Back to Rwanda

In January, I’m returning to the country I lived in for three years, Rwanda. I’m also spending time in Burundi and the Republic of Congo. I’m more than just a little excited.

Over the past few years, I have primarily focused on our model and ensuring that we have the right people and resources to implement Christ-centered microfinance with excellence. I’ve spent time examining our key performance indicators, implementing our strategic plan, streamlining operations, and focusing on creating a truly scalable and sustainable model. But in the midst of it, I’ve slowly become separated from the actual people we’re serving.

As soon as I forget the people we’re serving, it’s easy to start slipping into seeing this work as just a “job” and to have my passion turn to other things. It’s easy to become lukewarm. It’s easy to become frustrated when you hit the inevitable roadblocks. It’s easy to begin to think that our life in the USA is “normal” – where we “need” new clothes or a pile of Christmas presents under the tree.

I know it is time for me to return to the field to ensure that we’re making progress with our model and to hopefully encourage our remarkable staff, but more than that, I need to return to the field to reconnect with the people we are impacting, to be reminded that beyond the statistics are families with hopes and dreams, gifts and abilities.  I need to return to be rejuvenated by their stories and their passions.

Then we can get back to the numbers, knowing that behind them, lives are truly being transformed.