It’s hard to believe, but December is here. Nearly five
short months ago, our family moved across the world to Kigali, Rwanda. And here
we are, having had our first Thanksgiving, and nearing the Christmas holidays
and end of our first semester at KICS. I heard one local missionary say this
weekend, “The days in Africa are slow, but the years go fast.” We want to
embrace the joys and struggles of this opportunity as fully as possible.
The opportunity…The
purpose of this letter is to ask you to consider an end-of-year gift to the
mission here. We are so thankful for God’s generosity through our friends and
family and are calling upon the Lord to provide for this work in a special way
right now. We are asking for $15,000
in one-time gifts for the purchase of a vehicle for our family. Although
we have managed without a vehicle up to this point, we are ready to more fully
meet the needs and opportunities here by putting a vehicle on God’s mission.
The need…When
we go somewhere as a family, we try to reserve the school vehicle. We use the
school vehicle every weekend for shopping, swimming, worship, and other events
if it is available. Although we are thankful for this car, it is a tight fit
and a bit unsafe for us since we have six people and it only seats five. Plus,
it is only available on a limited basis since others at school use it. If the
car is not available, we either don’t go or try to find a ride. Few people,
however, can accommodate themselves plus a family of six. On many occasions,
such as Afton’s games, one of us has gone to support him since no one had enough
extra room and the school car wasn’t available. Sometimes, Melia or I will take
a motorcycle taxi to run an errand, which is the most common and cheapest form
of transportation here. With increasing numbers of moto accidents, however, it
is becoming less desirable for those quick trips. The US Embassy will not allow
their employees to ride them and recommend that we don’t either. We use the school
car every weekend and so appreciate it, but the time has come to ask for help.
The future…The
future holds an even greater need for a family vehicle. We are blessed to live where
we do this year, walking distance to school, but the apartment-like house is
not very conducive for entertaining guests, hosting people who come to visit,
and letting the kids play outside or inside by themselves or with friends. The
rent is also high for the size of it. So, we are already looking and praying
toward moving by next summer before
school starts up again in August. Again, we are so grateful for where we live,
but we are longing for this next step for our family, which would require a
vehicle. In addition to moving, we hope that part of our story here in Rwanda
includes adoption. Although we do not
know if that opportunity will present itself, we are open to it and praying
about it. If we are able to purchase a vehicle large enough for our family plus
more, we could not only amply host guests (like you) when they come to visit,
but support whatever family situation God may present.
The reality…Plainly
put, we need a vehicle, but vehicles here are expensive, and our monthly
support isn’t enough to cover the cost. $15,000 is just inside the range of
used vehicles large enough for us and which still have some life left in them.
The roads here off the main thoroughfares are clay and really rough, demanding
vehicles that are AWD or 4WD, especially in the rainy season. Parts are very
difficult to get here except for select larger vehicles, such as a Toyota Prado
(SUV) or a Toyota Hiace (van). Both are commonly found here. Many families
drive a Prado, and the Hiace is the vehicle used for bus taxis all over the
city. $15,000 would mean we could get one that is reliable and in decent shape,
even though it would be older and have quite a bit of wear on it.
For Team McNatt, a vehicle would mean freedom…freedom to serve in and around
the city as God sees fit, freedom to travel safely in a vehicle that has enough
seats, freedom to do basic stuff when we need to like groceries and events,
freedom to move into a home next summer more suitable for us and hosting people,
and freedom to support an addition to our family should God bless us with the
opportunity to adopt.
If you would to give toward this vehicle, please head to www.nextleader.org/donate and
select “Rwanda missions.” Checks should be made payable to “NLA Rwanda” and
mailed to 3801 South Union Ave, Tacoma, WA 98409.
We trust that God will provide and thank you for considering this opportunity
to give toward the mission here.
Na ishimwe (with gratitude), Team McNatt - Chad, Melia,
Afton, Michal, Wyatt, & Presley
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