One of the first days here in Rwanda, we went to visit a dear old woman whom our contact Moses calls Mom. She is a widow, a refugee from the Congo. Her husband was killed in the Congo, so she fled to Rwanda about a year ago. She is a mother of 10, but 5 of her children were killed in the Congo as well. Two of the remaining three children live here in Rwanda as well, but three remain in the Congo, one of which she does not know if he is dead or alive. She also has about 10 grandchildren, but 5 still remain in the Congo.
Yet despite all of the tragedy she has had to walk through in her life and in the recent past, she is one of the kindest, most loving, incredibly serving women I have ever met! She is so joyful, and greeted us with a wide smile, open arms, a firm handshake, and a kiss. Christ is definitely very evident in her life.
She became a Christian a long time ago in the Congo when some missionaries came through her area. She is fearful to go to church, however, because her son that is here in Rwanda with her hates the Church and is angry at God. Yet when he is not around, she will make her way over the hard, bumpy dirt roads to church. So we came to visit her to bring Church to her.
We asked if she had a Bible, but she cannot read. But she said if we got her a Bible, her grandchildren could read it to her. We made sure to come my later in the month to get a Bible to her.
We went to her house to encourage her, but I walked away from that home having an African mother myself. I love this woman. I said to her how although Moses calls her Mom (for she has become like a mom both to him and to his children, because Moses mom died when he was 10, and his wife has left him), I would also like to have her be my Rwandan mother. She boasts of having American children who come to visit her!
Before we left, I prayed a prayer of blessing over her. These were words that started to come to me ever since we first walked into her little rented adobe house. I said:
Father God,
I pray blessing over her hands that have served so many.
I pray blessing over her arms that have openly embraced so many in welcome.
Her feet that have traveled so far.
Her knees that have spent countless nights
in prayers of supplication, thanksgiving and praise.
Her heart that has felt the deep cuts of pain,
but has chosen to love so deeply still.
Her womb,
like that of Sarah the wife of Abraham or Mary the mother of Jesus,
which has so many more children than just those she has given birth to.
For her mind that has known the truth of Christ.
Her hears that have received the message of the Word of God.
Her mouth that has spoken the truth of God in love.
Her eyes that have seen so much.
And her back that has been weighed down by the heavy burden of her work.
And so, Father, I ask
That her hands once again receive the service and car of her children
As her arms stretch forth to embrace them in love.
That the feet of her children come back to her,
and that the prayers she has prayed be answered.
That her heart feel the comfort of peace,
as the children of her womb come back to her.
That ears here their voices once again,
And that her mouth kisses her children once more
as they talk about life and speak of the love that they have for each other.
That her eyes once again gaze upon her children
as the knowledge of their safety and love ease the burden from her back.
But that in all things,
God himself be her Protector and Provider.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
