you about my favorite. The other girls think I am crazy for liking her but Silivia is my girl. We all have the kids that we dream about taking home with us and I would take Silivia home if I could. Silivia is about 16-months but she is close to the size of a 4-month old. She cannot talk, walk, or even sit up by herself until recently. She cries so easily; if the other kids just brush against her foot it startles her and sends her off into one of her screaming fits but they only last for five seconds. Surprisingly, she is not HIV-positive. Actually, the doctors don't know what is wrong with her. Silivia may seem to be rather irritating at first; even I thought so until one day when I was putting her to bed. I discovered that Silivia loves to reach up with her tiny little hand and touch peoples' faces. And if you kiss her hand her entire face is transformed by smiles. When I give her kisses on her cheek she becomes beautiful and she isn't the funny looking kid with a head too big for her body anymore. She also likes to look around the room and if anyone is smiling she immediately joins in. I'm telling you her face radiates joy when she smiles. My dream is to take her to America, find a doctor who knows what is wrong, and help her grow up to be the woman God intended her to be.

The second home is called Amacet n'amun which means 'shelter of hope'. It is a long-term home for kids living with HIV/AIDS. They are older; between the ages of ten and fourteen. It is more like a family than the first home. Our team was blessed to be able to spend most afternoons hanging out with these kids after school. The guys played football with the boys and the girls all played games together. These kids are awesome. They are the image of perseverance and hope in a situation that seems hopeless. They do not have easy lives and most are orphans but they smile and love and laugh. I know that God views these kids as His own priceless jewels on earth. They shine for Him.

I'm sorry for how long this post is and I know that I haven't shared much about myself but I had to tell you about the unforgettable people I met in Uganda. Chances are I will never see them again after I leave and the hard reality is that within a few years many of these children from both homes may be dead. I have nevertheless been blessed beyond description to have been given the chance to see them live. I am amazed that God continues to allow us to see His treasured things particularly when we seem to often mistreat what He so deeply cares about. Yet He stills shares more and more with us. I know it's an understatement but God is really brave to do that. I am so thankful that we have the God that we have.

OK, I will force myself to stop here since my time is running out:) I will see you all in the end of May. Bye! Ndagakunda cyane!

Isimbi Johanna

The month of April

Hi people!

I don't have very long but I wanted to at least say hi while I had the chance. I have only two more shifts left at Amicet; the home for the children with AIDS. I will be so sad to leave those kids.When I have more time I will tell you about them in more detail.

Please continue to pray for Rwanda this month. it is a very difficult time for the entire nation and even though we are not in Rwanda right now some of our group is having a hard time already. April 6 marks the day that you could say started the genocide. the entire country is in mourning this month and the government holds two weeks of official remembrance. during those two weeks is when people are allowed to dig up the bones of their families to give them proper burials in the memorial centers. We as a group and Rwanda as a nation really need prayers right now for healing, peace, and wisdom. I will keep you all updated as much as possible.

Bye for now.

Isimbi Johanna

What's in a name?

  
  

Hello,

I just had a long post I was going to send but the internet cafe was switching from off the generator since the power came back on so I lost it all. I have less time now to say hi to you all but I'll be back on Wednesday I hope. We have just 11 days left in Uganda and then we are on to Kenya for a month. I am definitely excited to see another country.

I was thinking that maybe I should explain my name to you all. If you noticed I have been signing my blog posts as Isimbi Johanna. Obviously you all know that my name is Johanna:) Isimbi is my Kinyarwanda name (pronounced ee-SEE-mbee). It is very special to me because Selassie gave it to me. He said that it was perfect for me and since he rarely reached out to people like that it meant a lot. Simply translated Isimbi means "shining". A more accurate translation is shining like a snow-covered mountain or a pebble in the water. Rwanda has no natural resources like gold or diamonds so when people wanted to describe something that was treasured they used the way the sun glistens on the top of a snowy mountain as an example. But that is not what means the most to me about my name. When Sel gave it to me he said that in Rwanda girls that were named Isimbi were special. They were in his words " quiet, beautiful, and wise". As soon as he had said that he started talking about 1994. He said that during the genocide sometimes the killers would ask people what their names were and when they came to a girl named Isimbi they still killed her anyway. He had this look on his face that I can't describe and he shook his head and said "that was very bad" as if killing them showed how little regard there was for anyone at all. So, anyway that is the story of my name.

I will talk to you all soon! Bye for now!

Isimbi Johanna

The Chicken Picture!

Yeah, but Dad still knows where to look for the evidence...

Chickens and attack helicopters!

Hi people!

I have to say that I had the most unique and probably most fun Easter sunday that I have ever had yesterday. I woke up early so that I could slaughter chickens! I told some of my African team members back in Rwanda that I wanted to learn how to kill a chicken and they let me kill five of them and then I defeathered them and learned how to cut them up. I won't go in to more details for those of you who are grossed out but any of you that want to know the specifics for killing a chicken just ask me when I get back:) I have pics of it up on facebook for those of you that can access that but I couldn't post them here.

Then I went to church and after it was over the guy who was giving us a ride back to base gave us a tour of his flight academy. We went up into the control tower and since the military also uses that place we got to get a tour of a military attack helicopter. It was really cool. It was loaded with rocket bombs and had a 30-mm gun in front. I am hoping that tomorrow I might get to go back and sit in the planes that the school uses. I also got to learn how to make chipotis that afternoon which is a bread type thing that is absolutely delicious. All in all it was a good day.

Time goes so fast. We have less than three weeks remaining in Uganda and less than two months until we graduate. I will be happy to go home and see people and to be totally honest I am looking forward to a Dunkin' Donuts medium french vanilla coffee almost as much. At the same time though I will be heartbroken to leave. I keep leaving bits of myself all over Africa. I guess every time I do God replaces what I lost with Himself so that I am never depleted or running dry. It's better that way. I'd rather lose myself even though sometimes it hurts if it means that I get to feel more of what God feels. And I will need His strength because coming here is not always easy. I really enjoy it sometimes and I joke about how fun it is to kill chickens but the truth is that in the long run I will only be able to last in Africa if God keeps pouring Himself out into me. I find it amazing that He even does but I am so grateful. The Johanna Beachy that I am on my own cannot deal with little children, even babies, who are slowly dying. They seem just like ordinary kids sometimes until they suddenly throw up or I see a kid that I think is maybe a few months old until I find out that she is over a year old.

I also am incapable of dealing with the amount of inside pain that I have seen people living with. It will sometimes just rise up and smack me in the face when I am not expecting. Someone will be talking and the next thing you know someone else makes a remark about how during the genocide they fell down a hole while running for their life and broke their back and that they had to lay there covered with a bag of beans to try to hide since they couldn't move. It's a whole different world and I don't know how I'm going to go home. Sorry I didn't mean to get all depressing but that is what it is like to live with Rwandese. I would love them so much if only for how much they have survived and God has protected them through. I love this God who keeps people alive when it is humanly impossible to do so. And He is the same God who then sustains me when I am facing the pain that comes as a result of their experiences. How amazing is that! Every time I see how big and powerful He is I am so honored that He cares for every little thing about me.

Yeah, if you want to see some more about the God who cares for you come to Africa, especially Rwanda, and you will be blown away. I think a lot of people in America have this view of God as our Father and best Friend which is totally true but sometimes we can forget about this whole other side of Him. He is the Defender of the weak and oppressed, a Warrior King, and all-powerful in everything He does. I've gotten some awesome glimpses of my Lord in that role here and it gives me goosebumps. Actually, it drives me to my knees. You don't stand in the presence of a King like that. And if you really want to be in awe of Him take a look in the Bible about what he says regarding the widows and orphans. I have learned a lot about His heart towards them in the past few months. He loves them alright but I was amazed and scared to see the way He will act against those who abuse them. He has such a tender spot for orphans and widows that anyone who dares to hurt them or even to just not help them out should be really scared.

OK, I love talking about HIm but I am running out if time now. I will see and talk to you people in June. Bye!

Ndagakunda cyane! Imana ibahe umugisha!

Isimbi Johanna

Happy Easter!

Hi everybody,

I have not been able to get to the internet as much but will try to do
better. Ministry here is going well although it is already tiring. I
spent two days the beginning of this week in the hospital. Don't panic
family:) My friend got malaria so I stayed in the clinic to take care
of her. It was a good glimpse for me into the way clinics here work.
They took good care of her but so many other things were frustrating.
I want to work at a clinic like that so that I can see it improve! As
for the other things I've done; probably the most exhausting and also
the most rewarding is Amacet. Amacet is a home for young children
living with HIV/AIDS or babies that need someone to take care of them
for a time. It is grueling work, particularly the 14-hour overnight
shifts, but the kids make it all worth it. This afternoon our team is
going to an Easter celebration where we have been asked to
participate. I'm not much of a singer but at least I'm in a group.

Today makes exactly three weeks left in Soroti and then we will
hopefully go on to Athi River, Kenya for the last month. Your prayers
about that would be appreciated. The other thing to pray for is the
upcoming month of April. It is the hardest month of the year for
Rwandans because it brings so many memories of the genocide and is
often the anniversary of the deaths of their families . I am grateful
actually that we are not in Rwanda next month but it will still be a
difficult time for many of our team members. They are my family now
and the pain they experience is intense enough that I feel it as well.
Oh, to be honest I quite miss Rwanda. I will be back there for two
weeks before I go home at least. Well, I must go...Monday is my day
off next week so I will try to write more then. Bye! See you in June!

Isimbi Johanna

Hello from the other side of the equator!

Hi everybody!

I have to be very quick but I wanted to let you know that I arrived safely in Uganda:)

The bus trip was long and very bumpy. We drove across the equator along the way which was cool. I found it even more fascinating to drive across the Nile! On one side was all big modern buildings and the on the other side down by the shore I looked out the window and saw some fishermen in little dugout canoes. That is what I have found Africa in general to be like; a blend of modern up to date technology and old old traditions that have hardly changed in the past few thousand years. Maybe that is part of the appeal.

Oh, I need to go. I will post a more complete update later that includes what it was like working with little children with AIDS. Talk to you soon!

Isimbi Johanna

Arrival in Uganda...

Hello to all Johanna's friends:

Her roommate Laura posted an update on her blog to indicate that they have arrived safely in Soroti. The highlights are as follows:

• Left Kigali base early on Tuesday morning and were on our way to Uganda by 6 30. We crossed the border in less than 2 hours.
• We raced along the highways until we arrived in Kampala in the afternoon. The scenery is very different here, much flatter and drier. We also crossed the equator, which was cool.
• We spent the night at a friends house in the city and had a late dinner before all falling asleep while standing up.
• The next morning we awoke early again and caught a bus to Soroti. This one was much bigger and full of people. We raced along the bumpy pothole-filled high ways, through flat Ugandan marshlands for most of the day. By the time we reached Soroti, we were all exhausted and our backs were aching from the incredibly bumpy ride.
• We found our way to the YWAM base and were greeted by a small staff. The base here is spread out and each ministry has their own compound. Soroti is much more rural than our base in Kigali, and we are in the middle of a big, hot field.
• We were shown to our very "cozy" room, where eight of us girls will live. However, you could put me in a box for all I am concerned, because we have running water, our own bathroom, and a shower!!! Oh, and there is a toaster here as well, in the kitchen!
• We spent our first night meeting them, looking at the stars, and sweating while being eaten alive by mosquitoes.
• We awoke this morning to breakfast and an orientation about the ministries we will be involved in. Mostly we will be working with FACE (facing aids with compassion and education), a primary school, and Amachet, which is a phenomenal ministry for children with AIDS. We will be working night shifts at the center for children and helping ease the pain of some of those who are very progressed in their symptoms. I know it will be very difficult, but this is an incredible ministry to show children love and dignity before they die, and to nurse those who can be saved back to a healthy and somewhat normal life.
• Please pray for us as this will certainly be an emotional experience.

Johanna's Dad

Africa's Potential

I'm back again! Two days in a row I have been able to post something!

I ran off to the internet quick in between packing and cleaning to get some last minute things in order. I will have to hop on the back of a moto to get back in time for supper.

I have to say that one thing I came to believe in the past year has been confirmed beyond doubt for me in Rwanda. Africa as a continent has the potential to become a great teacher to the rest of the world about the healing power of the Almighty God. I know that at first glance that doesn't seem likely. The few things to be heard in the news are not inspiring or reassuring especially because there is truth in them. Nevertheless, I'm telling you that I believe with absolutely certainty that God has been holding back a powerful weapon to reach the world and it's Africa. There is something stirring on the horizon of this place. I first sensed it in West Africa although I didn't know what it was at the time and I can feel it here as well. It is exciting for me because I have had the belief confirmed by multiple people who sense the same thing. I don't know if it will happen in my lifetime but I would love to see it! When God unleashes Africa, which I think will happen as more people here begin to seek His face, the world will stand in awe at the way God is reflected. It makes me so excited! We serve an amazing God who turns the worst into something wonderful. Remember that the next time you hear another horrible story or statistic about this continent because He can and will use to show His glory to all humanity.

I could talk about this for hours but since I am leaving at five in the morning to drive to Uganda I need to go:) I will arrive sometime Wednesday and I'll talk to you as soon as I can. Bye! Love you all!

Isimbi Johanna

Leaving for Uganda!

Hi friends and family!

I have no idea where I will next be writing you from as I am leaving
this Tuesday morning to go to Soroti. It is a long bus ride but the
exciting thing is that we will drive across the Equator and right by
the source of the Nile! We expect to be in Uganda for about a month
and then we will hopefully be heading on to Kenya depending on how the
situation is by then. I am looking forward to seeing another African
country. Mostly I am excited for what I know the Lord can do through
our team. My prayer is that we will put aside who we are in order to
better reflect our Creator.

It looks like I will probably not be going straight to South Africa
after DTS is over. The base has not responded to me yet and I have a
very limited time in which to prepare the details if I were to go. I
am sad to miss the adventure it could have been but I know that I will
have others. So that means I will most likely be coming home in the
end of May. I expect I will be around for at least a couple months
before heading out somewhere. I am also still going to pursue going to
the Primary Healthcare School in South Africa next year. That will
give me time to work before I go. I will be spending time praying
about this next stage in my life as I come home.

First, though, I am looking to be used in ministry in Uganda and
Kenya. There is more than one AIDS ministry that I hope to be able to
work with. I will write to all you dear people as soon as I can!

Isimbi Johanna

P.S. I have not seen or heard from Selassie. Even if I never see him
again I will pray for him the rest of my life. He is my twin brother.

A quick hello

I have to be fast today but I wanted to say hello to all of you and I miss you.

I will be leaving a week from today to go to Soroti, Uganda. In fact,
I just came from the Ugandan Embassy here where I was working on
getting my visa. It is exciting to go and sad to leave Rwanda. OK a
short recap of my time here...In the past three months I have:

• Eaten cow stomach and intestines
• Become an expert at bucket showers
• Learned a very little bit of Kinyarwanda, Swahili, and French
• Cooked over charcoal
• Completely lost the whole idea of personal space
• Seen zebras, giraffes, antelopes, warthogs, baboons...
• Heard the most horrific testimonies in person
• Swam in Lake Kivu

And the list could go on and on but I am out of time! I will try to
write again soon. Miss you all and love you!

Isimbi Johanna

Muraho!

So first off -- no I did not get to see the President when he came this past week. We live right by the airport though and we could hear his planes and helicopters arriving while we were sitting in class. And I went to town that day to pick up a package and there were policemen and soldiers all over the place.

Alrighty, about Kenya...What our school is planning to do is go to Soroti, Uganda for the first month of our outreach and then if God is still calling us to Kenya we'll go there for the last month. It's kind of cool actually because our DTS staff heard from God to do that and the base leadership also felt God was telling them to wait and then they found out that God was telling them the same thing. Even right down to going to Uganda first. We will, therefore, be leaving to go to Soroti on March 11th which is coming up so fast. This week will be our last week of classes. Time flies! I don't know what getting to the internet will be like there but I'll keep in touch as much as possible. That's something to keep praying about and as always my dear twin Selassie. I have still not heard from him.

There is actually something else. Something I was hesitant to tell everyone because I am not sure it will happen at all but I think it would be good for you all to know. That way if you happen to think about me during prayers you could mention this little thing. Some of you know that a major reason I did this DTS was to get into YWAM's Primary Healthcare school after graduating. [Note: see previous post from December for more details...] I was looking into possible places to do this school before I left. I really like it a lot. I feel like it was designed perfectly to match what God has put in my heart for developing nations. There were two places I have been considering. One is in Perth, Australia where they have an excellent IPHC school (Introduction to Primary Healthcare). But I really wanted to do this school in Africa somewhere because I knew I would likely get more practical experience. So there is another one in Worcester, South Africa. The problem was that the South Africa school starts every July and that wouldn't give me enough time after DTS ends in May.

Well, I was sitting in a meeting a few weeks ago and all of a sudden I just started thinking about where to go for the school and this thought dropped into my head. A scary thought that I had never even considered before; " Who said you have to go home first?" And I was like, whoa God! No way! But my mind kept considering it anyway. Think Johanna, your DTS ends in May. There is a school that you know you want to do that starts in July. The school is in South Africa. You are already in East Africa. Just go straight down to Worcester from Rwanda! To tell you the truth I made a big commitment while I was sitting there. I told God that if He wanted me to do that school and do it this year then I will. It excites me and scares me. I love adventures but I like to plan them myself so part of me wants to tell God to just wait and let me go home first. I'll go back and see family and friends. I'll make some money since I don't have any for the school yet anyway.

Fortunately, I realize that I don't want to be comfortable with my own decisions like that. What I want more than anything is just to follow Christ. I don't need to take breaks in between or refresh myself for my next trip to Africa because following Him, no matter how radical it looks, is the most restful place I can be. If Jesus is leading me to South Africa that soon then I want to follow. Anyway, dear people, for all I know God just wants me to be ready to obey Him all the time and I won't actually be going yet or maybe I will. Either way is OK with me. There is such freedom in following Christ! When I am focused on Him it doesn't matter if I'm in Africa or America because He is the first thing I see anyway! I sent an e-mail to the South Africa base to find out the details and I'll let you know more as soon as I get them.

Sorry for how long this is but you try to fit the story of your life into a once in a while blog post and keep it short:) I will see you all when I see you! God bless you (or as Selassie would say Jah Bless)!

Isimbi Johanna

A President's Visit

President George W. Bush (C) and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame watch dancers perform during an arrival ceremony at Kigali International Airport February 19, 2008. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Those who follow the torrent of media (in whatever form it is rendered or consumed) will be aware that President George Bush has been in Africa this week. In the course of his trip the President will have visited each of the countries where Johanna has spent time in Africa (Liberia, Ghana, and Rwanda). The President and First Lady seem to have a genuine interest in the great needs of Africa (in particular the HIV/AIDS crisis -- see this Time article for more detail) but one is left to wonder how much can really be comprehended on such a quick trip either by the Bushes, by the media, or by those of us watching from a distance.

It is certainly easier to travel around Africa in Air Force One -- but the downside is that it is probably much harder to really see Africa. True, you do get to see the prepared ceremonies, you meet those dignitaries with enough rank to warrant an invitation to the receptions, and you visit places selected by the embassy. But do you see Africa? Almost certainly not.

You still miss the kids who live day-to-day on the streets. You miss the orphanages overflowing with children and joy and African energy. You miss the shoe-string clinics short on help and medicines and funds that nevertheless make a world of difference to the limited extent that they can. And you miss the heros! The heros of Africa are those who have overcome hunger, horror, hopelessness, and hell itself to slowly begin building for tomorrow and for others and for the future that needs to be the Africa of tomorrow.

I'm sorry that the Bushes (and the world) have not yet gotten to see that Africa...

I'm still here everybody!

Wow, sorry it has taken me so long to post anything. I have had a few complications with getting to the internet and then with getting on my e-mail at all. I'll try to write a lot to make up for it:)

Ok, there are two big things on my mind right now. Number one is about my DTS' plan about going to Kenya for outreach. This has been planned since before things got to the place they are right now. The Lord spoke very clearly to our staff that He was calling us to go there. After they announced it to us and we began praying about a number of the students also got confirmation about it. I was praying about it one time and I very clearly sensed God take my left hand and write Kenya across my palm. Ever since then I have heard over and over that our class was not to go with a spirit of fear or trembling. We just had a meeting with the base leadership about the issue because they are all seeking God about whether to send us there or not. The situation is not good at the moment. The base where we would be staying,Athi River, is in a relatively secure area and is not a big concern but the main problem is getting there. We cannot afford to fly so we are going by bus. The only two routes to take go through western Kenya where there is no security. Our leadership has given us all until this Friday to pray and hear from God about going.They are doing the same. One thing they are sure about is that we must go in unity; all 14 of the students and the 2 staff members going need to know that God is calling them to go to Kenya this March. Sooo, any and all prayers in this matter would be great!

The other thing is my friend Selassie. I have written about him before although not for some time. Mainly because I have not seen him in a over a month. The many attempts Laura and I have made to meet with him have not worked. The past week for some reason he has been constantly on my mind; perhaps because we are leaving soon and I could potentially never see him again which bothers me. I don't remember how much I shared about how we became friends. At first glance it would seem rather unlikely. Selassie is a hard-core, reggae-loving Rwandese guy who has a problem with authority because of his past. Crazily enough I have never met someone who reminded me so much of myself a few years ago. Our personalities are very similar; especially how we react to things. We called each other impanga wanjye (my twin). God used the surprising similarities to allow Sel to open up to people finally but after he left DTS he has been even more closed off. Last night during class I suddenly felt a strong pressing need to pray for him. It was like it was being drummed into my head...Pray for Selassie. Now. Pray for Selassie. Now. I pulled two friends aside to pray for him after class and found out that Kate had gotten the same strong need to pray for him at the same time. I don't know what is going on, where he is, or if I will see him again but I trust that my God knows it all. This is my prayer for Selassie as well; that he will be able to believe that God loves him intensely and intimately. That He has never ever left him through all the horrific and frustrating times in his life and that through the power of Jesus we are able to see the bad turned to good.

It will be sad for me to leave Rwanda next month even if I do get to go to Kenya. I have discovered something powerful and peaceful while I was here. I am in love with Jesus Christ. I love Him. Despite growing up in a Christian home and having all sorts of head knowledge about Jesus it has taken me years to reach this point. And get this, He let me take as long as I needed! I have not shared much to many people about the years I spent really struggling and it would take too long to go into them now but I'll just say there were times I did not feel God cared about me at all. I didn't think anyone did because all I could see was pain. It is incredible to look back and see how much bigger God is than our feelings. No matter what I felt at that time He was always there with me and always will be.

My time in west Africa changed my perspective of who God is. He took my Christian girl, middle-class American, view of Him and blew it pieces in Liberia. What I knew didn't alter in truth it just widened in scope. I got to see the God of Liberia who is able to redeem. My time in Rwanda has changed my view of Jesus. I will never look at Him the same again. I couldn't possibly not love this God-man who took the sins of the entire genocide onto Himself on the cross. The things that people did to one another here He took responsibility for so that we might have life. I cannot even adequately begin to understand the weight of what He bore. Because of Rwanda I will always remember Jesus.

I really should be going for now. I will try to write again soon. I love you all!

Isimbi Johanna

Final month in Rwanda

I [Dad] spoke with Johanna earlier today with a good quality connection. Johanna seemed more energetic and her voice did not seem quite as tired as the previous Sunday. Whwn I mentioned it she laughed and said that maybe it had something to do with the three cups of good Rwandan coffee she had drunk that day! She also said that she had just returned from an evening worship time that she likes to go to on Sunday evenings where they sing a lot of the music from Hillsong (in Australia) in English and that always gets her energy level up too.

Because of the difficulty that she has been having accessing her home e-mail account via the web, we have set up a new Gmail account for her with which she hopes to be able to post a bit more frequently on her blog.

In only a month the class will leave for their time in Kenya. There trip to the Athi River location in Kenya will take a couple of days of travel. The exact nature of what service they will be doing there is something she still does not know in detail.

Meanwhile she and her classmates are experiencing many heavy situations. You may wish to read about an incident that her roommate, Laura, writes about in her blog post and which happened the first of the month (read down about four paragraphs about the young boy of 9 or 10). I asked Johanna about the incident and she said that some of the YWAM personnel thought that they may have seen the boy several days afterwards with one side of his face a mass of bruises but that it was hard to be certain. Johanna often (usually?) participates with Laura in the outreach to the street children and their needs are part of the reason she has returned to Africa.

She was able to meet a family from here in NH who were here last fall speaking in several of the churches. Johanna did not get to meet them at the time (but her mother did) but they have ministry in Kigali. Johanna thought that she might get to spend an evening with them before her class left for Kenya.

Johanna hopes to check out her new e-mail and post some news herself sometime this week -- so stay tuned!

Earthquake(s) in East Africa

Those of you aware of Johanna's location in Rwanda will be interested to hear that the Kigali area was not severely affected. Here is the initial BBC news story:

At least 30 people have been killed and more than 300 hurt in a series of quakes in Africa's Great Lakes region.

The two most powerful occurred hours apart in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Rwanda, with magnitudes of 6.0 and 5.0 respectively.

At least 10 people died as a church collapsed in western Rwanda, while the eastern DR Congo city of Bukavu suffered widespread damage.

Police say the death toll could rise, as there are many people trapped.

We spoke with Johanna on Sunday night and she has asked for prayer for one of her classmates from Rwanda, Jean-Paul, whose sister and cousin were both injured in the earthquake. and are currently in the hospital. Since he had already lost family members in the genocide Johanna said it's now even more heartbreaking to watch this happening. She told us that they have been instructed to go outside the building this evening as they are expecting another after-shock around midnight their time.

Please pray for the staff and students who are still planning to go to Kenya for the outreach phase beginning the first week of March. They will be about 30 miles southeast of Nairobi at another YWAM facility there, although she doesn't know yet what they will be doing. We are aware of the unrest in that area and we are trusting God as Johanna belongs to Him first.

Africa's Agonies

Fergal Keane, the BBC's correspondent in Nairobi, Kenya wrote a helpful article on the nature of the tribal violence that has plagued the continent for decades. You may read the article here.

Some of the key points are:

• The Western mind has been conditioned to accept a simplistic notion of what "tribal violence"' really means.
• Tribal issues are only the symptom.
• This is a conflict in which the poor are set at one another's throats.
• Those who have nothing are looting those who have a little bit more.
• This population has seen successive governments rob billions from the public purse in well-documented scandal.
• There are tens of thousands of Aids orphans.
• There is no proper water or sanitation or electricity.

Read as well about Ruth Awuma who lives in the vast Kibera slum in Nairobi.

Johanna's team will be going to a location southeast of Nairobi (in the opposite direction from the Rift Valley which has been the center of much of the violence since late December). We will share more details about where they will be staying and the nature of their service as we learn more.

On the Road with Johanna!

Today [Thursday 1/31/08 NH time], Joy and I took Johanna with us on our way to see our favorite horses. Well, OK, we called her on my cell phone and turned it on speaker so we both could hear her. At one point the three of us were laughing and it almost felt like she was right there with us! It's really amazing when you think about it. Hearing someone so clearly, talking from across the ocean in another continent!

She is doing very well, pretty tired at the end of the day. On Thursdays they spend time with some street boys. She really loves it - they are LITTLE boys! :-) While we were talking she was in the school dining room and was watching three geckos crawling and chasing each other at the top of the wall. I asked her if she could pick them up and she said she couldn't because they are very fast. !

She asked for prayer as she needs to decide where to do the Introduction to Primary Health Care Course. YWAM offers it in many places and she had been planning on going to the one in Australia but then she found out that it is also offered in South Africa. She would rather stay in Africa, but she also wants the best possible academic training. But first she will need to come home and work and raise money to go again. The Lord is preparing us for the day when our children will leave and won't come back except for quick visits. We are grateful for His grace!

Until then, I'm looking forward to June!
God's blessings to all
Don't forget the orphans and widows who are too many to count...
Gloria Beachy

Praying for Kenya (and Johanna's outreach)

Johanna's YWAM class is praying for the doors to open for a time of outreach in the country of Kenya beginning in early March. Needless to say the continuing levels of ethnic violence and unrest following the elections in late December are of a great concern. Please continue to pray for God's grace to be received by the Kenyan people, for protection and a voice for those who will lead the country to a more peaceful future, and for wisdom and guidance for those who are currently working in the country and others (like Johanna's class) who would make a positive difference.

The image above is taken from a Google Earth rendition of eastern Africa. I have added an outline of the area of western Kenya where most of the violence has occurred thus far. As you can see the country of Rwanda is located west of Kenya (across Lake Victoria) and a land journey from Rwanda into Kenya would be difficult without some exposure to these areas of tension.

I am also including this link to a blog site for the workers of an organization called World Concern. They are currently managing a camp for some of the IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons = refugees within a country in the language of international relief agencies) in the town of Narok (which you can see marked on the southern edge of the outlined area). Please continue to remember these and others who would help Kenya to heal!

** Update from Johanna on 1/29/08 **

Hi! So my e-mail won't open at the moment so can you say hi to the family for
me and let them know that I am still alive. I'll try again on the weekend. I am
going to Athi River, Kenya for outreach. Tell the parents to try calling me
sometime Thursday night k?  {sent via FaceBook}

Athi River is located about 20 miles southeast of Nairobi (the capital) - LjB

A Treat by Phone

It had been over a week since anyone of us had spoken with Johanna (and even longer since her father had had any quality phone time), so I took a chance to see if I could catch her on a mid-week evening. I was successful in connecting and was able to chat for about 10 minutes before she had to walk down to the dining area for supper. We were able to set up a time for a longer conversation from the Beachy household on Sunday.

Johanna wanted to go over the logistics of purchasing her return ticket. She hopes to travel from Rwanda along with her classmate, Laura, and then stay a couple of days in London (where she hopes to visit with her friend, Mary, from the Mercy Ship's Segue program that she attended in 2006). That will give her a little more 'decompression time' to begin the process of returning to a developed economy -- as well as holding off saying goodbye to each other for as long as possible!

The class is still planning to travel to Kenya for their period of ministry. The leaders of the school felt strongly led even before the class began that Kenya would be the destination for their outreach time. They are still praying for the direction as to the detailed location and logistics. Please join them in remembering the country of Kenya during this difficult time of national turmoil. I have included some links for helpful information to inform your prayers:

Operation World
SIM: Serving in Mission
Christianity Today
Mission Network News
The Christian Post
Newsweek "There Will Be Blood"

Johanna said (since her mother was interested in knowing) that the meals are good and that the mid-day and evening meals especially are plentiful. She is enjoying the food in Rwanda much better than what she occasionally experienced in Ghana in 2006.

Johanna and her classmates continue to participate in outreaches in the area of Kigali (it is not just all class time for them) as well as having assigned job duties as part of the community responsibilities for the YWAM school.

She greatly appreciates your prayers and encouragement!!

Laura: Friend & Classmate / SoZo

Those of you who have been following Johanna's experience in Rwanda will also enjoy being able to occasionally visit the blog of her classmate and good friend, Laura Jordan. Laura has been able to post more frequently and extensively and has also been able to upload quite a few photographs of their time in Rwanda (like the one above). You can find Laura's blog site here.

Also, Johanna has been able to participate with a ministry to Rwandan orphans called Sozo which has been started by a couple serving in the YWAM organization. She helped with a Christmas party for the orphans that was quite memorable! You can check out the SoZo website here.

Enjoy!

Back to School

Well, I didn't get to go into the DR of the Congo like I was hoping but at least I saw it. I also got to swim in Lake Kivu at Gisenyi which was really fun. Break has been very exciting and also relaxing but to be honest I am looking forward to going back to school on Monday. Mostly just because I miss my classmates so much. All the Rwandese students went to visit family so I look forward to them coming back.

We have two more months of classes and then we go to Kenya for outreach. There are some riots going on there right now because of the elections but it is mainly in Nairobi and we will be in the countryside. I am glad that I get to see another country. I must keep this post short. I had to switch computers twice at the computer cafe this time and the connection is not exactly reliable:) Oh, well. I hope you are all having a fabulous New Year. I pray that you can all see God in your daily life.

Bye! Johanna

Compassion Groove

Since Johanna spoke so pointedly about compassion in her first post (see 11/24/07), I thought that it would be a nice start to the year 2008 to reflect on the following poem written by Stefanie Cassetto and presented admirably in a live performance by Randy Vandeventer earlier in 2007 at Johanna's home church.

Compassion Groove

© 2007 Stefanie Cassetto / Manchester Christian Church.

I’m trying to find my compassion groove

What it is that makes me move

That makes my heart go

Thump-thump, thump-thump

That makes my throat choke back that lump

What I’ve come up with so far

Are people and places

On the brink

On the edge

On the mend

On the outside

Wanting in

And my heart goes out

And my groove begins…

My heart goes out to you…

The lonely one

Needing a friend

Maybe heart-broken

Maybe at the end

Of a rope

Clinging to hope

That someone will come close

Someone will see you

Someone will hear you

Someone will want to be near you

You need love

Want love

But it’s hard to reach out

You swallowed the lie that you’re not worth the trouble

I’ll meet you half-way

Not good enough

I’m there on the double

My heart goes out to you

My heart goes out to you…

Africa…crippled by disease

New Orleans…stolen by storm

Iraq…damaged by war

Kabul…ransacked by injustice

New York City…wounded for life

North Korea…kidnapped by lies

What can I do?

My heart beats quick.

Love God. Thump-thump.

Love people. Thump-thump.

My heart goes out to you…

The one whose eyes have seen some hard stuff

Whose shoes I am not brave enough to walk

You’ve traveled dusty miles for water

You’ve cried tears of fear

You’ve seen too much death

What can I do…

Kleenex isn’t enough

To wipe away the past

Those memories that last

What can I say…

To make the pain go away?

God is your refuge

What can I do?

My heart goes out to you

Okay, I’m almost done…but not quite

My heart goes out to you…

the one sitting on your couch…

doing nothing

Feeling nothing

Well, maybe you feel something

When you watch the news

Disgust, rage, the Red Sox blues?

Bitterness, resentment, a little pride?

Sympathy, empathy…

did you feel something break inside?

But what does it take to get you to move

To get your feet to hit the floor

And say I’m not going to take it anymore

I’m not going to take

What I see that’s not right

Injustice

Poverty…push it out of sight

Well, I’m gonna fight

Fight to care for the lonely waitress

Fight for the one who can’t speak my language

Fight to care for the man on the street

Or the one across my office…just a few feet

Fight the urge to stayed glued to my seat

Fight complacency

Fight my ego

Where He goes…we go

Eating with sinners

Loving his enemies

He’s my compassion hero

He blazed the trail that we gotta follow

You know what I mean?

He saw something when he looked at people

Not just their skin…

Their hair…

What got them there…

To that place of

Broken-ness

Hopeless-ness

Selfish-ness

Lonli-ness

Wrestless-ness

He saw those battles we couldn’t win

Not on our own

And up welled compassion again

He saw something when he looked at me

So…I’m waving the white flag

It’s time to give in

Give into compassion

Find my passion

Get my mind connected to my heart

And my heart connected to my feet

So I can make the hard walk across my street

To my neighbor in need

And my hands…

There’s power in my hands that compassion can reek havoc with

When I dare to touch the untouchable

Dare to lend some help

Dare to care

Dare to reach into my wallet

And my words…

Messengers of hope

Like butterflies in the breeze

Have no fear

My God is here

I love you

Peace

I’m not going to fake it anymore

Pretending like I care

Pretending like I don’t

I can’t do it…I won’t

I’m on a mission

Compassion towards all.

The big bucks and the small

Time to feel

Time to move

Time to get on our compassion groove

Love God. Thump-thump.

Love people. Thump-thump.