Encouragement

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My husband and I have just returned from Rwanda Africa. It has been a most glorious time as we have surely seen the hand of God preparing hearts long before our arrival. I want to tell you about an experience we had there that will forever be etched in my mind and soul.

After a week of training almost 300 pastors and pastor’s wives we spent three days out in rural villages evangelizing and doing crusades. As we drove into a remote village and began the trek up into the hillside we had no idea what we may encounter. My question was, “Will these people receive us or chase us out of their villages?”

As we walked with a local national we came across a young women working outside. We asked if we could visit with her and her family for a few moments. She invited us to follow her as she led us through a rocky dirt path to her home. As we entered, we met her mother and her grandmother. Three generations lived in this cement house.

Actually this was one of the nicer homes we had seen during our visit. It had cement floors as well. The decor was modest and only the necessities of life were the furnishings you will find in these homes. They had two small couches and two chairs. Up on the wall, was a nail holding up a calendar and mounting and a battery operated clock that was not working.

As the Rwandan National introduced us to them, the grandmother, not knowing why we had come to her village replied, “We have been praying for God to send someone to us, we just did not know it would be today!” As we began to share the love of Christ with them, it was apparent that God had already prepared there hearts. I felt like if we would of simply said, “Jesus loves you” it would have been all they needed to believe and receive Him. Three generations bowed their heads and prayed for Jesus to be the Lord of their lives that afternoon.

I could not help but feel like I was living in the days of the Old Testament when God reminded me of this promise.

"Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.”
Exodus 23:20NASB

As we left their home we journeyed back into the common place in preparation for the crusade to begin. People from all over the village were coming down from the hillside to see what these white men were up to. Little children would walk up to me and touch my arm and laugh at my freckles. Remember, they have never seen white people before. I learned the universal language (a smile) was all I needed to put their hearts at ease. As I stood attentively to the preaching at the crusade, I suddenly felt a small hand slip into mine. As I looked down, I found myself looking into the smiling brown eyes of a five year old girl. As soon as I smiled back, another hand took hold of my left hand. Suddenly I was surrounded by children. In that hour I witnessed over 450 people give their hearts to Jesus!

During our entire three days of evangelism crusades there were more than 10,000 souls added to God’s Kingdom. The Africans are hungry and ready to know all they can about this Jesus.

The Genocide has left its horrible mark on many souls here. As we would travel, many of the villages had their own Genocide Memorial’s. We were able to visit the National Genocide Memorial as well. Meeting the broken hearts of so many has left a lasting impression in which I shall never forget.

While I was there, our women were invited to lead a Women’s Meeting in a local church. Our women asked me to speak that evening. After speaking that evening, 40 people came forward to receive Christ as Lord - all glory to God!

As we left, a part of my heart stayed back in Africa. My heart wept as I could see so much more work that needed to be done. But I was blessed in knowing that we had trained the people there on how to witness and share the Good News! We believe that God will bring us back again, should He tarry. The fields are ready and the harvest is white! Oh Lord, send more laborers, before it is too late!

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