Gerrit sends us this inspiring word from Rwanda on January 12th:
I am sitting in my room with a heart bursting for the work of God in Rwanda. Every day brings new and wonderful things that just take your breath away. I am convinced that God is pouring out His Spirit on this nation and is working in the hearts of people like I have never experienced before.
Two of the workers I met at the Prison Fellowship Offices were involved in the Genocide. One of them killed 45 people. They came to know Christ under Pastor Deo’s ministry in the prison, have repented and have been forgiven by the surviving family members and now live in unity and peace in one of PFIR’s Reconciliation Villages with their former victims. They are now preachers of reconciliation! It simply blows one’s mind. Here in Rwanda God has poured out His spirit and His Grace in the aftermath of unspeakable horrors. God has triumphed over and defeated the plans Satan had for evil. I am so excited to be participating in the same ministry with Pastor Deo. God has blessed me beyond my imagination.
I visited the offices of Prison Fellowship International Rwanda (PFIR) at the invitation of Pastor Deo, the Director of the work, to speak to the orphans/street children that they feed and minister to 3 times per week. The children, male and female, vary in age from about 4 years to early 20’s, I believe. Many of the older ones were on drugs and alcohol, but have come to know Jesus and were reconciled with their Father in heaven. Here they also receive spiritual nurturing as part of the outreach to them. Pastor Deo ‘adopted’ 90 children in this way and has had to turn away many others for lack of finances.
These children, specially the little ones, are just beyond precious. As the grandfather of a soon to be 4-year-old girl, the little girls immediately twirled me around their little fingers and invited me to dance with them as they were singing a praise song to Jesus, holding tightly on to my hands and squabbling who would be next, so I let them all dance with me. They were obviously starved for the touch of a father or grandfather. Lord God please protect them from evil.
I spoke to the children about the hope they have in Christ and that their Father in heaven will never reject them nor forsake them. He weeps over their pain & sorrow and calls Christians everywhere to respond to their cries and to help them. I told them God has a purpose for each one of them, but they need to grow in Christ, walk close to him and listen to his guidance and follow His teachings. I told them never to give up hope and to dream big as children of God. I asked them to tell me what they want to become if they had the education and opportunities. One boy jumped up and said “President”! Others followed with evangelist, doctor, nurse, administrator (an 8 year old boy!), musicians, dancers, to be a Christian who helps other all over the world, etc.
I then led a team of PF workers and we prayed over every child for their particular dream to come true in Christ, blessing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and asking God to protect them from Satan and his demonic powers and for shelter, education, healthcare, yes, to supply in their every need. (Some of them still live on the street as the PF ministry does not have the facilities to house them). There are 7000 “street children” in Kigali.
Finally, I need to tell you about a 6-year-old boy called Fabrice. He is simply brilliant. He sang a song and then recited Ps. 23 flawlessly and prayed at the end that the Mzungus (white people) that come to visit will help more and not forget them when they leave! He said he loved me and I must come back…
…This is the Rwanda that has captured me.
