Burundi's first ever women's conference for the AG would be held in a place called Kayagoro- the absolute middle of nowhere. A mere five hour drive from Bujumbura through some of the most windy roads that I have ever seen. The conference would be organized by three females: two Burundian pastor's wives and a missionary colleague.
My phone rang, "Stephen we need you to participate in a women's conference."
"Ummm... a women's conference?" I asked hoping that the inflection of my voice would trigger the realization that I was not a female.
"Yes. You are perfect!" the response was very enthusiastic.
"A women's conference?" I asked again still quite incredulous.
"Yes, we need you to drive and translate."
"Ah. I see. And where is this conference to be held?"
"Kayagoro."
"Kaya....where?" I inquired.
Why Kayagoro you may ask? It's the question I'm still asking to this day. Why me? Another question I'm still asking. I said no several times, but eventually caved in after multiple calls from various members of the women's triad persuaded me.
So, we piled into my pick up truck and zoomed off to Kayagoro. On the way, one of the Burundian ladies who we will call Mama Sinzinkayo because that is actually her real name begins telling us the story of her youngest son- Simeoni. He was no more than 5 years old at the time and had gone missing two weeks earlier. No one knew what had become of him. The church members last saw him playing outside the church building during a service.
She did everything she knew how to do: contacted neighbors, members of the community where their church was located, the police, held prayer vigils every morning and fasted an entire week. Two long agonizing weeks had elapsed with not even a rumor as to the little boy's whereabouts.
My heart broke as I listened to a mother's heart agonizing over her son.
To make matters worse, Burundi was experiencing a resurgence of child kidnappings at the time. Not to be vulgar, but reports had surfaced of witchdoctors in Tanzania buying Burundian children for sacrifices. Whether true or not, many people suggested that her son had become the latest victim.
We all agreed to pray one more time in the car as we zipped through the Burundian hills.
The women's conference in Kayagoro actually turned out well for the ladies, but not so well for the token lady on the trip, me. I fell ill with some strange fever and had to spend the next two days in our hotel, a spacious 4 room bar that blared country music at all hours of the day with the drunks shouting Kirundi profanities in the hallway. Yes, it was quite an experience. One of the nights, the local municipality official tried to arrest us, but that is another story for another day.
Some three days later, the worst of the fever and nausea had passed and we were able to drive back to Buja. The conference had been a success, several women had come to Christ. Many others had been challenged and encouraged in their walk with the Lord. As we headed down the road, I started singing. I was feeling better and grateful to be leaving the bustling metropolis of Kayagoro and my country music prison.
Two of the ladies sat in the back seat chattering away. Mama Sinzinkayo sat in the passenger seat silent, lost in deep thought. There was a heaviness about her. My heart ached for her. Then, her phone rang. We had been out of cell phone coverage for quite some time. Suddenly, she starts shouting at the top of her lungs. "Simeoni! Simeoni! Simeoni!" The tears quickly followed. "They found Simeoni!" She burst into praise, worship, and a chorus of hallejuahs.
Weeping with cries of joy soon filled the inside of the car. It was one of those moments that words would fail to describe. For close to an hour, the Burundian women undulated as only African can with deep cries of joy interspersed with sobbing. It was one of those beautiful moments in life when faith triumphs over fear in a way so striking that it sticks with you for the rest of your life.
As we neared Buja, I felt the gentle nudge of Holy Spirit: "This is a moment you must never forget. This is a picture of what happens in heaven when even one spiritually lost person receives Christ and is found." Jesus stated this truth so beautifully when he said: "The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."
Why does Jesus' mission statement include a particular thrust towards the lost? Simply stated because lostness is the worst condition in which a human being can find themselves. There will be no lost people in heaven. There may be hungry people in heaven. Or even fat people in heaven. But there will be no lost people. The greatest need in the human heart is to be saved. The good news is that Jesus is ever so true to His mission finding the way to our hearts, knocking down the walls of doubt, fear, and sin so that we can really find life.
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