Inside Story: Finding Freedom in Rwanda
Finding Freedom in Rwanda
By Lucette N’Diay Mitrac
I don’t know why I volunteered to preach at Total Member Involvement evangelistic meetings in Rwanda in May 2016. Other than me, only young people volunteered to preach when coordinator Duane McKey invited our Seventh-day Adventist church in Paris to participate. I was weak after a long illness, and my 23-year-old son recently had committed suicide. But I signed up and quickly was asked to supervise the young people, not to preach.
Image © Pacific Press
Things changed after our arrival in Nyanza, Rwanda. We met with the local pastors, and I was asked to preach. I fled to my hotel room and fell on my knees. “Lord, I have never preached,” I prayed. “But since You said it is not by might nor by power, but by Your Spirit. Please speak instead of me.”
Starting with the first evening meeting, childhood memories flooded my mind as I spoke about the transforming power of the gospel. Rwandans had suffered horrific rape and violence during 1990’s genocide. I had gone through similar trials and spoke from my heart. Every time I made an altar call, people were moved, especially women who had been raped. Many came to the front.
The more I spoke, the more I was healed. Although I had given my heart to Jesus many years earlier, I realized that I still held a grudge. I knew that God had not deprived me of my childhood and my mother, but I still blamed Him.
My stepfather used to rape me. I only told my mother when I was 13. She took me to a gynecologist and sent me to live with a cousin. Shortly afterward, she visited me on a Friday. I never saw her again. My stepfather killed her.
My stepfather spent only two years in prison because he was a high-ranking military officer. I lived in an orphanage from the age of 13 to 19. My biological father was alive, but didn’t want anything to do with me. I felt so lonely.
I found healing in the Bible. I read, “The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness. He who touches you touches the apple of His eye. The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love’” (Zeph. 3:17; Zech. 2:8; Jer. 31:3, NKJV). But I didn’t love myself. Even if people told me that I was pretty, I didn’t feel pretty inside.
In Rwanda, the dark negativity faded as I spoke. I knew it wasn’t me preaching. I found freedom and accepted Christ’s loving declaration that I am a wonderful creature. A total of 390 people were baptized at Cyegera Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Today I am 66, and I have returned to Rwanda many times. My Rwandan friends are my family, and they call me “Mama.” I am working now so many people will become new creatures in Christ.
Thank you for your Sabbath School mission offerings that help spread the gospel around the world.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission.
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It is very interest story because God is show mercy to those whom love him and seach him in their heart.¤
He is also love us.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Excellent testimony. The Lord will use anyone, I say anyone to teach/preach his gospel and 'win' souls for his kingdom. As long as we allow the Lord to use us, we do not need a degree as a pastor/evangelist. The Holy Ghost is the degree, we need to depend on him for the strength and to preach/teach through us.
It was yesterday I was telling a woman at work about my daily experience and that I 'sing in the spirit'. I know to myself I cant sing. I was told many times that I cant make the choir. But at work whenever hymns come to my memory I start singing them so quietly or almost hum them. For some reason the come out louder than I expect them to, then people will ask me if I am a part of my church choir. I let them know that I cant sing and was told several times that I cant sing much less be singing on the choir. According to everyone, what they hear qualify me as a singer. People even will ask me to sing to others festival/Christmas songs during the holiday times.
That is a great story. By blessing others we are blessed, and by healing others, we are healed.
Amen Bro. Amen. It is allowing the Holy Spirit to do his work in us. She realized her limitations but asked the Holy Spirit to speak through her.
Dear Lucette - your testimony to the restorative healing power of God's love will always serve as a beacon for others to come to trust Christ's soul-saving Love.
May God bless your ministry of emotional and spiritual healing!
Thank you so much for your testimony. In Africa it is not easy to say these things out. If you do you are labelled for life. I hope by speaking out it will heal many silent and broken women here. Thank you and God bless!
Praise God. Her testimony not only helped others but it helped her too. Thanks for answering God's call to preach. Through it He helped her to heal. Sometimes God calls us to step outside of our comfort zone so that through us, He can do amazing things.