'Peace be with you': Prayers for peace in Uganda and Rwanda
When the war in Ukraine burst upon the global stage, many Americans were stunned by the tragic events occurring there. Even in distant places like Rwanda, reports of the Ukrainians’ blistering reality spiraled out like shock waves into their homes. Many Rwandans learned about the ethnic connections between the Ukrainians and their Russian families and friends, and this triggered harsh memories of their own “war” — as they refer to the genocide — over ethnic tensions and territorial disputes. These painful memories stirred up old demons and post traumatic stressors, especially during Rwanda’s annual Week of Mourning in April.
The Russian invasion into Ukraine has not only affected Rwandan parents, teachers, and small business owners facing soaring costs; Rwandan children are also aware of the terrible struggles in Ukraine. They hear tidbits of conversation at home, church or school. They see their mothers’ furrowed brows as they worry and wrestle with the cost of food and fuel. They also hear disturbing reports on the radio and wonder if something similar may happen to them.
Recognizing the insecurities that children are experiencing, the team at the Dufatanye Organization (DO) gathered over five hundred children at the ministry center to share breakfast and reassure them during their Bible lessons. Three scriptures stand out from those lessons. The first two are Jesus’s promises in John’s gospel, chapter 14 to grant them peace. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me … Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” It is important for children to know that our Lord Jesus is with them, watches over them and promises also to give them peace. When young boys and girls see images of displaced children, it can be unsettling and lead to fears and sleeplessness. Hats off to our team at the DO who recognized these vulnerabilities and sought to address them.
The third scripture that the DO Team shared during the Bible lesson was from Daniel, chapter 10. These verses are especially pertinent to the war waging in Ukraine. Here, the prophet Daniel is mourning for his people who have recently returned to Judah after their captivity in Babylon. His brothers and sisters there are encountering harsh opposition, and Daniel has just ended a three week fast to seek the Lord on their behalf. At the conclusion of Daniel’s fast, a heavenly messenger comes and reassures him that God has heard his prayers. He says, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you” (v. 19a). Like Jesus’ promise for peace to His followers and the heavenly messenger’s promise to Daniel, God promises to grant peace to children in Ukraine and Rwanda.
Note that the angelic messenger also explains, “The prince of the kingdom of Persia” delayed him from reaching Daniel for twenty-one days. It is only after the angel, Michael, comes to assist the messenger that he finally reaches Daniel. If you carefully study Daniel, chapter 10, you will see that human conflict and opposition on earth often reflect opposition in the spiritual realm between the forces of evil and darkness and the realm of light. This is certainly true now in Ukraine. I urge you to intercede on behalf of both the people of Ukraine and Rwanda, that our Lord will provide for them, protect them from the spiritual powers of wickedness, and give them peace.
Martha Vetter served with the Anglican Church in post genocide Rwanda from 2001-2007 where she taught Bible at Sonrise School for Orphans and wrote a Bible curriculum for grades 1-6, based on the National Curriculum of Rwanda. Presently, she works part-time on behalf of The Dufatanye Organization and Cooperative, a small NGO in southern Rwanda, which assists impoverished families, most of whom have HIV+/AIDS. She received her Master of Religion (Biblical Studies) at Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge, PA and her Master of Education at Marymount University, Arlington, VA. She’s a nurse (BSN, UNC-Chapel Hill) and a teacher, and she has served as the children’s minister and a women’s retreat speaker for various churches. Her biggest claims to fame were hiking the Camino de Santiago, surviving a volcanic eruption and subsequent earthquake tremors in Rwanda, and flipping in her car twice (catty cornered!) down an embankment in Rwanda before rolling within six inches of a steep cliff! While thanking God for his amazing protection, Martha enjoys home in Charleston, SC with her two English Cream miniature dachshunds, Honey and Mercy. She’s an avid UNC Tarheel fan and enjoys books, sports and spending time with friends.