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