This month, we have been blessed to share the word of God…a lot. We preach two or three times a day and do door-to-door evangelism in between. I have to admit, I was nervous when I heard our ministry schedule. Preaching was pretty much the last thing I wanted to do this year. I, obviously, signed up for the wrong trip 😉
It did help that this much preaching came during month 7. I felt way more prepared for it than I was when I started. I have found that the more you do it, the more you love it.
I mean, I have the opportunity to share the most important message ever spoken with people all over this world. I get the privelage of delivering good news to people who need hope! What tops that?!
So, I had been preaching several sermons and it was getting easier every time. But then, I felt God calling me to share my testimony. I have shared my testimony with people in at least 8 different countries. I was a little sick of sharing it, and who really wants to hear it anyways? These women have faced perils that I couldn't imagine. They would laugh at my story…Or at least, that's what I thought.
However, like I said, God was calling me to share my testimony. Sure enough, Pastor Moses started asking questions about my life and told me that I needed to share my story with the church……Okay, God, you got me.
I shared and it was amazing. I didn't think that my story could have any impact on people who have faced far worse than I have, but it has. I didn't think people would care about my story, but they do. I have been so humbled by how the Lord has used my testimony to touch people's lives.
God has revealed to me that he allowed my heart to break, so I could experience His healing. Then, He called me to share that healing with others.
Our stories are powerful, no matter how insignificant you think your's is. Trust me, God wants you to speak it. He uses it to break down walls, to heal hearts, and to bring restoration.
Not only have I been able to share my story, I have been able to hear a lot of stories. We preach at a sewing class every morning and there are about 30 girls in the class. It has been so incredible to get to know each one of them. Their stories have impacted my life in a tremendous way.
I would like to share some of their stories with you.
I pray that they will touch your heart, like they have mine…
　
"I was born during the genocide. My mom gave birth and then had to run away with my family. I wouldn't stop crying when we were trying to escape, so the family told my mother to drown me in the river. They were scared that I was making to much noise and that we would be discovered. So, she took me and ran away with me on her own. I thank God that He protected us."
"My parents were killed in the genocide when I was 6 years old. I had no one to take care of me. I turned to prostitution to make money to survive. I did many bad things. Until one day, when God saved me." *She is now infected with HIV from being forced into sex trafficking at 6 years old to survive. She has so much joy, despite what she has been through.
"My parents were killed in the genocide. I had to flee all by myself. God protected me and no bullets, grenade, or bomb touched me. I survived and fled to another country. I couldn't afford food and I was scared. Then, God sent an older man from Rwanda into my life and he raised me like I was his daughter."
"My mom died when in the 5'th grade. I had to drop out of school to take care of my 4 month old brother and 2 other siblings. Our dad abandoned all of us and fled to another country. So, we had to move in with my uncle. He would not give me any of the money from my mom's death and I couldn't afford school supplies. It hurt so bad that I couldn't go back to get an education. Instead, my uncle made me do chores all the time. If I would take a break to pray, he would get angry. Living there got so bad that I had to go naked for awhile, because he would not buy me any clothes. I ran away and God gave me a family who provided for me."
"During the genocide, my husband raped me and my daughter. He infected us both with HIV. I was very sick and couldn't afford food for my family. We had no where to live. Then, God brought us to church and gave us a home."
The genocide forever changed these ladies' lives. Which is pretty common to hear around Rwanda. The genocide left 30,000 orphans in it's wake and 85,000 children as head of their households. Many women were raped by HIV infected males and over 1 million people were killed.
The women who shared their stories with me do not walk around depressed. They have more joy and more compassion than a lot of people I know. They have seen things I couldn't imagine and have not had an easy life, BUT they do not let their circumstances define their joy. They find their fulfillment in Christ alone. It has been such an encouragement to get to know them.
They all attend the sewing school at the church. Some walk 6 hours a day to go to class. You never hear them complain though. They are all so thankful to be getting an education. Each year, the church provides each graduate with a sewing machine and allows them to pay it back whenever they can afford to. It is an amazing blessing to each one of these girls. I am so thankful God led them there and that I was able to hear their stories 🙂
