Listen and Do

I've been reading James, since it's where the Visiting Orphans verse comes from. James 1:19 says, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." It is just a few verses later that we're called to visit orphans. I've been praying this for my trip. I want to be quick to listen to the people I meet, the children and workers and my team. I want to be slow to speak, listening for the Lord's words before I do.
Tonight was the second conference call for my team (where we are quick to listen and with 27 people, slow to speak. :) ) We had the VO staff who overseas Rwanda speak about what we'll do in Rwanda. I am so fired up and excited! We'll be at 4 different orphanages while there, each very different from the others. Some are full of confident hope and are going to inspire (like one we'll visit after we go to the Genocide Memorial; which is a group of boys who were orphaned in the genocide who came together to care for each other. Now they are grown and taking in other orphans to care for them) and some are very needy (like one we'll climb the hill to get to, bringing food with us, who don't have many visitors and are hungry for love). As I heard about these places and a few others, I anticipate this trip more and more. Lord, thank you for this opportunity!

They again instilled in us that Visiting Orphans believes that the trips are not the end. God wants to show me something on this trip; He wants to change my heart, break my heart, call me to DO something. James 1:22, 25 says, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. DO what it says...The man who continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." I want to DO this. I want to go and love on these kids and for God to teach me, use me, lead me.

Please continue to pray for me and my team. Pray God would prepare us to go, that he'd unify us as a team (even before we meet), and that he'd be stirring in us what He is calling us to do next.

I'm so excited for Rwanda!! :)