This past weekend, I went with Deo (ALARM-Burundi Country Director) and Prosper (ALARM-Burundi Emerging Youth Leader) upcountry to Gitega for the weekend. We were scheduled to hold a Youth Conference at a local school and I had no expectations as to what the time would hold. When we reached Gitega, which is the second largest town in Burundi, the landscape was just beautiful. The air was cooler, the grass was greener and it was so quiet and peaceful.
The next day we headed to the school and were greeted by many smiling faces. The students had decorated the walkway with flower arrangements, which is a sign they use to welcome visitors...it was just beautiful. When we walked in the students were singing and praising the Lord they love. Instantly, you could feel the love in the room.
As Deo and Prosper taught over the next 2 days, the students (approximately 200) were completely soaking up ever bit of information. They were longing for more teaching and were hungry for the Word and Truth. While staring intently at the speaker, they wrote down as much as possible to capture and remember every bit of knowledge shared.
The hardest topic to cover was Forgiveness. How can they forgive someone that has treated them so wrong? Who have killed their family members and destroyed their homes. Who have left them orphans and alone in this world. They questioned and they struggled with this concept, but by the end of the 2-day training they learned that if they do not forgive then they are harming themselves more than the other person. They understand now that this is a fundamental step in living a life with Jesus. That ultimately holding bitterness and unhappiness inside is a burden that we were not meant to carry. Forgiving others, even when they have done you wrong, lifts the burden and weight off you and allows you the opportunity to move forward in God’s intended peace and happiness.
At the end of the conference, many of the students stood up to share their new thoughts and soon to follow actions. The testimonies shared revealed they were ready to forgive their wrong-doer(s) and they were actually excited and ready to embrace their new future. They understood the monumental importance of this action in their personal hearts and minds, and now realize it is an action that will release them from bondage. This is going to be a hard step for each of them, but one that will allow them to move into a new life filled with great hope and new beginnings.
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have
against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
~ Colossians 3:13
“Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgive each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
~ Ephesians 4:32
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