Sunshine & Rainbows

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. -Genesis 9:13

One of my favorite movie quotes of all time comes from the Movie "Rocky Balboa" (Rocky 6). In this particular scene, Rocky is standing on the side of the road in Philadelphia having a confrontation with his son. Rocky tells his son "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

Well said Rocky!

Just like Rocky's son, we all face problems in our daily lives that can knock us to our knees. It's certainly no different here in Rwanda. Most of the pictures we post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are of the good times: Swimming in beautiful Lake Kivu, relaxing and making s'mores by the bonfire, hiking in Nyungwe National Forest, etc. These are the "sunshine and rainbows" part of our lives, typically during the weekends, that we enjoy sharing with all of you. We don't do this to purposefully mislead anyone into thinking everything is good here, it's just hard to post the "mean and nasty" part of our ministry for all to see. Well, here's the truth: there has been a lot of sadness, some frustration, a little anger, a few heartbreaks, and quite a bit of tears. Yep, the "mean and nasty"... the part that can and will knock us to our knees.

What's our mean and nasty? Well, for starters, we're 8,000 miles from our families that we deeply miss. We
spend a good deal of our time physically and mentally exhausted. The language barrier gives much of our work an added degree of difficulty. We have to stay aware of every franc we spend as we are volunteering and, therefore, not making any additional money. The impending move of the Bergs, the Greens, the Albertsons, Abby, Valorie, Caroline, and other missionary families and individuals that have become like family to us. The seemingly unending amount of work for both Steph and I. The kids school. Etc, etc, etc.

Then there are the "don't affect us directly yet affect us so deeply" emotional triggers. We're in a country surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes, the friendliest people, and the most honest to goodness love for Jesus Christ that you can imagine... But we're also in a 3rd world country and surrounded by poverty, suffering, starvation, sickness, and death. Curious toddlers are pulling open pots of hot cooking oil on top of themselves and their siblings causing severe burns all over their bodies, then spending days in agony as the family walks them miles and miles to the hospital. Mothers are losing babies. Adults are losing limbs. Children are losing parents. Elderly are starving to death. Many people are unnecessarily suffering because of lack of medicine. So beautiful, amazing, and breathtaking, yet so dire, destitute, and unforgiving.

All of these things, whether directly related to us or not, have their affect on us and can and will knock us to our knees. Yes, we knew long before we filled out the application to begin this ministry that God was calling us to that there would be difficult times. And, yes, we're only 2 months in, so we know there will be more hard times on the road ahead.

But there's good news here: Even when things don't go just right and someone or something "mean and nasty" knocks us to our knees, we are confident that we can keep moving forward, because we know that it will only keep us there if we let it. For us, the answer on how to keep moving forward is to rely on and support each other and to remember this: If life knocks you to your knees, pray.

Psalm 55:22 says "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."

1 Peter 5:7 says "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

You see, God never promised our lives would be all "sunshine & rainbows". Instead, I believe God allows hardships because they remind us that we need to rely on Him for strength. It is when we're at our lowest that we realize we need Him the most. It is in our weakest moments that He will strengthen us. Proof of that can be found all throughout the bible:

"He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength" -Isaiah 40:29

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" -Psalm 46:1

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint" -Isaiah 40:31

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me" -Philippians 4:13


When it comes to hard times, we know we're not alone. We are all knocked to our knees from time to time. The time spent there and how that time is utilized can make the difference, and the outcome is completely up to you... You can let life keep you there for the count or you can overcome the problem you face and rise to your feet to fight another round.

The great news in all of this is that God has "sunshine and rainbows" for us all as well. When life knocks you down, don't stay there any longer than it takes to pray for the strength needed to continue pushing forward. When you get back to your feet and see the sunshine and rainbows be sure to pray then as well and thank God for giving you the strength to endure and for providing the good things in your life.

And when life does knock you down remember these three things: "Look up, get up, and don't ever give up". God will help you overcome.

Who Would've Thought

You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. -Psalms 40:5

Who would've thought 24 years ago when I first met Stephanie at Notre Dame Catholic School that we would one day become high school sweethearts and end up getting married?

Who would've thought 16 years ago when I started a career as a heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning technician at Hardin Heating and Cooling that I would one day be using the skills I learned there to work on endoscopy machines and incubators for a mission hospital in Africa?

Who would've thought 13 years ago when we first met the Bergs at First Presbyterian Church in the small town of Kerrville, Texas that we would end up partnering with them through Christ to serve together as missionaries in Rwanda?

Who would've thought 11 years ago when Stephanie graduated from UT Health Science Center and earned her BSN that she would one day be utilizing her skills at a mission hospital in Kibogora, Rwanda?

Who would've thought 15 years ago when our daughter, Macy, was born that she would one day spark a calling in Stephanie to do international missions, and would one day be teaching english to students at a primary school in Tyazo, Rwanda?

Who would've thought 14 years ago when Zach was born that he would one day be handing out soccer balls, gum, water bottles, and other goods to impoverished children in remote villages in Africa?

Who would've thought 8 years ago when Brandon was born that he would one day be visiting sick and injured children at Kibogora Hospital and would be providing companionship to destitute kids in the area?

Who would've thought 7 years ago when we joined Kerrville First United Methodist Church that we would one day be so blessed by the support from the members, clergy, and staff?

Who would've thought a little over a year ago when our church started a sermon series called "Sending & Going" that it would inspire us to go on the church's first coordinated international mission trip?

Who would've thought less than a year ago when I was still planning my and my families future around purchasing the family air conditioning business, continuing to be a partner and help grow a paintball business, and continuing to manage and grow a paintball league in central Texas that I would go on a short term mission trip to Costa Rica that would change my life forever?

Who would've thought when we returned from Costa Rica that things would move 100 miles an hour and 9 short months later we would have sold 95% of what we own and be on our way to Rwanda?

Who would've ever thought I would one day be sitting here at my home in Africa listening to the awesome rain falling outside and writing this blog post?

Well, this certainly wasn't my plan. This wasn't Stephanie's plan, nor Macy's plan, nor Zach's plan, nor Brandon's plan, nor the Berg's plan... There is only one that can truly take credit for all of the above... He is the divine planner, He is the King of kings, He is the way, the truth, and the life... He is God. Yes, God.

Jeremiah 29:11 says “'For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

Though God was speaking (through Jeremiah) to all the Israelites as an entire group and nation, I have no question that he knows the plans for each one of us as individuals as well.

Just looking at my own family, it's simply amazing to step back and look at the bits and pieces of the puzzle that God put together to put us in this particular place at this particular time. There are thousands more "who would've thoughts" in our lives to go along with those listed above.

But the good news I want to share is that God has a plan for you, too! It may or may not be completely different than what your plans are. It may take you to the far reaches of this world, or it may keep you right where you are. I can assure you, though, that once you realize His plan and grasp a hold of it, it can take you for a ride unlike any you've experienced before.

So my challenge to you is to look back at the "who would've thoughts" of your life. If I were a betting man I would bet that, if you do this with an open heart and open mind, you will find God is and always has been there, even during the bad times. If you don't see Him right away just be patient and keep your heart open... It was less than a year ago that my life got flipped upside down and I realized how much He was in control.

So I'll close with this verse from Ephesians. Read it a few times out loud and always remember that "we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." -Ephesians 2:10

Wow. Thank you, God, for thinking of me, and thank you, Jesus, for preparing the way.