Wayfarer By Faith: Village

I finally got to meet my Compassion sponsor girl! Her name is Ntawangaheza and her French name is Bonitha. She is 17 years old now and lives in the rural mountain village of Nyakizu, south of Rwanda and near the border of Burundi. Two years ago, I began supporting her and her family of seven through Compassion International. As we exchanged letters and I sent her photos of myself, my family and my country Australia, I also asked God for the chance to meet her and her family one day soon. I remember when I got her first letter and photo in the mail, I framed it up and put it on my shelf – and then I looked at it and prayed.

I remember the moment lucidly even now. I just told God plainly, with the mustard seed of faith within my spirit, “Dear God, I know this sounds impossible. But the more impossible it is, the better. Could you please make it possible for me to visit Ntawangaheza and her family in Rwanda before I turn 25? If I could even be crazier to ask, could I go to Rwanda in maybe two years time? I know nothing is impossible for You. If this is a good thing, please open the doors for me to go.”

At the time, I had just started my first year at the University of Melbourne and I was 19, just out of highschool. Sponsoring a child through an organisation like Compassion was something I had always asked God for the opportunity to do. Once I was earning enough money from part-time teaching piano, and I was out of school, it was the first thing I wanted to do. And I knew from the start that I wanted to support a teenage girl from rural Rwanda. I found Ntawangaheza on the Compassion listing, and she was in need of a sponsor. I read about her situation and her family, and I knew she was the one I had to support.

In all my letters, I also always asked her to pray that I would be able to make it to Rwanda some day soon to meet her family. I can’t believe for the life of me that God has answered our prayers and made this possible. I am in Africa, and I have finally made it all the way to this exotic land of a thousand hills – Rwanda!

So on the 16^th of January 2015, I made the four-hour road trip south from Kigali – the capital city of Rwanda – past Butare or Huye, the oldest town in Rwanda, and onward to Nyakizu. The landscape of Rwanda is absolutely breath-taking. It is literally the land of a thousand hills. Every town and city, every house and shack, every school and building, seems to be situated somewhere on a hill or mountainous district. The roads wind up and down the hills and through the valleys, up the mountains, by the cliff-sides. It is simply amazing, and I have never been to a country quite like that.

I made the trip with a man named Jean, who is one of the Compassion Rwanda office staff members and translators. He has travelled all around Rwanda, to the farthest and most remote corners, and has been working with the organisation for the past eight years. It was wonderful to hear about his experiences as a social worker and as a young man who has studied law in Kigali. Over the years he has assisted countless families and children with his background in law. There are certainly many cases of abuse or exploitation of marginalized groups, and Jean’s work is invaluable as it serves to make a stand for the oppressed and the ones who defenceless in society. It is so inspiring to meet people like that because you can really see the passion exude through his words and his countenance. What is more, he truly believes that God has called him to this work and has opened the opportunity for him to be involved in such a dynamic ministry.

Presently in Rwanda, Compassion has 75,000 children who are supported by international sponsors. The children are often sponsored from a young age, and at the moment, 155 of them are successfully studying at university! It is truly a long-term ministry that spans decades. Compassion partners with local churches, pastors, schools, teachers and community leaders in each district to set up Compassion centres. There are more than 250 such centres all around Rwanda. Each centre supports between 250-350 local children who are in various stages of need. Each child has his or her own unique story. Many live with parents who are rural farmers, others have single mothers, some others are orphaned children. They may range from the ages of 4 to 18. The Compassion centre has social workers that look out for and continually assess and update the specific needs of the children. These workers operate in partnership with the children’s families, teachers, village leaders and church pastors. Every Saturday, the Compassion centre runs an all day Bible study and life skills program where the children come together for devotions, leadership training, life skills projects, assistance with school work, a fun time of fellowship and games, music and worship, and a scrumptious lunch. When I was at Nyakizu, I got to meet with four lovely Rwandan ladies who were the Compassion social workers at the centre, as well as the pastor, the project manager, and the program director of the Nyakizu district.

I just love the way that Compassion is running this ministry – to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. They have such a holistic approach to outreach and sponsorship of the child. Its basic foundation is faith, and the empowering of children and young people to discover their God-given destiny and purpose. The way it is carried out is through the process of daily discipleship. The children are equipped mentally, empowered spiritually, nourished physically, supported emotionally, and taught in a way that covers all aspects of their lives. At the same time, the families or caregivers of each child is supported and given guidance in life skills, income-generation projects, family planning and the like. So while the focus is on the individual child, their approach also causes a ripple affect that touches whole families, schools, communities, churches and villages. It is amazing and so, so inspiring to see.

When we drove up the winding pass, over the dusty dirt trails, the village children would stare in astonishment at the unexpected and almost bizarre appearance of this foreign girl. Then they would recover from their surprise and wave smilingly. Others are shy and unsure of what to do, so they continue staring! It is always such a funny sight for me.

To be continued...

So much has happened in the last fourteen days, it makes me grin like an idiot with utmost gratitude as well as excitement and anticipation for what is yet to come. As if all these things were not enough, another amazing thing transpired this afternoon.

Remember I posted a status on the day I arrived in Zimbabwe on the 6^th of December? I wrote briefly about meeting an amicable white Zimbabwean couple named Bruce and Sue Douglas. On my flight from Johannesburg to Harare, I found myself seated beside them. Interestingly, the lady Sue, decided to strike a conversation with me. I thought that she was being exceptionally friendly. By her accent, I figured she must have been a white South African or Zimbabwean. Anyhow, as the conversation progressed, we soon found out that we were kindred spirits as they were fervent believers in Jesus, just as much as I. You know, it’s funny how you get that ‘feeling’ when you meet people who share the same mind and heart concerning such matters. I just couldn’t shake off the sense that they might have been Christians too. When I asked, true enough, they were.

Sue then jokingly said, ‘Aw, God gave me an easy one today!’ When I gave her a puzzled look, she chuckled and explained, ‘You see, whenever Bruce and I get on a plane, we make a pact to talk to people, and if the opportunity arises, we share with them our faith in God.’ She leant towards me and smiled, ‘Whenever we see a lady in our row, it would be my chance to sit beside her and strike a conversation. If it is a gentleman, it would be my husband’s turn! So today when we walked along our aisle and saw you taking a seat, I was to be the one to sit beside you. I was wondering if you’d put on your headphones as most young people do, then I wouldn’t have the chance to talk to you. But well, you didn’t!’

Funnily enough, my phone was running out of battery, otherwise I most probably would have put my headphones on. Anyway, our conversation turned out to be a most intriguing one! Bruce and Sue told me a bit about their background. Bruce was born in Kenya and could speak Swahili, but he later moved to various cities and finally settled in Zimbabwe, which was then British-ruled Rhodesia. Sue was born a white Zimbabwean. They had two biological children, and two more adopted black Zimbabwean children. 18 years ago, the couple decided to foster and adopt two abandoned babies from a Zimbabwean orphanage, one of whom was tested HIV-positive. It was only about ten long years later that they were allowed to formally adopt these two children – David and Deborah. The regulations concerning adoption are very strict in Zimbabwe. It was certainly no easy route for white Zimbabwean to adopt black Zimbabwean children. Nevertheless, by the grace of God, this amazingly tenacious and faithful couple managed to pull through and take these two children as their own.

They told me how in 2008, when things were so bad in Zimbabwe both economically and politically, that they were forced to leave their farm and flee the country for a time. Many of their fellow white Zimbabwean friends and family left the country for good. But for some reason, Bruce and Sue knew that God would eventually call them back to Zimbabwe. And that is exactly what they did. Despite the dire situation and perpetual uncertainty, they came back a year later and established their farm land and butchery business in the area of Chinhoyi once again.

Now the really cool part is when they told me why they came back. Bruce and Sue knew that God was calling them to reach the people of rural Zimbabwe. Four years ago, Bruce began to take his fishing boat out to Lake Kariba in the north. He would sail along the coast of Kariba and stop by at the rural fishing villages along the way. Knowing nobody, and often finding it difficult to communicate with the villagers, he nevertheless felt that God wanted him to build relationships and friendships with these people. Soon enough, Sue also began joining him on these trips and eventually, they also had friends from other parts of Zimbabwe, Africa and around the world who would go on missions outreaches with them along Lake Kariba. What I loved about their testimony was the way God had inspired them to reach out to these rural Zimbabweans. They told me that all they wanted to do first of all was form trusting friendships with these families. They did not want to give out charitable donations as many other organisations – both secular and Christian – were doing. Over the last four years, these friendships have been forming and the bonds between them strengthened, despite the cultural, racial, and religious and communication barriers. Eventually, when they have had the opportunity to assist these communities and individuals with material aid, the support was regarded not as an impersonal ‘donation’, but as a gift – a symbol of true friendship and caring that demonstrates God’s love to these people in a way that is real, relatable and lasting.

Just before we touched down in Harare, I asked Bruce, ‘What is your prayer for the nation of Zimbabwe and for your work in the rural fishing villages?’

He gave me a knowingly sincere smile and said simply, ‘We are just praying that the people of Zimbabwe will come to know God’s love and its transforming power. Both people in the city and in the villages need Jesus. It will begin with that love.’

As we landed, Sue kindly gave me their business card and phone numbers. She told me to call them as soon as I got my Zimbabwean number, and I would be welcome to visit and stay with them any time that I like while I am in the country! I was so amazed by their open-hearted generosity and genuine willingness to look out for perfect strangers. I could hardly believe it – here I was, having barely touched down in Zimbabwe, and God was already crossing my paths with such incredible folk! Can I say it again (as I often have in many of my recent posts): MIND-BLOWN.

So anyhow, that was the long story of it. Today, after two weeks of pure hectic missions and travel in Harare (and it seems such a long time since my encounter with the Douglas’s), I decided to contact Sue. Now here’s the amazing thing about all God encounters or ‘divine appointments’ as they call it – the timing is absolutely perfect. It turns out that Bruce and Sue will be coming down to Harare (from Chinhoyi, which is about one and a half hours drive north) on Sunday tomorrow, because they are dropping their daughter at the airport. When I told Sue if it would be okay to visit them before Christmas, she immediately offered, ‘Oh tomorrow we’ll be coming by Harare and we can definitely pick you up in the afternoon!’ How easy was that?

They said I could stay for as long as I could. Well the plan is that I want to be back in Harare for Christmas with my friend Marc and his family, whom I’ll have the privilege of staying with during the holiday time. Sue chirped cheerily, ‘Oh no problem, we have a driver and we can certainly arrange for you to be back in Harare before Christmas!’

Can I say it again, mind-blown! You just have to know that these guys are perfect strangers. I chatted with them for about one hour on the plane, and they left their numbers with me, and that was it. I didn’t have to call them again, but for some reason, today I felt compelled to. And it turned out to be the best timing to call. I still can’t believe it. I’ll get to see this other side of Zimbabwe – living with this white Zimbabwean couple and their two adopted children, now teenagers. I’ll get to visit their rural church and also hear more about their missions work along the fishing villages up Lake Kariba. I’ll get to live on a real farm!!! And Bruce has told me about his library of many biographies and Christian literature, he is excited to show me some of his favourite titles. And, Sue has also mentioned that they have an upright piano in their home that I could have a tinker on! Oh my word, I am just so happy and full of joy that I cannot contain it. Thank you God!

It is certainly beyond my imagination and all the prayers I have made before coming to Zimbabwe and even as I was travelling here. I asked God to lead me to the right people. I wanted to experience different sides of Zimbabwe. And now I believe this is one of the many answered prayers! It’s just so cool. Maybe it just seems like coincidence to many, but I know it isn’t – because the kind of people I’m meeting is just way too specific to the kind I have asked God to cross my journey with. It’s this specificity that just takes my breath away. When I started this website ‘Wayfarer By Faith’ before my trip to the Middle East, I wrote in my vision statement that I want to be a wayfarer by faith. I wanted to cross barriers and build bridges across those gaps in between cultures through my music, my words, my life and my faith. It is happening as I have committed it to God. Now I can write about things like this, because it’s really happening as I am taking it step by step. I just want to get to know people in different places, see life through their eyes, share my faith and let others share theirs with me. This is travel, this is missions, and this is living for a purpose and making every opportunity count for God’s glory. Although you and I may fail a thousand times in the making, God never fails you and me.

Finally stepped out of the city-scape of Harare and entered a completely different world. Today I had the privilege of joining an amazing Zimbabwean couple called Chris and Annie with their three kids Sean, Molly and Kelvin, who started an orphans outreach program in a village called Mandevo. Every Saturday, they would go to Mandevo and drive through the muddy pathways (there are no tarred roads), in between the mud hut dwellings and children running barefoot. They would gather about a hundred and fifty children in the afternoon for a time of Bible stories, games, sharing Scripture verses, teaching sport and skills like sewing (for the girls), as well as give out a simple lunch. The village has about 5,000 inhabitants, most of whom have no way to earn a living like the city folk because they have no practical skills or expertise. So most of the families would farm on the land wherever they can and wherever they like – but since the land confiscation from farm owners a few years back, many of these men and women have lost their jobs and a way to make a living through farming. At present, they will have to toil very hard in tough conditions, without any government assistance or the benefit of a farm business run by experienced farm owners – as a result, they are not able to produce much or find any means to sell what they have produced anyway.

Mandevo also has a huge orphan population. Children who do not have both mother and father, or who only have one parent (who in any case, cannot adequately provide due to such impoverished circumstance) are considered orphans. They cannot afford to go to school. As it is, the children who do have parents are also missing out on school or in danger of dropping out because they do not make enough money to pay for school fees (which amounts to about $50 per term for primary school and $120 per term for secondary school).

Chris estimates that out of the 150 children who come every Saturday, most of them are all considered orphans. The kids range from two to sixteen years old. Many of them are looked out for by their neighbours or fellow aunties and uncles who live in the village. Since Chris and his family have been coming weekly, the children all come together at the open field without being told or called. They love the Bible program, the fun and games, the sport, the singing and dancing, and of course, the food!

This time, we were running a Christmas outreach for the kids, so there were extra goodies for them all (we filled plastic bags of crackers, lollipops, biscuits and a small toy – collected from donations). We even had four tubs of runny strawberry-flavoured ice cream to scoop out into the metal cups and plates the children brought with them. They loved it so much that they were licking their plates and slurping the melted cream from their mugs. Some of the kids were so little, others had this listless expression in their eyes, many had soiled or tattered clothing with holes in them. Most were running barefoot. We got the children to stand in lines and then sit in circles or long lines so that we could distribute the food and ice-cream and goody bags in an orderly way.

But hey guess what, our Christmas ‘party’ turned out to be such a hit that so many other children came along, and even though Ps. Chris expected about 150 to 200 children, about 300 of them turned up!

[To be continued...]