Greetings,
The update this week is a report from Cliff Veal sent to us from Kigali, Rwanda:
With the coming of evening darkness and calm fell over the verdant hills and valleys of a remote Rwandan village. With no light pollution from surrounding cities the blanket of stars in the night sky showed brilliantly — mesmerizing and stunningly beautiful. David, as a shepherd, saw the same miracle and was moved to contemplate God’s greatness. Inside a modest, rural African home, built by hand over many years, I sat talking by candle light with one of our members, Rushyikana.
The nation of Rwanda is observing a period of remembrance. It runs from the 7th of April to the 4th of July — the period during which nearly one million people were killed in “the genocide”. We had watched the news earlier (yes they do have television even in some remote parts) and it was filled with information and eye witness accounts from survivors of the massacres. Rushyikana became very pensive and somewhat melancholy. He too was a survivor. After a bit of silence, with no prompting from me, he began to somberly recount his story. Two of his young daughters were visiting with their mother when the atrocities started. They were not to live to give eye witness accounts 20 years later. In the frenzy to wipe out the enemy, his little girls were murdered.
Further into the period of violence he was sitting in his home one night, in fear, along with the rest of the nation. The door burst open and a small group of militants brandishing machetes stormed into his home. He was instructed to stand in a particular spot in the room. Before they could finish the deed he bolted through a nearby window and began running and hiding chased the entire way by those who sought to kill him. He ran from 11 pm until 3 am and was finally caught. “Cut him!” one of the group shouted (that meant; kill him with your machete). Someone else who Rushyikana did not know said firmly, “Do not kill him”. They decided to turn him over to a group of nearby soldiers many of whom themselves had been involved in the killings. They took him back to his home and said they would let him live if he paid them money. He had hidden some money in his home and despite the place having been ransacked in his absence, the money was still there. He paid them and they left.
In the course of the evening we discussed many other things and always came back to the passionate realization that we need a new world, one in which God rules and not man.
While in Rwanda I was able to visit with the brethren (one young member was not able to be there because of school/work/financial difficulties). Rushyikana’s only connection with us is over his mobile phone and I was able to upgrade that for him. We are also contributing to further education for one of the other members.
It was encouraging and inspiring to me to speak with Rushyikana and realize that he understands the same things that we do. He is learning the same things that we are. God is undoubtedly working with many people on this planet, but to be in a rather remote part of an African country and see the same desire for understanding and love for God’s way among that little group was humbling and exciting.
Before I close let me go back to the Madagascar visit for a moment. In my last report I mentioned a baptism done on the Friday after my arrival. There was indeed great joy among the whole group there. Services went very well and as always it is a pleasure to hear them sing. Such gusto and passion I haven’t seen anywhere else for a while! On Sunday we had a church get-together and, you guessed it, more singing. It was wonderful. We talked a lot and shared a Malagasy meal. The atmosphere was one of a large family together celebrating. And indeed we were. You can’t imagine how thankful they were for the visit of a minister. (And I kept thinking, “I’m the one who is thankful!” What a display of love and joy.) Another group of God’s children striving to go the way of God.
Please remember them all in your prayers. They pray for you.
My flight from Kigali to Nairobi and then on to London leaves in just a few hours. Hope you all have a profitable Sabbath.
Cliff Veal
PS: Cliff arrived home in the UK early Friday morning.
P.O Box
We are still receiving some mail at the original Laguna Hills address. These appear to be mainly automatic payments made from banks. In June the mailing address in Laguna Hills will expire and any mail received will be returned to senders. Please update to the Post Office Box 5490, Pasadena CA 91117 address.
Sabbath services this Sabbath will originate from Duarte, CA.
Warm Regards,
Brian Orchard
