Day 7: Divide and Wimper….or Divide and see God at work!
There was so much weighing on the team about Thursday morning. We had become a well oiled machine in two days of work at the Dream Center. We love each other (Rwandans and Americans together) we didn’t want to split up. The Rwandans were sad that some of us had to leave the Dream Center and go over. We also were hesitant because there were so many problems with the stadium clinic.
I would like to give you a taste of what we now call the “African way” as it applies to planning, scheduling, and organizing. All the way up to 3 hours before we needed to set up the clinic we had been told 4 to 5 times that “yes” we have the building and “no” we don’t have the building. Finally, we were actually shown part of the national stadium locker rooms and we said “we’ll take it.” So with only a couple hours to set up we switched buildings and got the rooms set up. This turned out to be an incredible blessing. Today we set up clinic about 70 feet from the actual Amahoro Stadium field( we got to run clinic and watch the soccer tournament at the same time!!!
So, it would be safe to say that the compassion connect team was feeling the weight of days of hard work and the prospects of being split. I, personally, have never been so worried about the start up of a new clinic. I was anxious….and felt as though failure was right on our doorstep.
I have to say that in more than 15 clinics I’ve help lead and set up there has never been a clinic that started and flowed as smooth as this one!!! I don’t know how or why…but I know that all logic would’ve said this would’ve been a mess on the first day. Fortunately, God is a God above human logic….He is much bigger…and He answered our prayers in a mighty way. We saw over 200 people in 7 hours and gave out easily more than 100 pairs of glasses (special thanks to the Dr.Bailey…Alabama team). The other team took charge at the Dream Center and did awesome work…..it is amazing to work with a team that is so talented 
I wish I could say my faith has been strengthened and I have learned my lesson to never doubt….but give me another organizational feat, people to lead, sermon to preach…and I will doubt. “I do believe, help my unbelief.”
July 16, 2009
Thank you for being so transparent about unbelief. I know I bounce back and forth all the time. I stand in awe of God who will take my unbelief, smile, and show me how to believe again. I lay hope to the day I am with Him, in Heaven, so I can leave that all behind. Until then I will smile whenever he pulls me back to His reality - Belief! I miss you guys really bad!
July 16, 2009
Ah, but your faith has been strengthened and will become evident the next time it has been put to test.
Thank you for your faithfulness if posting the blogs. I know you are tired and weary, yet this helps those of us who could not join you in Kigali, to join you daily in prayer. We have.
Thank you for loving the Rwanadas; for showing them Christ’s love for them.
Agapetos08
July 17, 2009
The magnitude of what God is doing among you and through you there is awesome. Every day we get a new perspective of God’s global work… and to know that He’s using our dear friends to accomplish this is so exciting. Thanks for sharing so descriptively! We continue to pray for you and can’t wait till we are face to face again to hear even more. Love you guys!