Brother Gashopfu Asiel had become an evangelist. One day the elders said. We want to go over to another group of churches. You will need to move your things and your family. So brother Asiel moved his family to the new district.
A few days later he went down through the fields to the village. Please come to our meetings. He told the people. I have many things to tell you. Among the people was a very rich man who had a fine house. He had much land and many cattle. Brother Asiel said. We would like to have you come to our meetings.
Oh no. Said the rich man. Why not. I would become poor. The man replied. Why would you become poor. You see my daughter mukankomeje here. She is fourteen years old. She os a sorceress. She talks with the spirits and they tell her things. If a man has stolen money he will come and say toy daughter.
Who took my money. She will tell him who took it and how to get it back. Then the man gives her money for helping him. This girl has made us rich. If she goes to meetings we will become poor. One day a man missed seven cows. Someone has stolen them. I am sure. He said to his wife. I will go and ask Mukankomeje. The sorceress.
Mukankomeje said. I can see your cows away out past the forest. There are four people there with them. She told the man where to go. He took his sword and spear and went to find his cows. Sure enough. They were there. He got the area commissioner and together they got the cows.
Then he gave mukankomeje a cow to pay for her help. You see why we can't come to your meetings. The father told Brother Asiel. That's right. Said mukankomeje. When i stand out in the grass by your house. I know how many people are in your house. The spirits tell me. But if i come to your meetings. They will not talk to me. I cannot come.
But the evangelist asked her again until one day she decided to go. Oh. How she enjoyed the meetings. It was better than listening to the spirits. Agait and again she came. But her father was angry. If you go anymore. You will not be my daughter. I will curse you. He said. One day two men came and said some thieves had stolen something from them.
Please tell us. Mukankomeje. Who tue thieves are and where we can find our money. They said. I cannot tell you. The girl replied. I do not do that work anymore. Her father heard her and became angry. You will have to leave. He shouted. You are cursed. You are not my child now. You cannot come into the house anymore.
Mukankomeje was very sad. She went to the church leaders. I have no home now. She cried. My father does not want me anymore. The tears ran down her face. What shall i do. I have no father and no mother. What shall i do. What shall i do. The Christian leaders sent a messenger to brother Asiel and he hurried over.
He knew how mukankomeje felt. Hadn't he been in trouble when his mother wanted him to believe the sorcerers. Mukankomeje. Do not be afraid. Said brother Asiel. God loves you. He is a big God. He will help you. You may live with us. How glad she was to have a friend who could really understand.
For three days Mukankomeje stayed there. The fourth day Brother Asiel went to see her father. Mukankomeje wants to be your daughter. He told the father. No. You take her. She is cursed. I do not want her anymore. Three weeks went by. Then the father came to see brother Asiel and mukankomeje. Last nigt i had a dream. He told them.
I was told that i must not curse my daughter. But i must take her back to live at home. I have come to take her. Please come home with me. Mukankomeje. But mukankomeje was afraid to go home. You will force me to be a sorceress again. She said. I don't want to go. So brother Asiel said to the man. You believe God sent the dream. You should believe his truths. Too.
Then he explained many things to the man. I believe. The father finally said. So Mukankomeje went home with her father. A few months later he and all his family and nine others were baptized. Later he brought sixteen more to be baptized. If you go to their village today in Rwanda you will find they are the richest people there. They farm and raise bananas.
They do not miss their sorcery at all. They live a long way from the church. But theybare the first ones to prayer meeting on Wednesday nights and the first at Sabbath school on Sabbath mornings. The father cannot read. But he bought a bible. Whenever a pastor or teacher comes by. The father greets him and says.
Now friend. We will take time to greet each other and we will take time to ask how our families are. Then you will read the bible to me. When the teacher comes to a verse that the father especially likes. He says. Now wait. I must memorize that one so i can tell it to my friends.
So he stops and memorizes. Then he goes on listening while more is read. He began in Genesis and hopes someday to go clear through to Revelation. A rich man. Oh. Yes. Rich in land and cattle and crops. But richer still in all the treasures of the bible. And Mukankomeje is richer. Too. With the love and care of God the father and Jesus His son all around her.
