Radical Forgiveness
Jane, age 23 (same age as Amethyst) and Ka’traix, age 27 (same age as Andrew) were married in 2008. Another commonality that they shared with us. They started their family immediately, as is commonly done in Congolese culture. They were intercessors with the local Pentecostal church in their village, sometimes spending all night in the church praying.
But only a few months after their second child, Ushindi
(Swahili for victory), was born. The unthinkable happened.
Rebels invaded their village on a violent rampage.
Grabbing their 3-year-old son and less then a year old baby
the couple fled into the bush to watch in silence as the rest of their family
was slaughtered with machetes.
The couple escaped with the clothes on their back and their
two children. After walking for more than 50 miles and hitching rides from various passerbys, the couple found their way to an internally displaced
people (IDP) camp, where they were able to make a small house out of tarps and
share food with generous neighbors (who were also internally displaced).
Andrew, two young visitors and myself were visiting the IDP
camp only a week ago, when we discovered Jane and Ka’traix. I was sitting in a
tent with a Mama who was telling me the story of how she had been raped and was
now disowned by her husband, when suddenly Jane walked into the tent.
She sat by the discouraged Mama as we ministered to her and
prayed for her. But as I prayed for the Mama, I saw that the Spirit of the Lord
was upon Jane. I began to prophecy over Jane, not knowing anything about this
lady.
She then took me to her tent where her husband had a prayer
request.
“We need forgiveness,” they told us. “Our family was killed
with machetes and we were angry, we spoke hateful things against the soldiers
who did it.”
The couple genuinely felt that they needed to forgive, so
that they could be forgiven.
“How long ago did this happen?” We asked them after they
told us their story.
“Almost two weeks ago.”
It was then that I knew why the Spirit of the Lord was upon
this woman, Jane. It was because of her willingness to supernaturally forgive.
Andrew and I have had a heavy burden for this couple. We
helped them buy food for that week and have continued to meet with them since
then, and have bought the family some new clothes.
Our last meeting, the couple told me that they are going to
try to go back to the village. They explained that there was nothing for them
in that camp and that they hated it there. They would walk back home and if it
had at least minimal security, they would try to restart their lives.
We prayed for each other and this time, they prophesied over
me.
All around the world, the church and every institution known
to man… we debate what does love look like? How can it be an agent of change in
this world?
Well, I’m privileged and honored to say that, this indeed,
is what love looks like. The beautiful young couple who has chosen to free
themselves of hate and destruction, look into the future without fear and walk
the path of healing and rebuilding their village.
We plan to stop at the camp soon to see if Jane and Ka’traix
have gone back home. I don’t know if we’ll see them again. But I know that the
short-lived relationship we’ve had with them… is indeed what heaven looks like.
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That's awesome I'm so proud of them.
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