home sweet home

I suppose if you don't have Facebook, you don't know that we made it back safely...and even before our arrival time on our plane tickets (like that ever happens!) We are very much enjoying being back in the States...Jon has hit the ground running, and I have only gone through mild culture shock (with fast internet, washing machines, trying to figure out my cell phone again...and people being really rude at stores...maybe they were in Rwanda, but I couldn't understand what they were saying...)

We are spending Christmas in Texas and loving time with my family. It has been such a blessing not to need my computer to communicate with them (thus why I have been slacking on blog posting :)) We move into our new home Jan. 2nd. I was worried about not having any furniture (due to our vagabond lifestyle) but God has really already taken care of it all...Friendly Chapel, a Nazarene church in Little Rock, Arkansas, got in several couch donations and are gifting us a HUGE sectional for our living room...my grandparents have given us several pieces, as well as our parents...now all we need is a washer and dryer...He always provides.

We are still trusting that He has the perfect job waiting for me at our new home...we will see about His timing, but being unemployed for the first time in what seems like my entire life could be a major stress...your prayers are always appreciated :)

We hope that you are enjoying this Christmastime with family and friends, and are finding time everyday to honor Christ and meditate on the wonder of the Christmas story. Also, we hope you enjoy looking back on this year of your life and recognize all that our Savior has done to take care of your family and you...and if you think of someone who has really been used by God in your life this year, won't you send them a note thanking God and them?

Merry Christmas,
The Newlin Weds

we're coming home

Tonight at 9 pm (1 pm for all your CST people), we will be boarding our first flight home. We are due to land in the States via New Jersey tomorrow afternoon...so if you would pray that the weather does not interfere with our landing and taking off at 3 pm (EST), that would be awesome!

We are due to land in Houston at 6:00 pm (CST) on Wednesday night, where we will meet my mom, sister, grandparents + aunt for our first meal in the USA...any guesses where we will go???

If I tell you that I have missed salad more than anything...would that give you a clue???

Then it is off to Nacogdoches, where we will spend 2 weeks with family, friends and food :) Then we will go to Arkansas to spend time with the rest of the Newlins until January 2nd...when we will move into our NEW HOME in Arkansas...never a dull moment for The Newlin Weds, for sure :)

See you soon!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

tomorrow, tomorrow...

day

I cannot believe we begin our journey home tomorrow night...I am not very good at waiting...and I really thought this day would never come...but alas, here it is! Christmas celebrations and wonderful family time are only three plane rides and a night's sleep away...crazy!

I saved the best for last...what we will miss the very most about Rwanda are our new friends...Azizi Life co-workers and other volunteers that we have crossed paths with during our time here. We have had many laughs and joyful moments, as well as shared in despair and homesickness...God truly blessed our 4 months with quality people with beautiful souls to share our time with.

I hope to keep in touch with everyone of them...and thanks to Facebook, I think it will be possible!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

dos

 days

We will miss seeing people carry everything from an electric keyboard to a bed frame on their heads. I am reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (the fictional story of a missionary family in the Congo in the 1960s? and this quote describes this wonder perfectly...

"The usual bypasser is a woman sauntering slowly down the road with bundles upon bundles balanced on her head. These women are pillars of wonder, defying gravity while wearing the ho-hum aspect of perfect tedium. They can sit, stand, talk, shake a stick at a drunk man, reach around their backs to fetch forth a baby to nurse, all without dropping their piled-high bundles upon bundles. They are like ballet dancers entirely unaware they are on stage. I cannot take my eyes from them."

Although the large, unusual objects are mesmerizing...I think I enjoy seeing a woman carrying her own purse on her head, rather than on her shoulder, the most

I almost didn't post today...we had a fun night that caused me to forget to countdown! Friends, Dutch Blitz, homemade pizza and brownies will do just that.

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

just a few more...

days

until we start our journey home

We will miss Rwanda's mild weather and falling asleep to rain hitting the tin roof. Before we came to Rwanda, people told us to get ready for unbearable heat with no relief. Luckily, Africa is a pretty big place...and we got to spend 4 months in its paradise.


Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

4 days to 4 months

days

We will miss walking 70 yards to the corner shop complete with bottled coke, toothbrushes, fresh fruit and veggies, cooking spices, bread, tea and other items Rwandans would consider a staple. Not only did we not have the choice to hop into our car to run to the store...we didn't need to! We could just grab our shoes and be there in two minutes (and be greeted by friendly faces along the way)

I am almost finished wrapping up my work with Azizi Life. I have set up the website page for the new Azizi Life Advocate Home Party project and am almost done with the Advocate guide! Super exciting! If you check out the website and are interested, the Advocate role will be officially open for your participation in January...so hang in there! If you want more information, in the mean time, email me!

And I have found time to help Geri with her cultural tourism project...I created the logo below.

I also helped set up the Azizi Life Experiences web page.

Today, I took some time to look back at all the projects that I have completed while here in Rwanda (with Azizi Life AND school)...God has really helped a girl out...that is the only way to explain the productivity over the last 4 months!

I wonder what all will happen in the next 4 months...

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth


Check out our 6 Days + 5 Days post, too!

times a ticking...

days

We will miss the beautiful views...from every window...and every hill...siiiiiiiggghhhhhhh 

Luckily, we are moving to the 2nd most hilly place I know of...Arkansas! But there are so many trees, you don't get a panoramic view at every corner like you do in Rwanda.

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

less than a week...

days

We cannot believe that we are under a week, and at the same time, we are wishing the time would go by faster (talk about emotional roller coaster!)

So, to help our mindset, Jon and I have decided to list one thing each day that we are still here that we are sure to miss when we are gone. So for today...

We will miss the children...especially those who cannot contain themselves and wave excitedly when we walk past...and the ones that scream "Thank You Very Much!" because I am sure this is 1.) The newest phrase they have learned in English or 2.) All they can remember from their English lesson...either way, it fills my heart with delight. 

This weekend we will start packing and share some of our sweets with our friend Mariana (and maybe even paint our nails :)) We are taking it easy...does that make us boring? Maybe it does...but I think I am too brain dead to do anything else...grad school work is done...and what do I have to show for it? :)

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

We Got Mail! (Vol. 8)

Several things I appreciate in this picture...my husband...this care package in a Ziploc box...and the absence of facial hair.

I'm not going to say that "the best" was saved for last...but it is definitely the sweetest!

Just when you think you can't take it anymore...a sweet gift from God comes by way of the post...with two boxes of brownie mix & Crystal Light!

Our friends Tyler + Roxie (See, I told you it would make it, Roxie :)) sent us a birthday treat box full of goodies for Jon's b-day. True to form, it was late...I suspect because I was expecting it. My favorite part is the two mints they included from their baby shower (Roxie is due in January!).

Our last 10 days will be filled with sweet treats to hold us over...yipee!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

11 days

I cannot believe we will be leaving in 11 days! This weekend I plan to finish all of my school work...so I can't believe I will be done with my Master's THIS WEEKEND!

I am still very busy with work at Azizi Life...wrapping projects up, preparing how-to guides for my departure...and trying not to be sad. To be truthful, I am such a ball of mixed emotions. I want to be home with my family so badly...I want to be with our church in Wickes already...but I also want to cherish each moment I have left here in Rwanda...

And watching Christmas movies makes it worse...

I also think Jon and I have been experiencing random culture shock moments that make us feel like we just want to explode...no hot water....grasshoppers...no Taco Bell...it's the little things really...it makes me feel really silly to be upset about it all...

But in all of this, I have to say that God has delivered. We have had calming peace at just the right moments, focus and motivation to not feel stressed about deadlines, and glimpses of home right here, were we are.

God is good. God is gracious. God is loving.

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

it's times like these that I pull out the Jon Foreman

what's better than a sale?

An extended sale!

Put a little Rwanda into your Christmas traditions with these lovely items...

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

turkey day

We celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday with a lovely bunch of American students. Our day was truly complete with a viewing of Macy's Thanksgiving Parade (from 2010), turkey will all the trimmings (including sushi!), apple cider, amazing cookies and pies, Settlers of Catan, AND an American football game played in Rwandan's National Football (Soccer) Stadium...

A wonderful time was had by all. And it turns out, our house mate Luke (who is from the UK) is actually decent at playing football with a few guys and a bunch of girls :)

We came home to all of the grasshoppers from the plague the day before having disappeared...a Thanksgiving miracle!

And it was just for our Thanksgiving...because they all came back the next day with vengeance...and I had a mini break down...

Having recovered with some good sleep, I woke up today and FINISHED my biggest paper out of the two I have left in my Master's program! Thank you for all the prayers and encouragement...it's the only way I am so ahead!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

a little more on restoration relationships...

When I think about restoration, I think many times about the worldly systems in which we are obligated to participate in while we are on this earth. These systems equally hurt the helpless as much as they help the hurtful. They need to be restored to their true purpose - to help the disenfranchised to catch up with the rich.

Then I think about all of the people who have formed organizations to bring restoration to communities around the world. One of these organizations is Azizi Life (what...you aren't surprised, are you?). While it's obvious that Azizi Life partnering artisans benefit from fair wages, new found financial security, and respect from family and friends...did you know that their neighbors are affected as well? Jeannine and I put together some interviews for one of our artisan groups and their neighbors...it shocked me how highly their neighbors thought of Azizi Life. One shared this:

My impression of Azizi Life is that that they love people without any interest. The other thing is their commitment. Azizi Life has helped the ladies to work together to promote their work in order to be developed.

Another neighbor shares:

Among all organizations I know, Azizi Life is the best. They buy products and pay immediately. They love people and care about them.  

These neighbors have never received anything from Azizi Life...it's amazing to me how God is working through the artisans, who benefit from Azizi Life's connections with markets around the world, to reach out to their community. He is good!

So, I know I just went on and on about getting out of our comfort zone of relief and move into restoration relationships...but I am all for organizations that are in it for the long haul and are focusing on restoration, themselves. Azizi Life is one of these organizations...if you have any interest in Azizi Life products and artisans, now is the time to head on over to www.azizilife.com and purchase some precious treasures (or Christmas presents!)...from Thanksgiving day to Nov. 27th EVERYTHING IS 20% OFF...that's a great discount...and it won't get any better than that...so get on it :)

No code or coupon needed, all prices are reduced!

Join Azizi Life in their mission for restoration in the lives of rural Rwandans. Every time you pick up an Azizi Life product, you can be assured that the artisan who made that product is benefiting from a long-term relationship with an organization that is determined to empower and facilitate personal development for the individual and the community.

Much love, 

Emily Elizabeth

the season for giving

During the holidays, we are always encouraged to participate in Angel Tree (buying gifts for children that has one of both parents in prison), collect hats and gloves for families in need, buy for non-perishables for food drives, volunteer at homeless shelters, or donate this or that to this organization or that needy person...we are called upon to offer some relief to those who are find themselves in a tough spot during the holidays...especially when we will be enjoying family, friends and food...and they will not...

But how many times have you been asked to participate in restoration during the holidays? And actually, the holidays are to celebrate the beginning of the restoration of all human kind...the birth of Jesus Christ. The fact is, restoration takes a HUGE commitment, while relief can be completed with a can of green beans, a donation of $50 to World Vision or even one night spent with the homeless at a shelter. Restoration is entering into the personal journey of someone who is asking for help, not merely satisfying a need. Restoration is a daily commitment to stand alongside the suffering until they have the capacity to stand beside someone else and offer their wisdom and experience. 

 90% of Rwandan GDP is from agriculture. This means that the majority of Rwandans spend their days in fields and gardens, planting and harvesting crops to feed their families and to bring income to their households. Cultivating is back breaking work, and never ending...kind of like restoration...

Coming alongside to give a hand....actually seeing your hands helping them...it's the best gift one who is in need can receive...

Restoration is messy, hard work that can only be done through the power of Christ. Beside the fact that it can be heartbreaking, risky, disappointing, costly, and time consuming, I think what is the biggest factor keeping Christians from entering into relationships of restoration over relief is that they are afraid God won't show up...and they will be left alone with a drug addict on their couch. If we call ourselves God's people...shouldn't we trust Him take care of us while we take care of others?

So here is your encouragement to participate in restoration this holiday season. Invite someone over for Thanksgiving tomorrow that you know will not be eating otherwise or  enjoying the company of good people...then invite them over for Christmas or New Years...start a relationship of restoration with that person in your life that you think is crazy or way too needy or is trying to rip you off all the time. God will show up...and you will have a front row seat to the amazing things He will do.

We would like to wish a very Happy Thanksgiving to all of our wonderful friends and family. We love and appreciate each of you and how God has used you in our lives. We have many people in our lives who have committed to stand beside us through thick and thin...and we are much better people for it. Love and miss you all!

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

For more on relief vs. restoration check out When Helping Hurts by StevenCorbett and Brian Fikkert

promises

On our way to Jon's birthday dinner last night, we encountered this...the most vibrant rainbow we have seen in years...you could see all the ROY, G, and BIV!

The significance of this was not unnoticed. Jon and I have been talking a lot lately how God has been faithful to us as His followers during our lives...and especially during our marriage and adventures together. We have been reflecting on the promise that He would never give us more than we could handle...and how that is reflected in our time in Pennsylvania, as well as here in Rwanda.

Rwanda has truly been a breath of fresh air, a chance to heal, and a marvel at God's goodness in the ways He had guided us to choose Rwanda for my field semester. Truly, every day I am blessed by those I work with and the beauty of the people and the hills of Rwanda. All the time we are thinking, "What did we do to deserve this wonderfulness?"

Actually, we did nothing, but made the choice to follow our Savior into the unknown of our lives and to trust that He would keep His promises to us...and that it would lead to the adventure of a lifetime! Even when that adventure is hard and seems impossible, He is still good and faithful.

Praise His glorious name! God has never left us to roam this earth alone...He is waiting for our surrendering our story to Him to show us our true potential...and that adventure of a lifetime.

We love You,
Emily Elizabeth + Jon

Happy Birthday to my Jonerton!

This is how we looked when we first met...freshman year at SNU...notice that Jon awkwardly refuses to let his hand rest on my arm in a way that would make me think he likes me...hahaha

A lot has changed since this picture was taken in 2003, and those changes have been the best part of my life.

Jon Newlin, I have no idea what I would do without your support, encouragement, love and willingness to see me through to my dreams. You are wonderful and I love you!

Happy Birthday!!!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Last night, Azizi Life hosted friends from around Gitarama and Kigali for a Christmas Expo (aka get your Christmas shopping done and in the mail party). It was a great time, complete with hot cocoa, ginger snaps, banana and pumpkin bread, and (of course) Christmas music! (Who knew...Sheila, my Rwandan co-worker, knows pretty much every Christmas song...including The Little Drummer Boy...unfortunently :))

 Marianna + me

Mark, Karen + Tricia enjoying snacks and chatting

 Shopping!

Jeannine, her daughter Jessica + me

 (I had the honor of teaching Jessica how to smacking/pop her lips)

 I also got to present the home show party presentation for feedback

It must have been good...because Marianna bought a bunch of goodies...despite Luke's harassment

Git friends!

Wrapping up school work and work with Azizi Life over the next four weeks is already making for some crazy times...your continued prayers and words of encouragement are close to my heart.

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

it's just not the same...

Writing a major research paper without...

Starbucks

and a library...

I never thought it was possible...although, the paper is not written yet...so the ability for me to complete it without Starbucks is still to be determined...

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

Happy 11/11/11

At 11:11 am, we properly celebrated...

11 hrs. : 11 min. : 11 sec. : 11 months : 11 days : of the 11th year of 21st Century

I needed a fun and joyful workplace for my field placement...and God provided Azizi Life. Thanks, God...You are awesome.

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

We Got Mail! (Vol. 7)

 Look at that sweet baby face...this week's mail included a card from my Mamaw and Papaw King, a birthday card for Jon form his parents + adorable birth announcements proclaiming Mallory Ruth's arrival! We still love getting mail :)

On another note...

Marianna, our fellow volunteer and charming friend, and I split this fish last night at a restaurant...eating it with our hands, right off the bone and scales...it was the best fish I have ever had...go figure

I have had a very productive week or so in my school work endeavors...whoever is praying for me...thank you so much...God is being faithful and providing time and motivation that I know are not a product of my own efforts!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

What are you saving $ for?

We recently started asking our artisans a question every week when they come in for Delivery Day. Our aim is to show the artisans and our customers how much they have in common. Last week, we asked our artisans what they are currently saving their money for. Here are some of their responses:

"I save for help orphans, visit prisoners, and help poor people."

-Eugenie, 40 years old, Twivanembukene

"I save money for satisfying my daily needs and for the future."
-Liberatha, 46, Twivanemubukene

"I save money for buying animals to breed."

-Redempta, 23, Kanguka

"I save money for getting a house."
-Jeannette, 29, Kanguka

"I save money for the future of my family."
-Berine, 39, Abihuje


"I save money for imprevisional needs."
-Dative, 46, Ingobokarugo

"I save money for the future and health insurance for children."
-Restituta, Abarikumwe

"I save money for resolving problems and sacrifice for the church."
-Jeanine, Abizeranye

"I don’t save all money I get I use it for my daily life."
-Scholastique, 42, Abihuje

Sound familiar to you? I know that I save money for some of the very same reasons. If you would like to help these artisans in their savings, consider buying one of their creations. Simply click on their group name, which will take you to the Azizi Life website. Here you will find the products that these artisans make, along with more information about their community and cooperative.

Would you care to share what you are saving your money for? Our artisans would love to hear your answers.

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

how to avoid death on The Nile

Somehow we did it...I'm not really sure how...but I can tell you the things not to do in order to stay alive while white water rafting The Nile River in Uganda...and yes, this will be dramatic...but I am the one telling the story...so I get to tell it how I want...so there...

Jocelyn, Diane, Deke, Tom, Camo (our instructor), Luke, Jon, me, and Julie (RIP gray shorts)

Anyway...things not to do if you don't want to die on The Nile:

1.) Lose your wedding ring in The Nile's currents of death. Luckily, my husband has such a wonderful and understanding wife that even though he lost his wedding ring in our adventure...he is still alive...I mean, come on...who gets to say they lost ANYTHING in THE Nile River...much less their wedding ring...so I handled it like a champ.

...and I would just like to add that I entered The Nile with 2 rings and a pair of earrings on...and left The Nile with 2 rings and a pair of earrings remaining...

(click on pictures to enlarge...trust me, you want to...our faces are priceless)

2.) Let The Nile's currents of death suck you out of the raft, underneath the raft, and then make the raft run over you again before you have caught your breath. I thought I was going to die. Luckily, that was the 2nd rapid we went through...so I still had faith that good things were to come...I was mostly wrong...

3.) Let your husband who is not phased by the terror of the river call the shots on how intense your rafting experience is after you have almost died. No, he wasn't that bad...but there were times when I thought he wanted me to die...

4.) Let your paddle hit you in the face. While we are not totally sure it was Julie's paddle that hit her in the face, she was hit nonetheless...and had to venture to a hospital in Kampala to get all glued back together...she spent the rest of the rafting adventure looking like the rapper Nelly with her band aid so cooly placed under her left eye.

5.) Get stuck in the raft and think you are underwater, when you are really above water being pelted with rushing water, and squander a once in a lifetime chance to surf a rapid in The Nile on a raft. Diane is a legend, according to our rafting guide. She may not feel like it, but she is a hero. I think she experienced the scariest thing of all and stuck out the rest of the 5(?) rapids...and I mean..some of these were Class 5...and Diane and I are not extreme sport people...but we should have earned some kind of badge for not crying at all during the whole experience...

Jon had the time of his life...as well as some of my Eastern classmates + Azizi Life co-workers...and me...well, I'm glad it is over and am still incredibly sore...I don't ever use my muscles...

The parts where I didn't think I was going to die were great, though. Floating down The Nile, with children waving from the banks, being with good company and getting out to swim around made for some great memories that I will always cherish. And I would recommend it to anyone who knew how to swim...really well

Also...we got to enjoy Kampala for a couple of days. Let me just say, if Rwanda had the kind of food that Kampala has...I would not need care packages from the States. We had Tex-Mex, pancakes, ice cream, Mediteranian, and even got to see a movie with a free drink...we were spoiled/splurged for our entire trip.

The time with friends, relaxing, adventuring, and playing lots of card games was good for our souls. We are ready to tackle the last 42 days here...crazy, 42 days...

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

We Got Mail! (Vol. 6)

From one Emily Elizabeth to another...

A HUGE box of home came for us today...filled with chili, soup + pasta mixes...crazy flavors of Goldfish (that are awesome), peanut M&Ms, gummy bears + even Chef Boyardee...my friend from Oklahoma (who is also named Emily Elizabeth) sent us enough food to feed the whole country...ok...maybe not that much, but at least the whole office!

Thank you, Emily...your thoughtfulness means more than you will ever know!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth (2)


P.S. So....we went white water rafting this weekend in Uganda...I'm waiting for pictures to go along with my blog post before I publish it...so stay tuned...you do not want to miss the near death experiences that The Nile brought The Newlin Weds and our friends!

We Got Mail! (vol.5)

Sweet words of encouragement + excitement for Pastor Appreciation Month and Jon's birthday from our "church in waiting" in Wickes, AR...they are so brave to send us off to Africa after welcoming us as their new pastoral pair :)

We love you guys and thank you so much for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers!

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth


P.S. No, we were not mailed these little baskets...but if you like them, you can buy them here!

Azizi Life Wood Carver

Here is a short video of the a wood carver making the beginnings of a Azizi Life napkin holder.  It will take the man almost an hour to complete the napkin holder.



Things to notice in the video:

1. His wedding ring.  He's married and probably supports his entire family through wood work.

2. The tools he uses.  I especially like his hammer.

3.  All of the wood chips lying around him on the floor.  There has been a lot of wood work done at that spot.

4.  Near the end, his shoes disappear as he goes bare foot.  He uses his feet to help him hold the wood while he works.

international development

When I tell people that I am getting my masters in International Development, most of the time they look at me with a blank stare and say, "Ummmm and what do you do with that?" I usually answer, "Why, develop internationally, of course!" because I'm not even really sure what I will do with it...yet.

But this past week, I have seen my training come to life.  Jeannine and I traveled to Cyeza to meet with the Abarikumwe Association to begin interviews for an Environmental Impact Assessment and for my final paper for my master's program...which will look at the cultural impact of groups working with Azizi Life.

We caught up with the ladies during their weekly weaving time and began with group interviews...

The women of Abarikumwe weaving in their regular meeting place, the Association President's home

I was shown step by step how to weave our loop earrings...

Yusta modeling freshly stripped sisal fibers.

Florida showing me the finishing touches.

We did community mapping...

 And I may or may not have passed out some Post-it page markers...

During our interviews...the idea of the people who buy their products being rich came up...the women expressed that only rich people with lots of extra money would buy their jewlery, otherwise...they would spend their money on resolving problems. When I asked them how much money does one need to be rich...they said it would take them earning 60,000 Rwandan Francs a month to be rich...that's about $1,000 US a month...think about that for a little while...

Also...We Got Mail!!!! (Vol. 4) click here!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

Meet Hezekiah

Some of you read my post about the sad and sudden passing of one of our artisans. While this was tragic and we lost a dear friend, we had someone willing to step into his shoes...his son, Hezekiah.

I only met him for a moment when we brought in a new batch of wooden dove ornaments, formerly made by his father.

It makes me wonder how much we pass down to our children, as Americans, that is valuable enough to sustain our families after we leave. Something to think about, for sure.

This is a HUGE blessing, not only to Azizi Life and our customers who love these little doves, but also Hezekiah and his family. 

What a great way to support a Rwandan family that you will think of everytime you see these on your Christmas tree.

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth


P.S. if the doves are listed as unavailable or sold out on the Azizi Life website, you can still order them and include a note that you are willing to wait for the next shipment from Rwanda to come in...the time will vary and you should get an email with an estimated arrival time. Thanks!

We Got Mail (Vol. 3)

Today was a mail day to end all mail days...

we got TWO packages...

One from my (Emily's) parents...and one from our friends at HeartLine (my old stomping grounds in OKC). Sweet treats, yarn (which I was not expecting and especially excited about), cereal, a book and some good ol' East Texas roasted coffee...I call that winning.

These sweet gifts, however, do not make up for the lack of seeing these people daily...I miss my family in Texas...AND my HeartLine family in Oklahoma daily...and who wouldn't, when they love you so much?

Also, here is a treat for YOU...Another video! It documents our lake adventure from several weeks ago...enjoy!

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

Mission Year meets Rwanda

Many of you know that right after college at Southern Nazarene, I moved to Chicago to participate in a program called Mission Year. That year was epic...not only did I experience true community for the first time, fall in love with Jon, and add many more people to my spiritual family...I also experienced the most out of my comfort zone year of my life...

well, that was until we moved to Pennsylvania...

Anyway...I wrote a short reflection on the things I have found to be the same here in Rwanda as in Chicago...and the president of Mission Year used it for his newsletter to start off a story campaign celebrating Mission Year's 15 years of loving God + people.

Click here to read it!

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

we got mail (vol. 2)

Gummy Bears, Swedish Fish + a sweet note from our friends Travis + Calitia (even though I am inclined to give a little more credit to Calitia than Travis...) Travis was one of Jon's college roommates...and still BFF today...we are so blessed to have this couple in our lives...they are pretty awesome.

So about gummy bears...we brought a 3 pound bag with us and I ate all of that 3 pound bag in 3 weeks...yeah...that can't be good for me...I am learning new things about myself everyday...and one of these things is that one of my coping skills is eating...

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth


P.S. They shipped their package on September 28th...so it took just about three weeks to get here...so if you have sent something...remember that is takes three weeks to arrive :) and if you want to send something...you can find our address here