I Couldn't Thank God Enough For This Gift

This is my friend Mohammad.  You might remember him from a blog post that I did several months ago.  I haven't seen Mohammad since last December.  I was unexpectedly reunited with him this evening.  I met Mohammad during a time when I was going through a lot of transition and learning to work within a new culture.  He has a relaxed and pleasant demeanor that enables you to feel very welcome in his presence.  I think at the very core of who Mohammad is, Jesus resides in that most secret of places.  In a quiet way and loving way, Mohammad's life emanates Jesus in every possible way.  Even if he says nothing at all, he makes me want to have a closer walk with Christ.  I wish more than anything, that you could meet him because you'd simply praise God that this brother is in the family of God.
Tonight Mohammad told me a story that really gripped me.  The information of the story was gripping, but also the emotion that came from my friend was intense.  I wasn't used to seeing him getting emotional and at first he was embarrassed.  I reassured him that I was happy to walk with him through what he was describing. This quickly put him at ease and he told me the following story.

When I was little boy in 1994 at the end of the Rwandan Genocide, I fled the country to Uganda.  My sister and I were split up and I missed her very much.  I didn't know if she was alive or if she had made it, we had no way of communicating with one another.  It was a terrible time because so may had been killed and I couldn't bear the thought of her dying also.  After several years and no communication, I had just resigned myself to the fact that she had died along with my parents.  About a year ago, I made contact with my aunt in Rwanda who I agreed to come and visit.  When I asked about my sister, she confirmed to me that she was alive and living in Rwanda also.  I saved my money and begged to be let off of work to go and see her.  I prayed so hard that God would allow me to go and see her again..  My bosses reluctantly let me off.  I boarded a bus at 3 AM and rode until 12 PM that day. When I arrived, my aunt greeted me and immediately called my sister.  I couldn't believe that just in a few moments I would see her again after 22 years.  After what seemed like an eternity, there as a knock on the door.  I stood up, still not believing that it could her.  When the door opened, I lost it.  It was her and she came in and hugged me.  We were a mess, crying and not even able to speak for so long.  I spent the next week with her by my side.  We traveled to places together.  It was so wonderful to be with her.  With all the tears and words, I couldn't thank God enough for this lavish gift of seeing my sister again.
Wow, just wow!  And I got to hear that and celebrate with this brother.  It was perhaps the sweetest gift that I've been given this week.  As I left, Mohammad thanked me for the encouragement.  In reality, I was the one greatly encouraged.  Pray for Mohammad that he would continue to be salt and light to his community.  Celebrate Jesus with Mohammad that he found his sister and that she is alive and well.