Here we go...

In a few hours I will be on the airplane headed for Amsterdam, Nairobi and finally Rwanda. I did not get a chance to email everyone to say goodby, but I think I have pretty much said goodbye to everyone in my last two weeks. I pray that God will bring you all to my blogiste to read this. God bless you all. You are in my prayers.

Please pray for my 3 day travel and my luggage in which I carry many valuable tools for teh Lord. Pray for health as I have a wee bit of (recovering from) brochitis/larengitis, which is common for me in the changing moist weather.

I will be out of communication for a while as I settle in, but I look forward to my first newsletter report of God's bridge to Rwanda. God has already given me several rescue missions which I will tell you about in my newsletter.

Truly, truly, from the depths of my heart I thank God for every body, mind and spirit that follows me along the way. Peace be with you.

Plans to prosper...

The time has come. I leave for Rwanda tomorrow and this will be my last blog before I reach "the land of honey and milk." God has taken such good care of me and all is pretty much taken care of. I don't know exactly how much has been raise up to date, but I will report more when I get ot Rwanda. There are still some things I have to finish, but I will lose internet contact until I reach Rwanda. I want to thank all my donors, friends, and family who have supported me the entire way and who go on this journey with me in thought and spirit. Words cannot express what you mean to me. And God is so pleased. I don't have much time to write, but I wanted to express thanks and just share a few words from God. Three times in three different situations from three messengers God presented this verse to me in the past few months...

"For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

This was God's assurance to the Jews in their exile in Babylon. At a time of hopelessness and weatheredness, God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah to assure the of the hope of a Christ they had not met yet. I walk by faith with the same assurance. God's people are precious to Him. I have no fear for I know He has "plans" for me.

I look forward to reporting back to you through my blogs on God's movements in Africa. It may be a while as I will need to have time to settle down and assimilate to the culture and life change, but I will not forget you. So many of you have asked me to email you, which I shall do, but it would be best for you to email me when you wish and I will respond because there are so many of you that it will be difficult for me to email each of you regularly. But I am pretty good at replying to emails. I will also be sending out an email about receiving monthly blog newsletters when I get a chance. Please do not think I will forget you.

Thank you all from the depths of my heart for believing in me and believing in God - that He has a mission for me. You are all in my prayers and thoughts. God bless you!

Linda

Looking Straight ahead at Jesus

I have reached the 3 week mark until May 30th when I depart for Rwanda for a long time. I am so very excited, as the Lord has had me wait a year to leave. At the same time, I must say farewell to life as I know it. I sit here in my tiny apartment with everything pulled out of the closets waiting to be sorted through and put in a box to be dispersed between the Good Will and friends. I mean everything must go. Its like my own closeout sale. Just as my things, I see that God has also done the same with my life. He has taken everything out of the closet and set it before me to sort through and take to the Good Will. I am allowed only what fits into 2 suitcases of limited weight. I no longer have a salary, but must depend on the charity and faith of others to sustain my living and service. Its an entirely different muscle than I am used to - depending on others for sustanance. Don't get me wrong. I joyfully surrender every breath of life and every painful endurace to the Lord. So, entirely...my life belongs to Him, not myself. If I focus on each piece of "stuff" I get bogged down with emotion and confused logic "should I keep or take this." So, I focus straight ahead at Jesus who illuminates the pupils of my eyes and steers the logic of my thoughts. For only through Him may I have the sight that I cannot see with my eyes or make decisions toward the unknown. I count on Him to lead the path.

My journey is locked into a country of people who have faced repeated civil wars. Finding the key to sustainable peace is the mission of my journey. I know that education with biblical foundations is one key. Love and modeling love is the second key. The third key sits somewhere in Africa waiting for me to find it. When I have the three keys, I will be able to unlock the door that keeps Africa in a boiling room. I know that God is with me all the way. He leads because I cannot.

Please join me in praying in the next few weeks for the final preparation for His Grand Plan.
Peace be with you,
L

The Voice of Truth

I have had a whole year of waiting to leave for Rwanda and the Lord has used this time purposefully to call out all the things that could distract me on my journey. Since I've walked with Jesus, each day has been another flash from the past, pulling out scenes and people from the past. All has been to remind me of my mortality, my prone to sinfulness, how nice and pretty the past seemed, but how dark it really was, and to keep my focus on the Lord.

Oh, how bittersweet the memories of old friends and old crushes, fun times and disastrous times, things I'd do over better and things I'd like to relive. Its so bittersweet. I have lived such a long life of disconnected experiences, wondering around looking for who I am and why I exist. Now, I know exactly who I am and why I exist. And its been right under my chin the entire time.

The world has so many temptations that seem so harmless, but once you walk out of the light, it only leads into a deeper pit of darkness. I can still see the darkness from where I came and it just stands on the edge of the light. Plato the philosopher had this vision. There is always the other side and always the decision to cross over or not. But just as Plato proposed in question, Jesus revealed in answer. The voice of Truth says that we are called out to go into the darkness and bring people to Jesus. But we are not to stay or get enveloped in it. Its seductive, but when we are strong in Jesus and we keep our gaze upon Him, we have the power to come back out as if we never entered darkness. Its a very dangerous place, but if Jesus had not descended into our dark world , we would not have been saved. This is where Jesus has been leading me - to a place of strength where I can go into the darkenss to retrieve others, but never leave the light. Its having such faith that you are so certain that the power of Jesus is within you.

I really do miss alot of old friends that I wish would come into the light and see the beauty of God's glory. Maybe some day God will present me with the opportunity to tell them of Jesus. I guess its my own choice, but I do believe in God's timing. I do miss them. Its tough to love people who don't understand the love you've found. My heart aches for them and I pray for them. It does not dim the love I still carry in my heart for them. In fact, I think I love them more because I long for their rescue and homecoming. You see, all my life I searched within reason for the truth of things, pure honesty and enlightenment, and everything fell short until I read His Word for myself.

It grieves me that some old friends see me as "one of them" or a "Jesus freak." Yes, Jesus Freak indeed. If that means I am totally nuts for Jesus, then okay, but I don't ascribe to conform to any list of exclusion or hypocrisy that hurts or keeps people from the light. I follow Jesus Christ who was a friend and a hero to all who crossed His path. I might not have believed if He hadn't actually sent me miracles to show me who He is. Jesus is not about a comparison of people, but about love and peace - living in harmony because we have a leader who created us in the womb of His existance and therefore is tied to each of us, even those who do not believe...yet.

There are people waiting and grieving in the darkness, as I did. Will you cross over and pull someone out so that Jesus can have His way with them and bring them into His strength?

I pray for all my dear friends - that some day we will meet again and we will be totally in love with each other and...with the One who loved us first.

From the Casting Crowns Song, "The Voice of Turth"
Oh what I would do to have the kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand, but the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me time and time again, "Boy, you'll never win!""You'll never win!"

But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth

Blessed to Partake in the Gospel

As I approach my departure date, I am humbled by the Lord daily. Today, I just couldn't stop crying and I didn't know why. Nothing had happened. It was a good day. I realized as I left the church evening service that I was already grieving my life in the US in the sense that God had me realize how truly blessed I am and how much I love my church. I was really going to miss the church family He had built around me. See, this was not always a part of my life. Five years ago I was without church, hanging onto empty relationships, very messed up and hopeless. God has truly rescued me from the darkness and placed me high upon His rock. He has built around me a source of love, comfort and hope. I am going to miss my church and the friends that God has brought into my life. However, I rejoice that I still have a life to give to the Lord in all that He calls me to. He has set a table for me in Africa with a family of children who need the hope of Jesus. I am blessed to be able to tell them of my home church family and to partake in the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:22-27, "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win...Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim...but I discipline my body and make it slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself may not be disqualified."

The Greatest Love...

I just returned from a trip to WORLD RELIEF headquarters in Baltimore and I am in awe of what God has built and what He is setting me up for. World Relief is a godly organization that does so much to build up the suffering for God's kingdom. They bring the hope of Jesus and the hand of God into suffering communities around the world. They plant and build up the Body of Christ. Their work is well thought out and targets perpetual development, spiritual growth, discipleship, and empowering the helpless to help each other. The fact that God has called me to this organization is a tremendous honor. I am a World Relief worker. Who would have thought? I was told that I am in a very special position because I am being sent under the coverings of three organizations: my home church (Houston's First Baptist Church), World Relief, and Kigali International Community School.

Areas of work being done by WORLD RELIEF RWANDA that I will be exposed to include: church relations - church unity and Christ centered communities, Health - AIDS relief and education, economic development (includes microfinancing and developing the "essential oils" industry - growing, distilling, and exporting). As a teacher of English to local workers I will be able to go out in the field to observe areas of communication where they need help. I may also have the opportunity to observe relief and development initiatives in Burundi, Uganda, and Sudan - all places where genocide wars continue. In Uganda over 4 millian have died and children are being targeted for kidnapping and brainwashing to serve the LRA rebel army, where they are forced to kill, abuse and be abused for survival, and then made homeless. These kids are as young as 7 years old.

At KICS (Kigali International Community School) I will be serving on the forefront of developing a Biblical American-based educational system that does not exist in Rwanda. Currently, there are so many different African and European educational systems that are more traditional and still rely on corporal punishment (the switch), forced discipline, and repetitious rote-memory. Children are not developed into higher order thinkers and lack qualified teachers. I will also be able to contribute my knowledge of art, music, marketing and technology to develop creativity and technical skills. In general, schooling is not a common opportunity in Africa.

I am in total and overwhelming awe that God has chosen the most unlikely of persons to go. He has transformed my life into one who hungers to follow Jesus. It has been a huge battleground and learning field. But my Lord covers me in His Grace and Power. Four years ago, I thought there was no hope for me. I cried out to the Lord to rescue me from loneliness, despair, deep depression and the struggles of keeping up with this world. Now, God has given me the gift of His Son and a greater love than I ever imagined. I just want to go out and tell the world. My life purpose is to reach out to those who have been forgotten - to tell them that "God remembers!" And He is faithful to His children. His love is unfailing. He remembered this undeserving child and He remembers you.

I thank God that He remembered me and saved me from myself, and even found a use for me. The greatest thing I do is to share the Love of Jesus with the unloved, lost and outcast. I leave for Rwanda in late May 2007. Meanwhile, I pray for financial and spiritual support for the journey. There is so much to do - all in God's will and in due time. All things are possible through Christ Jesus.

To contribute one time support through World Relief click here and in the field "Designate" select "Rwanda". In the field "Comments" type in "Rwanda Volunteer: Linda". DONATE ONCE

To give monthly support through World Relief . In the field "Designate" select Rwanda". In the "Comments" type in "recurring support for Volunteer: Linda of $_____ monthly charged to credit card". DONATE MONTHLY

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at lhsatori@yahoo.com.
I am ever so grateful for each and every person that has blessed my walk with Jesus. Words cannot express...I am so grateful for you!

"If I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and sevice of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all." (Philippians 2:17)

"And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

God's pencil

This weekend I saw the movie Mother Teresa with Olivia Hussey. It was really humbling to see someone who truly strove to be the image of Christ. Her passion was in comforting the unwanted and dying people of Calcutta, whom most people would consider a futile cause. She was the epitome of persistent strength and gentle compassion - a tough combination to uphold simultaneously.

I thank God that He continues to bring helpers into this world. I pray that He will help me to be more like Christ and continue to forgive me when I fall short. He knows that my heart desires to be his "pencil" as He "writes". May the hand of God take over my every choice and movement. Praise the Lord!

-------------------Mother Teresa's Own Words----------------------------
I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world. We are all pencils in the hand of God.

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread. The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. Intense love does not measure, it just gives.

Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.

Quotes taken from Brainy Quotes:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mothertere114249.html