I interrupt this blog…"KWIBUKA"

THIS MORNING IN CHURCH WE REMEMBERED.

 "KWIBUKA" IN KINYARWANDA MEANS --REMEMBER! 

 WE WERE REMEMBERING THE 21ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE 

GENOCIDE AGAINST THE TUTSI IN 1994.

Every year the nation takes a week to do this… and 

in our church we also remember.   Each year, in front of the 

church there is a table of unlit candles. 

Today was no exception.  Brett, our pastor had a great sermon 

about 

Remember--  Unite--- Renew

Kwibuka--Wiyubaka--Wigira

the national theme.  

He said.. 

We REMEMBER so we will show compassion.  

Hebrews 13:3 

"Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself.  

Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies."

What a verse of compassion for ALL those hurt or those who did the hurting in the Genocide.

Brett spoke of  "Focusing on what God has done through our suffering" and 

to "share with others what God has done" …  

Testimonies of what happened to people here are told all week in different settings. 

They speak of what God has done, during and since and 

when they UNITE… they show the love of Christ! 

Galations 3: 26-28

"For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  And all who have been UNITED

with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female.  For you are all ONE in Christ Jesus."

And last but most importantly, 

GOD CAN RENEW ALL THINGS! 

Isaiah 43:19

"For I am about to do something NEW.  See, I have already begun!

Do you not see it?  I will MAKE a pathway through the wilderness.  I will CREATE rivers in the dry wasteland."

He is indeed renewing this nation!

At the conclusion of the sermon Brett asked anyone that was a survivor or anyone who wanted to remember someone who suffered or who is still suffering from the Genocide to come 

and light a candle…. to remember.

Many folks came to light one of the 21 candles--

as we all reflected on what Brett had said and how Scripture 

made it come to life. 

This service is always difficult to get through without tears but today I was overwhelmed with grief… not only for the Rwandans but for Americans.  I was overcome with thoughts of how we, as Americans have forgotten to remember… and we've lost our compassion.  How we've forgotten to unite together as a people 
to show the love of God and give testimony to those around us!   America needs to be renewed… Be made new…recreated into 
the nation we once were. 

We think we suffer… yet most Americans know nothing of suffering. 
We think we are victims… yet most of us know nothing of being real victims.
We think we don't need the Lord… yet there is no one we need more!  

Imagine what would happen if we would review our history in the U.S. and Remember---Unite ---and Renew our nation.  It was a revealing morning for me--to pray that this can happen in America, as well as Rwanda.  And for most nations in our messy

messy world…these days.  

Let's unite in prayer for our nations…. 

which ever one you are from

that God will create in us new hearts for Him!

 The morning ended with Fidela being baptized.  

Rusty asked her is she knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
She said, Yes!   Last June in our Sun. School Class
she walked forward during class and asked me if i would ask the boys in the back to be quiet because she couldn't hear.  We were talking about how to become a child of God and that very day
she prayed and asked Jesus to come into her life and be her Lord!

And today she chose to make that decision public!
As Fidela was baptized it
was such a joyful moment. 

Not only were the angels rejoicing but her mom and
dad were rejoicing with her, too! 

These two are now not just great friends, but sisters in the Lord.
Evie baptized last week and Fidela, today.  They are One in Him!


From Mourning to Great Joy!

It's how life can be when we live with the Lord!

His mercies are new every morning…

Remember… Unite and Renew!

With much love,
margie