Why Rwanda? Why now?

                                                                (Kigali, Rwanda)

Have you ever felt it? A tug, a nudge, a pull toward a place or a people or a culture not your own?
 I have...
Honestly I cannot say truthfully that I haven't felt it many times over. I am a lover of cultures. I blame my mom for exposing me to so very many different types of people, for National Geographic subscriptions and that Gypsy/adventure loving spirit that seems to run strong in my maternal line. Man, I love the people of this earth. I love to hear their languages, learn of their cultures and enjoy their art and food. If one could make a job of traveling the world and loving on people of different cultures, I would sign up in a heartbeat. There is beauty in the people of this world that can be seen in the harshest of circumstances. I love to learn the stories of their lives, honor their culture and share Jesus with them. My Jesus, the love of my life, the restorer of my heart, the hope of nations and the redeemer of all people. Oh man, don't get me started....

                                   (On top of a mountain outside of Musanze, Rwanda)

As long as I can remember, I have had a fascination with the continent of Africa and her people. Before I was a believer in Christ I felt it. I had a compassion for a people and a desire for a land I'd never been to. When I was a very young child, I remember intense emotions and a tug in my heart for the African people I saw in National Geographic and on television. In 1994 I watched in horror as the world ignored the desperate pleas of help from the small African nation of Rwanda. As a lover of history with a strong hatred for evil in the world, I was broken-hearted and angry at the Western world for ignoring the genocide in Rwanda while coming to the aid of the people of Bosnia. Did we learn nothing from the Holocaust? How could we stand by and watch it happen again?  I really couldn't understand why we would help one people group and not another. Why a European nation and not an African? Was it the color of their skin? Was our government racist? I still cannot understand why we would stand by and watch as such horrible things happened to our fellow human beings in Africa. If I had had some understanding of prayer back then, I would have been in prayer 24/7 I'm sure. But I didn't and instead...my heart ached...my eyes burned...and my soul was troubled beyond my ability to understand it all. 1994 was a rough year for me for many reasons that I won't share today but  I was ready for a change and to dedicate my life to a purpose beyond myself. I decided that summer that I wanted to move to Africa and work as a relief worker. I saw myself becoming a medical worker in Africa.  By autumn I began dating the love of my life and we were married in April of 1995. My plans changed but that tug on my heart toward Africa didn't. I came to know Jesus in July of 1996 and my life was forever changed. My love of other cultures and lands took on new meaning when I learned that we are commanded by God to go into all of the world and make disciples. Missions and the mission of the church is a passion of mine. In fact, I believe missions is not just a calling but a commandment. I've been on several missions trips to countries that I have a great love and affection for but the desire to go to Africa has never left me.

(Alaska to Rwanda)

My heart for the people of Rwanda has not changed. I have prayed for the nation of Rwanda and been moved to tears so many times over the years. So when I heard friends of ours were moving to Rwanda from Tanzania I knew I wanted to join one of their trips one day. I had no idea that that one day would come to fruition so quickly. I've struggled over the years for the faith to believe God will provide when it comes to me and missions trips. It always seems like it's a tremendous amount of stress trying to figure out how to fundraise and never being able to afford to send myself my faith has been challenged so very many times....But when His hand is on it...the Lord provides, He does. The desire to go was there. The husband and the boss were both supportive of me going. The money? I didn't have it. Not even enough to register. So, I took a leap of faith and I started a GoFundMe and shared it on my facebook page. By the end of the first day, I had enough funds come in to register! My faith was bolstered but now the pressure was on... I had 2 1/2 months to fundraise nearly $4,000.00 to cover my trip costs, airfare and travel expenses. I asked for wisdom and the Lord gave. He reminded me that I make some pretty great cheese enchiladas (my daddy's recipe) and so I created a facebook "Enchilada dinner to go" event. I obeyed the Lord and invited all of my Alaskan friends to order and He provided. I raised enough from that one event to cover my trip fees and airfare!  I cannot tell you how shocked I was at how easy the funds came in. Over the next several weeks, I saw the Lord provide over and over again. Even last minute provision coming in on the morning of my departure with my final travel expenses coming in as I was packing. God's hand was totally on this trip and there was no denying it. He truly wanted me to go and it was evident from the get go. Not only did He provide for my financial needs but the needs of the thrift store I manage. Though we were struggling for volunteers in the months prior to my trip, our schedule for the mission trip was jam packed with quality servants. I felt total peace in leaving my job and my family.  Jehovah Jireh...our God provides. He provides finances, He provides peace, He provides workers, He provides all that we need when He calls us to join Him in His work. He provides a way when we don't see one. Jehovah Jireh.

(Ministry time on the mountain, details to follow)

I invite you my friends to join me on a journey of remembering as I declare all that God has done in me and through me as I followed His leading to the beautiful people and incredible land of Rwanda. It was my destiny to Go, this I know.  God's plan for me to be a member of this amazing team. It was my destiny to sit under the teaching and leadership of men and women of God that powerfully rocked my world. This mission trip was truly the beginning of something big in the nation of Rwanda but also in the life and identity of me, Maggie Nikko. I cannot wait to share all of the goodness brought into my life because I obeyed and trusted and you prayed and gave. I praise God for all of you that sent me and sustained me with your prayers. Thank you, the reward is yours too.