Sitting under an outdoor pavilion, enjoying a breakfast of avocado toast, fresh-cut pineapple, and coffee, I look out over Lake Kivu and watch a fishing boat pass by. The world seems to be awakening, and I wonder what the day will hold.
I am in the beautiful Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. A land that has been inundated with bloody wars, internal strife among militias, exploitation by foreign powers, and crippling poverty that has torn families apart. The needs can seem overwhelming, and admittedly, I feel somewhat guilty enjoying a simple breakfast when so many have nothing.
As we leave the hotel, we drive 20 minutes to visit our safe homes constructed for victimized women and their children by our nonprofit, Legacy Inc. Driving through crazy traffic (where it seems there are no traffic rules), bouncing over the volcanic rock roads, passing homes made from shredded tarps, we finally arrive at our Asante Mungu compound. The name, meaning “thank you, God,” in Swahili, was chosen by the resilient women who now call Asante Mungu home and is an expression of their gratefulness to God.
The overwhelming joy that floods my heart upon learning the name they’ve chosen for their haven is immeasurable. It reaffirms that these homes are not just a result of human effort but a response to the prayers and suffering that didn’t go unnoticed by God. He moves on the hearts of His followers to enact His plan on earth, to be His ambassador of answered prayers, and to reveal His boundless love for these women scarred by conflict and loss.
As the women from the safe homes greet us, their beautiful smiles illuminate their faces, and their love and joy are expressed through their song and dance. In that moment, we are women united in our desires: to experience the love of our Creator, provide safety and opportunities for our children, and fulfill the potential God instilled in us. Our diverse backgrounds and disparate experiences fade away as we traverse this shared human journey.
I leave our time together and get in the car to drive back to the hotel, and I am forever changed. God’s character and love are the same for all humanity; we are all created in His image, and His love for us knows no bounds. The verses from Jeremiah 31:2-3 resonate deeply within me as I read, “This is what the Lord says: ‘The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.’ The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.'”
I believe the nature of God to be true for my Congolese family as well. And for you. And for me. Reveling in the truth that God loves us with an everlasting love is the greatest gift. His goodness and kindness know no bounds.
May we continue to live…
Rooted in Him,
