There are No Barriers with Love

Friday, July 22, 2011 — It was the last day of our conference in Ruhengeri, Rwanda with the “Source of Blessings” women.

All week, we encouraged the women to work well together, to love one another and serve one another, because together they are more powerful than any one of them is alone. 

Alivera (ALARM-Rwanda’s Women Coordinator) presented the gospel message as she taught on Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.  The other training facilitators (me, Fidelis, Chantell & Kristen) washed the feet of 4 of the women.  They in turn washed the feet of 4 other women until all of us had washed and been washed.  

Serving one another by washing the feet of women from different tribes & denominations

Some of the women cried because they never imagined anyone would ever wash their feet.  The barriers of race, tribe and religion came crashing down around us as we saw blacks & whites washing each other’s feet; Hutus and Tutsis washing the feet of one another; Baptists,  Catholics, Anglicans, Muslims, Pentecostals, and Seventh Day Adventists were all washing each other’s feet.  What a beautiful example of unity and reconciliation being demonstrated by this beautiful act.

Afterwards, several women shared what they had been thinking during the foot washing: 

“We respect one another regardless of differences; We are all equal and serve the same Father; Love must be practical, not theoretical; Love must continue and not end today; There are no barriers with love.”

I was reminded of Jesus’ prayer for future believers (us) before He went to be crucified, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me.” 

I will never forget the beautiful unity I experienced with my sisters in Rwanda on that day.

 

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