The Only Certain Thing in Life Is...

How would you finish the title sentence? The common adage says, “The only certain thing in life is change.” I’ve certainly seen a good bit of truth in that statement over the past six months.  Case in point: three weeks ago I was moved to a new assignment and location – just when I was starting to settle into life at Bwesumbu. (The reason I’ve been quiet recently is that this new place has no internet and little cell phone reception.) I am now conducting an “impact assessment” in Rubingo, ACTS’ biggest project area.  From 2001-2006 ACTS built various pipelines and ran health & environment programs. Now my job is to go back to find out if ACTS has brought the change it proposed. We must prove this to be true in order for ACTS to get funding for future projects. (I’ll keep you in suspense about my findings until a future date. :-))

A woman tells about how ACTS has impacted her life during a community meeting we conducted.

 

Bird’s-eye view of my new location, Rubingo.  My young friends Praise, Rachel and Judith (caretakers of co-worker’s children) accompanied me on this climb up the highest nearby hill.

So two weeks ago I packed up my tent/home in Bwesumbu, said goodbye to the staff and neighbours there, and was on my way to the new assignment. I thought that my previous job had me packing and moving a lot, but I have discovered a whole new level of nomadic living.  At first I resisted it, grasping for stability. Now I’m learning to swim in the ebb and flow of relationships, locations and responsibilities, and not search for stability in where I lay my head at night.

And that brings me back to where I started – the only certain thing in life. While the saying holds some truth, it is lacking theologically.  I am finding that the faster the whirlwind of change blows, the more I find God to be steady, faithful, never-changing and always there – just like he said. 

I hope this has given you a little picture into my life recently, and if you also find yourself getting tossed about by the craziness of life, don’t forget the One who is certain!

The most incredible sunrise I’ve ever seen. It took my breath away, and even my “point-and-shoot” camera captured some of its magnificence. The sunrise reminds me of God’s consistency and presence as well as one of my favourite verses – Lam. 3:21-23 “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."