The Roller Coaster - We are no longer moving to Rwanda

So....life can surely change in an instant...two months ago, we were enjoying life in Seattle, not thinking of moving at all. One month ago, we were visiting orphans and widows in Uganda and spending time with good friends in Kenya. In the midst of that trip, Dano was asked to consider a job with Food for the Hungry in Rwanda. We flew there, fell in love with the country, and decided to take the offer and life changed overnight. We cannot go into the details, but basically some significant red flags were raised in the eleventh hour and we are no longer moving to Rwanda. This was actually decided two weeks ago, but our hearts were so crushed with disappointment that we've only recently come out of our "funk."

We had started making plans to move, booked flights to see family to say goodbye and told all of our friends and loved ones we were moving to Rwanda for three years. We've spent the past month reading everything we could find on the history of the country. If you are aware that it will be a tough read, I highly, highly recommend the book, "We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda." It will really make you understand the current crisis in eastern Congo. We had already made some friends in Rwanda and received so much personal affirmation from friends and acquaintances.

So, now we're not moving. We do not know what is in store. We had never asked or planned for this opportunity, so in many ways life can just continue as normal, but something has changed in us. We've kept some connections open and if we are to move to the continent of Africa, we would be ready. Dano has also received some interesting offers here in Seattle, so we'll see. And if we are to stay in Seattle, then we will do so whole-heartedly.

Our church is considering sponsoring several orphan-led households that we met in Uganda. So to know that our church family could be a family to these 27 children makes the entire trip worth it. Whenever you travel somewhere and meet people from diverse cultures, your heart is never the same. We may not be moving to Rwanda, but our hearts have been touched and we are not the same.

Lian asks for your help

When I came home today, my daughter showed me three drawings she had made. She said she wanted to help the kids in Africa. Lian wanted us to stand outside and ask people for 5 cents, 6 cents, 10 cents or 25 cents so that we could help the kids we met on our trip. She said she wants the money to be used for the kids for food or toys. So, I told her that instead of standing outside we could post her drawings on our website and ask people to consider giving. If people are interested in giving, please click on the donor badge to the left that provides money to Children's Hope Chest. The money goes directly to the kids. Thank you.

We are moving to Rwanda.

Yes, that was not a typo. It is a long story of which we will share more over the coming months and it has all happened really fast (in five weeks). The short story is that Dano was offered a position as VP for Finance and Administration with Food for the Hungry/ProCom in Rwanda. He will be providing oversight to a water distribution business that received a contract from the Rwandan government and will provide water to 144,000 people. He will also be administrating and creating new business enterprises for Rwandans. This is why we took a detour to Rwanda for 18 hours on our recent trip to Africa. We need to be in Rwanda by January 30. We have made a three year commitment and will live in Kigali, Rwanda.

While we feel overwhelmed and in shock ourselves that this is happening, we also feel a tremendous sense of affirmation and peace that this is right for our family at this time. We'll write more soon.

Only in America

Eric Metaxas sent me this from his friend in Rwanda. No matter who you voted for in this election, this just reaffirms the beauty and uniqueness of our democracy and the honor with which our leaders put aside their differences for the sake of our country.

http://www.ericmetaxas.com/uncategorized/rwandan-reaction-to-us-election-only-in-america/

My Husband's Blog

Dano and I were able to visit some business, NGO and government folks while on a short visit to Rwanda during our Africa trip. He wrote some thoughts on economic development that myself and some friends thought others might find compelling. People always tell him he should write some of his thoughts down because he is a deep thinker who is able to ask the tough questions people usually don't want to ask. And he does something with his questions - he desires to do the good and to pursue truth. www.danojukanovich.blogspot.com.

Fun in the Sun

Lian with Wema and Amani at the Indian Ocean- best friends forever after this past week.
Yes, we rode a camel on the beach.
And we got to see a lion basking in the sun.

A few more

Amani (Ann's son) and Anna
Ann and Jen
Dano, Dave (Ann's husband) and the kids
Our breakfast buddy (he was literally right outside the breakfast window)