Michelle, from Northridge Friends Church in Wichita, Kansas is teaching missionaries' children, including, Breanna, Aren, Gwen and Alandra Thomas, in Rwanda.

  
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October 2007

Summer Blessings

So much has happened since I sent my last newsletter in May!  This was a very special summer!  At the end of June, our MAYM youth Saltshaker team came for a mission trip. My parents and brother, Jeff, were leaders on the trip. It was great hosting the team. While they were here they taught English to high school students, led True Love Waits services, helped build part of a school classroom, and learned much about missions and the Rwandan culture.

After the team left in mid-July, Brad and I enjoyed a few weeks of family time.  We drove to Burundi with Chrissy and visited several Friends churches.  It was an incredible feeling to see some of the missions where our missionaries lived for so many years.   While there, we visited some very poor areas and enjoyed the beautiful country. 

After Burundi, our family traveled to Uganda, which also has breathtaking scenery!  We spent several days on Bushara Island and just relaxed.  We finished our week in Uganda with a rafting trip on the Nile River!  (Mom and I took the easy ride.)  But the guys survived the real rafting with a few scares! 

Our summer break ended with 10 days at Kumbya, a missionary conference. It was wonderful to be challenged spiritually and to be able to spend time with other missionaries.

I thank God for the gifts of time, laughter, and joy that He provided with my family.

A New School Year

We ended our school year at the beginning of July. We had a lot of fun at our end of the year program. The students sang some silly songs, performed funny skits and played their instruments beautifully. I am amazed at the talent and dedication these students possess! 

School started again September 4. One of our students has moved up, so we have 11 students this year. I am teaching one first grader and three third graders full time. I also teach three 5th graders for math. Fifth  grade math is much more challenging for me than 1st grade math, which I taught for many years in Kansas! The kids and I are certainly learning to work together! 

I’m thankful for another school year in Rwanda. The support we receive from parents is amazing and the kids are a joy to teach. 

Thank you for your continued prayers for this new school year.

Praises:

• For time with family this summer.
• We have begun our second school year!
• That Caleb is now a part of the Macy family.
• For God’s guidance and wisdom in relationships and school issues.

Prayer:

• For our students’ learning and relationships.
• For wisdom about how to best help our students this year.
• That Scott and Bethany’s hearts will be open to the Lord.
• That I will grow in my relationship with the Lord.

Michelle Carpenter | Chrissy Muhr | Application for Short Term Service
 

Christina Muhr
E.E.A.R.
B.P. 1689
Kigali, Rwanda
Africa

Birthday:
April 4

Support Christina

Chrissy, from Northwest Yearly Meeting, is teaching missionaries' children, including, Breanna, Aren, Gwen and Alandra Thomas, in Rwanda.

  
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"...and leaving yourselves in His hands, learn to be literally careful for nothing; and you shall find it to be a fact that the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Hannah Whitall Smith 

I have been learning these past months what it means to rest in Jesus. I’ve been learning how to be like the birds and the flowers who do not worry  about food or clothes, money or water, cockroaches or mosquitoes. I’ve been learning how to cast my cares on Him and bear the burden that is light by being yoked together with Him. I’ve been learning how powerless I am to change one hair on my head, add one hour to my life, or change something about my character; while learning His ability to do all of these things and more. I’ve been learning that I can’t control much of anything including myself, but that if I rest in Him He brings transformation, the fruits of the spirit, and a future worth living for.

I’ve been realizing that nothing good in me comes from myself, nothing I’ve accomplished is my own doing, I can claim none of my talents as my own. Everything is a gift of God, a sign of His working through me and in me.

So if I strive to do good works, to change myself, to be good, to make my life perfect, to change the world, then I’ll fail. But if I rest in God, trusting Him to do the work, having faith that He will do as He promised, then I know I will have life abundantly and be able to live it to the full.

Here I thought that I was coming to Africa to be a teacher, but all along God knew that I was also coming to be a student.

Recent Happenings

VALENTINE’S DINNER           

For Valentine’s Day the students decided to treat their parents to dinner. The students made bread, spaghetti, cookies and ice cream. The parents enjoyed both the food and the program put on by the students. The program included readings of original works, songs, the playing of recorders, and much laughter. Wesley Smith is pictured above making the custard for the ice cream.

OUR FIRST FIELD TRIP              

We went on our first field trip in March. We visited a tea factory about an hour and a half away. There we were able to see how the tea was processed — from the picking of the leaves to the bagging of the tea. Here’s a picture of workers.

SPRING BREAK         

Because of the many visitors coming in March and April, we enjoyed a two week vacation. We were able to go to Kibogora on Lake Kivu once again. It was nice to read, rest and relax at such a beautiful place.

VISITORS                       

Paul and Miriam Bock came to visit the week of April 1 – 8. Miriam’s parents were missionaries in Burundi, so she really enjoyed visiting places she remembered as a child, including the Friends cabin at Kumbya.

MY BIRTHDAY              

Since my birthday fell during Spring Break (April 4), the students threw me a party on the last day of school. In honor of my 30th birthday, they all brought me 30 of something. Presents ranged from 30 roses to 30 pieces of rice to 30 rubber bands.

FIRST RIDE ON A MOTO              

I rode on a motorcycle for the first time ever in March. Motos are a common, inexpensive mode of transportation. They’re quite fun too, as long as it’s not raining. 

*For a tour of my house and of Debby’s gardens, check out my blog at christinasspot.blogspot.com.

• Pray for this summer’s Saltshaker team that is coming from Mid-America Yearly Meeting.
• Pray for Brad as he prepares for the Saltshaker team.
• Pray for continued language studies in Kinyarwanda.
• Pray for continued good health of teachers and students.
• Praise for a restful Spring Break.