Official Sara Groves Blog

Art House North

2011-07-15T17:29:00.011-05:00

In May 1998, I requested a year leave from the school where I was teaching - I actually tried to quit, but Principal Clausen offered me a leave instead, a grace-time that made the transition from high school teacher to troubadour sound more reasonable. Troy left his job a few months later, and we were off. There are no words to describe that time. If Troy and I were Hansel and Gretel, the breadcrumbs were loaves, plentiful and littering the path. I still managed plenty of fear and doubt, but the signs were unmistakable - This Way!

A couple of years ago it dawned on me that my children did not get to witness this season in our lives. To them, we have always been out singing and playing music. I wanted them to understand the journey that brought us here, so I climbed up into the top bunk of their bed and recollected every miracle, and every moment of divine assurance along the way. The boys asked questions, and cried when I cried remembering the generosity of God, and so many friends. So, when the loaves started to show up again this winter, we did not hesitate to bring them in on it - Remember the stories we told you? Pack your bags and get ready!

But before I get to where we're going, I have to revisit one more place we've been. In 2003 we recorded a portion of The Other Side of Something at The Art House - home, studio and much more to producer Charlie Peacock and his wife (and author of one of my all time favorite books, Real Love for Real Life) Andi Ashworth. We were finishing up a much needed maternity break after the birth of our second son. We were in desperate need of a vision, a template for the whole artist life. A bit heart-numb and recovering from new-artist-itis I remember the surge of joy I felt at first seeing the Art House, church and gardens - place cultivated. Our initial conversations there left us feeling challenged and validated at the same time - it was as if something in the air was transforming our weary stories of life on the road into stories of the blessing and stewardship of storytelling. I remember walking to the car after our first visit saying, "I get it, I get it, I get it..." I'm not sure I could have recited the mission of the Art House at that moment, but Troy and I had caught a vision of the revitalization of church/place, the open-door life, and the ongoing dialogue about the way of Jesus, faith, and art.

ART HOUSE NORTH

In 2007 Troy and I came across a church for sale, and in passing I joked, "Art House North?" But it wasn't a joke, and we both started to think about what that might look like for us, and for our family. A year later we ran the idea by Charlie and Andi, who were already starting to develop ideas for an Art House in Dallas - their enthusiasm was encouraging to say the least, and we started to look for properties in earnest. It was another three year process of walking through houses, dilapidated mansions, old schools, and warehouses before finally, in January of this year, we found it - a 100 year old church in St Paul with all the right bones to become Art House North!

While the specifics of our work will be unique to this community, the heart of this Art House will be the same as the others - cultivating creative community for the common good! We have more ideas than we can bring to life, and have such an incredible group of friends and fellow artists here that will be collaborating with us as well. We are excited to add this local endeavor to our work on the road.

Of course all of our friends and neighbors want to know - what is it? What does an Art House North do? I don’t know – what can it do? I’m excited to find out, and we hope you are too.

The Mission

2011-05-15T00:11:00.011-05:00

I've always said that my favorite movie of all-time is The Mission, but I have only seen it a few times. I was introduced to the movie when I was a sophomore in college - one of my English professors got so emotional talking about the film, I had to rent it that next weekend. I wish I could peel back the layers of what I know now so that I could remember what it was like to see it for the first time. My response to it was guttural, I remember that. I put the soundtrack on repeat in my room and grieved. (Years later my friend Sharon would say, as an aside to a conversation about human trafficking, that many times people will cry or will respond emotionally to something, and will think that they have done something about the problem. She had moved, not past emotional responses, but into a life of flesh and blood responses. I flashed back to myself face down on my comforter, bawling my eyes out when she said that.) I can't remember what exactly got to me that first time, the story is complex, but I think I saw that my life resembled the Spanish and the Portuguese more than it resembled the Guarani, or the Jesuits, and that made me feel the long distance to heaven, and the complexities of responsibility in societies.

The second time I watched it was two years later. Troy and I were going to get married, and so he thought he should see my favorite film of all-time (his was It's a Wonderful Life) I left his apartment in tears, struck again by how impossibly small love looks next to violence. That time, the silliness of war (men in wigs fighting with singing children - absurd!) was so clearly stupid, and yet at the same time, still so violent and real, with real consequences. I understood the Old Testament God that night in a way I had not yet.

I have thought about the movie many times since then, and even though I have owned it for many years, we just got around to watching it again tonight. I feel it planted in my heart (that is probably why I am blogging after mid-night). There are so many people in the world asserting power. People groups, political groups, religious groups, neighborhood associations. Everyone has their stuff, and their power-play. In my heart/nature I feel two responses - one is to quit, disengage, stop showering, and despair that the only way to take away a tiny bit of that power is to take my bit of power and walk away. But the other response/desire I feel is to take my bit of power, lay it down and follow Jesus. Truly, His way (love, forgiveness, standing with the broken-hearted) is the only way forward in deadlocks of power, misunderstanding, and anger. You really do have to lose your life to live.

Now that is a good movie. The Mission has given me twenty years of rumination and compelling heart-examination - even when I wasn't watching it!

IJM Twin Cities Benefit!

2011-05-09T13:06:00.004-05:00

I just read this great blog about the IJM Benefit in Dallas by Abolitionist JB, and it made me excited to gather together with supporters here in the Twin Cities NEXT WEEK on May 17th for our annual IJM Benefit! JB's writes a great summary of Gary's message on the long-suffering nature of justice - "we just don't go away... ever." It is true that our friends at IJM work for endless hours to secure convictions and rescues, but there are also the more swift and miraculous results of that long work, like the recent unexpected rescue of 522 bonded slaves in Chennai, India. Local officials and IJM staff went to rescue one man, but discovered 143 families longing for freedom. This is the largest rescue in IJM's history! In the Twin Cities we will be hearing from Sharon Cohn-Wu, one of the best communicators I have ever met. If you haven't signed up, please join us! More information HERE.

Happy Birthday John Stott!

2011-04-27T22:44:00.003-05:00

Today is John Stott's 90th birthday! A small window into his influence was captured in this 2004 New York Times Op-Ed by David Brooks. If you have never read anything from this man, may I highly recommend Basic Christianity, The Radical Disciple, or Christian Mission in the Modern World. If you have been influenced in any way by this thoughtful voice of faith, please share you thoughts or well-wishes HERE, and learn more about his great passion to support the education of pastors around the world HERE.

2011-03-15T16:17:00.003-05:00

Today is release day for Christa Wells' new EP How Emptiness Sings. Christa is genuine, compassionate, and a very gifted writer. I got a copy of this record early, and have been taking it in song by song. I don't listen to her music, I absorb it! Here is a link to listen!

A Great Antidote to the Issues Raised in Previous Blog

2011-03-11T13:10:00.004-06:00

Thank you for your comments and for permission to have some belly fat three children later. I would say this is one of my favorite books of all time. I read it about once a year because I think it is such an incredible blue print for real life. It is based on the Psalms of Ascents (120 - 134), and seems to speak to the whole of the human experience.

Information Overload

2011-03-10T23:10:00.007-06:00

I just read a great article in Newsweek about the toll that a constant stream of information can take on decision making and creativity. The story is here and explains more about "information fatigue" of which I am greatly afflicted. I have been trying to embrace technology because I read a different article that said that a person's 'true age' was measured by how well they embraced technology. I'm already concealing wrinkles and fighting an uphill battle with belly fat, so I thought I could at least take some years off of my true age with some technology embracing. But now I'm finding out that sleeping with one eye open to read Twitter is actually killing the creative part of my brain. I might have to kiss my dreams of a forever-young true age good-bye. (I'm such a non-tech embrace-er that I'm not even sure how to credit this link properly, but as I said the article is in Newsweek, and the article says that the illustrations are by Matt Mahurin)

My Piano

2011-02-28T19:39:00.002-06:00

My first big purchase was not a car - it was this piano. I was in college and saw an add for a piano sale at another college in town. This piano was in a teacher's studio for ten years, and was spared the abuse of the college practice rooms. It was kept in tune, and was used sparingly during vocal lessons. When I married Troy and we moved up to Minneapolis we left it with my folks because we weren't sure that we would have room for it (and Troy didn't want to move it up stairs). But a few emotional meltdowns into our marriage, and we both realized the therapeutic role songwriting played in my life. We took a special trip to Springfield, MO in Troy's Dad's truck, wrapped the piano in blue tarps and bungee cords, and brought it back to MN. I started in right away, writing Everyday Miracles, Awakening, and Glory Come Down the first month I had it back, and I have written every album since then on this piano. It has a sweet, moody, melancholy sound, and is as much a part of my voice as my voice. It is an emotional instrument. I am writing now for a new record, feeling that old compulsion, coaxing out new melodies, grateful for my longtime friend.

My Funny Valentine

2011-02-14T12:01:00.007-06:00

I just read an article about the new album from Over the Rhine, The Long Surrender, and I can't wait to find a quiet space to listen through. I have been a fan since "Latter Days" from Good Dog Bad Dog showed up on a mix-tape given to me in college (must have been from the independent release somehow - I didn't own the whole album until the second release). I would love to talk more about OTR, but what hit me was all of the pictures of them together. Because they write together, and perform together, they get to both be in the pictures. I don't want to sound whiny, but I'm always subjected to photo shoots by myself because I am a solo artist. But I am not a solo artist. I never have been. It is hard, I think, to understand the role that Troy plays in our work. People often credit him for 'supporting' me, and I'm not sure what is imagined by that, but it is more than, "I believe in you," and a punch in the arm. We are a team, but he is carrying much of the load, most of the time. In our work-life, he makes things work, and in our personal life, he keeps things fun. He pulls me along, balances me out, and loves me well. I love him back. If it were up to me, I would insist that he is on the cover of our next record - just him. With a beard. A really long beard. Happy Valentine's Day!

Christmas Tour

2010-12-20T10:58:00.010-06:00

"...Til he appeared and the soul felt it's worth."

We are about to wrap up our celebration of Emanuel, God with us, and the immeasurable worth demonstrated when he showed up for us. We've said it in person, but thank you John T. for sharing your story with our audiences, and for being such a sincere witness to the beauty of the Christmas Story. And finally, thanks to everyone who showed up for us in real tangible ways by sitting in seats and singing along. We have one more stop in Clearwater, FL, and then we will head to Missouri for a Colbaugh Family Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Troy models the official 2010 Band Attire

In Galviston I overheard Aaron practicing his pedal steel in the hotel room and at first thought it was REALLY GOOD, heavenly Muzak

Ben, also capable of heavenly Muzak

Ruby helps Troy set up his gear

I found a set at Target that converts any table into a ping-pong table - here the boys try out the three round tables in Indy, and a configuration of 6' tables in Springfield, MO

This is CALL IN DAY for IJM

2010-11-15T14:54:00.003-06:00

Please consider calling your senator today about voting yes for the Child Protection Compact Act! It just takes a couple of minutes. Learn more at www.IJM.org/nationalcallinday

2010-11-10T21:58:00.006-06:00

If you are on our e-mail list, then you have already heard that we have a free recording of a live show from last Christmas. It was a sweet night for all of us, and I think that comes through in this recording. I hope you enjoy it! Thank you to HOPE SHOWS for making the night possible!

IJM - National Call In Day

2010-11-03T16:29:00.003-05:00

A couple of years ago, Troy and I had a chance to advocate for the Child Protection Compact Act on Capital Hill. This legislation will go a long way to strengthen partnerships with cooperative governments to protect minors from trafficking. We have watched this piece of legislation make it's way through Congress School House Rock style, but were sad to see the last session close before it was passed. Now this congress is reconvening for a 'lame duck' session, which provides another opportunity for this bipartisan measure to pass. Would you please consider calling your Senator on NOVEMBER 15th? All of the information is here - http://www.ijm.org/nationalcallinday

Lausanne

2010-10-15T17:18:00.006-05:00

Today we are on our way to Cape Town, South Africa for Lausanne, a global congress of Evangelical church and lay leaders. We are honored to be a part of the US delegation, and long to share the experience with you! One hundred and eighty-seven countries will be represented by a total of 4500 delegates, meeting to pray, worship together, and humbly ask God for direction. Lausanne was founded by Billy Graham, John Stott and Christianity Today in 1966 - this is the third such congress. Learn more about Lausanne at Lausanne.org But also participate! The site was built to include as many people as possible in this global conversation. In a small way you are invited to listen into our part of the experience and thoughts as Troy will be daily uploading short "twitter-sodes" (mini 1min episodes on twitter). Follow us on twitter @grovesroad

Azizi Life is Online!!

2010-10-05T22:00:00.000-05:00

After our '09 trip to Rwanda, I blogged about our friends at Azizi Life here. Well, just in time for the Christmas season, they have gone live with their website. The handicrafts you order here will benefit artisans in the area we are supporting with Food for the Hungry! My favorites are the woven baskets and trivet sets. Here are a couple that I have in my kitchen at home... This update came from Christi at Azizi Life...

Every Friday afternoon, a group of women get together in their village in Rwanda, East Africa. They are artists, skilled at weaving beautiful and useful objects from natural, locally-gathered materials. These women have a vision. They are determined to use their art to benefit their families’ health, nutrition, and education. As they meet together, the women share advice on everything from perfect weaving, to parenting, to HIV/AIDS prevention. They talk, weave, laugh, encourage, sing, and pray. These are the remarkable women of the Abarikumwe “People Who are Together” Association. You are invited to meet the Abarikumwe artists, visit their community, and see their art on a new website from Azizi Life! Visit www.azizilife.com ! Azizi Life is a small Rwanda-based company of Christians dedicated to promoting the development of Rwandan craftspeople, their communities, and their art. There are 25 independent groups of artisans- like Abarikumwe Association- who are now earning fair wages, receiving coaching in quality and design, and being connected to a global market through Azizi Life.

Most Beautiful Run Yet

2010-10-04T09:26:00.005-05:00

Favorites

2010-09-30T13:19:00.008-05:00

It has been so great to be back on the road again for a bit, sharing stories and music. This next month we celebrate 10 years with INO Records, and have been playing a broad range of music from our seven albums with INO. Many of you have shared with me your favorite songs over the years. It is daunting to make up a set list of favorites when so many songs mark such personal, sentimental moments and life markers. My favorites songs probably have very little to do with songwriting, and a lot to do with what was happening in my life when I wrote the song. But in reflecting on favorites, I would have to include You Cannot Lose My Love as a list topper. I wrote that song after bringing my newborn (now 10 year old) home from the hospital. When we released The Other Side of Something, we included a bonus disc with the first run, and it included this version of the song with Kirby and I in our piano room at home. I love his exasperation with me at the end... "no, love." Sara Groves- You Cannot Lose My Love by INORecords

65 miles down, 1 concert to go

2010-07-11T13:53:00.006-05:00

Troy and I on Friday morning

We had an incredible time riding with the 5 Weeks for Freedom team on Friday! We spent the night at the church (everyone just finds a spot on the ground with their sleeping bags), and then after a debriefing in the morning, we headed towards Nashville.

This bike lane showed up at the end of the trip and was greatly appreciated!!

It was HOT, and HILLY, but the team works together to encourage everyone along (thank you Deb, Margee, Dave...). For a big stretch of our trip, we did not have a bike lane or shoulder (for those of you living in Nashville, we came up Franklin Avenue to Old Hickory, and headed East) The traffic was intense, and I had to pry my shoulders down from my earlobes after that stretch. With all of the traffic, I forgot to drink water, and I started to dehydrate at mile 40. I had just taken a huge hill, and realized that I wasn't sweating, but once I drank a couple of bottles of water, I felt great again and was back on track.

With Iron Mike at the finish line... I think the world of these guys!

I have a new appreciation and empathy for a lot of people. When I was on that huge hill at mile 40, with the sun beating down on me, in pain, and feeling nausea, it is not a cliche to say that my heart broke again for the families who toil in the sun all day under threat of violence, watching their children be groomed for slavery with no way out. But I could end my ordeal any time I wanted, so I still don't have a clue. I also have a new appreciation for the team who will continue to ride along the Underground Railroad until they reach Buffalo NY, and 1,800 miles to bring awareness of modern day slavery to the communities they visit. We are looking forward to our concert tonight at Christ Community Church! I will be the one sitting on a pillow at the piano!

2010-07-08T22:08:00.003-05:00

I don't have any pictures to post of Troy and I in biker shorts yet, but there will be plenty tomorrow! We are joining up with the 5 Weeks for Freedom bike tour benefiting IJM, and are sleeping in borrowed sleeping bags and blankets tonight at New Life Church in Columbia, TN. Tomorrow we will ride 65 miles (I'm mentally preparing for 80) into Nashville. We are only joining the ride for one day, but the team will log 1,800 miles retracing the Underground Railroad to raise money and awareness about modern day slavery. http://www.5weeksforfreedom.org/

Sweet Dreams

2010-07-06T12:28:00.005-05:00

Mark, who accompanied us on our second trip to Rwanda, just sent me this neat article in TIME magazine about a new ice cream shop opening in Rwanda. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1997330,00.html

"Life isn't just about survival. It's about living." - Odile Gakire Katese, founder of Inzozi Nziza (Sweet Dreams)

In many ways, this was our same hope for our concert in Gisanga - that we would go beyond questions of survival to moments of community.

We did it... again!

2010-06-24T21:39:00.009-05:00

Here is a pictoral review of our time at Grandma's Marathon (we ran the Gary Bjorklund half)... Yes, this is me with Hal Higdon of Hal Higdon fame! His Novice Half Marathon Training regiment got me through. Here I am with my friend Melanie in line for the porta potties before the race. Our friend Brian noted that although you would think that folks would be thinking about inspirational quotes, and motivational thoughts at this moment, most runners are thinking about having a successful visit to the john. This is mile 7 - it's hard to take a picture and run at the same time. Troy stayed with me until mile 10, and then pulled ahead... a little. Look at him, he's not even sweating! Troy finished at 2.09, and I finished at 2.12, three minutes under my goal! Here are my studly friends who ran the full marathon: Rebecca, Brian, Britney, and Melody As Troy watched the full marathoners cross the line, he slipped his medal in his shirt and said, "I think I'll hide my toddler medal now." Here we are 'acting' like dork half-marathoners: Bee, Troy, me, Terri, Melanie and Dan Thank you to everyone who left well wishes on here, and who checked in with us along the way. Allison G, thank you for the carb load and power bar! You are so thoughtful! We had an incredible day. My favorite moment was when I was running through downtown Duluth at mile 13, and I thought to myself, "I'm really hitting a wall," and saw a girl on the side of the road with a big sign that read, "Every wall has a door." Amen.

Happy Birthday Dr. John Perkins

2010-06-18T09:45:00.003-05:00

Last year Troy and I had the opportunity to meet Dr. John Perkins. He spoke for one hour, pulling from his experience as a pastor, civil rights leader, near martyr, and inspired follower of Christ. We were given a ten minute break to move from that session to the next thing, but I needed time. I wanted to go to a quiet place and grieve, to face what he had said, to process how I would respond. And I wanted to hear more - here is a near octogenarian who has lived through one of the most turbulent, dark episodes in our history, and he has clarity on life, and on our role as a people called to carry out the love of God. This week is Dr. Perkin's 80th birthday - here is a tribute to him written by John Foreman in the Huffington Post, with a link to their new song called THE SOUND, inspired by Dr. Perkins: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-foreman/the-living-blues-john-m-p_b_613733.html All of us grow old, but how many of us turn and turn and turn and turn our anger and our questions and our fears and confrontations with injustice, over to God, bent on redemption! This is what Dr. Perkins has done, and at 80 years old, he has good things to say to us. I'm listening!

Running

2010-05-30T17:05:00.005-05:00

Melody and Terri (my inspirations to run) and I in warm up blankets after our chilly race

I am three weeks away from running my second half marathon. I am not in the least bit athletic, but I love setting goals, and sort of like achieving them. I had a flashback this week while I was running: When I was in Jr High, I tried out to be a cheerleader, but I did not make the squad. It was traumatic only because all of my closest friends made it, and we were then somehow mysteriously forced into separate social groups. There was a teacher named Mrs. Reed who took notice of my lonely state, and encouraged me to join the track team. She put me on the mile because I was not fast, and I did not have any other discernible skills to jump or throw things. My first meet I tried to keep up with the pack, and ended up completely burning out on the third lap. I had no concept of pacing having not really trained much at that point, and came in dead last, running that uncomfortable last half-lap by myself to the cheers of Mrs. Reed and my mother. I puked at every meet because of nerves, and as somewhat of a hypochondriac, I'm sure I wore Mrs. Reed out on my many 'injuries', but still she cheered me on, and I got better. I started out around a nine minute mile, and ended the season with a 6:17 mile - a school record! It was not even fast compared to the other girls in the city, and I didn't even place in my last meet, but it was fast for my school. The last time I was there, I found my name still up on the wall of the gym "S. Colbaugh 6:17 Mile" - that was in 1984. I lived off of that one achievement for many years, and even though I did not stay on the track team, I have considered myself a runner in the back of my mind for many years. Last year I thought it was high time for such an intrinsic runner like myself to actually run, and so I trained with friends for the Whistestop Half Marathon in Ashland, WI. There is no point to this post other than to say that I like being in that underdog place, with room for improvement, but without anything to prove. I like working to make myself better without the insane pressure of having to be the best. Mid-run this week, I flashed back to the fullness of joy of doing my personal best, and hope to feel that way again on June 19th.

Meeting with Rwandan musicians

2010-05-28T15:32:00.005-05:00

One of the highlights of this trip was a small meeting of musicians at a church in Kigali our first evening in Rwanda. A local artist, Dieudonne helped to pull together some musicians in the city, mostly worship leaders, to meet and talk about art and faith. Dieudonne and others are attempting to write new music that merges traditional Rwandan music and themes with a wider Christian worldview. One songwriter shared with me that he had just put a song about his marriage on a recording, and some people had wondered why he would write about his marriage on a worship record. I said that as long as there are married people in Rwanda, they will need songs about marriage. We all left wondering how we could better support this community of writers and musicians in their call to create art for their community. The basic things about making music are more difficult because of the lack of time and space for those pursuits. But there are so many unique things about Rwanda that only a Rwandan artist can speak to, and I pray that these friends will be inspired.

A Widow's Song

2010-04-20T22:30:00.006-05:00

On our first day in Rwanda, we had the privilege of meeting a widow named Therese who has been fighting a long battle to get her land back from her husband's family. As she begins to tell in this video, she went to court three times, and finally won her case. The family drove her and her children off of the land soon after her husband died. There was no where that she could go. There are not homeless shelters, or many options for someone who does not have a place to grow their food. To not have land is like a death sentence. Here in the video with her is the IJM social worker who keeps in touch with her, and makes sure that she has everything she needs. During the time when she was fighting for her land, IJM provided this rental home for her and her children. It has been a long fight, but she was within weeks of moving back onto her own land when we met, and has probably made the transition by now. She will be living near her husband's family, and said this will be difficult, but she will have a means to live and provide for her children, and IJM will keep in touch with her to make sure she is safe. While we were together, she sang a song for us. The video cuts off, but she continued to interpret for us how the chorus says that God provides morning, noon and night! She was generous in every way during our visit, sharing her personal story, and sharing tea and cookies with all of us. The government there has done many good things to document land ownership, and to provide education about land rights, so the IJM office is seeing fewer and fewer cases of land grabbing.

Getting Ahead of Myself

2010-04-06T13:58:00.006-05:00

Today I was thinking about all of the amazing stories we have to share from our most recent trip to Rwanda. But if I tell these stories one at a time, in chronological order, it will be a while before I get to this moment. One of the unique things about this trip was that we were there to share music. Both and Troy and I, in wanting to be helpful and make the most of these trips wondered about the 'usefulness' of just doing music. You would think that as a musician and someone who has seen so clearly the way music can bridge and communicate things that words can't hold, that I would understand the usefulness of this, but it wasn't until we pulled up to a huge, stretching acacia tree on one of the 1,000 hills of Rwanda and began to set up our instruments that I knew that this is what we were supposed to do. There was no electricity for miles, and so we ran our equipment from a generator that pooped out on us a couple of times. Dan Brown, our sound engineer and friend worked overtime to keep the whole operation up and running. The couple from Kigali that rented the equipment to us kept a close eye of everything. The woman had a long stick, and would smack the toes of anyone who stepped on a cord! Elderly women, children, it didn't matter, those were her cords! There is a lot to share from that day, but here is my favorite part. Melody and I learned the chorus for Joy is in Our Hearts in Kinyarwandan so that we could invite everyone to sing. Kinyarwandan words are a lot longer than English words, so we had to just say "Halleluja, halleluja, Christ our joy!"

What's coming

2010-04-06T13:43:00.004-05:00

Melody, Toby, Me, and Zach

By the way, you can always find tomorrows fashions in Europe's big cities, so what is coming in the near future? Apparently it is Ultimate 80's meets 2000's skimp. So picture your zipper skirt from Junior High, but with most of the fabric gone. It's more zippers and pockets people. That's what's coming. It was freezing, so I had to buy this coat at the airport. I'm hoping someone will ask me where I got it so I can so casually say, "Oh, this? I picked this up in Amsterdam." (Barney Fife sniff)

Amsterdam, thank you ma'am

2010-04-05T16:47:00.012-05:00

So on a layover, I usually opt for sleeping on a row of chairs, but thank goodness I am married to Troy whose main philosophy in travel is 'when are we going to be here again?' and 'you can sleep anytime'. That is why we have so much fun on the road. Even in the smallest small town, there is something amazing, and in Amsterdam, something amazing on every corner. What a city! We had a nine hour layover, so we caught the train into the older part of town. The buildings and canals are breathtaking, and the funny little house boats with full electric hook-ups were fascinating. They formed a sort of water trailer park along the edges of the canal, and I wondered if they ever disconnected and traveled around. It seems like that would be the benefit of living on a boat, but these boats looked pretty permanently affixed.

the front door of a house boat

The downside to Amsterdam is the possibility of walking through a more touristy, sex-shop-y, marijuana-y area. Fortunately I figured out where we were before Toby did, and called his attention to the intricate cobblestone walk... for a whole block. On the face of one building, large letters stated, "God is dead" and I lost count of the number of psychic healing and other establishments promoting humanism. But on another block, we came across a small Christian bookstore. We went inside, and Troy pointed out my CD to the owner, "This is Sara Groves" (I do not enjoy this, by the way). The proprietor looked at the CD, and then looked at my bedraggled self, and said, "It doesn't look like you." No. No, it doesn't does it. It was good to meet Ed Baker and have a brief conversation about faith in Amsterdam, and what the difference is between Holland and The Netherlands.

Talking with Ed Baker. Can you see Fireflies and Songs on the wall between us?

We wanted to see the Corri ten Boom Museum, but it was closed, and so from there we went to the the Anne Frank Museum, which is located in the factory and house where they hid. We went up into their hiding place, and saw on the walls of Anne's room, the magazine pictures and beauty adds that she had put up to make that time and place more bearable. We saw the one window she looked out of in the attic, and the bookshelf that covered the door at the bottom of the stairs. At the end of the tour, there is a short video of Otto Frank explaining how he never knew that the Anne of the diary was inside the everyday Anne he knew as his daughter. He wondered if a parent could ever really know his or her children. I asked Toby, "Do I know you?" He said "yup", but I suspect that Otto is right.

Thank you for so many book recommendations!

2010-03-25T13:04:00.003-05:00

I am starting a must read pile. I am currently reading A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving at the recommendation of a friend, and on deck is Beth Moore's new book So Long Insecurity. I can't wait to hear what she has to say about this life-long nemesis.

We are back from Rwanda, and there are so many things to write about!

2010-03-23T14:43:00.002-05:00

My girlfriend Terri and I always come up with key words for conversations we want to pick up later, "Remind me to tell you about snot at Target and the red hat!" There are so many stories to tell you, I'm not sure where to begin, but I thought I would make a list of key words that I can expound on later, like Amsterdam thank you ma'am, a Widow's song, the culture of hand holding, the Christian artist community in Rwanda, ridiculous fruit breakfasts, meeting with pastors, the poverty mindset, reunions, showers of gifts, Pastor Faustin and his great love for Toby, twins, Hi Martha, a concert of a lifetime, our 'greenroom', eating with hungry spectators, headmasters in Gisanga, Dan Brown, Toby turns it around, Azizi Life, concert at the Serena, Africa Bite, where to get pizza in Kigali, the Mother Theresa Orphanage in Kigali, getting 60 babies to nap, a good cry, Akagera aka Eden, cavorting hippos and giraffe, big bugs, overseas airports and hotels, layovers, getting home. This is just the top of the story pile...

What are you doing for Lent?

2010-03-12T10:06:00.001-06:00

There is a great award-winning documentary out about the reconciliation process in Rwanda called As We Forgive. The film funds a project called Living Bricks which helps fund houses that are built by genocidiaries for the victims of their crimes. A reconciliation process goes on alongside the building process, and the finished communities house perpetrators and victims alike. The most amazing thing about the film is seeing the physical effects of anger and the actual countenances of forgiveness. Living Bricks is running a campaign during Lent, and I wrote a short story about Rwanda for one of the 40 days of lent. See what they are doing at asweforgivemovie.com

I never told you about our first day in Rwanda last year

2010-03-05T15:48:00.002-06:00

The first visit customarily is always to the sector leader, who would be like a mayor of a city. We met in his office, which had no electricity. He had a laptop computer that was run on a solar panel positioned on the roof. You can imagine how difficult communication and infrastructure can be for a government without electricity. He shared with us the state of affairs in the sector that the community of Gisanga is found. I think the most startling statistics were that of the 30,000 people that he governs, approximately 20% are at dangerous levels of poverty. This means that they are maybe getting one meal a day, and they are barely surviving. The other statistic he shared was that only 20 families in his sector used paper money. In other words, every one else was on a bartering system, which is not bad in itself, but indicates the poverty level of the area.

His main goal for the sector was to get electricity to the area. This has not been a central goal for FH at this time, but the leadership at FH are always trying to take into consideration the needs of the community, and that came through on many occasions. They want to be a local organization, not just an international aid organization. Their care and concern in that way meant a lot to Troy and I, and we were really educated about the difference between partnership and dependency, on both sides of that relationship.

Back To Rwanda!

2010-02-25T09:49:00.001-06:00

We are preparing to go back to Rwanda! We just went to get our shots with Toby, and he was so pitiful! He was doing alright, but when the nurse walked in with the needles, he threw back his head and cried, "Do I have to go to Rwanda?!" Oh man. The first shot was the basic flu shot that he had to get anyway, so we did that one first on a trial basis. After that, he wanted to go with us again, and agreed to one more. Then we headed over to get his passport where, I don't know how, but he managed to get an adorable passport picture. I'm jealous because I try really hard to look my best for all photo IDs, and most often they turn out to look like my evil twin. It shouldn't matter, but the one time I got a good picture on my license, I had this mysterious feeling of well being every time I pulled it out, and I thought that was worth the shower I took and mascara that I applied that day. Sorry for that tangent on photo ID insecurity.

This year's trip is going to be pretty short, but our main purpose is to put on two concerts. Our band has been fundraising and getting shots as well, and they are going to join us on this trip. This will be the first time that we do music in Rwanda, and while I'm excited, I am praying that all of the logistics work out! I think that we are a pretty flexible group, but if you've been to a concert you know that we depend on a lot of things that plug in! There are no plugs in Gisanga, so it is quite a feat to get a concert put together in such a remote place. The FH staff are amazing, and are helping us figure out the best scenarios for that.

O Holy Night

2010-01-28T13:17:00.002-06:00

Thank you to everyone who came out the the O Holy Night Tour this Christmas! We had an incredible trip, and loved meeting you along the way. We got to share with more people about Gesanga, and another 160 people joined our efforts by sponsoring children in Gesanga. We also had about 30 people express interest in going to Rwanda with us at some point. We just have a few spots to fill in our upcoming trip this March because the band is coming with us this year! We are excited to play music for the first time this trip, and can't wait to introduce the band to the work of FH, and hopefully the IJM office there as well. We will be doing a concert in Kigali, and in the village of Gesanga. There is no electricity there, so I think we will be playing on the back of a flat bed truck with generators humming away. We are getting our shots next week... not our most favorite part of the trip.

She's alive

2010-01-26T13:41:00.002-06:00

Where do you put a story like the one I just watched on CNN? A man waited by a collapsed bank for six days as they rescued workers from inside, and began to clear the area with back hoes. As each layer was removed, he would rush in to call her name. Six days after the earthquake, he heard his wife's voice. He called out to the demolition crews that he found her, she's alive. Her fingers were crushed between a beam, and a concrete slab, but other than that, she was held in a cement cocoon, whole and relatively healthy. What made him stand there day after day? What made him rush in every time the back hoe drove off with a load of concrete? When she came out she said, "Thank you God," and then burst into a song. The anchor man said the song said, "Don't be afraid to die," but I would love to know what song she was singing.

Feed My Starving Children

2010-01-20T15:32:00.002-06:00

If you live in the Minneapolis area or near Aurora IL, the food relief organization Feed My Starving Children is organizing emergency food packing sessions. They send dry food packs to 200 mission partners on the ground in Haiti on a routine basis, and are working towards an emergency relief plan in the next few days. This is a great way to do something that has a direct impact on Haiti. Find out more about how your group can volunteer at fmsc.org.

Haiti

2010-01-18T14:42:00.006-06:00

My heart is so heavy watching the news coming out of Haiti. The hardest news is that the worst suffering is yet to come with water and health care shortages. I know many of you are already thinking about it this way, but I would like to encourage us to not give into despair about all the things we cannot do, and would ask you to give serious, quiet thought to what you can do. Every little bit helps. We stand by the work of Food for the Hungry, and know that they are already working in Haiti to provide relief. Find out more about what they are doing at fh.org.

2009-12-01T11:47:00.009-06:00

Hi blog friends, Sara's been too busy to write anything for a while. Just embarking on our Christmas Tour this week. Really excited to have a full night of music with our band. The album release has gone well too! Here is a press release going out soon:

CRICITALLY ACCLAIMED SINGER/SONGWRITER SARA GROVES AMAZES CRITICS ONCE AGAIN WITH LATEST RELEASE FIREFLIES AND SONGS

GROVES EMBARKS ON FIRST SOLO CHRISTMAS TOUR

Nashville, TN…INO Records’ critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Sara Groves never ceases to amaze critics and fans with her compelling lyrics and stunning vocal style, and she continues to do so with her latest and most honest release Fireflies and Songs (November 17). With rave reviews continuing to pour in, Fireflies and Songs has proved to be another hit for Groves already being called one of the best of 2009 by NewReleaseTuesday.com and numerous others:

“It’s hard to imagine, but Sara has now once again released her “best” album topping all of her previous excellent work. This is one of my top 10 albums of 2009.”-NewReleaseTuesday.com

“I was certain Groves had already uncovered all of life's hidden layers. But Fireflies & Songs probes yet deeper, and even more beautifully, into the fears, doubts, and joys of the human soul.”-ChristianityToday.com

“The end result is an anthology of beautifully and delicately crafted songs that are steeped in emotion and filled with creatively-crafted lyrics that draw us in to her stories. Another reviewer called Groves “one of Christian music’s best-kept secrets,” and I would have to agree. If you’ve not experienced the musical treasury of this artist before, Fireflies and Songs is a great place to start.”-Gospelmusicchannel.com

“We’re privileged to get a glimpse into her own world, one of family and hope and struggles and dreams. From her childhood to her current life, it feels like we’re truly meeting Sara Groves for the first time, and this is one of those albums that deserves an hour sitting on the couch, doing nothing but closing your eyes and listening. It’s that good.”-Soul-Audio.com

In addition to her continuing success, Groves will embark on her first solo Christmas tour later this week, performing songs from her 2008 Holiday release O Holy Night. The tour has been in great demand by promoters, and is a family friendly show that starts off the holidays in Scotch Plains, NJ on December 3 and will carry on until December 20 closing in Springfield, IL.

“It is so refreshing to see people rally around an artist who at the core of her being represents what Christmas is all about-peace and justice in a hurting world,” says Bryan Myers with CAA. “The ultimate love comes down from heaven to affect real people. In an economy that is picky about much, we were not able to squeeze all the dates we were offered into this tour. I think that says something for the quality and purpose of this tour and artist. People want to see faith lived out. It’s inspiring.”

"Everyone in the band has anticipated this tour for a long time,” says Groves. “We have packed the night full of music, caroling, and Christmas reminiscing all surrounding the theme of how Jesus appeared and the soul felt it's worth!"

To see Groves LIVE this holiday season, please see tour dates listed below and for more information on Groves visit http://www.saragroves.com/.

O Holy Night Tour Dates (Subject to Change)

December 3 Scotch Plains, NJ

December 4 Presque Isle, ME

December 5 Bengor, ME

December 6 Manchester, NH

December 8 Hershey, PA

December 10 Des Moines, IA

December 11 Green Bay, WI

December 12 Lincoln, IL

December 13 Niles, OH

December 15 Austin, MN

December 17 Alexandria, MN

December 18 Maple Grove, MN

December 19 Indianapolis, IN

December 20 Springfield, IL

Azizi Life

2009-11-03T15:24:00.025-06:00

One of our favorite stops during our visit to Rwanda was to visit with the women artisans that are working with Food For the Hungry in their Azizi Life program. Christine and Tom at the FFH office open their doors every Thursday for artisans to bring in their work. Azizi Life helps with product development, quality control and placement of goods in the market. Many of the goods sold are made from banana leaves since they are plentiful (a banana tree goes through one life cycle in one season, so the trees are all burned after the bananas are harvested). The women have learned to make beautiful purses, bags, stationary and stationary gift-set holders among many other things. I just got a trial pair of banana leaf flip- flops while visiting the FFH offices in Phoenix! I will have to wear them around the house since Fall has fully arrived here in Minnesota. At the FFH office we shopped for baskets, purses, figurines, and other gifts to bring home. Finding markets for the goods is definitely one of the biggest challenges for Azizi Life. They are working on a website that will enable them to reach US b uyers more readily, and I will post that when it is up and running!

Artisan House

When we went to meet with the artisans, we gathered at a house where the y meet to do their work. Of course there was a crowd gathered (there is always a crowd gathered!), and Women sat on a bench all along the front of the house piecing sleeves on sweaters. The group in Gisanga borrows a weaving machine from another community and weaves all of the pieces o f the sweaters, then the pieces are attached by hand.

We all crowded into the front room of the house to hear about this particular women's association from community leaders. At the end of the speeches and weaving demonstrations, Troy and I were given a sweate, hat and washcloth from a young mother. I was told later that this gift was equivalent to a couple of weeks wages.

Out front of the artisans house.

We wanted to buy some of the goods that they had used in demonstration, and asked Christine if there would be a more private moment to conduct business. She told us that there are no private moments in Rwanda : )! Of course it is nothing to us to buy a basket for $2, or $5, and in fact we wanted to pay more for them, but as soon as the dollars came out of our pockets, there was a tangible tension in the room. It changed the dynamics of the whole situation in an instant. I could see that paying a huge sum for a basket would not benefit anyone, and would only cause trouble. It was one small reminder of how complicated things can get with money. I saw on this trip like I have never seen before how money alone cannot address a problem. Money is still sorely needed, and is often short, but alone it falls very short. It is fellowship, consistent presence and hands- on help that is SO invaluable.

The Rwandan and ex-pats that work for FFH are so committed to helping their communities in this way, and it is inspiring. I want to look for more opportunities to do this at home. Writing a check is important, but so is mentorship and consistent relationship and leadership.

Sara and a very generous artisan from Azizi Life.

Sara folds a beautiful handmade sweater.

Troy and Sara with a shopping bag full of handmade goods.

Kirby and his new Rwandan handmade skull cap...not another one

like it it Minnesota!

Sara with Christine and Tom, the FH Azizi life coordinators.

New Video And Story Behind The Song “It’s Me”

2009-10-29T13:08:00.008-05:00

Sometimes when Troy, my husband, and I are in the midst of a disagreement, one of us will say something that's really sarcastic or just so overt. And being on the receiving end of that, it's like, "Honey, it's me ... Sara." Or vice versa. We just forget who we're talking to and the value of that person. For whatever reason, you cross that line where sensitivity and tenderness are discarded. You'd never talk to anyone else like that or treat someone else like that. Troy and I are working on that--talking to each other and interacting with each other in those situations in the way we would a complete stranger.

Here’s the new video for a song I wrote about that called “It’s Me”

Click Here To Watch

News About The New Album!

2009-10-15T10:26:00.010-05:00

Hello Blog friends of Sara!

This is Sara's husband Troy, you know, Mr. Sara Groves :) I'm posting an e-blast here that went out today about Sara's new album coming soon. This is an 'exclusive pre-sale package' for the new record. With the full package ($25) the album can be downloaded now and the rest of the stuff will come in November. A lot of the items will not be available at all after Nov. 17, including the audiobook that includes Sara sharing all of the stories behind the songs.

Feel free to pass this along to friends or family that you think might be interested.

Sincerely, troy 'Mr. Sara' groves

now, the e-blast:

..........................................

Hi friends,

It's been a long time since we've sent an update. We have a new album coming out!!! Sara is about to release what she calls her 'songwriters album'. It is called 'Fireflies and Songs'. We are excited for you to be the first to know about it and have an opportunity to get it in this pre-sale. This pre-sale runs till the official release day of November 17.

Visit www.saragroves.com for details on how you can get it today (5 weeks before the stores and iTunes!). Look for another update coming soon about our Christmas Tour in December with Sara and the band.

Thanks, the groves

Visit Part 2 - We Meet

2009-09-01T11:46:00.013-05:00

When we got to the house, Iranzi was away playing with some friends, and we had some time to talk to his mom and meet one of his older brothers and his youngest brother. Iranzi has eight siblings, ages two to twenty-one! His father was at the market with his two older sisters, so we did not get to meet them. The mother was very kind, and we talked about our kids through an interpreter. The older brother was wearing a Wisconsin sweatshirt with a picture of a buck. We tried to explain that Wisconsin was sort of where we were from, but there was some confusion, and they thought that we owned a buck. I was glad that I had been able to go on another home visit with a friend the day before so that I had good questions ready, but when we got there, conversation was not difficult at all. It was customary for them to ask us what they could be praying for, for us, and in turn we would ask the same of them. I don't do that very often here at home, but since I've been back, if it is appropriate, I have been asking people if there is anything I can pray about for them. Should I be surprised that that question leads to meaningful conversation? Or that there is always something going on beyond the surface of things? After a while, Iranzi and a group of boys came down the hill. I could tell right away that sweet Iranzi was not used to being the center of attention. He is very serious and quiet. His mom was now in the same position I had been in earlier (see Visit Part One), and was sternly urging him to smile and say thank you! He seemed overwhelmed with the attention, so we decided to go inside the house to give them some small gifts. We had brought a bag of school supplies for each of the siblings, and a couple of other special things for Iranzi. We brought a hand powered flashlight for his father, and some lotions and other useful things for his mother. I had brought all of the gifts in a market bag, and also gave that to the mother... I think that was her favorite thing. We prayed together in the house, and I couldn't help but notice that her prayers were all about heaven. Maybe because I have so many conveniences here on earth, I don't think about heaven like she does, but her greatest prayer was that we would all get to heaven, and her greatest thanksgiving was that when we got there, we would be together. What a hope, what a promise. The other thing I noticed is that Iranzi has a hard time keeping his eyes closed when his mom prays long prayers too.

The mothers meet. Sara and Judith.

While waiting for Iranz, Sara and Judith swap kid stories.

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. ~Abraham Lincoln

Kirby and Iranz: together at last.

Sara talks with Judith inside their home.

Children make you want to start life over. ~Muhammad Ali

Album

2009-08-20T19:09:00.008-05:00

We are finishing up the mix for the album, and are re-entering summer in Minnesota. We hear from our friends in Rwanda, and ask for your prayers for the FH office in Kigali, and for the community of Gesanga as they continue to work so diligently on community development and care for these kids and their families.

Visit Part One - Getting there We just got an update from our sponsored child in Rwanda, and it was so strange to be able to picture the backdrop to that letter. I could picture Remy, the interpreter, helping Iranzi with his letter, and wondered if he had worked on this particular response at school or during one of his home visits. Iranzi's home is well off the beaten path. You have to have some pretty good shoes to get down the side of the hill that he and his family lives on. Or in the case of the children leading us down, you need no shoes and a lifetime of experience. When we went to visit Iranzi there was a lot of expectation, and I was trying so hard to take mental snapshots of what was going on without missing actually being in the moment as it was happening. In Rwanda, you do not have to be rich to have a great view. It is called the Land of a Thousand Hills, and whether you are perched at the top of one of those hills, deep in the valleys, or anywhere in between, the lush green, rolling views are breathtaking.

Iranzi's family was about three-quarters of a mile down one of those 'hills'. There is no road to speak of, just a foot path that goes from house to house. Moments before we got to the house, Kirby fell and scraped his knee. Cameras were rolling to document our visit as FH advocates, and I knew Kirby was not going to be able to pull it together by the time we reached the house. He was the focus of things because he and Iranzi are about the same age. I knew he was okay, but with all of the attention, he was overwhelmed, and was having a hard time calming down. I had one of those parent moments where I wondered if I should sternly command him to pull it together because we needed a good picture of him, or if even here on the side of this hill in Rwanda, I needed to take the time to hear him out. Kirby and I walked away from the group a bit and I could tell his knee was okay. It just took him a minute to regroup, and then we were ready to meet the family.

I am in that position a lot where I want my kids to act a certain way because we are in public, and have found that my expectations can be like poison to my whole family. I have to really check my motives. I want them to be kind, gentle people, but if my motive comes from my wanting to look good, my kids will figure out that my correction was ultimately about me and not about them. I have to admit that I was on the verge of hissing in his ear, but later I was glad that I had an opportunity to show Kirby that he is important to me even when we are doing other important things.

Sara and Kirby embark on their journey to meet their sponsored child Iranz.

The Groves family, with Food for the Hungry coordinator Remy, traverse the terrain to Iranz's house.

Kirby with Iranz's last letter he got back in Minnesota.

In The Studio

2009-05-28T16:06:00.011-05:00

I have so many things left to tell you about from our trip, but we are starting on a new album, and that has been my most pressing goal! I am recording at the Art House with Charlie Peacock this next week, and am anticipating good things. I love this process, as it is so unique and special each time. I will have time to write more about Rwanda soon, so check back!

Zach sets up his set for the week

Aaron settles into the vibe of the Art House studio

Charlie is having fun rockin out on Aarons bass

Technical difficulties

Killing Time In The Studio

Sneak Peek At A New Song!

Being 'helpful'

2009-04-17T09:01:00.006-05:00

I think one of the highlights for all of us on the team was working together with members of Gesanga to build a house. The community leaders work very closely with Food for the Hungry to identify the people with the most needs. They identified a widow named Anne Marie as having inadequate housing for herself and her five children (four her own, and one adopted). One of the neat things that FFH does with visiting teams is that they add on an additional sum to the cost of the trip for a community project. So the eleven of us basically bought the land and the labor for this home to be built, and then got to work building the home alongside people from the community.

The first day we got to the work site, I was eager to be effective, and wanted to make the best use of the time. Ernest (I can't wait to tell you more about Ernest, the Director of the Child Development Program, and translator for us for most of the trip) demonstrated how to make a mortar ball by pulling and rolling up mud to be taken to the bricklayers. I jumped right in and began rolling a ball, but when I tried to pick it up, it fell apart. I put my little snowball sized mortar ball in the pan, and then tried to lift a brick up to the scaffolding. My arms got as high as my shoulders and then stopped. Two Rwandan men came on each side of me to push my arms and the brick I was holding up onto the scaffolding.

I walked over to Ernest and asked, "How helpful am I when it takes two men to help me help them?" He laughed and pointed down the street and said, "This is how you are helping." Up the street came about fifteen people from the community to watch us, work with us, and laugh at us the rest of the morning. Later I read this quote at the FH office, and it helped me further process this experience...

"If you have come to help me you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. - Aboriginal activists group, Queensland, 1970s

from northlandposter.com

Reflections of Rwanda

2009-04-07T16:18:00.005-05:00

(This is from Kristin who was on the trip with us. She attended one of the Art Music Justice Concerts and sponsored a child that night. She is insightful, and it was great to have her on the trip with us.)

My calloused heart shattered Pieces of Gisanga reflected Open arms Running to embrace Innocence traced in each hand Grace bestowed Through a smile A love bound By eternity Honor given To unworthy vessel

As I step in the courtyard area, little arms of perfection run to embrace me. The calluses of my heart begin to peel away, layer by layer. A friend reminded me of a similar scenario in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis. Aslan has to peel the layers of Eustace's dragon skin for him to become a boy again, The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off(Lewis 474-475). Eustace could only be useful for Aslan's purposes only after the layers of dragon skin were peeled off. The Lord broke me in that moment. A little girl who only knew me as her sponsor loved me unabashedly. A solitary chair was placed in the small barren room. The chair was for me. I was the honored guest. I had done no worthy deed to receive such honor. All of sudden my thoughts were flooded with God's grace. I had never understood before and now I had seen it firsthand. God, just like this little girl's family has given me the reserved seat of honor. Nothing I could do would give me the right to this beloved seat and yet God is motioning me to sit. His grace is so undeserved and so beautiful. Broken and callous free I am becoming.

Right To The Heart- Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world

2009-04-06T16:47:00.009-05:00

Eventually I will introduce you to the team, and to the Food for the Hungry staff that we met, but I don’t want to wait too long to share a special story from our visit.

On the seventh day of our trip I got to accompany one of the girls on our team to visit her sponsored child. Another friend and I were manning cameras so that she would be free to meet the family. This visit was unique because the father of the sponsored boy had invited his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, and even their local pastor. In Rwanda it is polite to invite a visitor to pass the night. When the father ended his welcome speech by asking us to pass the night with them, the family broke into laughter together at the thought of these Muzungo’s (white people) spending the night with their family member.

The boy was shy at first, but when his younger siblings came in the room, he proudly shepherded them in front of the camera, and kept saying their names over again - a good big brother. Heather had brought some crayons and paper and other small gifts for the boy, and he drew a picture for her to take home. The family prayed for Heather, and she prayed for them as well.

At the end of our visit, our interpreter, Andrew, asked the boy to sing a song. He sang a song in Kenyarwandan, and then began a melody I recognized, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.” At the end of his song, Andrew turned to me and began to explain what the song was about. “I know this song, Andrew, my children sing it, and I sang it when I was a child,” I said. Andrew lit up, and explained to the group that I was a singer and was going to sing with the boy, each in our own languages.

It is hard to describe the backdrop for this duet, and this is a moment when I wish you could have been there with me. We are in a mud brick house with no furniture, crowded together with a tight knit family. There is the stress of cultural difference, the surprise of commonality, and the simple reality of ‘all the children of the world’... and there is a boy with a sweet high voice. It was akin to pictures of Earth from space, to sing this song that I have sung since I was a child with this small boy from Rwanda.

My blogging days begin

2009-03-26T16:48:00.008-05:00

I know that this is not about me, but before we embark here, I have to share that only a place like Rwanda could get me to blog. I don't say that as any kind of comment on bloggers. I read them, and enjoy them, but have not had the capacity to generate them until now. Right here at the top, I will ask for your forgiveness for my sloth-like pace in reporting back to you about our incredible trip. In fact, I am going to take the year to write about the many facets of this amazing community and the people we are just beginning to know there. If you have sponsored a child with us from this community, THANK YOU! We were thrilled to see the work that is taking place, and think that you will be thrilled too. Please check back. I am going to share stories along with other people who went on the trip with us. If you are not sponsoring a child yet, please consider it! We are asking our audience to sponsor children from one community, Gisanga Rwanda, so that we can work together as a community. This is going to be a great journey together, and I want to invite you to come along! okay here goes, Sara

Why are we going back to Rwanda?

2009-02-18T16:42:00.002-06:00

Short version: We are going to meet new friends that we hope to work with for many years to come.

In January of 2005, when Troy and I first stepped foot on Rwandan soil, I had no idea what the trip would hold for us. I was scared, and excited to learn. The trip was a ‘vision’ trip to simply be exposed to the life and needs of Rwanda for the purpose of returning home and asking, “In what way could my life intersect with Rwanda. What gift do I have to leverage for the good of these friends?”

As a songwriter, I came home and wrote songs. I Saw What I Saw was the first song that I wrote on my return, but the images of Rwanda permeated the whole album Tell Me What You Know.

Two years ago, Food for the Hungry approached us about concentrating our sponsorship efforts on one community in Rwanda. This was an answer to prayer for Troy and I, and has obviously resonated with our audience as well.

Last year as we travelled, we asked our audience to join with us in sponsoring children from Gisanga, Rwanda. It is our dream to create a relationship that has breadth and depth beyond our one sponsored child that includes a deeper understanding of the community and their needs. On Feb 28th we leave with our son Kirby, and other friends who have sponsored children with us to meet the people of Gisanga, and to begin a partnership that we hope will last for many years to come.

If you would like to sponsor a child in Gisanga, please visit http://fh.org/saragroves. If you have already sponsored a child in Gisanga, watch here for more information on the community, and on our trip!