The following morning, before heading back to Kigali, was just as restorative to my soul as the night photographing the sunset over the lake. I woke just before 7am to hear that the church next to my accommodation block had started – the singing could not have been more beautiful.
I’m aware as I’m writing that the last couple of paragraphs in these blogs have been quite inward focused and self serving. Having seen the harsh reality of the needs and lives we support in Rwanda and DRC, I knew perspective was needed. Without seeking God and continually pushing into his word, it would be overwhelming to try and comprehend the ministry of Comfort International – past, present or future. We can only do what God asks of us. If we do not keep our eyes focused on God, it will be too easy for the enemy to distract us with how much need there is to be met. If our hearts and minds are in turmoil because of what we have seen and heard, how can we help anyone?
After returning to Kigali, I spent some more time with Clement from Good News International meeting with some of the individuals from the Good News Communities. I met with Valeria and with Costasie. These brave women shared with me some of their testimony of the devastation they lived through during the 1994 genocide (Costasie sharing genocidal acts she had witnessed as far back as the late 1950’s) and leading on from that, the healing and restorative work of God in their lives. It was amazing to hear them speak so clearly of the forgiveness they have for perpetrators that they know has come from God.
I’m constantly blown away by the restorative work of forgiveness God has done in Rwanda, and how receptive to this work so many people are. I’ll never tire of hearing these stories …
My last visit, for this trip, was alongside Callum Henderson and David Gasana. We visited Claudette Nyiramana, aka ’Mama Claude’, the mother of some of the kids from the Gatenga Street Kids Rescue (SKR) Project. The family have been a part of the SKR project for a long time. As a family they have grown and learned a lot together. Claudette used to sell small goods on the streets nearby. She did not make much through this and was unable to send her kids to school or feed them. Once the children were enrolled at Gatenga SKR, they were able to obtain an education. When Claudette heard that her kids would be able to go to school through this sponsorship, her heart was full of joy. She was excited for their future and how it would be better with an education.
Claudette was given a bag of charcoal, worth $7.50, which she used to start a business selling charcoal – she saw it as a route out of poverty, but knew if would be hard work. After a while, she bought some chickens and started chicken farming as too many others were selling charcoal. Claudette did very well as a chicken farmer. Claudette had spent time with the Gatenga project where she had been taught about saving. So she decided to do just that with some of the profits she made from her chickens. Claudette now has a large number of chickens, a large field of corn and a beautiful home for her and her children. She said that this could not have happened in her life without the ministry of Comfort International of without God transforming her life.
All in all, as I expected it would be, my visit to Rwanda and DRC was a rollercoaster of emotions, energy levels, places to visit and friends to make. My prayer is that the material I created, photos and videos, whilst I was there will be fruitful in supporting the ministry of Comfort International.
