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