Our son, Michael, needs a visa to come with us to the USA when we leave on May 31st. We have found a private school that has accepted him to attend high school there next fall (praise God!) Now, it is a matter of getting the US Embassy here in Kigali to extend to him a visa so he can travel to the USA. This is not an easy thing (as you may know if you've been following our family's story for the last year). However, we serve a big God! And we know by faith that it is God's will for our family to be together.
The other day I was reading again in John 14 where Jesus said, "13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." I think the real meaning of what Jesus was saying has been lost, as "In Jesus Name" has been turned into the "in-Jesus-name-amen" requirement to end every prayer. Was Jesus saying that if we use those "magic words" then it will make our wishes come true? No!
I was having a hard time putting into words what my thoughts on this have been, so I found this explanation on the internet & will share it with you because it mostly sums it up: Praying in Jesus’ name means praying with His authority and asking God the Father to act upon our prayers because we come in the name of His Son, Jesus. Praying in Jesus' name means the same thing as praying according to the will of God, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15). Praying in Jesus’ name is praying for things that will honor and glorify Jesus.
Which brings me back to: we believe God wants our family to be together, so we when pray for our son Michael to get his visa to the USA we believe we are praying according to God's will and that He is going to answer. Michael has his visa interview this Thursday, March 22nd. Please pray for God to go before him, prepare the consular officer to receive him with favor, to believe him, and to grant him the visa to travel on the 31st of May. Pray also for Michael to have peace & know that God is in control & holds him in the palm of his hand.
Our daughter Kelly has submitted all her application paperwork for Washington State University- Vancouver campus. That is her first choice school, and her only application out right now. Please pray for God's will to be done and for him to direct her path to the blessings he has for her. Pray for her to have peace as well, and the faith to believe that God has GOOD things planned for her future & she can trust in Him.
KaLia has her heart set on homeschooling next fall, mostly because of her best girl friend who will be homeschooling then as well. I, on the other hand, do not think homeschooling is a good fit for her personality and does not encourage her to challenge herself enough. We have been praying together for God to direct our hearts as to where she should go to school. I have concerns about how she would do in public school socially, but private school seems out of the question (since we are already praying about how we will afford private school for Michael and praying that Kelly will receive plenty of financial aid for college). Please pray with us for our hearts (including KaLia's) to be directed in this issue.
Nate has been doing well in his Montessori school and I have been very pleased with the school. I like how they work with each child on an individual basis and help them to work at a pace that is manageable for them. I would love for Nate to be able to continue at a Montessori school in the US, but again this is financially out of the question. So, as we consider putting him back in public school, I am praying for him to be at the right school & in the right classroom where God wants him to be.
Besides the kids, Mike could also use prayer as he works very diligently on two things: getting Ten Talents registered in Rwanda & getting plans/etc. ready so development on the Acres of Hope can begin. Did you see the post on the TTI blog- very exciting opportunity & very exciting to see this property that God provided now being close to being developed.
Now you know what is going on, or in the works, with our family. I am believing God always for great things in all of our lives. "If our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us, then what could stand against us?" I used to shout that song in my car (thank you Chris Tomlin) when we were praying and believing for God to provide so we could get here to Rwanda, and I still believe it!
Thank you for believing with us.
God Bless You,
Lisa
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