We passed through the narrow walkways of the town and came to the next house. As we stepped through the doorway we were greeted by the brightest smile I have seen in a long time. That smile belonged to a little boy named Braze. As we greeted the family and began to exchange our stories we discovered the Mama was a Christian but that her son has both mental and physical disabilities. She shared with us her prayer requests and after we prayed we promised to bring her a Bible in the future.
Door to door evangelism is always an adventure because you never know who you will meet next. We have met many people this past month in Rwanda, some are receptive to the gospel others are not. Regardless we always pray for their needs and are happy to know their stories.
A few days later we returned through the narrow passageway and Braze once again greeted us with a beaming smile. However there was a surprise waiting for us because the Papa of the house was home, as we took our seats on the old wooden bench our translator asked us to share the gospel with him as he had yet to receive Christ as his savior.
A few ladies on my team shared testimonies with him and he asked how he could receive Jesus as his savior. We lead him in a prayer, the prayer that all Christians have known as the beginning of a new life. As we prayed that prayer I felt like God was showing to be that the smile I so adored to see in his young child was also a smile that God wanted to give back the his father. Before we parted ways I shared that promise of joy with this Papa, who’s name was Innocent.
As we continued with our ministry we frequently walked through town. It is not easy to spot a group of Muzungus (white people). Twice more we met Innocent along with way, both times he was shining with joy. To make the testimony complete I should mention that our translator had met him along the way many times previous to our encounter, he said that he was known for drinking much and that he had never before seen him with a smile on his face. It was evident to me that the presence of God alone changed this man. As we continue on my prayer is that the many people we met would continue to seek God daily and that their lives would be transformed by the grace of God.
