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Promises that do not failby Konstanse Raen, Regional Secretary, Norwegian Bible Society
During the times she and I have travelled around together in Rwanda and neighbouring DR Congo, her faith and vitality have made a great impression on me. Both she and her husband, François, tested HIV positive nine years ago. They have four children of their own and have recently had to take care of an orphaned girl. Immaculée is the very capable leader of an HIV association in Kigali. The association is called ‘Urukundo Rw’Imana’ (God’s Love) and has around 240 members. Great event
Besides this, Immaculée helps distribute Bibles to various HIV/AIDS associations who have lists of people who need one. Before giving out the Bibles, she shows people in the association how to use Scripture with the sick; there is witnessing, prayer and dancing and it is a great event! A large part of the content of the Good Samaritan project stems from my meeting with this group and they were the first to put the project into practice. I still remember how Immaculée described her encounter with the deadly virus. “When you are told that you are HIV-positive,” she said, “it’s like experiencing a terrible earthquake, where you stand alone on the ruins of what was once your life. Being the mother of three children and at that time pregnant with my fourth, I felt especially helpless. ‘Why should this have happened to me? What will the future bring and what is the point of fighting?’ Suicide“I cried night and day. Like most people when they realise they are HIV-positive, I thought suicide might offer the best solution and I could feel my strength being stolen by bitterness and rage. “Two things saved me from despair: two friends I could talk to openly and honestly and my rediscovery of the promises in God’s Word. Psalm 103, especially, became important to me: Praise the Lord, my soul, and do not forget how kind he is. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He keeps me from the grave and blesses me with love and mercy. He fills my life with good things, so that I stay young and strong like an eagle. “In my present situation I have to rely consciously on God’s promises, and, believe me, he honours them in a fantastic way! Romans 12:2, for example, has been one promise which he has honoured for me: “ ‘Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God – what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.’ No medicine“As yet there is no vaccine or medicine for this disease I have. I only have God to rely on, and this discovery is reached through the gift of faith: the intellect is not enough. I now trust in God for everything: my family, my children and their future, the business I run as my livelihood and the AIDS group I lead. From all this I can assure you that God is amazing: he has worked wonders in our lives!” Happy danceThe association that Immaculée leads consists mostly of single people or widows; a few are married. But you would be wrong if you thought that this must be a tearful group. You will rarely see a livelier congregation in church! Of course, they share sorrows as well as joys and from time to time they cry. But immediately afterwards they are whirling around in a happy dance and shouting “Hallelujah! The Lord is good!” God’s promises are tested in earnest and their unanimous verdict is that God keeps them – in spite of everything. In co-operation with the Bible Society in Rwanda, Immaculée assists in distributing Bibles and booklets like Living in Hope and Where is the Good Samaritan Today? to other HIV/AIDS associations. She and her fellow workers go to the Bible Society offices to get cartoon books, and then they make visits where they talk and show the other sufferers how to use the books. The joy and happiness shown at these gatherings are amazing. On one occasion I remember a leader saying, “It is true that many of our members are in need, lacking both food and medicine. But what is most important is to get the strength to live and hope for tomorrow. This we can get from the Word of God and only from there.” Spiritual welfare is an important part
of HIV/AIDS work and this Immaculée knows from her own experience.
(WR 390/24 - 02.05) |
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Immaculée
Muhawe has been my co-worker at many of the courses I have held to introduce
the Where Is The Good Samaritan Today? outreach package to those
planning to use it as an HIV/AIDS educational resource.
