God's Healing Power"I've seen people forgive those who killed their loved ones. I've watched survivors and perpetrators cry together and hug each other through their tears. Something like that requires the presence of God. I could never go to a single prison to preach without the power of God. Without God, I would hate such killers with all of my heart. But with God I can truly say that I love them." - Bishop John Rucyahana A Healing Hope Web Updates |
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The Robinson Family
Our call to missions came as a young married couple when we were asked to join a Let's Start Talking team in 1996. We were part of the first team into the new country of Croatia following the war for independence. We found a people and church that were struggling to make sense of a war that pitted family against family and turned neighbors into enemies. Croatia was struggling to reunite families and to find trusted leaders who would protect and secure their future. The missionary we met with was an ambitions native Croat that knew in his heart that the security his people were looking for was only going to be found in God. In 2001 Brian was asked to take a small group of premed students to Honduras to work at Predison clinic. After returning from Honduras we began to realize that this was what God wanted from us. We were burdened by medical school student loans and even though we knew of organizations that would make our student loan payments (bigger than our house payment) while we were on the mission field we believed God was telling us to wait, be good stewards of the money he had given us and to be patient. For seven years we waited anxiously for God to free of us our debt and to call us to this type of work. God demanded much of us in order to free us from our debts but we feel we have been obedient and He has been faithful. In November of 2007 we were sitting at a church dinner and Kristin nudged me and said, I know those people. Have you ever been nudged by God? I looked up and saw the Koonces, whom I had never met. She said she went to college with them and that they were missionaries in Togo. They had come to Tyler to seek support from Glenwood. Due to her connection with them we were asked to be their liaisons. I was hesitant at first because their commitment to Rwanda was 20 years. I asked God, “How am I supposed to remember to pray for them every day for 20 years?” God does have a sense of humor! After a spending a weekend with them and truly falling in love with them we finally asked ourselves, “What’s stopping us? We asked God the same question and the answer was, “It’s Time. My time”. We have fasted and prayed for this change in our lives. We have asked many to pray for us and still, after months of praying we have but one mission, to follow God. Now that God has made the direction clear for our mission, there are many logistics yet to be worked out. As with anything we undertake, we remain at the mercy of the Father. If it is His will and in His time we will do these things. We plan to begin our ministry among Rwandans in the capital of Kigali in September 2009. Initially we will stay in Kigali for 1-2 years with the Crowson and Koonce families. Internet Blogs http://awillingspirit.blogspot.com Rwanda Ministry Web Site: Coming Soon! US Contact Info.Home Tel: 903-581-5211 We have been so blessed over the last 10 years to be able to help others who have made this type of commitment. It is so hard for us to suddenly become the receivers rather than the givers and depend on others for our financial needs. This part of our preparation has been a humbling test and we have prayed that God will give us the patience to wait on Him and his provisions. We know that many of you have known us and loved us for many years and ask that you will join us in our mission by committing your prayerful and financial support for our family. We are awaiting a commitment from a loving church for our long-term support. The stable support and accountability that a mature eldership can provide is invaluable yet the financial burden of this ministry is great and thus, we are also in need of support from individuals in order to raise the funds needed for our startup costs. HOW TO SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY
RELOCATION NEEDS (we hope to raise these funds by January 2009)
Team building and acclimation trip $3500 (funds needed by October 2008) The team counselor for the Togo team (who will become our Rwanda Team in 2009) will be traveling to Togo to work with the other members of our team and we feel that it is an important step for us to be at that session for team dynamics and team building exercises; in addition to a time of prayer, fasting and fun with our new team. In the end, the final estimated cost of our preparation and first year start-up expenses in Rwanda would be $47,500 and does not include the cost of a vehicle or furlough costs, which must also be raised.
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Brian has an undergraduate degree from Oklahoma Christian College. Graduated from Medical School at Oklahoma State University. Completed a residency in Internal Medicine at The Penn State University and then completed his training with a Fellowship in Endocrinology at The University of Oklahoma. Kristin is a graduate of Harding University with a degree in Elementary Education. After five years in education she now stays home and raises their four children Grace, Madelyn, Samuel and Aaron. They live in Tyler, Texas where Brian is a physician and medical director in a large multi-specialty practice.