“You Came Back!”

On Friday (April 15th) Deo and I returned to Musanze Reconciliation Village where I ministered in January (see previous report).  There are at least 600 people –  perpetrators and survivors – living together in 106 very basic homes that were built for them.  The entire village was built on volcanic rock, so the people have to get rid of the rocks before they can plant anything to eat.  I was amazed to see how beans, maze, bananas etc. have grown since January!  At least they now have something to eat.

One of the first people we met as we walked around the village was a woman who came up to me and simply said, “You came back!”  I was so touched as I had been told by Deo that many groups visit, take photos, make promises and never return or send help.  

A South African friend who was here in January, provided $5000 to purchase a goat for every home and we announced that the goats would soon be delivered. There was great jubilation and the women started singing and dancing like they had received a million dollars!  I couldn’t believe it and even felt ashamed that such a small thing can make such a difference in their lives.   I joined in and we were dancing up a storm, even some men joining in and soon the children were dancing and laughing.  I felt it was the joy of the Lord that had come upon us.  I felt His pleasure as we danced and shouted praises to him.  I realized that this is what it is all about for God, getting involved in the works of service that he has set apart for us to do since before the creation of the world:

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

I was filled with gratitude that I can be part of what God is doing in Rwanda, that He has allowed me to enter into this amazing work with Him.  What a joy it is to be where God wants me! It is really indescribable.

I taught something from my heart about hope and trust in God and believing that He will provide, that He knows their plight and he sees their love for one another and He is pleased that they have made the decision to tell the truth, ask forgiveness and give forgiveness.  That they are living in unity and peace, helping one another with the little they have.  I spoke to the little children and told them how much Jesus loves them and he also sees their needs and they must also trust Him and believe that he will bring education and a future to them as well.

After I spoke, a young Hutu man asked to say something.  He said that he was a perpetrator in the Genocide. (I learned later that he had personally killed more that 200 people and kept killing Tutsis even after the Genocide until 1997, operating out of the Congo and the forests of Rwanda).  He testified how God had saved him and forgiven him  for what he had done and how he had been forgiven by the very people  he had harmed, now living with them in the village.  It was beyond comprehension to me, because he was one of the most joyful dancers, mixed in with Tutsi women when we praised God together.  His face shone as he testified to the goodness of God.

The challenges in Rwanda are huge, but the joy of doing ministry here is incomprehensible and nothing I have ever done before compares to this.  Thank you Jesus!