A third report from Gerrit in Rwanda – January 15, 2011
I am so grateful that God still has a ministry for me here in Africa. I am amazed at what is going on here. I need to write a report about today’s visit to the Kimonyi Reconciliation Village in Ruhengeri. In short, we met a few perpetrators of the genocide living in forgiveness and harmony with the people whom they greatly harmed. There was a frail, tall, dignified woman who had forgiven the men who repeatedly raped her, ravaged her body and killed her family. I could clearly see the physical & soul pain etched on her face, but she had chosen, as a follower of Jesus, to forgive them. She was unable to stand for more than a few minutes at a time and needed a stick to support herself. It is nearly too much to comprehend, inconceivable really. This is where I see Jesus, the man of sorrows, who could say on the Cross, “Father forgive them for the do not know what they do”.
I shared with them that I have been teaching reconciliation around the world and I thought I knew everything about it, but what I have seen in Rwanda makes me ashamed of the shallow way in which I have dealt with the depth of reconciliation that Jesus bought at such a great price. I was overwhelmed and told them I believe that God was going to showcase Rwanda to the whole world as a place where His glory has arisen, because there is no way to explain what has happened here outside of the Grace of God. I went to this woman afterwards and just held her in my arms, feeling her grief and her freedom at the same time.
There are still enormous challenges in the country for development and education and to alleviate poverty and diseases here, but what better place to face these challenges than here in the very heart of Africa?
Isaiah 60: 1-5 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. 5 Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.
Pray for this nation so that God may receive all the Glory for what He is accomplishing in the hearts and minds of these longsuffering people. Amen!
