Looking Forward: Tanzania

Just moments ago, I shared in a blog that Africa Inland Mission appointed me to serve in full time ministry. You may be wondering what that will look like. To tell you the truth, so am I! ;-)

I can tell you a few key things though…

I accepted an opportunity in Tanzania! The goal is to go there in January 2015. That may seem like a quick turn to make but through prayer and counsel, I believe that is the best position for me. God has been calling me to Africa in full time ministry and this is where it is going to happen. I am confident that He will provide in excess to make this a reality!

Where: Tanzania
When: January 2015
What: administrative work in a school
Who: I will go with another girl that will be teaching and a few other missionaries are already there.
Why: Because God has called, I have said yes
How: God's provision and guidance will get me there

First and foremost I need your prayerful support. This is going to be a giant step into God's will for my life. I am crazy excited to see what it will look like and to be living in it. There are many first world things that need to be taken care of and decisions to be made. Please pray for wisdom for me to make those decisions, guidance for those that may aid in the decision making, and openness of all those that are directly affected by this move into ministry.

Another main need is for financial support. This will fall into two categories: outgoing and monthly. A number of things will need to happen on the front end to bring together the logistics of this endeavor. The monthly support is for when I am on the field.

Right now, all I want you to do is pray about how you can best support me. I want you to support me in the way that God shows is best for you and your family. So many people will be part of this journey and not everyone is called to participate financially.

Some of the outgoing estimated costs are as follows:
Orientation school - $950
Medical (immunizations, physicals, medical clearance) - $700
Excess bagage fees - $500
Domestic travel  - $300
International travel - $1500
Travel Documents - $200
Language Acquisition Course: $5000


These are just a few of the areas that I know God will provide in their entirety. Actually, I know He will provide for everything!! That is so comforting and so mind boggling at the same time. I know He will do it, but just don't know how. I have peace knowing that I don't need to know how, not right now.

I will be sharing with you as I find out more specifics for both the preparation phase and the in country phase. Please don't hesitate to ask questions as you feel God leading you to inquire about certain needs or any ways that you can specifically help. I don't have any idea what to expect over the coming months. I know that God will be the center of so much and I very much look forward to how everything unfolds.

Flashback Friday: when the body comes together

About six months ago I asked some people at my church if we could gather a group to help a single mother of two move. It was something that she truly needed. A blessing that I definitely felt she deserved from my Earthly point of view.

It was a chilly day in January. We kind of trickled in that day to help. That afternoon I realized what happened.

-someone provided coffee
-someone provided a box truck
-someone provided a truck to pick up something across town
-someone provided new laundry connections AND did the connecting
-someone provided coffee
-someone watched kids so others could help
-someone came the next day to help clean the old place

I realize providing coffee and moving some boxes are not exactly spiritual gifts. But whenever, I think about this day, it reminds me of a popular passage. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about the variety of spiritual gifts and relates them to parts of the human body to illustrate how each gift is significant.

-Coffee is always good but if there is no one to drink it…then what?
-New laundry connections are a blessing but if you don't have the skills to attach them…then what?
-If the body was one eye, where would there be a sense of hearing? (v.17)
-If a foot says it is not part of the body, it does not make it any less part of the body. (v.15)

Each of us in an individual member of the Body of Christ. (v.27)

Many different gifts have been appointed to us: gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. (v.28)

When all of these gifts are combined into one act, something beautiful and glorious happens. God is glorified. That day that a group of people moved the single mother…that day, God was glorified!

So much, So fast!

After a very unintentional five month sabbatical from writing, it just seems like there are endless things to share.

Please, allow me to cover the "big" things just briefly. But, before I do that. Let me preface by saying this post is coming to you from a guest house in Kigali, Rwanda after very little sleep over a multi day travel period.

The last week or so has been literally life changing for me. I don't mean that something happened as much that I mean that something will happen. On July 3, I received a phone call from Africa Inland Mission. This is an organization that I have been working with since May 2013. I have step by step been working through their multi-level application process. It is a process that has led me to learn much about myself and the organization that I have felt God call me to serve through them. The timing of completing each step seemed perfect at times and seemed so far from "my" path that I began to doubt. The phone call on July 3rd is when everything came to fruition. I had been officially appointed to serve in full time ministry with Africa Inland Mission. My mind was blown at God's timing!!!

In less than a week, I was leaving to lead a Visiting Orphans trip to Rwanda and Ethiopia. I am part of a team of nine amazingly awesome people that God put together. (We actually arrived in Rwanda just hours ago.) To be able to come here and know that in a matter of months I will be returning to this continent that has filled my heart on a one way ticket brings such a flurry of emotions that I just can't fathom it yet. I know it is happening and I know that this is all God's PERFECT timing. Looking back, I can understand some of the areas where "my" idea of timing was wrong.

It seems almost impossible to describe how this feels. It is like the road of God's will and the road of my ultimate dreams are merging into one path. I know this path won't be straight. It won't always be beautiful. But it will bring Glory to God and I am so thankful for that. For it is for Him and because of Him that all this is happening.

RIGHT NOW (literally)…..
I am in Rwanda with a great team of people. We get to minister to the lovely people here and in Ethiopia before returning to the states on July 23. Each time God provided for this team, I just became more and more excited. I just have this deep down feeling that something big will happen on this trip. I don't know why. Big things have happened on all of my trips to Africa but this seems different for some reason. I may never know what happen. Maybe we will only plant the seed of the Gospel and that will lead to life changing decisions that will change a town or a country. My the life of a team member will be radically changed beyond their imagination. Whatever happens, God has it all under control.

A few prayer requests:
-restful nights and fruitful days for the team I am with in Africa for the next two weeks
-wise decision making for me as I start to mentally plan for my move to Tanzania
-quick travel/jet lag recover followed by strength each and every day on the field
-comfort/peace for the family and friends on the team as they are without their loved ones

Flashback Friday: male influence

Fathers are probably the most influential male in everyone's life. I think this is probably true even if the biological father is absent. The lack of his presence will still influence a child in ways that I can not explain.

On my first trip to Africa in August 2011, I was part of a team of 20 people that came from 7 different states. Some of us knew each other already and some were coming on their own. Of these 20 people, there were only 2 guys on the team. This had very few implications for the team. However, for the children that we were going to see so we could share Christ's love, it was an unfortunate occurrence.

These children have almost no [direct] male influence throughout their young lives. The are influenced by the lack of [positive] male role models. They don't know it is happening and neither does anyone else. But I caught a glimpse of this. Of the 20 people on the team, one person was attracting the most attention at one place we visited. This team member was surrounded by kids. They all wanted attention; the wanted to be loved.

This team member was one of the guys. The children could get get enough of him. Fortunately, he felt the same way about them.

I share this with you so that you might encourage the men in your life to serve. I don't quite understand the reason that more women are acting on their call to missions. I don't know the reason. I wish I did!! Maybe you know the reason.

Who has been the most influential male in your life? positive or negative?

Can you imagine a life without that person?

Our Heavenly Father will always be there and love us unconditionally. But can you fathom no Earthly example of that love. Father, grandfather, uncle, neighbor……..I pray that you have someone in your life that fills that need for you. I pray the same thing for the millions of orphans in a continent so full of darkness. I pray that these kids will know they are loved even if it is for only one day. Even if one man goes on one trip, they will know. 

Update with Africa Inland Mission

Good Afternoon Everyone!!!!

Last week I received some very exciting news from Africa Inland Mission.

I was officially invited to Candidate Week!!!!! Candidate Week is the last step in the application process and I am very excited about this.

The official description is as follows: The week includes an introduction to the mission and its ministries, the history of the mission, as well as seminars on a variety of topics aimed at preparing candidates for service with Africa Inland Mission.  Candidates will also meet a counselor who has their Personality Profiles. That meeting completes the candidate’s file, which will be reviewed by the personnel committee during the CW.  Candidates will know the status of their application by the end of the CW.  Upon approval of their application by the Personnel Committee, Candidates become Appointees, and they will be able to confirm their Field Assignment with the candidate office.

I will be going to Candidate Week February 10-15. It is in Peachtree City, GA. It will be held at the AIM headquarters. I am hoping and praying to have an assignment and go from candidate to appointee that week or shortly after. I am applying for the TIMO part of the AIM ministry. TIMO means Training in Ministry Outreach. It is a two year foundation for a lifetime of ministry. You can watch a short video about it HERE.

Please join me in prayer as Candidate Week is fast approaching. This has potential to be a launching point for some major changes and possibly a lifetime of ministry. I am very crazy excited about this!!!!!!!

Please pray specifically for the following:

-AIM staff as they prepare for the candidates to come 

-all the candidates that will attend 

-everyone's hearts are open and listening to God so that His will may be done

If there is any way that I can be praying for you, please let me know! I would love to hear what God is doing in your life too.

Flashback Friday: the first orphanage

Months of anticipation
Lots of preparation
Hours of traveling

…….all leading up to the moment. The moment I went to my first orphanage in Africa. It was in August of 2011. For just under 7 months, I had been anticipating the trip to Ethiopia and Rwanda. Through God's handiwork, a friend and I had signed up for the same trip. We were 2 people on a team of 20, that came from 7 different states, and traveled around the world to a foreign country to minister to orphans and widows.

Leaving the airport in Kigali, Rwanda, we were extremely exhausted and in a daze as we tried to process being in a country so different from home. We loaded up the buses and went straight to the Rwanda Genocide Memorial Museum. There, we learned about the history of the country, as well as causes and effects of the genocide. It was an emotional roller coaster! That first night, most of us slept very well from the physical and emotional exhaustion that we were already starting to feel.

Morning came and we felt like a whole new team. We were filled with excitement and anticipation as we prepared to go to the first orphanage. I remember our driver taking us on a detour that left us with an interesting story but eventually we made it to where we are supposed to be.

Kimisagra Orphanage!

It is land locked and on a hill. It is a small hike up a steep hill to get there. (Each time I return the walk up seems less and less but the first time for anyone is always a little shocking.) We climb the hill and gather in a tiny room to hear some history on the orphanage and meet the workers. This was interesting but we could see the kids craving our attention and love more than a football player craves a super bowl win.

Eventually, we finished the interesting but less desired formalities and we were able to go with the kids. Somehow, I was the first to make it around the corner and into the courtyard where the kids had gathered. It was and still is an unforgettable moment.

Children swarmed me faster than a hummingbird flaps its wings. Some wanted a hug and then backed up one step. Some wanted to hang on and never leave. Some walked over smiled and just looked at me. Others came and just giggled with pure joy that I had come from so far to see them. I felt like I couldn't move. It seemed like the children were multiplying and I was overwhelmed. Of course, this all happened in a matter of seconds that felt like an hour. As more of the team made it to the courtyard, the kids spread out and seem to lay their claim on which muzungu (white person) was theirs for the day. 

It was here at this orphanage that I learned how truly thankful someone can be for something so small. 

a wooden toy car

a new headband

someone to play catch with

or even a hand to hold

These kids were emitting gratefulness in amounts that I never knew existed. 

One girl was thrilled to be up in the air. Something that most parents do to some degree and she had probably never had such joy.

I may have enjoyed it more than she did. 

I will never forget the first orphanage, the first group of kids that stole me heart, the first time I saw such gratefulness come from someone who had so little. Those kids will never know how much they changed my life and how much God has done since this moment. I suppose I will never know the same for them. But I can look back and know that for that moment these kids knew they were important and someone loves them.

$20in14days Fundraiser update!!!

Greetings everyone!!!

Tomorrow is the last day for the $20in14days fundraiser. (Although, donations are welcome any time for the trip, any team members, or the ministries we will visit.)

So far, through you, God has provided about $1200.

My trip is now funded completely and I will continue to help with some fundraisers so that if any team members are running short, I can help them.

Please continue to support our trip through prayer as we will start preparing quite soon. Actually, two more people signed up today. That makes a total of 8 people that are going to bless many ministries in Ethiopia and Rwanda. I am so excited to share with these 7 people (and maybe more) an experience that is so eye opening and life changing. 

If God leads you to not only support us in prayer but also financially, then we would love to have you be part of the trip in that way. Everyone is called in some way to be part of ministry. I believe God will lead you and open your eyes to the way that He wants you to further the Kingdom. 

To support our trip financially, here is how you can do it:

1. Checks can be made out to "Visiting Orphans"

     -I can accept them and mail them to VO

     -if you mail it to VO please indicate the trip and if you want it to go toward a specific team member

2. I can also accept cash donations

3. Go HERE for online donating:

     -For fund category please select "Ethiopia/Rwanda: Leader - Rowe"

     -team member or ministry name please enter "Katherine Rowe"

    ********you may leave this area blank and your donation will go toward the trip in general and be used for other team members or ministries we visit**********

4. If you wish to mail checks directly to VO please make sure my name and the trip name are on the memo line. You can abbreviate it to"Et/Rw July 2014; Member K. Rowe"

Following are the mailing addresses for Visiting Orphans and myself

Visiting Orphans

449 Metroplex Drive

Nashville, TN 37211

Katherine Rowe

1515 Robertson Ct.

Clarksville, TN 37042

I am endlessly thankful for how God has used you to bless me and then allow me to bless orphans in Africa.

Stay tuned for un update with my journey with Africa Inland Mission. That will come later this week!!!! Great and Amazing things are happening!