Reaching Afrika

A New Year

Rusty — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:59:17 +0000

Sweet Pea Tuckered Out From Christmas

Here it is and we already a month into 2011. It just seems like yesterday that our precious little one was born, and now she is almost 4 months old. She has grown so much and we are watching her experience new things each day. It is amazing to me how innocent a child is and how dependent they are on their mother or fathers. This really got me to thinking about how many times we try to do things on our own when we should know better. God (our heavenly Father) is always with us and is asking us to lean and depend upon him. As this new year is unfolding, I am learning more and more that to rely on God is something that not only should be done, but something that should be looked forward to. We should look forward to the times when we can’t accomplish something on our own and say God, please help me. Right now we are currently asking God to help us as we plan our return to Kenya, Africa this coming summer and we are looking forward to being at RVA for another year. We would ask that you continue to pray for us and for the finances that we need to come in so that this can happen. It is also with much excitement that I am in the process of forming a business to help churches and businesses with their technology needs. As many of you know, I have been providing for my family by fixing computers, building websites, and getting temporary jobs when possible. All of this has been an incredible blessing and I have enjoyed doing these jobs, but none of them have produced a steady income for my family. Recently, I was given the book “No More Mondays” by Dan Miller from my wife. In his book, Dan talks a lot about finding out what you are truly passionate about and your true calling from God. He then admonishes the reader to form their career around this. Currently, I am still in the beginning phases of forming my business and what it will entail, but I am very excited about all the opportunities that lie ahead. I plan on using my business to help as many churches and organizations learn how to spread the Word of God throughout the world. Please pray with me that as I brainstorm, talk with churches, and share my vision, that everything will be clear and concise. Thank you all for you prayers and may God Bless each and every one of you.

-Rusty

And here she is…

Rusty & Brooks — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 03:26:07 +0000

We are proudly announcing the birth of our third child, “Alexia Lynne Munson”.
Born October 5th, 2010 @ 1:38 p.m.

She weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. and was 21 1/2 inches long.

Hospital Picture08-Oct-2010 09:39Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL RE, 4.5, 34.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 400

Hospital smiling picture.08-Oct-2010 09:48Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL RE, 4.0, 18.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 400

We are continually amazed at all that God has done and thank Him for our new precious little one.

When Reality Sets In…

Rusty — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:16:28 +0000

As the alarm clock goes off and my wife tells me it’s time to get out of bed, I wonder, how can it be 6:00 in the morning already. It’s time to go get all the boys up and get them ready for school. In about two hours, I’ll walk down the hill in the cool fresh African morning air and go teach my computer classes… Then I open my eyes and reality hits me, I’m not in Africa. I’m not with the boys. It’s 7:00 a.m. and it’s time to get up and take my kids to public school here in the U.S. It only seems like yesterday that we were supposed to be on an airplane heading “home”, but we are here at home in the U.S. It’s days like this that I really miss Africa and long to be there with all my heart. I know that right now God has us where He wants us and that in order to return to Africa we have to be diligent with the tasks at hand. Many of you may not know that my wife and I are expecting our third child in October and we were advised to stay in the States until our precious baby is born. We know that our God is faithful and just and that He knows our hearts desire is to be in Africa. As I have been really missing Africa recently, I reread the scripture Jeremiah 29:11 in the Message Bible and really like what it says: “I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” We know that in everything we are right where we need to be at this time and moment and God will bring us back home. I would like to say a personal thank you to every who has prayed for us and continues to support us on a monthly basis. It is our goal to return to Africa as soon as possible after the baby is born, and we need all the support that we can get, both in prayer and financially.

A Servant’s Heart

Rusty — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:41:08 +0000

Servant! What does that word mean to you? When I think about the word servant, the scripture John 13:4 comes to mind. This is the scripture where Christ stoops down, and begins to wash His disciples feet. At first, they are hesitant, but eventually they let Him wash their feet. Many times we are given the opportunity to serve, but it may not always be what we had originally imagined. Being in Utah has given us the opportunity to experience different ministries and church outreaches. One of the ministries that we have been able to volunteer at as a family is the Utah Dream Center in Salt Lake City. The Utah Dream Center has a clothing distribution and food program every Tuesday. Different places each week donate clothing and food and it is sorted and passed out to those who are in need. It has been a great joy being able to help by sorting food, passing it out, and help set up tables with clothes on it. Through all this our kids have been wonderful. They have been extremely helpful and willing to go and help as much as possible. The pastor who leads the Utah Dream Center has become a good friend to them and they look forward to seeing him as much as possible. One of the greatest things happened the first time that we were able to help. The pastor came over and thanked us for helping him and then asked when we would be seeing him again. The kids, without skipping a beat, said, “We’ll see you next week.” It was so refreshing being able to see their willingness to help and to be a blessing to others. Now if only as adults, we can remember to be more like children and say, “God, here I am, use me. Let me be the one who is helping, not to get praise, but to just be a blessing to others.” I hope that this encourages someone as much as it has encouraged us as a family.

33rd Birthday

Rusty — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:10:23 +0000

Sometimes I wonder where the time has gone. It is now February 22nd and I am 33 years old today. It doesn’t seem like that many years have come and gone. As I look back at my life over the past 33 years, I am continually amazed at how God has blessed me and allowed me the privilege of visiting so many different places in this world. I am so thankful for my family and for all the wonderful friendships that have been made over these past 33 years. As I look forward to the future, I realize that there is still so much more out there for me and I look to God to be my guide. May we all choose to trust in and rely on God for our daily direction in our life. I know that right now at this moment in my life I could not be any happier. Yet, I know that new things lie ahead. New adventures, new friends, and even new opportunities to minister. May God bless you this day and keep you as you follow Him!