*Andrew
will introduce the story, Burundi, Anglican priest, UCE team member, outreach
to school*
“Recently,
we planned for an outreach at Misasa Fundamental Secondary School. It is
located in the bush, some kilometers from Makamba town. Some minutes before we left
the office, it started to rain so heavily in Makamba town. We began to doubt
whether we would make the journey or not because the way to Misasa is very
slippery when it rains. Immediately, upon having these thoughts, the headmaster
of the school called me, and asked, “Where are you now? We are eager to see
you.”
So,
we decided to leave the office in the rain, but on the way, we discovered that
the whole road was dry. We reached the school at the right time, but when we
arrived there, we faced another challenge: the elders of the church saw strange
people at their school, and began to question us and consult one another to see
whether they should allow us to teach. The headmaster called to me, and it was discovered
that I’m one of their children because I was born in the same place, and one of
them was my former teacher in primary school. There was no obstacle now, so we
continued with our program.
We
called the students and they gathered around us on the school grounds. I took
the boys with me, separating them from the girls. There I led a discussion on the
factors which cause HIV propagation and about how we can abstain from sexual
intercourse. One of the students raised his hand and said, “It is not possible
to abstain from a girl who puts on miniskirt in class.” Everybody began to
shout, “That is true! That is true…!” There was much commotion. I requested
everybody to be silent, then I started to testify how I overcame such
temptation when I was still a student.
The
testimony was this: When I started my secondary school, I was a seventeen year
old young man. I was born again, but very shy. I was always seated next to a
very beautiful brown young girl called Aline, but she was an impolite girl. She
used to put on short clothes and even when she brought a long dress, she could
bring it up so that I would see her legs. Whenever ever we had a free time,
Aline used to take my hand and put it on her legs. I would pull it away
quickly, but nobody could see what happened to me.
This
happened so many times. The last time she did it I pinched her very hard so she
cried. Then I told her that I’m going to pray for her. I overcame the evil
without falling into sexual intercourse, and also because of the power of prayer,
Aline stopped bothering me.
After
sharing my story, every boy looked at me with tears in his eyes. I asked them,
“Among you all who has never been tempted at some point?” There was nobody.
Uwugaba
Eric, one of the students stood and said, “We are really all convinced that chastity
is possible, you went through terrible temptations, and you overcame, even we
can do it. We have never met such a message, and we believe God is with us -
the same way He was with you. This message comes at the right time, this is the
message we were looking for, and may God bless you so much.”
The
headmaster, who had never left the classroom, stood again to appreciate the UCE
message of chastity. My name is Rev.
Onesiphore, and this is my story.”
ANDREW
*Let recall how Rev. Onesiphore persevered in temptation. Christ call us all to
persevere through Him. Suffering produced perseverance, perseverance character,
and character hope. How can we allow Christ to continue to carry our His work
of building, good character in our own lives?*