Small Christian Communities Work Miracles of Forgiveness
Small Christian Communities Work Miracles of Forgiveness
Author Country :USA
Genre Type :True Story
Location :Rwanda
Year of Publication :0/
Publication :Cluny Connections, Fall 2004; Maryknoll, April 2008; Revista Maryknoll (Spanish), September 2009
Sub Theme :Community, Forgiveness, Healing, Prayer, Reconciliation, Sharing/
Author Name :Marie Cooper, SJC/
Author City :Plainfield, NJ
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Two women in one of the parishes in Rwanda were not speaking to one another. The first woman, whom we’ll call “Sarah”, had lost her husband during the genocide in 1994 when the husband of the second woman “Elizabeth” killed him. The members of the Small Christian Community of their neighborhood began to pray about the situation together and eventually decided to invite both women to a meeting. There were some tense moments when the two women saw each other. “Sarah” started to leave, but “David” went after her and convinced her to return, saying;: “When we explained about our community, how we pray and share faith and mutually support one another, you seemed convinced that God was calling you to join. On our part, we want to be here for you, too. We know how it is between you and “Elizabeth”. We understand. You do not have to speak to her. Just come and be with us.” So “Sarah” agreed to stay, just once.
However, each week, both “Sarah” and “Elizabeth” returned. The community welcomed both of them unconditionally. As time passed, the two women found the sharing and the prayer and common projects to reach out to others helped them begin to heal the wounds that divided them. After many more meetings and much prayer, the two women were reconciled. In fact, “Sarah” had noticed that “Elizabeth” would be gone for a week or so on a regular basis. When asked, “Elizabeth” explained, “I must go to take food to my husband in prison. I am alone now to raise my two children, and when I go away, I’ve no one to look after my children, and I get behind tending my crops. “Would you allow me to help?” asked “Sarah”?” Deeply touched, “Elizabeth” accepted her offer. Ever since, “Sarah” looks after her children while she is gone and tends her crops.