By Pastor Djuma Havyarimana, Teen Missions South Africa

Graduation and Exploring Opportunities

In 2017, I graduated from university, and like many young adults, I was looking for a job. My brother lived in Kampala then, and he called me right after I graduated in April. In September, I travelled to Kampala.

While I was there, I engaged in various activities and small businesses. However, despite my efforts, I wasn't feeling fulfilled. As a young man, I was eager to earn money and provide for myself, and I initially felt excited about the opportunities. I began exploring different financially rewarding ventures, but along the way, I questioned why I still felt unfulfilled.

Music has always been a significant part of my life. I am a singer, and I believed God had given me that gift to minister to people through my music. My desire was to read the Bible and deepen my understanding of it.

A Turning Point

In 2020, I experienced a turning point. I met a woman I had never seen before, and she told me, "God is calling you to minister through His Word." This was not the first time I had heard such a message; growing up, people often referred to me as a pastor. At that time, I just wanted to be a good Christian, but I resisted the calling I sensed.

This message made me realize why I felt unfulfilled. Although I was singing and had people teaching me guitar, I still felt an emptiness within. The woman’s words lingered in my mind, leading me to reconsider my path. At that time, I was working for a company, but I decided I had to resign to pursue my passion for music and find peace within myself.

Returning Home

To cut a long story short, I returned home in December 2021. I had hoped to explore opportunities abroad, so I resigned from my job and came back to my country, Burundi, to renew my passport. I faced unexpected delays with the passport, which created uncertainty for me. After spending five years away, I felt out of place in my own country, and I struggled to understand why everything seemed to be going wrong.

During this time, I began praying because I felt God was trying to communicate something important. I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew I needed to seek His guidance. I started fasting and praying, asking God to reveal His will to me.

A Serendipitous Encounter

One day, while I was busy with family activities, I met a man outside our shop who had been a schoolmate of mine. He had been my mentor during our secondary school years and had lived in South Africa for thirteen years. We hadn't seen each other in a long time and we greeted each other warmly.

In our conversations thereafter, we often shared our experiences, particularly our passion for singing. Both of us were singers in our church, which brought us together for various activities. He later played a significant role in my life by introducing me to Teen Missions South Africa. He was a student there and later became a teacher.

I had never considered coming to South Africa. I was exploring different opportunities, and the notion of going to another country in Africa, specifically South Africa, hadn’t crossed my mind. However, when he mentioned it, it sparked something in me. I realized this might be the reason God was redirecting my path. It reminded me of the prophecy the woman had shared with me in 2020 while I was in Uganda.

Taking a Leap of Faith

My friend informed me that I had one month before the new semester started, July 11, 2021. While it seemed daunting, especially regarding visa procedures and sending fees, I felt a strong conviction that if God was in this, He would reveal His plan. He began sending me the necessary information and in that one month, despite the challenges, God opened numerous doors for me to secure my visa, book my air ticket, and complete all other requirements. I was confident that God wanted me to embark on this journey, so I acted in faith. On August 13, 2021, I arrived in South Africa, just in time to start classes on August 15. It's been three years since I began this journey. I am currently an intern and have already taken on a pastoral role in our church community.

Cultural Insights Through the Africa Study Bible

The church's founders, a couple in their sixties and seventies, remain very active. Recently, while in their office, I noticed a familiar study Bible. Interestingly, the wife was meditating on it and asked if I had that particular Bible.

I was surprised to see her, a European, engaging with the Africa Study Bible. The Africa Study Bible has helped me understand the context and background of the Scriptures. Whenever I present a verse, I am equipped with the cultural insights that relate to our African heritage. This knowledge has been invaluable as I navigate my spiritual journey.

Although the church is led by white founders, the congregation is primarily composed of people from African countries, including South Africa and Zimbabwe. This diversity helps accommodate everyone and makes it easier for the congregation to understand the messages being delivered. The Scriptures in the Africa Study Bible are the New Living Translation (NLT) Bible, which also resonates well in the African context because of its clear and easy-to-understand English.

Experiences with Teen Missions

With Teen Missions, we visit different churches every Sunday to experience what they do and learn from them. I remember during my second week here, we visited a church that helped me in this process. A pastor from my church began prophesying about me, saying, “God is calling you.” I was still asking myself questions about what would happen next. When the pastor began prophesying, I felt a mix of emotions. It wasn’t a loud revelation, but rather a quiet realization that God might indeed be calling me. This gave me reassurance and helped remove my doubts throughout my journey. I feel that God is revealing Himself through these experiences.

A Journey of Obedience and Trust

In summary, the first step I took was out of obedience and a desire to do what is right. I remember the Scripture that says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” My main goal is to please God in my life and continue seeking His presence, trusting that He will take care of the rest. I never envisioned myself in a position of ministering to others.

Looking ahead, I can’t definitively say where I will go, but I want to remain obedient and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. My hope is to embody Christ’s love, focusing on my character and inspiring others. I desire for people to be blessed through my life more than through my preaching. That is my goal and what I strive to achieve.

This interview transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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