welcome

hello everyone!

welcome to the water can. this is a new blog i've started concerning my upcoming trip to Africa. I hope to continue it throughout my time in Africa and once I return.l

below is a copy of the support email i just sent out. it gives you some good introduction to my trip.

shalom,
becky

support letter

My good friends,

Bono of U2 once said of the current global situation: "Africa is bursting into flames while we all stand around with watering cans."

No one wants to be standing around with a can of water in a destructive and deadly fire. No one wants that responsibility. No one wants to be the only one with a little can of water and a large fire to put out. Worse, no one wants to find out that the fire has been burning, ending lives, destroying poverty, and decimating entire people groups while they have stood with a water can in hand. It's easy in that case to say, "Well, I've only got one very small water can and that fire is big. It wouldn't have mattered if I had realized earlier and, to be honest, it doesn't matter now. Besides, I might be thirsty later, so I'll hang on to this - or maybe I'll use it to water my plants." However, as we find ourselves thinking these thoughts, our eyes pan around us and we see that we are a nation with water cans. The question becomes, as a nation with watering cans in a world where an entire continent is aflame with disease, famine, and poverty, what do we do?

As many of you know, and maybe some of you do not know, over the last couple of years I have been getting to know Africa - to love it, to weep for it, to dream for it, and to work on Africa's behalf here in the states. You could say that five years ago, at SPU, I noticed that I had a watering can in my hand and that the world was burning. Over the past half decade, I have worked to share my water where possible and listened to God's calling for my specific watering can. Finally, the past year has brought me to a firm call to share my water can with Africa.

From my beautiful city of Seattle, I have organized several fundraisers, shared thoughts and dreams with those around me, organized a large group of volunteers for an even that demanded the end of a 21-year war in Uganda, and prayed and prayed and prayed. It is my hope and intention to continue in this life of advocacy here in Seattle. However, I have reached that critical point where I need to get my feet on Africa. I need to feel the African wind in my face; I need to meet and love the African people my heart already breaks for; I need to hear stories and allow them to take up root deep with in me so that I can carry the people of Africa with me throughout my life.

Here is where you and your watering can come into play. I am, praise our gracious God, finally going to Africa! This August, I will spend three weeks in Rwanda. While there I will work primarily with street kids and ex-prostitutes. I will also be working with the local church, the prisons, the continuing reconciliation and restoration process from the genocide ten years ago, and simply being with people. To get there, however, I need roughly $3,000 (including immunizations, travel costs, room and board while there, and paying bills here while I am gone). As a fulltime student and unpaid intern at a local church (www.apostleschurch.org), my watering can does not have $3,000 in it. So, how's your watering can? Is it low? Is it occupied with other fires (the environment, the local church, other causes in Africa or the world, children, etc.)? I hope you will look around you and see many others with cans. If we can all spare just a drop (say $5-$20) we can get me to Africa - and through that, change my life and the lives around me forever! So please pray over your metaphorical watering can and see if you are called and able to share some drops of water with me for the good of Africa.

Also, there are good connotations to fire. It represents passion. We use "fire" to talk about people dedicated to the love and service of Yahweh. The Holy Spirit was made manifest in fire at Pentecost. Fire can also be good. This is also the case with Africa. The average Christian in the world today is (or soon will be) an African woman. As much as I leave this space to share my water pale with a continent ravaged by disease, poverty, and in the case of Rwanda, genocide, I also leave this space to capture some of their passionate fire and bring it back with me!

So, again, please consider supporting me in this. Also, I ask you to lend me your prayers. If you are able to support me, the best way to do so it to send personal checks to me [post with your email address to recieve more info if you are interested in supporting]. Though I am going through a particular ministry (Rwanda Partners and African Evangelical Enterprise), and in conjunction with a local church (Valley View Christian Church), our mission team leader, Kevin Daniels has asked that, in order to simplify things, I have funds sent directly to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and for considering sending me your support.

Shalom and thirst quenching water to you,
Becky Tucker