On the road again.......actually I have been away from my home now for a year. Although God provided 2 wonderful homes that we have stayed in this year as we have unexpectedly been State -side, there is an unsettledness that I have felt not being in my home....using my stuff.....sitting on my porch for quite time . Yuck...do you notice how many times I ‘ve said my....I sound so selfish. I guess you learn to really appreciate what you do not have. It is funny about 6 months before I left our house in Rwanda I was ready for a change and kind of tired of it....now I can not wait to be back home to it.

Well, we are now homeless as we are traveling around the U.S. looking for more partners to join us in this work in Rwanda. Our older 3 children put their foot down and expressed that they were done with the Jenkins’ Tour so we let them off the hook. The older boys are staying with Dave’s parents in MN having a teen age boy dream summer by the lake...building some good memories with Grandparents,Aunts. Uncles and cousins. Sophia, our oldest is hanging out with friends in Oklahoma City. We are now down to a family of 4. This is really different family dynamics.

 We have been on the road a few weeks now. We stayed a few days in Oklahoma City with friends from our home church, Quail Springs and then last Sunday headed to DFW. We had a great time reconnecting with old friends and praying,dreaming and sharing about what God has done these last few years in Rwanda. After DFW , we headed down to Roscoe, Tx where my parents live. It was nice to let down and relax for a day and then we headed to Abilene for another ROC party. These parties have been going well. Parting with a purpose as we gather friends and share stories of how we have joined God in Rwanda. 

Saturday was a special day as we were back with my parents and Timothy our youngest decided to be baptized. We went to a small church near where my father works. It started out kind of rocky when Dave stepped in the baptistry and it was almost boiling as the thermostat was broken.  Dave let out several screams and leaped out of the baptistry. After several hours of draining refilling and bags of ice we witnessed a special moment of young faith expressing itself with an sweet desire to make Jesus his boss and join an eternal family.

Sunday we worshipped at 2 churches in Abilene and were challenged to " God -lead risk leads to the greatest reward" David McQueen. We had a good lunch with my brother and parents. had meeting in afternoon with an old friend and then traveled back to Oklahoma City.

Monday night we had another great ROC party at the Gooches home with several old friends and new friends. I was proud of my daughter Sophia who spoke so passionately about her school, KICS. 

Well, this is a little window into our lives right now. I wish I could report that we are always joyful and enjoying the journey but to be honest we get homesick for a home to call our own.... to all be together as a family.....having some type of routine.

But we are learning a lot through sojourning....God is teaching us new ways of relating to each other--change is helping us break some bad patterns. It has also been very encouraging seeing the generosity of God’s people. So many have blessed us with their hospitality, shared their network of friends and load us cars. 

Well It has been a long time since I posted and I am going to try to blog about our Jenkins tour so hopefully more to come!

Blessings!

Adjustments

 This is an excerpt from a letter written in March  to some of my friends in Rwanda"Well I am NOT on the flight today returning to Rwanda. You would think after being a missionary for almost 17 years now I would have learned by now that my plans are not always God's plans. Unfortunately this has been a hard lesson during this season. I thought I was being flexible and moldable but 2 weeks ago when Dave shared with me that we were not going to be returning to Rwanda in March but that it looks like it will be summer before we would return I must confess something inside of me snapped. Dave called me on the phone after he had a meeting with one of our primary Church partners....... We have lost some of our support over the last several years as we have followed God and planted CCR. ( Our primary church partner had been covering for the loss but is not able to continue covering so we are looking for additional support) This wonderful Church plant has come at a cost ----  I have often ponder the verse in Mark 10:29-31 where after one has left everything to follow Christ --- Jesus promises a long list of blessings that oddly includes persecution.  This verse has become more real to me in the last several years....... I was glad that I was home alone and I got down on my knees before God and cried out to Him. I must admit to you I had a royal pity party! I told Him that I thought I had done a  "pretty good job" of shifting gears this year but that I could not shift again--- I told Him that I had pretty much striped my gears... and thank you very much was not shifting anymore. I began to sound like a two year old....sobbing... not just the sweet tears rolling from your eyes but  a guttural cry from deep with in. The funny thing was, that the more I cried and let go of my plans and self the more  flexible I began to feel again. It was as if my tears were becoming the fluid in my gearbox ( I am glad this is being primarily read by women because I am sure I am messing up my car analogy) and I was able to shift once more. The next morning I woke up with a tangible peace and I new things were going to be alright. Now I would love to report that the last 2 weeks everything has fallen in to place--it was easy to change tickets, figure out housing both here and in Rwanda,communicate with kids about this change,change commitments ,etc but it has not been easy but it also has been surprisingly filled with God moments. Now back to Mark 10:29-31---I am starting to understand how persecution can be a blessing. It is hard to put it in words but when you are in this place you know that you are right where God wants you to be --it is raw....I guess it is where the rubber meets the road---it is purifying when you give up and let God take over.  As all of you know this is not a one time thing but a daily or should I say moment my moment thing. Thank you all who walk with me in this journey--and for those who do not know me well or not at all thanks for bearing with my ramblings.

I miss you all --even those I have yet to meet. I know that when I return some of you will be gone and that is heart breaking but hope our paths will cross again. If not this side of heaven than the other side."

Well, I finally decided to join the blogging world. I chose the title "Joy in the Journey" because this has been a theme of my husband and I as we have been on an incredible journey with God . This is a constant reminder to us that though we tend to look ahead we must find joy in today. I have that trait in my personality that loves to plan and look ahead to what is next.....I do not want to wish my life away! I want to enjoy today....this moment. There are mountains , valleys and flat plains on this journey and I want to find joy in each of these. May God show me what He wants for me and what He wants me to be!