Hurricane.

I know I haven't posted anything in awhile, and it's for a good reason. Ever since I returned from Dubai I have been really overwhelmed and have probably had the toughest two weeks since I have been in Rwanda. There were a variety of things that combined to create the challenges, but the largest hardship was coming back to the poverty and the needs here. As I said in my previous post, Dubai is a very wealthy city with lavish architecture, expensive cars, and booming economic development. There weren't any people begging, no kids living on the streets, no obvious disease. It was one of the cleanest and prosperous cities I have ever been to. So to go from this mecca to Rwanda was a shock to say the least.

The day after I returned some of the streetkids came to our house to get some food and medical care. And I stood inside and just watched them and wept. I wept because I honestly do not see a solution to this problem of streetkids. There are so many of them. Sure, we brought five of them from Gitarama to live at Umuryango. But then some more showed up in town, ones whom we hadn't seen when the other five were on the streets. Sure, we can give them food and bandages today, but what about tomorrow? The same needs will be here - hunger, hurt, illness. Resources will eventually run out. We can only do so much.

I have been listening to a song by Jimmy Needham called Hurricane and it has hit me like a ton of bricks. I know that God does not want me to be comfortable. He wants to stretch me so I need to rely on Him for everything I do. Moving to Africa has definitely been one of the most challenging periods in my life.

Hurricane
I have built a city here / Half with pride and half with fear
Just wanted a safer place to hide / I don’t want to be safe tonight

CHORUS
I need You like a hurricane / Thunder crashing, wind and rain / To tear my walls down /
I’m only Yours now / I need you like a burning flame / A wild fire untamed /
To burn these walls down / I’m only Yours now / I’m only Yours now

I am Yours and You are mine / You know far better than I / And if destruction’s what I need /
Then I’ll receive it Lord from Thee / Yes, I’ll receive it Lord from Thee

(Chorus)

And it’s Your eye in the storm / Watching over me / And it’s Your eye in the storm /
Wanting only good for me / And if You are the war / Let me be the casualty /
‘Til I’m Yours alone / I am only Yours / I am Yours alone, Lord

(Chorus)

Come be my hurricane