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Family Update

October 8, 2009 By

Hey everyone, here’s a quick update on our family…

So much has happened it’s hard to even think about everything to tell you so I’ll just begin by saying random things and hopefully it will give you an idea of what’s going on here.

We had a huge Church Planting Movements conference this past August. Participants from 18 nations came and were deeply impacted. It was my second time through the training and was still just as impacted.

It set off a series of events that has had a big impact on our work and ministry in Rwanda. One of the focuses of the workshop was having a vision for the nation and not just sub-parts of a nation. After much thought, prayer and weeks of discussion the two teams currently in Rwanda have decided to form one strategy team for the entire nation of Rwanda rather than just specific individual areas of Rwanda. We still have our smaller teams for emotional, social and spiritual support but strategy-wise we are working together to formulate a strategy for reaching all of Rwanda.

We’ve had two strategy meetings all together as one big group to begin developing our vision and mission statements. They’ve gone really well and we are making exciting progress. They asked me to lead the discussion of the meetings which is fun but also challenging. It’s really important that we all agree to go in the direction that God wants us to go in! Lord please anoint us! Something to pray about!

The kids have been in school now for three weeks and are loving it! We thank God everyday for the opportunity that He opened up for us to go to ISK!

About five weeks ago Marley (our Golden Lab) had three precious puppies. Everyday they’re getting bigger and bigger and are, OH SO CUTE!

Language learning is still a struggle but we are making progress, a little everyday. We are at a point now where we’ve learned enough grammar that conversations are starting to make sense and we can communicate more.

Christine and I are beginning to spend more time with our neighbors. This was a struggle because they go to work at 7am and return at 7pm and we never see them! So, we had a brilliant idea, go to their work place and spend the day with them. So, we’ve done that several times now and it’s been awesome! They operate an office supply shop downtown. So we went and sat in their shop and talked in Kinyarwanda for hours with them. They asked us questions and we asked them questions. (We went separately by the way). It’s been encouraging. They’re educated business people and committed Christians. This week Christine and the lady talked about visiting all of our other neighbors. So, relationships are getting deeper as our language abilities development and that encouraging. Boy is it hard! We are praying for Christ’s perseverance in all things.

Still no news on our adoption paperwork. We’re waiting for our fingerprint cards to get to the FBI center in Nebraska and be cleared….waiting….waiting….

Marty and I are planning to take a trip to visit Christians in Togo the last week of November. Pray that this trip will be a great blessing and encouragement to our brothers and sisters there!

Ok, was that enough rambling to give you an idea of what’s going on here?

We love you and appreciate all of your prayers!

Murphy (and family)

Filed Under: Murphy, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs, Rwanda Tagged With: , , , ,

A Healing Hope – August

August 4, 2009 By

Our team published a new “August” eNewsletter. You can view it @

http://rwandaharvest.com/iem/display.php?M=1102&C=0a84045d1f087ece95e1 31da04ab5e64&S=12&L=1&N=8

Or, you can see it by visiting our website @ http://rwandaharvest.com . The link is on the left side inside the “eNews” column.

God is listening and answering our prayers!

Filed Under: Murphy, Pictures, Prayer Answers, Prayer Needs, Rwanda Tagged With: , , ,

Language Learning: Round Four

July 8, 2009 By

When I get to heaven, I’m planning to have some “words” with Nimrod. You know Nimrod, the “mighty hunter before the Lord” in Genesis 10. One of the first centers of his kingdom was Babylon in the plains of Shinar. Back then there was only one language. But something that was good turned into something that was bad, the Tower of Babel. You know the rest…

So here we are, thousands of years later, with estimates of over 6000 languages spoken in 200 countries. This has, without a doubt, made the missionary task of “reaching the nations” a difficult one. Missionaries spend years pouring over language lessons, study notes, flash cards and recorded dialogues. Language learning can be tough, discouraging and exhausting! Thanks a lot Nimrod!

And yet, the challenge of language learning presents one of the most powerful ways to communicate God’s love. I love you so much that I took the time and paid the price because I want to communicate an incredibly important message to you in YOUR language.

Jesus’ model of incarnation set the precedent for language learning. We didn’t have to learn a heavenly language to get to know our Creator. He learned ours and then taught us His: The Language of Love.

Paul said, “Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.” 1 Cor. 14: 10-11.

The message of Christ is not a “foreign”, “western” or “white man’s” message. But unless I communicate that message in the heart language of the nation to which I am sent, I and the message will remain “foreign.” Grasping the language removes the foreignness of the message and gives people the opportunity to truly understand it’s meaning.

Christine and I are learning our fourth language. We began learning French in January, 1998 and to this day are still studying languages! It’s hard and requires a lot of persistence, tenacity and patience. It also puts us continually in a humbling and sometimes humiliating place. But the ability to share the Good News directly to the hearts of the Beninois, Togolese or Rwandese demonstrates the sincere and deep love we have in our hearts for them.

Yes, I’m going to have some words with Nimrod. Thank you Nimrod for providing us a powerful way to communicate God’s love to the nations.

Filed Under: Murphy, Rwanda, Togo Tagged With: , , ,

They will laugh at you if you say that…

June 11, 2009 By

In my mind is said (in kinyarwanda):

“When did you cook the fish?

But with my mouth I said:

“You cooked the bike!”

When Felix heard me say that he almost doubled over laughing saying, “If you say that they will laugh at you!”

We’re having lots of fun learning Kinyarwanda! It’s coming, little by little!

Filed Under: Murphy Tagged With: