I don’t usually write blog posts but Murphy asked if I would write about Marthe. We moved into our house in Kicukiro, Kigali in February last year and soon after moving in a young woman came to ask if we wanted to have our house sprayed for mosquitos. I said yes and gave the young woman our information. She told me her name was Marthe and pointed out where she lived, just up the street from our house. She told me she had a five year old daughter and that was the end of our conversation. Almost as soon as she left our house I felt burdened for her. I started praying for her every time I passed her house. On two occasions I tried to visit her but she was never home. I added her name to my prayer list and started lifting her name before the throne every morning.
A year ago we moved to Rwanda from Togo, West Africa. It was the most difficult move I have ever made. Saying good-bye to my Togolese sisters and brothers felt like ripping my heart into pieces. My first six months in Rwanda were challenging. I cried a lot mourning the loss of friends and life and in Togo. I was unsure of the reason God called us away from Togo to Rwanda. I did feel certain of the calling so I dove into language learning and began asking God to show me His purpose for me here. Right away I felt a resounding sense, deep in my heart, to be patient and to trust God. God led us here and he would show us his purpose in His perfect time.
At the beginning of this month, I was having a heart to heart with God about the up-coming year. I was telling God, “I have been patient, I have been learning language, now what?” The words Jesus spoke to Peter in John 21 came rushing at me like a freight train. ”Simon son of John, do you love me”, …”then feed my sheep”. I immediately went to those scriptures and read that dialogue. I felt like Jesus was saying the same thing to me. Jesus was challenging Peter, he was challenging me. At that point in his life, Peter was broken and at the end of himself, now Jesus could use him. Will I be broken and come to the end of myself? I hope so! Yes Jesus, I love you! I will trust you and feed your sheep, please show me how!
Just a few days later Marthe came to our house. It had been almost a year since I last saw her. I had been praying for this woman daily for nearly a year without ever knowing why. She was at our house conducting a survey for our neighborhood. I asked if I could come and visit her at her home. She seemed eager and happy for me to come. This past Thursday I went to Marthe’s house. It was only my third time to speak to her but I felt like I had known her for so long. We sat awkwardly for a moment and then she sprang up and announced that she had some photos to show me. She left and came back with an album and a sack full of snap shots. For an hour I sat in her small cinder block house, on her gold colored velour sofa sipping warm Fanta and listening as she shared her life with me. I saw pictures of her as a teenager, pictures with her friends at the lake, pictures of her family. I saw pictures of her wedding and learned that her husband lives in a town three hours away. She didn’t tell me the reason. I saw pictures of her siblings and their weddings. I saw pictures of her teachers and classmates at a technical school and later pictures of her students at that same school. I saw pictures of her daughter and listened as she explained that four months ago her husband came with civil authorities and took her daughter away, she hasn’t seen her since. In the moment she told me that her loneliness felt palpable.
I left Marthe’s house amazed at the God we serve. I may never know exactly why he burdened my heart to pray for her but perhaps it was because of the difficult journey that lay ahead of her. I was overwhelmed by the the love God has for her and for all of us. He knows Marthe intimately and allowed me the opportunity to take just a glimpse into her heart. I now have a specific prayer to pray for Marthe. I don’t know my future but I hope Marthe is in it. I praise God for his patience with me! I feel encouraged to keep pressing forward with my language learning and keep trusting God and feeding his sheep. That may take many forms and shapes and I pray that everyday my eyes and my heart will be open so that I don’t miss the opportunities He lays in my path.
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Christine,
Thank you for sharing this precious story. God is so good and has His eyes on each of us and our hurts. The fact that He has moved you to pray for Marthe for a year shows just how much He loves her and cared for her even before such a difficult experience. May He continue to use you in her life.
Sandi
Spiritual power is given, when we make ourselves trusting, and available to serve our Creator, by serving those around us. Those thoughts you have, where we wonder alone sometimes what is going on, are so familiar. The last 2 days have been trying lately, and worries of $ during this recession caused some life waves with me that I told my Christina, are making me feel like Peter! I’m taking my eyes off my saviour, and looking at the storm waves, and my waining faith makes me sink a bit. But hang in there, just as today I’m remembering the Lord always does take care of us, I’m finding new opportunities popping up all around me, similiarly the Lord will certainly use your talents in areas we may not even envision yet.
We’ll pray for Marthe with you as well. It’s very cool that you are giving an example of using your time and spiritual energy, directed at a stranger nearby in a purely unselfish way. That’s very sweet spiritual fruit.
Christine,
We pray for you every day that you and Murphy will do powerful things for God while in Rwanda. This is an amazing chapter in your life and I am encouraged by your prayer life. Let us hear more about Marthe in the coming months. I know that you will have a great influence for good to her and others. Love you, Judy
“Father God,
You Are so Amazing! Your Holy Spirit is The Most Beautiful Gift of Love and Power. Though Christine may not know the ‘why’ of her assignment, yet You increase her faith to continue to stand in the gap & be Your Watchman on the wall for Your Purpose. Thank You, Holy Spirit for giving Christine this gift of perseverance in prayer to bring about peace in this woman’s heart for her daughter, herself and her family. You Know The Plans You have for her and the part that Christine has in her life. May she draw ever closer to You through Your Witness. Father, I ask for a greater anointing of Your Gifts of discernment, wisdom, knowledge & understanding as Christine continues to minister in this land; please empower to run with the horses & not grow weary, but soar on eagle’s wings. To You be all Glory. In Jesus. Amen.”
Keep up the great work for His Kingdom!!!
wow — just read Linda’s post and that blows me away.
Christine, thanks for your testimony of God’s love for you. I love Marthe already, and I really love our Father who takes such tender care of her, you and me.
Keep writing, my sister!
I don’t understand why I have felt a strong desire with praying for a certain couple who I have never met, who have been missionaries in Benin, Togo and Rwanda for…hmmm…maybe 14 years now? Have lost track of the years but have not stopped praying! God is good.
Love, your sister in Christ, Linda
While Michelle and I pray for you and the work of your family, we’ll also look forward to the continuing story of Marthe and how God uses you in her life.
God Bless!!
Thank you for sharing that story. Our God is so faithful and cares deeply for His children. I pray God’s guidance for you in your life of service to Marthe and others.
Christine, I am so proud of the wonderful Chirstian lady you have become. I thank God for your love for other people as God himself loves you and them. May God bless you and Marthe. I will pray that you can continue to influence her life and bless her with the knowledge that God loves her too and wants to save her. I pray for the whole nation of Rwanda who needs Christ. I pray for our nation who needs Christ too. Thank you for sharing with all of us. I love you. Mom
What a wonderful story! I look forward to future episodes as they unfold.
Johnny
Dear Christine,
Your story has been a special blessing to me today. I particularly appreciate the reference to the words Jesus spoke to Peter in John 21, and how you related it to yourself. As a shepherd it resonated with me in my personal quest to “feed His sheep”. Love your family, Don
Your heart is so precious before God. Your love for God’s people is paterned from the Love of Christ. Thank you for having a heart that is sensitive and open and willing to follow the promptings of the Spirit. Love you. Marvin
Blessings Christine,
It’s wonderful to witness those who listen to the voice of the Lord. Intriguing things happen when you walk with God minute-by-minute. My heart feels for you, and for Marthe. God is in control. It’s allllll right!
Have a beautiful life in the light of God’s love,
Wes
Thanks for sharing this Christine. What I like most about the story is that the ending is not yet written.
Thank you so much for sharing, Christine. You are such an encouragement to me.