Once again, as I write this, I’m watching a rainstorm out the window. Rainy season here lasts from October to about…April. It rains most afternoons, almost never before noon, for about 20 minutes and then lightens up. This weekend though it rained fairly steadily and it was really wet. So wet in fact, most of my clothes didn’t dry out for two days. I wish I had room to have packed more tanktops…anyway…
These last few weeks, and this last week especially, have seen much more peace than my first week or so here in Rwanda. As November comes to a close, which is still a shock to me (it doesn’t feel like anything other than some time in July, much less the holiday season back home), things have evened out quite a bit here for me in my heart. I have continued to feel peace and no longer wake up thinking I’m back in Camarillo and have to go to work. That’s not to say I don’t miss home. I still miss it everyday. The people, the familiarity, and the nostalgia of the holiday season which I love so much.
During this week of Thanksgiving, only my second away from home, I have had cause, and time, to reflect more than most years for what I am thankful for. I am eternally grateful for my family. I miss them all terribly. I am so grateful for all my other families, you know who you are, and how they stepped into the gap in the years my family wasn’t doing well and took care of and loved me (and fed me!). I am thankful for things like broadband internet and traffic laws that people pay attention to. I’m thankful for meat, acoustic ceilings, and carpet. The list goes on. But today there is one thing specifically I am thankful for: we had a fire at the house on Friday afternoon in one of the boys’ rooms. He lost everything, but nothing that wasn’t replaceable, and the ceilings in two rooms burned out. No one was hurt but for a minor, minor burn on my arm from the doorframe, and we all got to pray together in thanks for God keeping us safe. The whole story is here on my blog, if you would like to read it.
As things have smoothed out and I have settled in a couple things are becoming more and more clear to me each day. Most of these realizations are quite humbling. I mean, when is it not humbling to find out you’re not as strong or as awesome as you think you are? The first of these is that I am not able to live in the home with the boys 24/7/365. As a social person, maybe an extremely social person, I NEED community. Not just bodies, but real, deep, Christ-centered community with others and in order to enjoy that they usually have to speak English. Only Gustave, one of the house caretakers, speaks fluent English as a full time resident here. The noise level is also brutal most days. I need more breaks than I thought I would.
The other thing is that I am not able to disciple these boys in the way I had initially hoped by just being with them all the time. As they are on Holiday right now until January there is not a lot of structure in the day and I am finding it difficult to sit and talk with the boys to get to know them better since, well, they don’t speak any English. What this time in the house with them is accomplishing though is an established relationship and them knowing I am here for them. We have begun daily morning Bible study, prayer, and worship as a house for half an hour each morning and the attitude of the house has changed considerably. We also have nightly bible study with the house parents leading for the younger boys and older boys separately. More of this cannot be a bad thing!
All this is to say that as I have thought, prayed, and then done both some more about what will be best for me to continue here for long term, effective, discipleship ministry at HFLM is that my role will be shifting along with where I live. I just found out Wednesday that I will be moving in with my friend Jack to a house in Kigali just down the street from our other friends. We are SUPER pumped. Now we're praying for furniture and that the Lord reveals the best deals (free being our favorite one) and the best person to come live and work for us and take care of the house. With that, I am also praying for a reliable mode of transportation as the difference between paying for public transport everyday is close enough to a wash with owning my own transportation as makes no difference.
I have been learning to ride a motorcycle and have performed well enough in far less than ideal conditions, and have felt pretty comfortable while riding though not without enough fear to keep me in line, to warrant looking at buying one in the next month or so or by the time I move into the city. Cars cost roughly 300% what they do in the states over here so they are not an option and after riding a motorcycle on really muddy roads with street tires this last weekend that is clearly not a great option either. Especially if I’m going to be out at the boys’ home in Kabuga 5 or more days a week rain or shine. A dirt bike is clearly the most viable option but they are not the easiest to find over here and are more expensive (typically in the range of 2500-4000 US Dollars) than the typical India made motorcycle. I have found a few and am praying for the Lord’s provision in all this and if it’s the direction He wants to go. I am waiting on him. While cars and motorcycles are expensive here they have one thing going for them that they usually don’t in the states: they retain their value incredibly well. In other words, whenever I do leave here, I can sell a bike for roughly what I paid for it depending on the use I put into it. It’s a very sound investment.
Many of you have asked what you can do for me for Christmas this year. I really appreciate the gesture to want to send things but that costs about $80 minimum to send a small box via USPS and it takes about a month to get here. If you would like to consider giving above and beyond monthly support for me for Christmas please donate to my Motorcycle Fund (this was my mom’s idea. Thanks mom!). I believe that to be a much more practical and effective thing to give towards the ministry here at this time. Transportation is a big deal! If there is something you REALLY want to send, though, I will not turn you down just get in contact with me, or my mom, and I can let you know how to best do that.
If you would like to give to the motorcycle fund please simply add to whatever you already give each month and send it through Breakthrough Partners. If you would like to donate please send a check to Breakthrough Partners 110 Third Ave. N., Ste. 101 Edmonds, WA 98020 with "Ryan Dalbey" on the check.
Where would a post like this be at Thanksgiving time if I didn’t end with this: if you are reading this, I am thankful for YOU. Without your love, prayer, and financial support, I would not be able to affect the lives of these boys in Jesus’s name at all. Thank you for helping me be on the front lines!
What to be praying for (If you're down):
These last few weeks, and this last week especially, have seen much more peace than my first week or so here in Rwanda. As November comes to a close, which is still a shock to me (it doesn’t feel like anything other than some time in July, much less the holiday season back home), things have evened out quite a bit here for me in my heart. I have continued to feel peace and no longer wake up thinking I’m back in Camarillo and have to go to work. That’s not to say I don’t miss home. I still miss it everyday. The people, the familiarity, and the nostalgia of the holiday season which I love so much.
During this week of Thanksgiving, only my second away from home, I have had cause, and time, to reflect more than most years for what I am thankful for. I am eternally grateful for my family. I miss them all terribly. I am so grateful for all my other families, you know who you are, and how they stepped into the gap in the years my family wasn’t doing well and took care of and loved me (and fed me!). I am thankful for things like broadband internet and traffic laws that people pay attention to. I’m thankful for meat, acoustic ceilings, and carpet. The list goes on. But today there is one thing specifically I am thankful for: we had a fire at the house on Friday afternoon in one of the boys’ rooms. He lost everything, but nothing that wasn’t replaceable, and the ceilings in two rooms burned out. No one was hurt but for a minor, minor burn on my arm from the doorframe, and we all got to pray together in thanks for God keeping us safe. The whole story is here on my blog, if you would like to read it.
As things have smoothed out and I have settled in a couple things are becoming more and more clear to me each day. Most of these realizations are quite humbling. I mean, when is it not humbling to find out you’re not as strong or as awesome as you think you are? The first of these is that I am not able to live in the home with the boys 24/7/365. As a social person, maybe an extremely social person, I NEED community. Not just bodies, but real, deep, Christ-centered community with others and in order to enjoy that they usually have to speak English. Only Gustave, one of the house caretakers, speaks fluent English as a full time resident here. The noise level is also brutal most days. I need more breaks than I thought I would.
The other thing is that I am not able to disciple these boys in the way I had initially hoped by just being with them all the time. As they are on Holiday right now until January there is not a lot of structure in the day and I am finding it difficult to sit and talk with the boys to get to know them better since, well, they don’t speak any English. What this time in the house with them is accomplishing though is an established relationship and them knowing I am here for them. We have begun daily morning Bible study, prayer, and worship as a house for half an hour each morning and the attitude of the house has changed considerably. We also have nightly bible study with the house parents leading for the younger boys and older boys separately. More of this cannot be a bad thing!
All this is to say that as I have thought, prayed, and then done both some more about what will be best for me to continue here for long term, effective, discipleship ministry at HFLM is that my role will be shifting along with where I live. I just found out Wednesday that I will be moving in with my friend Jack to a house in Kigali just down the street from our other friends. We are SUPER pumped. Now we're praying for furniture and that the Lord reveals the best deals (free being our favorite one) and the best person to come live and work for us and take care of the house. With that, I am also praying for a reliable mode of transportation as the difference between paying for public transport everyday is close enough to a wash with owning my own transportation as makes no difference.
I have been learning to ride a motorcycle and have performed well enough in far less than ideal conditions, and have felt pretty comfortable while riding though not without enough fear to keep me in line, to warrant looking at buying one in the next month or so or by the time I move into the city. Cars cost roughly 300% what they do in the states over here so they are not an option and after riding a motorcycle on really muddy roads with street tires this last weekend that is clearly not a great option either. Especially if I’m going to be out at the boys’ home in Kabuga 5 or more days a week rain or shine. A dirt bike is clearly the most viable option but they are not the easiest to find over here and are more expensive (typically in the range of 2500-4000 US Dollars) than the typical India made motorcycle. I have found a few and am praying for the Lord’s provision in all this and if it’s the direction He wants to go. I am waiting on him. While cars and motorcycles are expensive here they have one thing going for them that they usually don’t in the states: they retain their value incredibly well. In other words, whenever I do leave here, I can sell a bike for roughly what I paid for it depending on the use I put into it. It’s a very sound investment.
Many of you have asked what you can do for me for Christmas this year. I really appreciate the gesture to want to send things but that costs about $80 minimum to send a small box via USPS and it takes about a month to get here. If you would like to consider giving above and beyond monthly support for me for Christmas please donate to my Motorcycle Fund (this was my mom’s idea. Thanks mom!). I believe that to be a much more practical and effective thing to give towards the ministry here at this time. Transportation is a big deal! If there is something you REALLY want to send, though, I will not turn you down just get in contact with me, or my mom, and I can let you know how to best do that.
If you would like to give to the motorcycle fund please simply add to whatever you already give each month and send it through Breakthrough Partners. If you would like to donate please send a check to Breakthrough Partners 110 Third Ave. N., Ste. 101 Edmonds, WA 98020 with "Ryan Dalbey" on the check.
Where would a post like this be at Thanksgiving time if I didn’t end with this: if you are reading this, I am thankful for YOU. Without your love, prayer, and financial support, I would not be able to affect the lives of these boys in Jesus’s name at all. Thank you for helping me be on the front lines!
What to be praying for (If you're down):
- Please be praying for HFLM, and specifically Torey and Hilliary, our directors, as we recover from the fire and raise support for a new section of roof, new ceilings in the burned areas, and new mattresses, bedding, and clothing for the boy, Baby, who lost everything.
- For direction in this time of transition for me and how to best conduct, streamline, and minister most effectively here at HFLM.
- For financial provision both for housing in the city (Kigali), and for a reliable mode of transportation. Provision for a great community to live with in Kigali beyond just my awesome new roommate. The praise is that I am making good friends already! The Lord is clearly at work.
- For clarity in if, how, and when to move forward with working with the youth at the church I am now attending.
- For continuing peace as I grow into my time here in Rwanda.
- For the boys and our relationships: that they would continue to grow deeper in Christ and that they would come to trust me as I lead them with my life and the Word.
Recent Images
Thanksgiving in Kibuye with One Acre Fund. Muzungus galore!
Charlie started all the boys with plots of land and we are all growing something! Everyone picked something different to grow but Charlie and I are particularly excited for our plot and our watermelons. We're gonna own.
The view from our stay in Kibuye.
New Friends: Ayla (just moved in down the street from Charlie for the month and is here starting a leadership initiative for women here in Rwanda.), Jack (who currently lives with Charlie and will soon be my roomie! He has worked with Living Water Intl. for the last 3 years.) Ben (our friend who works with One Acre Fund in Kibuye. Super legit guy.), and, of course, Charlie.
View from my hammock at the One Acre Fund house looking out over lake Kivu and into Congo.
