3 months of thanksgiving

I just realized yesterday that I've been here in Rwanda for 3 months. That's about 90 days. About 2,160 hours. Some of the days have felt much longer than that, and many have flown by so quickly. Most of the time it doesn't seem like it's been 3 months. I'm kept busy with my lovely 4th graders, been able to nuture and love on the kids at Mother Teresa's place, and just soak up and relish in the blessings He gives me each new day! Just being able to spend time thanking Him for bringing me back here to East Africa, for the people He has placed in my midst, for those I love back home who I wish could be here. I have so much to be thankful for, just looking back on these past 90 days.

A couple nights ago, I was privileged to sit under the stars and listen to my guard, Sam, tell of another 3 months. He told me his story...the story of so many here in Rwanda. I'm always curious of the stories, but like war stories, you never want to ask and make someone feel uncomfortable. So I was glad that in 3 months time, Sam felt open enough to share his story. It's all about relationships. And for 3 months in Rwanda back in 1994, relationships were severed across ethnic lines, and even family lines. Sam was 7 when the genocide began. He had a 4 year old brother and a baby sister. His dad was a prominent preacher in the Tutsi community outside of Kigali. Sam clearly remembers the night of April 9, when the "interahamwe" Hutu rebel fighters stormed in his compound, high on dope, wearing their garish costumes and face paint, and were shouting "Kill those Cockroaches!" He vividly remembers the rebels breaking down the door, grabbing his baby sister and throwing her against the wall, and watching her body fall limply to the floor. He remembers standing there frozen for a moment as his mom begged them not to kill her other two children, and she gave the rebels all the money she had. Then he just remembers running out the back, grabbing his 4 yr old brother's hand and just running. After they looted everywhere, they torched the house with his parents inside. Sam just ran, and ran all the way to the top of Mt. Kigali, which was very wild and sparse 15 years ago. There were hyenas and lions, and other wild animals. For 3 months, he and his little brother stayed on that mountain.

It began to rain as we were sitting there talking, and I started to move, but I couldn't. I just kept listening. But my mind was wondering...what did they do on top of Mt. Kigali for 3 months in the rain? 3 months is a long time. 90 days. 2,160 hours. He said he prayed and slept on the grass, and ate the grass too, along with avocados the good Lord provided them. He escaped a few dangerous lions, and many dangerous nights of hunger. Sam said that there was never a time that he thought he would die, because he knew he had to live for his little brother. "I was my brother's keeper," he said. "Against all hope, in hope Abraham believed." And Sam did too. After 3 months, and when the shooting and shouting subsided, they made their way down the mountain and found their home as ashes. His entire family was killed in the genocide, except for one uncle. But Sam declares himself a lucky one. He praises God everyday for His protection, and he knows there was a divine reason why he is still alive today. Some good samaritians paid for a one room hut for the brothers to live in, and Sam cooked meals for them both. A sponsor paid their way through school, until the end of highschool. Sam is 22 now. He has a music "store" in town, he sings in the church choir, and he's saving up to go to university and earn a business degree. We prayed together, and cried together, and sang his favorite hymn, Blessed Assurance. This is Sam's story, his song. And he continues to praise Jesus everyday for his life. When I asked about his feelings now about the genocide and his situation, he turned to one of my favorite verses, Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." We worship a God who delights in miracles! Who has a perfect plan for our lives! I know He has a perfect plan for Sam's life; just as he watched over him as he endured those 3 months on the mountain, he continues to hold Sam and all of us in the palm of His hand. I'm thankful for our guard, Sam, for his faith, and dedication to serving our Lord. This thanksgiving, I'm also thankful for all of you who I love and who bring me encouragement each day, and especially these past 3 months! I thank God for you and it's my prayer you can rest in His presence this week of thanksgiving and know He is Lord!