Bryan Hixson

image by Esther Havens.

A Gift of “Heaven”

I recently read a story that reminded me of what is important in life. I was reminded that what I often think is important is not even something that crosses the mind of many. It is easy for my focus to be on something material when for many in our world the focus is where one meal will come from, or where sleep can be found out of the rain, or how she will protect herself from evil that lurks in darkness waiting to steal her dignity.

Faith lost most of her family to the genocide in Rwanda and witnessed her mother being raped and infected with AIDS. She was a child treated as a rag doll as she was slammed against a wall by Satan’s workers of darkness in Rwanda in 1994. The killers thought their job was done, but God had other plans. Faith just finished her senior exams with good marks and dreams to be a lawyer or businesswoman. She was given a chance in life by Christians that have sponsored her primary and secondary education. She praised God for this chance and said that if she could give a gift to the Rwandese man who selected her for this opportunity, that this gift would be “heaven”.

What a wonderful testimony to where our focus should be. We find ourselves struggling with a range of complexities of living and working here, but are constantly reminded of what is important by hopeful survivors who know where to place their hope and trust.

One friend who survived the genocide gives me even more to think about. He reflects on the day that the killers picked him to die. It is not a day to remember, yet it is not one that can be forgotten, because for him it was the beginning of life as an orphan and witnessing the violent passing of his family while he ran as fast as a 9-year-old could run. He was eventually caught, but released with many others to become prey in a “hunt”. Once again, he found himself alone in a dark world with memories that he wished he could forget and no one to call his family or lean upon. He managed to work his way through primary and secondary school and now lives among a small “family” of survivors. In his small home made of sticks and mud bricks live three other young orphan men who work to support each other as they take turns working their way though primary and secondary school at an age most are in college. My friend finds small odd jobs at $2-5/day that make him the current bread winner for that little family that believes brighter days are ahead.

From the outside you might think that hope would be hard to find in this person’s world, yet I am constantly encouraged by the smile on this young man’s face. I am encouraged at his regular Bible reading and how he regularly asks for other Bible-based literature that he can examine. I was most encouraged as his smile radiated among the crowd following his recent baptism. He doesn’t ask for money. He doesn’t ask for a scholarship. He simply asks to be a contributor of society and for the opportunity to serve those with less than he has. He works for me a couple days a week and recently asked off so that he could go and serve survivors that are without the hope he has. This may not sound big until you remember that he lives just above subsistence and gave up his small pay so that he could serve others.

My friend might be found sitting beside a cabinet member in services on Sunday. He also might be found sitting with an orphan child from a slum. His life does not revolve around what he makes but who God puts in front of him to love. He does not begrudge the polished government official for having more and he doesn’t reject the dirty orphan for having less. He simply loves each man and woman for whose they are, not for what they have or what they do not have.

We are blessed by this nation and her people. We are blessed to learn from those we serve each day. We are also blessed by so many who make it possible for us to serve as we do. Whether you are offering prayers or financial resources we thank you. We are not here without you. Thank you for helping us to continue our work in this land of new hope and new dreams. Please be praying for the people of Rwanda as the nation moves into a period of mourning (April). The nation remembers the genocide so that it does not repeat its past. Let us learn from our past as we seek the same gift that Faith wishes to give - “Heaven”.

Sunday, March 01, 2009

CCR Guest of Honor

This image is following our 2 Year Anniversary Celebration of CCR. We are pictured with Dave and Jana Jenkins and the Rwanda Minister of Cabinet Affairs (Former Minister of Foreign Affairs) Dr. Charles Murigande.