Rwanda YFC visits Tacoma
Posted on Monday, October 10, 2011 by
In the fall of 2000 I received a phone call from a man named Jean Baptiste Mugarura. He stated that he was the national director of Rwanda (Africa) Youth for Christ and wished to visit me in two weeks. The catch? He was excited to visit "your nation's capitol"...so I had to let him know that he was actually coming to the wrong coast! "Well, I have my ticket and I will be at your airport in 14 days." Eleven years later my friendship with Jean Baptiste has grown during several repeat visits to our area and now into a strong partnership between Tacoma YFC and Rwanda YFC where we pray for and financially support that ministry.
This past week we had the honor of hosting Jean Baptiste, his Board Chairman, Sam and a senior Rwanda YFC staff, Luc. It was Luc's first visit to the states and by the time they arrived in Tacoma they had already spent 10 days in Denver at the YFC International General Assembly, the gathering of YFCI staff from around the world.
We had the privilege of getting updates on the ministries of Rwanda YFC but I was most impacted hearing their stories, specifically trying to understand what they (and their entire country) experienced with the genocide in 1994, when over 1,000,000 people were killed over a 90 day period. That's over 10,000 people EACH DAY...a numbing statistic that today shakes me to my core.
The great news is the country continues to heal and Rwanda YFC is reaching thousands of young people each year with the gospel of Jesus...but there is still pain and trauma, even 17 years removed from this horrific three month period. Even to this day, children born AFTER the genocide--those that weren't even around to experience it--show signs of trauma and significant emotional distress every April in Rwanda, the annual anniversary of the genocide.
Sam shared about family members who had been killed in front of his very eyes. The pain was still evident in his telling of each account--but with a smile on his face and a genuineness in his voice he told me that he forgives each person who hurt his family, "because Jesus has forgiven me first...otherwise, I wouldn't have the power or grace to do so."
The truth of God's Word as found in Colossians 3:13 rang in my soul as I listened to Sam's story--"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Through the grace and joy shown in the lives of these men I was reminded that ANYTHING is possible when Jesus is changing our lives. My life is richer because of time with these brothers in Christ.
If you'd like more information about Rwanda YFC, please click here to check out their web site or watch the video below: