The Day God Intervened

In my previous blog I wrote about open doors in Rwanda; well, all I can say after another incredible week is, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” On March 4th I had plans to go to Ngoma prison.  But, God had other plans!

With Guma Alexandre of Prison Fellowship Rwanda (PFR) we planned to target Relima Prison, a good place for a pilot project we want to establish in 2014. The goal is to go beyond preaching to discipleship, training two outside Chaplains, and starting a skills development program to include carpentry, sewing, electrical expertise, farming, etc. The vision is to see the prisoners (mostly men), be prepared to re-enter and integrate into society; doing that will require skills to find jobs to become productive, contributing members. Research shows that this approach drastically reduces the number of prisoners that return to prison.

Guma received a call the day before we were to go from the new commissioner to ask if we would consider diverting our resources to Ngoma Prison in the Eastern Province. (When I go the prisons I always take some foodstuff, soap, etc., as a sign that I see beyond the preaching to the needs they have). I said we have already made our plans and I felt we should stick to it (I sometimes have a stubborn streak as some of you may know.)

The next morning Guma arrived to pick me up to go to Relima, but informed me that the Commissioner asked for a meeting before we departed.  She introduced herself and I soon ascertained that she is a very committed Christian.  She explained that they have a new vision for women prisoners. All the women are being transferred from Relima to Ngoma Prison where they will establish the first all women’s prison. Some women have babies and small children with them that have needs for things such as nutritional foods, Vaseline, soap, basins to wash in, etc. So, I had to ask myself, “Am I going to say no?!”

With a list of needs in hand, and the contributions from many of you reading this, we went to buy all the supplies, including 200 kg of baby food and plastic basins, soap, sugar, Vaseline and more. We took the 2-hour or so drive to Ngoma Prison in the Eastern Province, on the way to Tanzania.

We had more surprises when we arrived; it turned out that the newly appointed director is a civilian woman, and a committed Christian as well.  New direction in prison philosophy in Rwanda is to replace “macho Commanders” with civilian women. When I said that I was used to the Director being a male in uniform carrying a gun, she quickly replied, “I am not here to punish the women, but to advocate for them.” A light bulb went on! God is at work here. I had planned to go to Relima Prison, but God re-directed my steps to Ngoma. “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

Next, she asks if I want to preach to the women!  I had expected her to ask,”What did you bring?” So, there I found myself speaking to a few hundred women at this newly established,  women’s prison, the first one in the country. Though, it is currently in bad shape and is being repaired, no time was wasted in giving them a message of freedom and hope in Christ. I had prepared a teaching for a mainly male audience, so I asked God to anoint me and give me His words for these precious women with whom He had an appointment that day.  And did He speak!  Many women were weeping and responding to the love of God for them and that His plans include a hope and a future for them and their children.

The Director said afterwards she had never seen that happen (the response of the women) and she had felt the Spirit of God at work there. In the end I danced with the ladies as they sang and praised God, giving God the glory for a new beginning for them with a hope and a future ( Jer. 29:11). We agreed to start with a baby care program as well as a pre-school, in collaboration with the government. They will build the structure and we will furnish and add things for the children. We will also sponsor sewing machines, and an English literacy program for starters. I did tell them they have to pray, as all the money still needs to be raised. We prayed together for the new beginnings.

This is the way God works when we just show up and let God do His will in and through us. I am so charged up and can’t wait to see the next steps and provision of God for these women.  The Commissioner and Director are now preparing a budget in conjunction with Guma Alexandre, along with a list of needs for the year ahead.

Please pray with me that we will see an outpouring of God’s provision through his people for this project. This is a wide open door to extend God’s Kingdom here on earth, showing His infinite love and care to those women, right there in the Prison at Ngoma.